Snap Judgments - A Quick Review of 5 Movies

The Losers

A special forces team (including Columbus Short and Chris Evans) get betrayed by a wacky, sadistic (and occasionally funny) CIA operative (Jason Patric) and vow revenge. After a lackluster opening sequence, the film settles down nicely with the charismatic cast making the most of the ridiculous plot. But Sylvain White's "direction" consists of choppy editing, senseless camera moves, and pointless speed changes. Worth it for the likable cast (including the sensational and sublime Zoe Saldana). B-

From Paris with Love
John Travolta bounced back with The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and he seems to be having even more fun here playing a CIA agent sent to Paris to uncover a terrorist attack. His contact is Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who tries hard, but can't reach Travolta's intensity. Directed by Pierre Morel, the film is brisk, exciting, and fun, but Morel struggles (as he did with last year's Taken) with the sentimental stuff. It's refreshing for someone in Hollywood (or Paris) to acknowledge that most terrorists subscribe to the Islamic faith. B-

Remember Me

A melodramatic and overwrought drama about a young couple (Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin) with overbearing fathers (Pierce Brosnan and Chris Cooper, respectively). The way tragedy affects family members differently and how they deal with it is a well-worn topic. Brosnan fairs best with some speeches about what it takes to be an adult. The climax (spoiler link) has nothing to do with the rest of the film and feels exploitative. Pattinson is a good screen presence but isn't nearly as funny or charming as he's been led to believe. C-

The Killer Inside Me
In the 1950s, a small town Texas deputy (Casey Affleck) discovers his dark side after a meeting with a prostitute (Jessica Alba). Horrific violence and moral ambiguity in small town America is certainly nothing new nearly 25 years after Blue Velvet so there's nothing shocking or revelatory about the film. Affleck seems bored and his narration will lull you to sleep. And the political shenanigans clutter the film rather than providing any insight. Brutal violence and explicit sex only for the sake of themselves. C-

Brooklyn's Finest

3 Brooklyn cops (one undercover - Don Cheadle, one retiring - Richard Gere, and one unabashedly corrupt - Ethan Hawke) have their cliched stories told simultaneously by Antoine Fuqua, barely intersecting near the climax. The individual stories have compelling moments but they lack a cohesive point other than cops have a tough job. The acting is great all around with Hawke being the notable exception, inexplicably stuck in the strung-out white trash role also recently seen in What Doesn't Kill You and Staten Island. And we've seen the plot all before, too, from Serpico to a million cop TV shows. What we haven't seen recently is Wesley Snipes, who makes a welcome return. C+