Symbols and Threats and Bombs, Oh My
by Betty Jo Tucker

Angels & Demons follows symbologist Robert Langdon as he helps the Vatican solve a deadly threat to the Catholic Church. In this second film adaptation of a Dan Brown religious thriller, action overwhelms plot while we watch our hero — played again by Tom Hanks — race from one incredible crisis to another. Although parts of this movie come across as totally unbelievable, it contains enough excitement and stunning cinematography to give viewers an entertaining couple of hours at the multiplex.

Electing a new Pope is always serious business. But when four of the main contenders are kidnapped and a bomb threat arises, it’s a matter of grave concern. And when the Illuminati, an anti-religious group thought no longer in existence, becomes suspect, it’s time to call in the world’s most renowned symbologist. However, Professor Langdon can’t help being surprised at this summons, for he and the Church were not on friendly terms during his deciphering of The Da Vinci Code. Still, he agrees and rushes to the Vatican. There he joins forces with physicist Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer), one of the researchers working on an anti-matter bomb which has been stolen. And, of course, that’s the ultra-powerful bomb in question here.

Racing against time, Langdon and Vetra face considerable obstacles in their mission to save the kidnapped cardinals and prevent the destruction of the Vatican and “half of Rome.” Among the characters aiding and/or hindering their efforts are: Camerlengo Patrick McKenna (Ewan McGregor); Commander Richter (Stellan Skarsgard, head of the Swiss Guard; Inspector Olivetti (Pierfrancesco Favino); Cardinal Strauss (Armin Mueller-Stahl); and a mysterious hit man (Nikolaj Lie Kass).

As with most mystery thrillers, telling more about the plot and the suspects would ruin the surprises, so I’ll remain mum concerning those elements of the film – except to say suspension of disbelief is a must while watching Angels & Demons.

Fortunately, Hanks brings confidence and an air of dignity (a new hairdo helps!) to his role, even while rushing around and saying some pretty ridiculous things, including comments about statues pointing to clues. Zurer looks continually frightened, but her character should be very afraid, so that works for her. McGregor seems a bit young to play a priest so high up in the Church hierarchy, but he’s quite convincing most of the time. Skarsgard makes us wonder if he’s a good guy or a bad guy — and that helps evoke suspense in several scenes. The other key characters also deliver fine performances.

Angels & Demons offers more than a mystery to be solved. It’s also filled with fascinating tidbits about such famous figures from the past as Galileo and Bernini as well as provocative statements about science vs. religion.  But no doubt about it, the cinematography steals the show in Angels & Demons. Salvatore Totino’s intriguing photography of beautiful statues, ornate churches, crimson-garbed cardinals and of the film’s thrilling climax is worth the price of admission.

(Released by Columbia Pictures and rated “PG-13” for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material.)

For more information about this film, please go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Betty Jo Tucker is a member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and the San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS). She teaches an online class, “The Reel Deal: Writing about Movies” for the LSS School of Writing and has published three movie-related books including CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, an amusing memoir about her life at the movies. Betty Jo serves as the editor/lead film critic for ReelTalk Movie Reviews and hosts a weekly radio show, “Movie Addict Headquarters,” for BlogTalkRadio. She also writes monthly film commentary for the Colorado Senior Beacon. For more information, please go to www.BettyJoTucker.com

What About B.O.B.?
by Betty Jo Tucker

Sometimes one performance in a film almost saves it. For example, a gelatinous blue creature, voiced to amusing perfection by Seth Rogen, manages to perk things up whenever it appears in Monsters Vs. Aliens. Unfortunately, the rest of this animated movie feels like a been-there-done-that experience, one the Bard might describe as “full of sound and fury, yet signifying nothing.”

I know what you’re thinking: at least the children will enjoy Monsters Vs. Aliens. Sorry to disappoint you, but the youngsters at the screening I attended seemed quite restless, plus I heard only a few laughs during the film’s entire running time. And those laughs were evoked by Rogen’s character, B.O.B.

