Movie Reviews: February ‘10

By: Ryan Deiseroth

Article Category: Movie Review

MOVIE REVIEWS
By Ryan Deiseroth

The Book of Eli
Directed by Albert Hughes
In this post-apocalyptic action/drama flick, Denzel Washington wanders a scorched and barren earth as a man with a divine mission. Washington’s character, Eli, has possession of the last bible on earth, and he has dedicated his life to preserving the word of God. The plot of the movie is relatively slow (and doesn’t quite support the surprise at the end of the film), but an action scene always seems to pop up just in the nick of time to save “Eli” from being a terribly boring movie. I could have used less of the slow bits and more of the lightning-fast scenes, but the ratio is not too far out of whack. This is a good film, though not because of the plot or acting, but because of the cinematography. The movie is shot in sepia tones, giving it a very cool, grayscale feel. “Eli” should be seen in the theater in order to get the most out of what makes it such a great experience; viewed in any other medium might make it considerably less entertaining. Something like “The Postman” meets “Road Warrior” mixed in with a little bit of “Waterworld” and a dash of some old-fashioned John Wayne, “The Book of Eli” is a cool flick, and one well worth the admission price.

Up In The Air
Directed by Jason Reitman
There have been many movies of late that aim to entertain us with stories of let-downs, heartbreaks, and other glum events that either turn out to be turning points or devastations for the main characters. Jason Reitman’s (“Juno;” “Thank you for Smoking”) character-driven drama “Up In The Air” is the latest such film of a growing sub-genre. It’s far from exciting — and certainly lacking in “wow” factors — but the understated story is completely captivating. The familiar quirks of lead man George Clooney do a good job of keeping you entertained during what could otherwise be an unbearingly boring movie. “Air” is the story of Ryan (Clooney) who travels the country working for a company that is outsourced to do the dirty work of laying off employees of large firms. He loves his life of travel and lack of commitment, but all that is about to change when he meets someone he could see himself settling down with. To make matters worse, his company begins to evolve by streaming lay-offs via the internet, eliminating his traveling and throwing his comfortable life into a blender, thereby forcing him to rethink his beloved life philosophy. Anna Kendrick plays the role of Natalie, the young inspiring girl who is heading up the corporate transition and has to travel with Ryan to get a feel for what it’s really like to fire an employee. I was very much unsatisfied with Kendrick’s acting, but as the movie progressed and her role developed I became more forgiving. However, I still cite her as the lone sore spot in the film. Character dramas often work best as rentals, but I think “Up In The Air” is worth paying the money to see on the big screen. It offers plenty of the kind of funny only George Clooney can offer, and its emotional tone is highly entertaining. To see so many people loosing their jobs is hard to watch, especially considering the current economic climate, but it’s also something that makes this such a great movie — and so easy to relate to.

The Lovely Bones
Directed by Peter Jackson
“The Lovely Bones” takes an admirable shot at committing scarce and fleeting feelings about the unexplainable to film, and Peter Jackson pulls out his “Lord of the Rings” tool kit to make it a fascinating diversion. But despite Jackson’s talented touch, “Bones” did not sit well with me. I left it with a vaguely bad feeling, and I generally don’t enjoy feeling bad. I should also add that I don’t enjoy darkly scary or suspenseful movies. “The Lovely Bones” doesn’t strictly fit into either of those categories, but the feelings it evoked were similarly discomforting. If you’re a person who likes to experience maudlin emotions, then you may find this a masterpiece. Of all the well known actors in the film, Susan Sarandon’s role of the Ab-Fab alcoholic stepmother is the only one worth mentioning; there were times when she absolutely stole the show. The plot of the film is unique — thanks to its being adapted from the bestselling novel by Alice Sebold — and took a different turn than one might expect. It’s the story of a young girl’s horrible murder as portrayed from her afterlife perspective mixed in with the emotions of loved ones coping with the tragedy. Stanley Tucci plays the unnerving murderer, and fits the role perfectly, all the way down to the creepy mustache and glasses. “The Lovely Bones” is well made, and should count as a resounding success for all parties evolved, the viewer included — as long as that viewer enjoys wallowing in negative emotions.