This film is so expertly directed, so wonderfully acted, so well shot and so well designed, that it is very easy to overlook its mediocre narrative, and mistake it for a masterpiece. However, the story, loosely (but not loosely enough) adapted from a ridiculous and horribly dated novel by Upton Sinclair "Oil", is so simplistic and far-fetched, it drags this otherwise brilliantly realized movie down the drain. All characters are completely devoid of any complexity - they are like refugees from a Soviet socialist realist drama from the Stalinist era. They lack any psychological credibility whatsoever. Paul Thomas Anderson is a wonderfully gifted filmmaker; his mistake was in trying to adapt a very crappy piece of stupid socialist propaganda about evil Yankee exploiters.
February 2, 2007
There Will Be Blood (2007) **
This film is so expertly directed, so wonderfully acted, so well shot and so well designed, that it is very easy to overlook its mediocre narrative, and mistake it for a masterpiece. However, the story, loosely (but not loosely enough) adapted from a ridiculous and horribly dated novel by Upton Sinclair "Oil", is so simplistic and far-fetched, it drags this otherwise brilliantly realized movie down the drain. All characters are completely devoid of any complexity - they are like refugees from a Soviet socialist realist drama from the Stalinist era. They lack any psychological credibility whatsoever. Paul Thomas Anderson is a wonderfully gifted filmmaker; his mistake was in trying to adapt a very crappy piece of stupid socialist propaganda about evil Yankee exploiters.
Smiley Face (2007) **
Uneven, but often hilarious comedy about one very, very bad day in the life of girl stoned out of her mind. Directed by Gregg Araki.
Lars and the Real Girl (2007) **
Uneven, but often funny comedy about a deranged and dysfunctional loner (Ryan Gosling) who falls in love with a sex doll named Bianca. Emily Mortimer plays his sweet sister-in-law, Patricia Clarkson is his non-judgemental psychiatrist, but it's Kelli Garner ("Bully", ''The Aviator", "Havoc 2: Normal Adolescent Behavior") who steals the movie as Bianca's determined rival.
The Kite Runner (2007) **
Deeply disturbing, powerful tale about two Afghan boys. Memorable, but uneven. The first half is great, the second half is too conventional.
Norbit (2007) **
Gone Baby Gone (2007) **
Gritty police drama about the kidnapping of a little girl. An adaptation of a novel by Dennis Lehane ("Mystic River"). Ben Affleck's feature film debut, starring his younger brother Casey.
The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007) **
Overlong, interesting, but ultimately disappointing western about the murder of Jesse James.
Copying Beethoven (2007) **
Diane Kruger plays a female composer who befriends a deaf Beethoven (Ed Harris). Directed by Agnieszka Holland.
Sweeney Todd (2007) **
Tim Burton's adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical about an insane barber in Victorian London. The art direction, the cinematography, the costume, the songs and the performances are all first rate. But the simplistic story - an insane mix of "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "Oliver Twist" - drags it all down. Jolting, but forgettable.
Michael Clayton (2007) **
A failed attempt to imitate a John Grisham legal thriller formula, with a bit of "Network" thrown in for good measure. George Clooney stars as a go-to man working for a large legal firm with some unsavory clients. Boring, preachy and lame. The first half of this corporate thriller is needlessly complicated and confusing. The second half is disappointingly simple and straightforward.
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