So let’s talk about B.O.B. He belongs to a formerly secret group of monsters who are called upon by the U.S. Government for help in defeating an alien plan to take over our planet. His colleagues are Ginormica (voiced by Reese Witherspoon), Dr. Cockroach (voiced by Hugh Laurie), The Missing Link (voiced by Will Arnet), and a huge insect. B.O.B. may not be the smartest monster here, but he’s definitely the most interesting.  He’s at his best during conflict with a giant robot. “I’ve got him!” he shouts while stuck to the bottom of the robot’s foot before being trampled on. Or when he falls for a quivering bowl of jello. B.O.B. sports just one eye in the middle of his upper body, but he makes up for that with the ability to absorb almost everything and everyone in his way. No doubt about it, B.O.B. is an original character, and he deserves a movie of his own.

For me, the other characters in Monsters Vs. Aliens fail to measure up to B.O.B. Ginormica, an ordinary woman who has been changed into a giant version of herself, looks fantastic – but her sequences are too repetitive. Dr. Cockroach and The Missing Link also lack B.O.B.’s appeal. The villainous alien Galaxhar (voiced by Rainn Wilson) and his clones may be intriguing to watch, but they pale in significance to similar presentations in the Star Wars franchise. Surprisingly, the usually hilarious Stephen Colbert comes across as rather dull in his voicing of a stupid U.S. President. However, Kiefer Sutherland offers a fine voice turn – one in which he’s barely recognizable – as the gung-ho army man supervising our monsters.

After seeing Monsters Vs. Aliens, I can hardly wait to view my favorite animated monster movie again. Can you guess which one it is? If you picked Monsters, Inc. — you’re absolutely right! 

DISCLAIMER:  I saw the 2-D version of this movie.

(Released by DreamWorks and rated “PG” for sci-fi action, some crude humor and mild language.)

For more information about Monsters Vs. Aliens, go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Betty Jo Tucker is a member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and the San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS). She teaches an online class, “The Reel Deal: Writing about Movies” for the LSS School of Writing and has published three movie-related books including CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, an amusing memoir about her life at the movies. Betty Jo serves as the editor/lead film critic for ReelTalk Movie Reviews and hosts a weekly radio show, “Movie Addict Headquarters,” for BlogTalkRadio. She also writes monthly film commentary for the Colorado Senior Beacon. For more information, please go to www.BettyJoTucker.com

Starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Anjul Nigam, Jon Gries

by Karel Murray

A quick recap without giving away the conclusion, Liam Neeson portrays Bryan Mills who has “retired” from being a government operative in order to build a better relationship with his daughter.  You can’t help but empathize immediately with Liam’s character and start rooting for him emotionally at the very start of movie.  Holding him back from really establishing a parental bond is his ex wife and his uncompromising view of how the world’s harsh reality can destroy a life.  Even as Liam’s character is cajoled into allowing his daughter to go unescorted to Paris, we, the audience members, want to shout at the kid to listen to her father.

But of course, we don’t.

My husband and I couldn’t help but become emotionally invested in his frantic search to locate his kidnapped daughter within the critical 96 hour window before she would be  sold off as a sex slave.  The father’s intensity, desperation and extreme focus continues to mount and we are exuberant when the next lead provides a vital clue.

It has been a long time since I’ve been so  totally engaged in a movie that I was disappointed when it ended.  Where is a guy like Liam Neeson when you need him?

Maybe right around the corner.  Awesome.

EO      Entertainment Only

Starring:  Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti

by Karel Murray

How often have you wondered what old men look like in a fist fight?  Watching two corporate CEOs (Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti) hammering it out on an airport tarmac was worth the price of admission - especially when it is filmed in slow motion.  I never felt more like a baby boomer than I did during these scenes.  Each clumsy move and tight grimace made me appreciate how skillfully this was filmed.  Immediately, the premise is set regarding the absolutely hatred between the corporate giants and their intense desire to outdo each other in terms of growing and protecting their empires, making this a situation ripe for exploitation by two seasoned white collar spies.

