Ed's Review Dot Com

Sony Pictures

Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer

This was a hard movie to watch.  It could have been a lot better. The story covers the last years of Tolstoy’s life, and as such doesn’t quite cut it as a biopic of Tolstoy’s life.  It’s more about Tolstoy’s death.

There are lots of minor stories going on here, and people who glom onto someone’s fame to try to be famous themselves by being near someone famous, but Tolstoy takes all of the devoted followers with a grain of salt.  If they’re trying to preach to us, that doesn’t quite work either.

Obviously this is finally about two people who really love each other who can’t seem to stand each other.  Tolstoy’s wife obviously sees him being used and taken advantage of by these devout followers, and is concerned that he is giving away everything for nothing.  He, on the other hand, doesn’t like to be told what to do and has a fierce independence in his own mind, but is trying to be stubborn enough to never give in.

Finally he’s had enough and decides to simply run away, which has the feel of a 10 year old slamming the door and walking down the street hoping and hoping that Mom or Dad will come running begging them to come back.

I can see why these roles were recognized by the Academy Awards as both Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer gave riveting performances.   This is the kind of film that makes me sigh when the credits roll and then fire up Wikipedia to look up Tolstoy to get more info on him.  This guy wrote War and Peace, but who WAS he REALLY?

Although it didn’t blow me away, and at times very slow,  I’m still glad I watched it.  It’s educational.  🙂

Dreamworks SKG

Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve

Superbad or American Pie it’s not!  This is not all a raunchy teenage sex comedy.  It’s more of a simple romantic love story.  Oh yeah, it’s got a couple scenes that could fall into that category, but it’s much more The Wedding Singer than it is Porky’s.

This effort is to find out why people might date someone more than two points above or below them on the hot scale.   If you’re a six, you can date a 5 or a 7, but you must never jump 2 points or more on the scale or it will be disaster.

There are so many truths in this movie.  The hot chick dates an ordinary guy because he’s safe.  The loser girlfriend who dumped her guy to “move up” finds he’s very attractive once he’s with someone else.   Typical story, get the girl, can’t believe it, screw it up, decide she’s worth it but it’s too late, and go chase her down at the last moment.  These have been done before, but still it’s a cute, harmless, heartwarming film.

This is a date movie.    Don’t go into it expecting more.  But also be aware that the language is pretty hash, so if you get offended by naughty words, this one will make you mad. But if you go in with low expectations, some popcorn, and someone to cuddle with, you’ll probably enjoy some laughs.

P.S.  This was filmed in Pittsburgh, so if you’re from “The Burgh” you’re going to enjoy the scenery!!

Summit Entertainment

Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Pierce Brosnan

Wow, this is dark!  A moving and touching film that is bound to strike a chord with almost anyone due to the misadventures of one or another of the characters.  Everybody has problems in this movie.  And I mean everyone!

A terrible family tragedy has fractured Tyler’s family, and everyone has issues.  They’re trying to work them out, but nobody seems to be in control or in charge.   Everyone handles their tradgedy badly and in different ways.  If anything this film is a character study of dysfunctional people.

This is a typical independent film, and as such it’s really slow.  Also the ending is rather unfulfilling, but if you can handle independant type films, and can manage to get through the start of the film, it gets a lot better in the last half hour when it all comes together.

I rated this rather harshly in my opinion because it was so slow to develop, and you really couldn’t like any of these characters as everybody is flawed.  Maybe too much of it’s close to home, and maybe I’m not fair.   Perhaps I’ll come back in time after digesting it, and raise the rating.  What do you think?  Is it better than my gut tells me it is?

Oh, and if you’re Team Edward, this isn’t the same guy.  Well, yeah it is, but he won’t look or sound like the same guy!  He almost had me fooled.  🙂

Universal Pictures

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost

Pirate Radio was not what I expected it to be, so how could it get 4 stars?  Well, it’s hard to say.  First of all, I’m a child of the 60’s.  Those were my high school days (class of 69).  The British Invasion was right in my time.  So the music on the soundtrack is as good as listening to oldies radio any day.  Secondly, it’s funny.  Not rollicking roll off your chair funny, but lots of gags and pranks to keep you entertained.  And it’s typical British potty humor as well.

After that, however, if you have no connection to the 60’s, you will definitely want to drop this one a star or two!

If anything, it’s more a documentary on those evil people who forced our kids to listen to the devil’s music!  The government conspiracy is unrealistic, and none of the issues are really resolved.  It’s more like, “Let’s make a movie about the 60’s and put lots of good music in it.  What can we think of for a setting?”

I would love to see the real life story of Wolfman Jack, for example, back in the days when “Pirate Radio” was a real phenomenon. That’s something more in my personal experience.  But it did have some basis in reality.  Though pure fiction, it does appear to be based on a real ship (Radio Caroline)  But since it’s fiction this movie seemed to me to be stretched a bit from reality, and a little too much to swallow.  But the music was great, and the jokes were pretty decent, and the egg prank…how did I not see that one coming???   I enjoyed it a lot.  If you love the oldies, you will too!

Artina Films

Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult, Mathew Goode

This is a dark disturbing movie, but I figured to watch because of the Oscar nominations for Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.   This is a typical “indie” film, dark and slow to develop.  A professor, nearly destroyed by the sudden loss of the “love of his life” can’t decide whether to live or die.  The girl who always loved him and was his best friend, would be lover, but he’s just so damn gay!   So she’s not much help.

I can see where this is a classic 1 star – 5 star movie.   Those who love slow character development stories which require lots of thought and emotion to “get it” will love it, and those who like a bit more action will hate it.   I suspect very few will be in between.

Well, I’m in between.  I gave it 3 stars because it was painfully slow and hard to get into, and it was very difficult to watch at times, but when you do invest the time to watch it, in the end you have a lot to think about.

The performances were good.  The characters ended up well developed, and the irony is a bit over the top, but unexpected.  Meanwhile, there was well enough meat in the story to sink your teeth in to if you take the time and energy to follow it.  It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but for the Oscar worthy performances, if you have the time and patience to invest in a well told story of misfits, this will be well worth your while.  But if you hate these kinds of movies, you’ve been warned!

What is it with all the dark movies coming out this month.  If I don’t find something light, I may end up depressed myself!  🙂