Review – Punch Drunk Love

This movie is actually kinda hard to review. It almost goes without saying that it’s likely to disappoint many of Adam Sandler’s fans, but that’s fine with me. It’s too film-school arty by far, but I’m used to that. The principal problem here is that most of the production is exceptionally annoying. We’re watching the world from the perspective of an emotionally-differently-abled small business owner, and his stiff, awkward outlook on life gives his story an unpleasant flavor. The dialogue seems contrived, the plot uneven, and even the soundtrack is so abrasive that at points it set my teeth on edge. But then came the conclusion. In the last few minutes of the movie everything comes together so nicely that by some miracle the whole thing turns out worthwhile. So if anyone ever tells you the end doesn’t justify the means, you might suggest this as a possible exception to the rule. It also served to remind me of the importance of watching movies all the way through. Mildly amusing

Review – Spun

Ready to view the world through the eyes of a witless meth junkie? I wasn’t. Generally I’m of the opinion that – while I’m not rich by any stretch of the imagination – I do have enough money that if the unlikely urge to see what doing meth is like ever hits me I’ll just buy some rather than spending an hour and a half watching a stupid, jump-cut movie clearly designed to simulate the experience for the audience. The production includes some vaguely entertaining moments, particularly the animated sequences. But they’re far too few and far between. For the most part this is a gaggle of up-and-comings like Brittany Murphy matched up with down-and-goings like Mickey Rourke in a tedious, meandering story of the “kids, just say no” ilk. See if desperate

Review – Sick

What else would you call a documentary about Bob Flanagan, cystic fibrosis victim and masochist performance artist? This documentary is a real mixed bag. Some of the scenes, particularly footage of Flanagan’s performances, is fascinating stuff. However, a lot of the more personal material is hard to watch. For example, the director decides to include an extended sequence of shots of Bob in various places and times coughing and struggling for breath against the symptoms of CF. By this point in the movie the audience is familiar with the effects of his disease, so the sequence comes across as annoying and pointless. I’m also inclined to agree with Bob’s friend Sarah who says in one of the “special features” documentaries that watching him die in the end is a great deal harder than watching him nail the end of his dick to a board. And speaking of the special features, almost all of them are copiously infected with the director’s endless prattling, a damn shame given that he had a subject who was much more compelling than the movie made about him. That notwithstanding, those with at least moderately strong stomachs should enjoy most of this production. Mildly amusing

Review – A Little Princess

Obviously this one’s a little outside my usual viewing habits. That notwithstanding, I’ll admit to kinda liking this movie. Sure, it’s cliché-ridden, jam-packed with false gender consciousness and strange racial dynamics, afflicted with half a dozen different kinds of bad acting, and more than one or two other faults. That notwithstanding, I’d have to say that it does a charming job of subtly emphasizing the value of imagination and the inherent dignity of the human spirit, particularly the spirit of young girls struggling to keep their hopes alive in a rigid, hostile world. The acting’s not half bad, especially for a production with this many kids in it. And best of all, it manages to be charming and light-spirited most of the way through, only occasionally descending into the sort of melodrama only an uncritical child could love. On the other hand, I have it on good authority that the book is considerably better. Mildly amusing

Review – Malcolm X

When IFC last showed this movie, I turned it on thinking I might follow it loosely while I took care of some housework in my living room and kitchen. After all, I thought, it’s three and a half hours long, which meant I could accomplish a lot without worrying about switching discs or surfing away from commercial breaks. Fortunately for me – and unfortunately for my vacuuming and dish washing – I swiftly found myself wrapped up in Spike Lee’s exceptionally compelling dramatization of Alex Haley’s biography of the famous civil rights leader. Denzel Washington turns in a fine performance in the lead, aided at least a little by the slight resemblance to the man he portrays. Even if this wasn’t a fascinating film (and it is), it would be worth it just for the unflinching look at the last few years of Malcolm X’s life, particularly the Mecca sequences filmed on location (the first time an American film crew has been allowed to shoot footage for a narrative movie within the Muslims’ holy city). Clearly you’ll have to set some time aside to make it all the way through, but your commitment will be thoroughly rewarded. Worth seeing

Review – 25th Hour

Once again Spike Lee proves himself the undisputed master of the hour-long movie. And once again he kills a masterpiece graveyard dead by keeping it going for double the time he should have. The plot has tremendous potential: a former drug dealer (Ed Norton) spends time with friends, father and girlfriend on the day before he has to report for a seven-year prison sentence. The characters, dialogue and action are classic Lee. Unfortunately, at some point – it’s hard to pin the exact moment down – the production runs out of interesting character development and clever plot twists. By the end of the movie we’re actually being treated – and I use the term loosely – to a “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” sequence that takes forever to reach its thoroughly predictable conclusion. The sum of the movie’s message appears to be “white boys shouldn’t deal because they’re throwing their lower class idylls away.” The point seems trite and more than a little odd coming from Lee. With his talent and this cast he could have made a better or at least shorter movie. Mildly amusing

Review – Night and Fog

Got a little too much joy in your life? Looking for something to even out an unnatural high with an industrial-sized dose of bummer? Seek no further. At this point this relatively brief documentary on Nazi concentration camps is approaching its 50th birthday. That makes it one of the very first attempts to wrap the horror of the Holocaust up into a neat little cinematic package. Despite its somewhat intrusive artiness, this remains one of the most compelling film recountings of one of the darkest chapters in human history. Worth seeing