Julia Roberts, ex CIA and Clive Owen, ex MI6, collaborate with each other in developing a long term scam so they can profit from the theft of company product secrets.  Through the use of flash backs, the film builds on their relationship and we understand it in context with current events.  This type of film editing helped keep the audience wondering who they can actually trust… which essentially defines the relationship between everyone in this film.

I never really appreciated the term “being played” until I saw this movie.  The art of skillful lying, expert emotional control to build a trustworthy persona to others, and acting out predetermined dialog made me feel a bit queasy.  No wonder individuals who have a lot to lose through corporate espionage find it difficult to really trust anyone.

Cleverly scripted, it was a fun, intriguing romp.

EO     Entertainment Only

Starring:  Nicolas Cage, Lara Robinson, Rose Byrn, and Chandler Canterbury

by Karel Murray

This movie had me at “hello”.   The movie “Knowing”  starts with us watching a small girl (Lucinda Embry) being tormented by whispering voices that only she can hear and a flashback to the innocence of the 1950’s.  Completely focused on transcribing what she is hearing, this child sets to paper a list of what appears to be random numbers.   Sealed in a time capsule for fifty years, the message is finally opened by another child, Caleb, who begins to be plagued by the same whispering voices.

Enter  John Koestler (played by Nicolas Cage), a loving father who just happens to be an astrophysicist.  To the normal person, this list would only be a jumble of symbols.  But because of the date of his wife’s death, which is seared into John’s mind, he discovers a pattern in the message… dates of major disasters, the number of people killed, and the location of each event …startling accurate over the past fifty years.

This movie takes us from one incredibly intense accident scene to another.  There were several times I actually winced and recoiled instinctively, thinking that the airplane or bus were actually going to careen into my theater seat.  Thankfully my husband is used to the bodily reaction to sudden digital violence.

Interesting concept and good acting makes this a movie worth seeing for a fun night out.

EO     Entertainment Only

Sparkling Co-Stars, Disjointed Plot
by Betty Jo Tucker

Linear storytelling falls by the wayside in Duplicity as characters played by Julia Roberts and Clive Owen struggle to make sense out of their feelings for each other. Unfortunately, they’re not the only ones struggling during filmmaker Tony Gilroy’s follow-up to his Michael Clayton success. I had great difficulty with this thriller’s many flashback scenes, which frequently interrupt the story’s flow.  So did my husband and daughter who attended the screening with me. “Annoying,” was my daughter’s conclusion. “Irritating,” my husband added.

Still, we all agreed about the sizzling chemistry between Roberts and Owen. They are fascinating to watch together. Roberts (Erin Brockovich) plays a former CIA operative working in counterintelligence for a huge cosmetic corporation. Owen (The International) is a former MI-5 agent hired by a rival company. These two suspicious individuals, who join forces to carry out a complicated  con job, obviously have a love/hate relationship — and considering their spy backgrounds, will they ever be able to trust one another?

In addition to her trademark smile, Roberts gets the opportunity to display chilling anger, especially in one scene requiring an expression of silent, jealous rage. And Owen shows off his charming side when his character adopts a Texas accent in order to seduce a naïve female cosmetic firm employee (Carrie Preston). Sadly, it’s not easy to care about either one of these main characters.

Duplicity focuses on corporate espionage involving the introduction of a mysterious groundbreaking product. The top executives of both companies (Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson) are longstanding enemies, a fact established in a very clever slow-motion sequence at the beginning of the movie. Giamatti receives more screen time than Wilkinson and makes the most of it by delivering a frenetic and highly entertaining performance — his best since American Splendor – but I’m disappointed at not seeing the always wonderful Wilkinson (In the Bedroom) more on screen here.

