Zodiac - Movie Review

The true story behind the murders that many crime scholars believe to be the most perplexing series of unsolved crimes in modern history comes to the screen in chilling detail. A relentless serial killer is stalking the streets of the San Francisco Bay Area, leaving citizens locked into a constant state of panic, and baffled authorities scrambling for clues. Though the killer sadistically mocks the detectives by leaving a series of perplexing ciphers and menacing letters at the crime scenes, the investigation quickly flatlines when none of the evidence yields any solid leads. As two detectives remain steadfast in their devotion to bringing the elusive killer to justice, they soon find that the madman has control not only over their careers, but their very lives as well.

I read the Zodiac book several years ago, so I already had an interest in this subject. I find it fascinating that a serial killer can leave so many clues and go out of their way to taunt police, but never get caught. The film starts off with a bang, gets a little dull in the middle, but finishes strong. If you have any interest in true crime, you'll love the attention to detail the filmmakers display as they present the facts of the Zodiac killer case as close to reality as possible. The acting was OK - Robert Downey Jr. was hard to understand and Jake Gyllenhaal overacted a bit. However, it was morbidly fascinating to get into the mind of a psychopath who murdered people seemingly at random and struck fear into the community with taunting letters that were published in local newspapers. While the film presented the facts of the case, it did end with a theory as to who committed the unsolved crimes. Nobody was ever charged with the murders in real life, so you can draw your own conclusions.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

I Think I Love My Wife - Movie Review

Richard Cooper is a high-powered investment banker with a beautiful wife and two wonderful children. Though on the surface it would appear that Richard could want nothing more out of life, his thoughts always seem to drift toward sex. Richard's daily life has gradually devolved into a blur of mind-numbing banality, and these days sexual fantasy has become his sole means of escaping the constant pressures of work and fatherhood. Though Richard never had any real intention of cheating on his faithful but preoccupied wife Brenda, a chance run-in with his old friend Nikki finds his steely resolve fast turning flimsy. It's not long before the smitten Richard and the smoldering Nikki are meeting for clandestine lunches, and temptation begins to turn Richard's once-predictable life upside down. As his uncontrollable fantasies begin to lead him down the dangerous path of infidelity, the man who once kept his libido safely in check finds it increasingly difficult to refrain from acting on his impulses.

Chris Rock is a funny guy and I love his stand-up comedy routines (Bigger and Blacker is classic). That being said, he should stick to stand-up. Either that or he should get better roles in better films. Yes, Rock is funny in this film and yes, I laughed out loud at certain parts, but overall, it was a dud. The plot was boring, predictable and not very imaginative. The acting was not bad, but the characters weren't interesting. I could recognize some of Rock's stand-up material being used as part of the dialog, but it wasn't as good in movie form - better on stage. Overall, there's nothing about this movie that would make me want to see it again and I would really only recommend it to Chris Rock fans who would see it anyway.

Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Chris Rock, Kerry Washington, Gina Torres

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

300 - Movie Review

The massive army of the Persian Empire is sweeping across the globe, crushing every force that dares stand in its path. When a Persian envoy arrives in Sparta offering King Leonidas power over all of Greece if he will only bow to the will of the all powerful Xerxes, the strong-willed leader assembles a small army comprised of his empire's best fighters and marches off to battle. Though they have virtually no hope of defeating Xerxes' intimidating battalion, Leonidas' men soldier on, intent on letting it be known they will bow to no man but their king. Meanwhile, back in Sparta, the loyal Queen Gorgo attempts to convince both the skeptical council and the devious Theron to send more troops despite the fact that many view Leonidas' unsanctioned war march as a serious transgression. As Xerxes' fearsome "immortals" draw near, a few noble Greeks vow to assist the Spartans on the battlefield. When King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors fell to the overwhelming Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae, the fearless actions of the noble fighters inspired all of Greece to stand up against their Persian enemy and wage the battle that would ultimately give birth to the modern concept of democracy.

Wow, talk about an action packed film. There are some serious battle scenes that are HUGE. Once the Persians and Spartans start to fight, it's a fight to the death and there are plenty of arms, legs and heads being lopped off left and right. The cinematography of this film is original and very cool. It definitely has the look of the comic book on which it was based. The scene with the severed head spinning in the air was wicked and the scenes with the sky full of arrows descending on the Spartans were incredible. I'm not always a big fan of these "historical" films, but it was kept short enough and interesting enough to keep my attention throughout. I think it's now pretty obvious that Frank Miller's comic books are natural movie scripts (see Sin City). Another job well done and a definite must see.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: Yes
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Disturbia - Movie Review

Kale is a high-school senior who has yet to come to terms with the fact that his father is gone, the tragic victim of a fatal accident. As Kale's mother struggles to pay the bills by picking up extra shifts at work, her son's behavior grows increasingly erratic. When an altercation at school finds Kale placed under court-ordered house arrest, the homebound student teams with newly arrived girl-next-door Ashley to investigate the suspicious neighbor whom Kale believes to be an elusive and wanted serial killer. Their attentions focused intensely on the man they believe to be a murderous maniac hiding in broad daylight, Kale and Ashley trespass down a dangerous path while attempting to discern whether his suspicions are grounded in fact or just a combination of deep depression and suffocating cabin fever.

