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Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Like my pal Bob Longino says, see ‘Bourne’ this weekend
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s my indubitable list of what matters most among new movies this weekend:
1. “The Bourne Ultimatum.” What? Are you stupid? Go see it. It’s the best movie of the summer. AJC’s Bob Longino says so. So do I.
2. “Becoming Jane.” Not quite what Jane Austen would have written herself and we’d much rather see Anne Hathaway in those long-legged “The Devil Wears Prada” boots.
3. “El Cantante.” J-Lo and M-Ant in “Gigli, Part Deux.”
4. “Hot Rod.” Can’t say I’ve seen it, but some of star Andy Samberg’s “Saturday Night Live” music video skits have been hysterical.
5. “Bratz.” Wake me when it’s over. And if not, then kill me now.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Alan Smithee
Brace yourself for ‘Bourne Ultimatum’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Moviegoers can take the title “The Bourne Ultimatum” quite literally — it is maximum action, demanding of attention and, if you like spy movies, probably the film of the summer.
Granted, I like both of Matt Damon’s earlier “Bourne” movies. Like with the second film, “The Bourne Supremacy,” this one is directed by Brit Paul Greengrass, a most deserving Oscar nominee earlier this year for the gripping, you-are-there “United 93.”
He’s applied the same principles he used in “United” to “Ultimatum,” which officially debuts in theaters on Friday but also has late-night screenings available to the paying public on Thursday.
Get ready to hold onto your seat. The action is blistering, comes in orchestrated waves and culminates in what our spy Jason Bourne’s been after all along — the truth behind who he is, why he was a killer for U.S. intelligence and who’s responsible for everything that’s happened to him.
Of course, it would always help if a moviegoer had seen the first two movies, but enough information is parceled out that, not long into the movie, anyone should be able to discern what is happening and why.
As of Tuesday night, the film had a 94 percent approval rating on Rottentomatoes.com overall and 100 percent approval from “cream-of-the-crop” critics.
Here’s much of what fans will be talking about after “Ultimatum” opens:
The pacing: This film is frenetic and finely tuned. The action builds in ever increasing waves — foot races become motorcycle chases that become car chases — with welcome, time-to-breathe pauses between each. And they’re punctuated with background music of staccato violins and percussion that builds and builds, creating tension and complementing the action. The storyline also hops between a heady number of places — Moscow; Langley, Va.; Turin, Italy; Paris; London; New York, Madrid and Tangier, Morocco.
The fights: They’re plentiful and involve blistering hand-to-hand combat between Bourne and various police and espionage agents in several countries. The ultimate fisticuff fray occurs in Tangier.
The camera: The visuals are freewheeling with ample use of hand-held cameras. It can make a moviegoer dizzy. But while the action is frenzied, there is consistently just enough visual connection to realize exactly what is happening.
The cast: New faces include David Strathairn, Scott Glenn and Albert Finney as U.S. feds and Paddy Considine as a reporter for England’s The Guardian. Returning with Damon are Julia Stiles and Joan Allen.
(Click here to view photos from the premiere of “The Bourne Ultimatum.”)
Permalink | Comments (12) | Categories: Bob Longino
J-Lo and her hubby-from-the-block in ‘El Cantante’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
J-Lo is up front and center in the new movie “El Cantante,” which translates to the singer and is about the adult life of popular salsa swinger Hector Lavoe, played by her hubby-from-the-block Marc Anthony.
Seems odd doesn’t it? After all the story is about his character.
But the movie, which opens nationwide on Friday, is clearly focused on Jennifer Lopez. She gets a series of scenes before we even see M-Ant.
You make the call whether this drug-laden, performance-happy, love-bites melodrama is “Gigli: The Musical.” I just know Lopez, who plays Lavoe’s firecracker wife Puchi in “El Cantante,” has been needing a good movie with her name on it for quite some time. I’ll be surprised if this is it.
Here’s what salsa fans and moviegoers will most likely be talking about after “El Cantante” opens:
The music: It’s frequent, energetic and involving. Among the songs Anthony sings: “Que Lio,” “Aquanile,” Escandalo” and, of course, “El Cantante.” Almost all the performance songs are accompanied by large subtitles that traverse the screen.
Puchi coochie coo: Lopez takes her role and acts like she’s Barbra Streisand in “The Way We Were.” Songs sung by Anthony suddenly seem to focus on her. She gets the most emotional breakdown scenes. She consistently appears in impeccable makeup and and a variety of hairstyles. Moviegoers will note one very revealing dress that sets off a family argument about her faithfulness.
The slo-mo: Director Leon Ichaso has a habit of throwing in brief, slow-motion moments in almost every scene. After a family argument, there’s slo-mo on Lopez’s face as she rubs her eyes. Just before his character does a bit of coke, there’s slo-mo of Anthony as he’s seated in his car. There’s slo-mo of Lopez stroking his hair, slo-mo at a party, slo-mo onstage, slo-mo in a bubble bath.
The drugs: Hector and Puchi share an obsession not only for each other but for coke. He goes heavy on the heroin.
The language: Lopez utters the first f-word. And the four-letter words erupt from there from time to time. The movie is Rated R mainly for the drug use and profanity.
(Click here to view photos from the Puerto Rico premiere of “El Cantante.”)
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Bob Longino
Reasons to love ‘The Simpsons Movie’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I have a distinct preference for “The Simpsons” of long ago — as in seasons four and five especially.
So while ye masses might embrace “The Simpsons Movie” a little tighter than myself, there are still many things in the big-screen version that I liked. Such as:
1. Homer’s Marriott military uniform. The epaulets certainly “made” the disguise.
2. Maggie. We have long been led to believe that Lisa is the brightest bulb in Simpsondom, but clearly little Maggie’s got everyone’s number.
3. Spider-Pig. Well, I thought it was funny the first time I saw it in a preview with Homer singing his “Spider-Pig” song. Then the marketing campaign ran the whole bit into the ground. It got so bad, the song was used in radio ads. Why would anyone in his or her right mind separate a joke’s visuals from its audio? Bizarre.
Assuming you liked “The Simpsons Movie,” which parts did you find most funny? By the way, I saw the whole movie and I don’t recall seeing much of Patty and Selma. Did I just miss them? And while there might have been a wee too much Ned Flanders in the film, certainly there were other aspects you appreciated.
Permalink | Comments (22) | Categories: Alan Smithee