Besides its overuse of flashbacks, Duplicity falters by including so much computer activity instead of physical action. (Have you noticed how this can drag a movie down?) And, although some of the dialogue is quite witty, the movie seems too talky much of the time. But most of all, the film is simply exhausting to follow.

(Released by Universal Pictures and rated “PG-13” for language and some sexual content.)

For more information about Duplicity, go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Betty Jo Tucker is a member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and the San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS). She  teaches an online class, “The Reel Deal: Writing about Movies” for the LSS School of Writing and has published three movie-related books including CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, an amusing memoir about her life at the movies. Betty Jo serves as the editor/lead film critic for ReelTalk Movie Reviews and hosts a weekly radio show, “Movie Addict Headquarters,” for BlogTalkRadio. She also writes monthly film commentary for the Colorado Senior Beacon.  For more information, please go to www.BettyJoTucker.com

No Joking Around
by Betty Jo Tucker

Is the universe “one big joke,” as an important character in Watchman proclaims? I hope not, but how I wish this movie contained at least some humor to temper its bleak outlook. Still, Zack Snyder’s version of the graphic novel sensation bowled me over with its fascinating visual style and exciting set pieces. I have the feeling Snyder shares Orson Welles’ attitude about filmmaking – which he summed up by exclaiming, ”This is the biggest electric train set a boy ever had!”

Set in a bizarre 1985 world, the film depicts extremely hard times for a group of costumed superheroes who’ve been outlawed by Richard Nixon – despite helping him win the Vietnam War. When one of the group is murdered, Rorschach/Walter Kovacs (Jackie Earle Haley) becomes concerned and starts to investigate. He contacts former Watchmen, including Dr. Manhattan/Jon Osterman (Billy Crudup), Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt (Matthew Goode), Nite Owl II/Dan Drieberg (Patrick Wilson) and Silk Spectre II/Laurie Jupiter (Malin Ackerman). Finding the answer to this mystery forms the main story line here, but philosophical/political issues also receive intense emphasis. For example: Is life meaningless? Does the end justify the means? Should you destroy millions of lives to save billions of lives?

In flashbacks, we learn how the Comedian/Edward Blake (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) became obsessed with violence. Now, each of the  other Watchmen faces problems of his/her own. Because of an incredible accident, Dr. Manhattan has been changed into a glowing blue godlike creature with power over physical matter – but he’s growing more and more distant, which causes distress for Silk Spectre II, his current girlfriend. Ozymandias seems more interested in his business ventures. Nite Owl II worries about his attraction to Silk Spectre II.  And Rorschach wants to wreak revenge against all bad guys. Can this motley crew work together to solve the murder mystery – and, in the process, prevent a nuclear war between Russia and the United States?

All the Watchmen actors give solid performances, but Billy Crudup (Big Fish) stands out for me. His mesmerizing voice lends Dr. Manhattan a necessary otherworldly quality – plus the motion-capture technique applied here makes his character quite unique and spellbinding.

Filmmaker Snyder directs this ambitious project with a stylistic approach similar to his brilliant work on 300, another highly artistic offering. Intriguing cinematography, stunning set design, and remarkable special effects contribute to the amazing look of the film — despite its dark themes. Fortunately, unlike my experience with The Dark Knight, I had no trouble seeing what was happening on screen, even though I refused to watch a couple of excessively violent scenes. The movie’s musical background also surprised and pleased me, especially Nat King Cole singing “Unforgettable.”

While not my favorite superhero movie (that’s Spider-Man), Watchmen provides a different and interesting take on this popular genre. If you’re a non-squeamish viewer, it’s definitely worth seeing.

(Released by Warner Bros. Pictures and rated “R” for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language.)

For more information about Watchmen, go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Betty Jo Tucker is a member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and the San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS). She  teaches an online class, “The Reel Deal: Writing about Movies” for the LSS School of Writing and has published three movie-related books including CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, an amusing memoir about her life at the movies. Betty Jo serves as the editor/lead film critic for ReelTalk Movie Reviews and hosts a weekly radio show, “Movie Addict Headquarters,” for BlogTalkRadio. She also writes monthly film commentary for the Colorado Senior Beacon.  For more information, please go to www.BettyJoTucker.com

What are your thoughts? Did you watch the movie? Did you like it? We want to hear your thoughts!

