Drama

Once

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Once
  • IMDB: link

once-poster

Once

is an unpretentious film that has all the makings of a huge hit, between the music and chemistry amongst the leads there is no escaping the compassion that overwhelms. Humorous and poignant, this independent Irish driven musical doesn’t get caught up in the mundane, but rather keeps in tune with an inspiring romance.

Once showcases the talents of Glen Hansard, singer/songwriter for the popular Irish band The Frames, and the delicate voice of Markéta Irglová, a new and refreshing face to the big screen. No worries if you are not a big musical fan, Once doesn’t pound you over the head with one song after another, but adds a perfect mix of dialogue and character interaction to accompany the music.

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Mr. Brooks

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  • Title: Mr. Brooks
  • IMDb: link

Mr. Brooks movie review

Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner) is a successful businessman, a loving husband, and a devoted father.  Mr. Brooks however has a dark side which he hides from the world.

Daily he is forced to deal with a schizophrenic personality disorder and an evil alter-ego called Marshall (William Hurt) who only Earl can see and hear.  It seems Marshall, and therefore Earl as well, enjoys the thrill of stalking and killing random strangers.  This has been going on for many years, and although Earl understands and detests this addiction he can’t seem to stop.

Mr. Brooks has three other problems.  The first occurs when he is caught in the act by a amateur photographer (Dane Cook) who wants only to blackmail him and tag-along on his next killing.  The second is an obsessed millionaire cop (Demi Moore) stuck in a messy divorce who wants to track down the serial killer.  And the third is his loving daughter Jane (Danielle Panabaker) who just may be more like her father than he’s willing to admit.

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Freedom Writers

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Freedom Writers
  • IMDB: link

The idea of an inspiring teacher actually making a difference may seem cliche nowadays, but there’s nothing cliche about Freedom Writers. The tale of a young teacher struggling with gangs, and inner city violence, and a system which has all but given up on the very students she was hired to help learn is, simply put, a great film. There were plenty of films I thought were excellent from last year but none which hit me on such an emotionally raw level as this. Don’t miss it and don’t dismiss it; Freedom Writers just might be the best film you see this year.

The film begins with Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) interviewing for a teaching position at Wilson High School. The bright-eyed Gruwell just graduated from college and wants to change the world. Those around her including her husband (Patrick Dempsey), father (Scott Glenn), the head of the English department (Imelda Staunton), and even her students, don’t expect her to make it a week.

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Marie Antoinette

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Marie Anoinette
  • IMDb: link

For a historical perspective almost every choice is head-scratching.  Kirsten Dunst in the lead role?  A supporting cast featuring the likes of Rip Torn, Molly Shannon, and modern pop music?  Many thought Marie Antoinette was going to be a disaster.  Well, let me tell you a little secret for those of you thinking Sofia Coppola was ready to stumble with her third film.  Not only does Marie Antoinette not fail, but Coppola produces one of the most original films of the year, in fact of our time.  Is it a traditional historical perspective?  No, it’s something much more interesting, that defies all expectations, and leaves us wondering if Kirsten Dunst might actually have given the best performance in films this year.

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The Departed

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Departed
  • IMDB: link

Martin Scorsese has given American cinema some great films.  Who could forget Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and Casino?  His recent films however have recieved a mixed reaction.  The Aviator was exqusite and sleek, but lacked the heart and soul of the film it must always be compared to, given its subject matter, Citizen Kane.  Gangs of New York was brutal and honest, but some unfortunate miscasting and near week-long running time was a little too much to bear.  And most critics agree 1999’s Bringing Out the Dead was, at least in a small way, a blunderous misstep.

Here Scorsese returns to a cops and maifa story, re-uniting with DiCaprio, and giving us a tale of intrigue and thrills that relies more on story than gun play, and more on character than body count (at least until the last 20 minutes).  The result?  It’s his best film in years.

The film follows two new members of the Boston State Police Department fresh from the academy and put to work in Boston.

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