It's Friday: Any Good Movies Part II?

[Naomi Hirahara]

Okay, let's hear your recommendations. We saw ONCE--great, thumbs-up. Went to Ken Watanabe's MEMORIES OF TOMORROW. It was sappy and melodramatic, yet I was still affected. In terms of mystery/crime flicks, haven't seen many recently, other than Clint Eastwood's A PERFECT WORLD with Kevin Costner on DVD. Really good movie--best acting from Costner. Don't remember hearing about it when the movie first came out. Bad title. And as I mentioned in the last movie thread, finally saw BRICK and adored it. You have to listen to the director's commentary. Very informative.

[Naomi Hirahara]

Yeah, I'm not really interested in THE BRAVE ONE. Even the title turns me off. I don't know if I am categorically against vigilante story threads. What was Billy Jack? The details are fuzzy, but I remember liking it. And of course samurai movies with Toshiro Mifune. I guess he was a reluctant vigilante or more of a mercenary.

[Naomi Hirahara]

Saw 3:10 to YUMA, EASTERN PROMISES, and INTO THE WILD.

Enjoyed all of them. It seems that folks are in two camps over INTO THE WILD, and I'm in the camp that loved it. Yes, the protagonist was deified, but I felt Sean Penn did integrate some slight touches that challenged his motivations. A great piece of filmmaking--Penn's going to get an Oscar nomination, I think.

3:10 to YUMA had the best straight-ahead story. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe excellent as usual.

The tone of EASTERN PROMISES was the most consistent out of the three. And the fight scene in the sauna--incredible. I'm a wimp, so I admit I closed my eyes during a few of the scenes. Viggo Mortenson is so good.

Three great movies--all will be nominated for awards, I'm sure. But I have to ask: where are the women? LUST, CAUTION is supposed to have a breakout performance by a young actress. If someone sees it this weekend, please report back.

[ed goldberg]

Hi,
Glad you liked my post. I see my function as at least 50 percent consumer info, since the entertainment dollar doesn't go as far these days. I am not a film critic, I'm a movie reviewer. I don't dismiss the artistic content, far from it, but I don't do think pieces either.
Later.

[Karyn J. Powers]

Saw GONE BABY GONE, last week. I felt is was okay as a stand alone movie, but a weak interpretation of the book. Casey A..too young to be the protag and too many plot changes for the sake of sub characters.