Life Lessons Pay Off
by Betty Jo Tucker

How could Jamal, an orphan growing up in the slums of Mumbai, India, know the answers to tough questions asked on a TV quiz show? In Slumdog Millionaire, street smarts account for our hero’s success, much to the amazement of the television host, a man who thinks torture will force the lad to confess he cheated. What a great idea for a rags-to-riches story even Charles Dickens would appreciate!

Slumdog Millionaire deserves the eight Oscars® it won – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Original Song, and Best Musical Score. Although Mamma Mia! ranks as my favorite 2008 film, Slumdog Millionaire was definitely the most entertaining and inspirational movie nominated for Best Picture this year. It boasts a “triumph of the underdog” story with characters we care about as well as adventure, suspense and romance, plus a rousing Bollywood song-and-dance number (to A. R. Rahman’s “Jai Ho”) at the end — and all this is practically impossible to resist.

SPOILER ALERT

Talk about overcoming obstacles! I believe this film does a great job showing the tremendous struggles of Jamal and his brother Salim (each played by different actors as they age) while they live by their wits in order to survive a series of horrifying situations. Along with Latika, a young girl they both care for, these two siblings become members of a group of child beggars working for a vicious crime lord. (I had to close my eyes rather than watch some of the cruel treatment depicted here.) As they grow up, Jamal and Salim choose different paths — with Salim (Madhur Mittal), unfortunately, allying himself to the crime boss. Jamal (Dev Patel) loves the beautiful Latika, but loses track of her. How Jamal finds Latika (Freida Pinto) and helps free her from a depressing fate emerges as the most suspenseful part of Slumdog Millionaire.

Although Dev Patel and Freida Pinto deliver touching performances as the romantic couple in this acclaimed movie, it’s Anil Kapoor who stands out to me. Kapoor, one of India’s most popular leading men, portrays the skeptical Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? TV host with such smarmy confidence and amazing screen charisma that I can’t help wondering why he hasn’t appeared in any English-language films until this one. The child actors (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Tanay Hemant Chheda, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, Rubina Ali, Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar) also deserve kudos. They all seem so genuine and believable.

Skillfully adapted by Simon Beaufoy from Vikas Swarup’s Q&A novel, Slumdog Millionaire benefits immensely from Danny Boyle’s direction and cooperation with India co-director Loveleen Tandan. Masterfully blending all the important elements — including cinematography, acting, editing, music and pacing — these filmmakers have given us a unique and memorable film.

(Released by Fox Searchlight Films and rated “R” for some violence, disturbing images and language.)

One Angry Man
by Betty Jo Tucker

Delivering one of the most riveting performances of his career, Clive Owen makes The International a must-see for thriller fans. The film also boasts great location shots and an incredible gunfight inside the Guggenheim Museum — plus lovely co-star Naomi Watts — but it’s Owen who earned my rapt attention as an Interpol Agent becoming angrier and angrier during his search for justice.

Louis Salinger (Owen) is hot on the trail of illegal actions by a powerful world bank. When his partner dies mysteriously — and right before a bank bigwig is about to reveal valuable information concerning the bank’s underhanded dealings, Louis pairs up with Eleanor Whitman (Watts), a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney who’s just as eager to bring down the culprits. The complex investigation takes Louie and Eleanor to Milan, Berlin, Istanbul and back to New York City. Facing obstacles at every turn, these two learn how difficult and dangerous it is to go up against such an influential financial institution. What can they possibly do to stop this international banking giant?

