Wanted

Since it is my policy not to reveal plot points when reviewing a film, this review is going to be short. Wanted is a terrible film because it’s unbelievable, the stunts are nothing that we haven’t seen before and the storyline is way too predictable. As a viewer this is one of those films that leaves you saying, “oh, that wouldn’t happen,” too often, followed by laughter. The film just doesn’t work.

I don’t blame the acting, or even the directing, since the script is that poorly written. The premise of an all-telling loom revealing the fate of the peace-loving world should have shelved this film before it ever got to production. Since it didn’t, director Timur Bekmambetov didn’t have much choice but try and make the production values strong. They are, and the stunts are kind of cool to watch (even if they aren’t that original) which is why I’m giving the film a little more than one projector. The acting is what you expect from an action film; nothing special but good enough, however, even Morgan Feeman and Angelina Jolie can’t save this film.

Rating: 1/2

Film’s website: http://www.wantedmovie.com

Cloverfield

Ok, so after all the hype I finally got a chance to see this film and two days later I still have a headache!! I was hoping that this film would be different than “Blair Witch,” but unfortunately it was not. From the contrived storyline, to the horrible camera work, to the poor acting this film misses on almost every level. 

When I found out that JJ Abrams was involved in this film I expected, at the very least, an interesting storyline that would keep me guessing throughout the film. It’s what he does so well on Lost and Alias. It never materializes. When I looked a little further into who did what it became clear as to why…. Abrams brings all of his TV buddies to the film (writer Drew Goddard and director Matt Reeves) resulting into a glorified TV movie that fails to make an impact on the big screen. Now, I’m not one to bash TV people crossing over to film (or vice versa) but if you are going to make the crossover you better understand how the medium changes how you write and direct the film. Goddard and Reeves fail miserably in this regard. Watching this film seems like you are watching a television pilot. The storyline is being told just to set up the series, not to stand on it’s own as a quality film. Since Cloverfield 2 is arleady in pre-production it’s obvious that this was their intent, but that still doesn’t make this film any better.

More specifically, I hated the camera work and all-too-convenient plot devices. First the camera work. It gave me a headache and it didn’t add a single thing to the story. That’s the worst thing. It was a gimmick. I’m fine with taking chances (remember the old M*A*S*H episode told from the POV of the patient - brilliant) but it has to enhance the story or it just stands out as “look ma, no hands.” Second, the writing. I hate it when characters are just plain stupid or doing things that are totally unreal. What am I talking about? A monster attacks the city from the water and the military decides the best way to evacuate the city is over a bridge?? How about a skyscraper falls against another and neither collapse AND are structurally sound enough for four people to walk to the top. Oh, and a helicopter crashes and only our heroes survive (did they steal this from that ER episode?).

Maybe I’m being unfair here. Maybe I expected too much from Abrams and crew, but if I were JJ and I was making the crossover into film I would go and get an established film crew to make my idea fly. Unfortunately he didn’t and the result is a truly bad made-for-tv horror film that belongs on “Creature Features” not the big screen.

Rating:

Film’s website: http://www.cloverfieldmovie.com

Feast of Love

What happened with this movie? How can a film with such great acting (I’ll watch Morgan Freeman do anything!) be so disappointing? Maybe this is one of those films that tried too hard to adapt a book that just wasn’t going to make a good film (see Stephen King’s “It”) or director Robert Benton lost his way in the editing room. Either way, this is a frustrating film to watch.

The first third of the film tests your best puzzle-solving skills as you never know where you are in the film’s timeline. People are meeting, sleeping together, getting married, and getting divorced so quickly you never know how much time has passed. It’s even confusing watching the sex scenes because it’s not clear, at first, who is sleeping with whom. I know one of the themes of this movie is about finding one’s sole mate, but when you confuse the audience to the point of laughter (that’s what happened in my house) it just doesn’t work.

Once the film settles down and all the characters meet their sole mates, the story is actually good. Why? Because the assemble cast delivers a great performance. Freeman is great but so is Greg Kinner as a hapless romantic, Radha Mitchell as a cold adulteress and Toby Hemmingway as a doomed lover. Two performances of note here are given by Alexa Davalos and Jane Alexander who play strong women struggling to overcome loss. Both are subtle, yet powerful performances.

If not for the great acting and strong ending in this film I wouldn’t give it a single projector, but on a slow day with nothing else to do, it might make an ok rental.

Rating: 1/2

Film’s Website: http://www.feastoflovefilm.com/