For a suspense thriller, there wasn't a whole lot of suspense or thrills until the last 15 minutes of the film. By then, there wasn't enough time to answer all of the burning questions (even the basic "why" and "how" questions went unanswered). This film should have been billed as a teenage drama as that's really what it was - attractive neighbors strike up a relationship and do some detective work while horsing around. If they shortened the first 1 hr 15 min and extended the last 15 minutes, it could have been a really good, creepy movie. Instead, it was just an average drama.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, Sarah Roemer

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

Little Children - Movie Review

Sarah is a suburban outsider who, unlike the other playground moms, isn't afraid to approach the dreamy but long-absent father whom smitten housewives have taken to calling the "Prom King." Long days at the local community pool with their respective children soon find Sarah becoming acquainted with local husband and father Brad - who seems to share in her seething discontentment with life in their quaint commuter town. An English literature major who never envisioned a fate as a soccer mom, Sarah has a growing dissatisfaction with her successful husband that parallels Brad's increasing frustration with his inability to pass the bar and connect with his wife, Kathy, a successful documentary filmmaker. It's not long before the dejected pair is meeting for a series of illicit afternoon trysts as their unsuspecting spouses work and their children lie quietly napping. Meanwhile, after the community is riled by the return of a convicted sex offender who leaves the concerned parents scrambling to protect their young ones, an attempt made by Sarah and Brad to legitimize their clandestine relationship by dining together with their respective spouses begins to awaken Kathy's suspicions about the fidelity of her husband.

This was definitely a film that's hard to categorize. There were so many different plots and undertones such as drama, comedy, suspense, romance and even some horror thrown in. In the beginning, it was difficult to determine exactly what was going on and what the connection between everyone was. As the film progressed, most of those relationships were revealed and a beautiful spiderweb had been created. The journey to reach the end was filled with feel-good romance, puzzling mysteries and sickening actions. It was a very strange movie, but in a good way. All the actors seemed to be perfect for their parts and the chemistry between them worked well. The film was original and entertaining enough that I'd recommend watching it, but be prepared for some pretty random scenes. Once you start to watch it, expect to be drawn in and make sure you have enough time (2 hrs. 15 min.) to finish it since you won't want to walk away in the middle.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Number 23 - ACE Train Movie Review

Walter Sparrow is a middle-aged dogcatcher whose wife Agatha has bestowed him with an obscure mystery novel detailing the investigation launched by a tough-talking gumshoe named Fingerling whose every move seems to be overshadowed by the enigmatic eponymous number. After noting a series of alarming parallels shared between the fictional detective and himself, Walter is quickly drawn in to the story as the hard-boiled private investigator murders raven-wigged moll Fabrizia and pins the crime on her unsuspecting lover. Back in the real world, fiction seems to merge with reality as Walter and Agatha's close friend Isaac begins to ingratiate himself ever deeper into the couple's relationship and Walter begins experiencing a gruesome series of visions in which he violently murders an unfaithful Agatha. His mind fast descending into a dark and violent whirlwind of madness, Walter enlists the aid of Agatha and the pair's adolescent son Robin in seeking out the author of the mysterious tome and uncovering the sinister truth behind the so-called "23 enigma."

I was a bit leery about a film with Jim Carrey playing something other than a total goofball. However, I thought his performance was one of the best things about this movie. Not once did I ever think he was trying hard not to make a joke or do something stupid - he actually looked like a natural for a dramatic role. The plot was pretty interesting since it was based on a phenomenon some people believe in to the point of obsession. Check out some of the 23 facts here. However, the ending was a little disappointing and far-fetched. I thought it was a bit of a cop-out to explain all of the events that happened in the movie the way that they did. Overall, though, it's definitely worth a look if you like psychological thrillers and want to see Jim Carrey do something other than make silly faces.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.

The Last King of Scotland - Movie Review

In the early 1970s, Nicholas Garrigan, a young semi-idealistic Scottish doctor, comes to Uganda to assist in a rural hospital. Once there, he soon meets up with the new President, Idi Amin, who promises a golden age for the African nation. Garrigan hits it off immediately with the rabid Scotland fan, who soon offers him a senior position in the national health department and becomes one of Amin's closest advisers. However as the years pass, Garrigan cannot help but notice Amin's increasingly erratic behavior that grows beyond a legitimate fear of assassination into a murderous insanity that is driving Uganda into bloody ruin. Realizing his dire situation with the lunatic leader unwilling to let him go home, Garrigan must make some crucial decisions that could mean his death if the despot finds out.

This was a very interesting, puzzling and brutal film. The fact that it was based on a real person (Idi Amin) made it that much better. It was a bit puzzling because, at the beginning, I wasn't sure if Idi Amin was supposed to be a good guy or ready to snap at a moments notice. Now I realize it was done on purpose and looking back, it was brilliant. The brutality didn't come until later in the film when the real Idi Amin reared his ugly head. Forest Whitaker did an amazing job and clearly deserved the Academy Award for best actor. The special features includes footage of the real Idi Amin and shows that Whitaker was spot-on in his performance. It was a fascinating and horrifying film that should be viewed as a warning of what can happen when someone with a hidden agenda is given virtually unlimited power.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Would I watch it again: No
Starring: Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Gillian Anderson

The opinions expressed are those of me, myself and I.