As played by Watts, Eleanor appears in control of her emotions during most of their important mission. In contrast, Owen portrays Louis as a man obsessed with righting the injustices he discovers. With every furious look and intense vocal inflection, this talented British actor shows how deeply Louis abhors the bank’s entrenched power and the nefarious way the officials thwart any investigation into their money laundering, arms trading and interference with governments.

Visually, The International proves thrillers don’t need jerky camera work to be exciting, thanks to cinematographer Frank Griebe (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer). I loved the artistic overhead shots and the way Griebe showcases stunning architecture in each international location. Although the plot can be a bit hard to follow at times, some of the dialogue is priceless. My favorite line comes from Wilhelm Wexler (Armin Mueller-Stahl), one of the bank conspirators. “The difference between real life and fiction is that fiction has to make sense,” Wexler tells Louis.

No review of The International would be complete without praising its amazing Guggenheim Museum sequence. This Museum has been criticized for overshadowing the art displayed within — and similarly, the film’s remarkable action filmed there might overshadow the movie. I still can’t figure out how it was done. But I’m definitely glad it turned out so well.

Kudos to director Tom Tykwer (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) for his deft direction as well as to new screenwriter Eric Singer for his timely script. After sitting through the dreadful Confessions of a Shopaholic on the same day as watching The International, I also feel extremely grateful to everyone else associated with the latter film.

(Released by Columbia Pictures and rated “R” for some sequences of violence and language.)

For more information about this film, go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Don’t Bring It On
by Betty Jo Tucker
Pay attention, all you cheerleader wannabes. To be successful at cheerleading, you must possess athletic ability, enthusiasm, energy and a strong sense of purpose. Fortunately, you do not have to sit through Fired Up! Sadly, this awful movie about two high school football players who decide to participate in a summer cheerleading camp ranks on a par with Confessions of a Shopaholic as far as lack of genuine humor is concerned. Everything seems forced in both films, which results in annoying scenes instead of amusing ones playing out on screen while viewers decide whether to stay or leave the theater. Being blessed with a high tolerance for bad movies combined with a touch of masochism, I watched each of these films to the very end.

Proving it’s possible to ruin an excellent movie idea by executing it poorly, Fired Up! bears no resemblance to Bring It On, my favorite film about cheerleaders. Director Will Gluck includes a scene showing cheerleaders watching the earlier feature and reciting the dialogue right along with the cast. What a mistake! That simply serves as a reminder about the much higher quality of Bring It On. In Fired Up!, most dialogue gets shouted rather than spoken like conversations among real people. The biggest offender in this regard is Eric Christian Olsen, who plays Nick, the captain of the football team and one of the guys who goes to cheerleading camp. Because Olsen delivered such a fine performance in TV’s Brothers & Sisters, I was quite surprised by his exaggerated work here. When Olsen isn’t trying to imitate Jim Carrey, he definitely makes a better impression.

Olsen’s co-star, Nicolas D’Agosto, appears a bit more subdued. He portrays Eric’s best friend Shaun, who falls in love with Carly (Sarah Roemer), the head cheerleader at Gerald Ford High School. It’s Shaun’s feelings for Sarah that lead to a change in plans for the two cheerleading camp interlopers. Originally, their goal involved hooking up with a variety of gorgeous girls. Helping their team win the annual competition failed to interest them at all. Will they overcome their self-serving behavior and be able to save the day? (Unfortunately, by the end of this misguided teen movie, it’s hard to care one way or the other — but no doubt some members of its young target audience will still be hoping for a happy ending.)

Roemer (Disturbia) stands out in Fired Up! She’s the only cast member who comes across as a real human being. Exploited completely are two wonderful veteran actors, John Michael Higgins (The Break Up) and Philip Baker Hall (The Insider) as the cheerleading camp director and football coach, respectively.  Both Higgins and Hall seem pressured to overplay their roles, and it saddens me to see them misused in this way.

Fired Up! should have been hosed down.

(Released by Screen Gems and rated “PG-13″ for crude and sexual content throughout, partial nudity, language and some teen partying.)