Doubt
Lawyer's original review is here. 4 superb performances (Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Viola Davis, and Amy Adams) are too good for the simplistic story about doubt, faith, and gossip in a 1964 Catholic School. The imminent cultural changes are palpable and the use of greens and whites are appropriate for the chilly interiors and exteriors of the buildings and people. The main problem is that it’s confined by its theater origins and seems too small to be worthy of the acting talent. B
Yes Man
Lawyer's original review is here. Mediocre in every way, a high concept is wasted on the easy jokes. The movie takes no risks and retreads 40-Year Old Virgin's chase finale (complete with 80s nostalgia song). Jim Carrey, Bradley Cooper, and Zooey Deschanel are all likable but are let down by the script. I did like Luis Guzman's scene on the ledge. C
The Day the Earth Stood Still
In the 1951 original, aliens were trying to convince earthlings to give up nuclear weapons. Now aliens are going to destroy humankind because of the irreparable damage of greenhouse gases. Keanu Reeves wooden acting suits his alien character but Jennifer Connelly seems bored. The Christ allegory in the original is thrown out in favor of a lecture that we heard in The Simpsons Movie and The Happening. The special effects are OK, but the plot plods along without anything interesting or new happening in the last 2/3 of the film. It’s an unnecessary remake that provides no new insight or excitement. C-
Saturday, April 11, 2009
3 Very Recent DVD Releases
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4 comments:
Doubt was like an overly dramatic and austere Law and Order: SVU - probably the most overpraised film of 2008 (other than the Reader).
On a related note, Frost/Nixon will be relased on DVD 4/21.
i liked doubt better than either of you. it gets a B+ from me. I agree that the original play has limited it too much, but the film looks and feels right. more to the point, i didn't find the doubt and faith pieces simplistic. quite to the contrary, the picture of a woman struggling with her faith while working in the business of faith, giving up pieces of her faith in order to protect those around her, i found that all very interesting.
I may have missed it but I didn't see a hint of doubt in Meryl's performance or the script until the last scene. She was so sure of herself that she was able to take the crucifix off and put it on the table. I'll look for that specifically when the film makes it to cable.
Yes, I agree, the era was recreated well and sacrificing part of herself to protect the boy is interesting. Viola Davis's motivations and sacrifices were equally interesting.
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