December 16, 2009

Movie Review Roundup

Some brief reviews of recent holiday releases:

- Invictus. It's way too on-the-nose, and every emotion is explained and explained again. But the climactic rugby match is the best-staged sports scene in quite some time. In all, it's my second favorite Clint-directed film of the decade, after "Gran Torino." (Full review to come next week.)

- Everybody's Fine. Eh. Good to see Robert DeNiro actually acting again- rather than doing silly comedy- but this is a slight, very weak effort. I agree with Tony Scott on "At the Movies"- I didn't believe for a second that all of these people possibly came from the same family. I also accurately predicted the final scene in the first five minutes, and no I haven't seen the Italian version.

- Me and Orson Welles. Liked everything about it except for the "Me." Wonderful recreation of 1930s New York, pretty good top-to-bottom cast, beautifully staged, and a performance by Christian McKay as Orson Welles that should win awards (they should make a ten-part HBO mini-series where McKay plays "Citizen Kane" Welles, "Touch of Evil" Welles, interviewed-by-Bogdanovich Welles, etc.) The only drawback? A super-hollow lead performance from Zac Efron, who isn't the slightest bit convincing as a '30s character.

- It's Complicated. The usual middle-aged female wish fulfillment from Nancy Meyers, essentially remaking her own "Something's Gotta Give," only with Meryl Streep replacing Diane Keaton and Alec Baldwin (as her ex-husband) stepping in for Jack Nicholson. There's some funny moments, and Baldwin and Streep are great together, but it's generally weak overall. And the less said about John Krasinski's embarrassing turn as Streep's girly-man son-in-law, the better. (Full review to come later.)

There's also supposedly a new "Broken Lizard" movie that guest-stars both Carla Gallo and Robin from "How I Met Your Mother," but it appears to barely be getting a theatrical release at all. "Avatar" tomorrow night...

Posted by Stephen Silver at December 16, 2009 01:36 PM
Comments

Did you see A Single Man yet?

Posted by: A at December 17, 2009 12:02 AM

I'm looking forward to what you have to write about Avatar. The trailer seems as if it could go either way: really good, or really bad.

Posted by: Emily at December 17, 2009 11:20 AM
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