Snap Judgments - a Quick Review of 5 Movies

Never Let Me Go

In the 1970s-90s, kids are farmed for their organs to keep the real population alive longer. Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, and Andrew Garfield are 3 who only exist to provide body parts. A ghastly premise in a dystopian alternate universe very effectively explores humanity, fate, memories, and purpose and the film is summed up quite nicely by Mulligan in a closing speech. But a major flaw is no character ever expressing the desire to escape. The overly despondent atmosphere, grim visuals, and dreary weather makes this a difficult sit. Think The Road - just supplant cannibalism with forced organ donation. B

Morning Glory
Rachel McAdams is the new executive producer of a low-end national morning show. Her new host (a curmudgeonly Harrison Ford) doesn't want to be there and hates everyone. Her other collaborators (including Diane Keaton) is a rag-tag group who must eventually pull it together to raise ratings and prevent cancellation. The film wants to be a slapstick, witty, rapid-banter romantic comedy but fast only works if you're funny or interesting. The whiplash tonal shifts and impossible plot contrivances hamper the all-star cast, who are all great - Jeff Goldblum and Patrick Wilson included. C+

The Next Three Days

Russell Crowe's wife (Elizabeth Banks) is incarcerated and he alone believes her innocence. After a strong meeting with Liam Neeson, Crowe spends over half the movie scheming (and planning, and maneuvering) to get her out. The breakout and chase scenes that fill the second half are exciting. Crowe is great as he smartly thinks things through. And Brian Dennehy is superb as his father-in-law - he's able to convey so much without speaking. But Banks doesn't have the dramatic weight to balance everything out. The uneven pacing and meandering plot could have been tightened by writer-director Paul Haggis. C+

Secretariat
After the success of Seabiscuit, this film was inevitable. This Disney-fied version plays it straight down the middle and a rich white woman (who lucks into the greatest racing horse ever) comparing herself to Job is hardly endearing. But a spirited Diane Lane and a colorful John Malkovich make up for the predictability of Randall Wallace's film. I'd be lying if I didn't admit the ending had me engaged and the use of "Oh, Happy Day" was great. B-

Devil

Five strangers are trapped in a skyscraper elevator - and begin to be murdered one by one. Turns out one of them is the devil, but which is it? Cops try to figure it out through security cameras. M. Night Shyamalan supplies the story but everything else is left to younger, hungrier talent. This includes the no-name cast whose anonymity serves the story well. The film wisely clocks in at a scant 80 minutes. The message of forgiveness is refreshing and the most religious character is respected. (A Priest follow-up would be appreciated.) B