Movie Review: Push

I saw Push tonight. It was okay. The plot is basically: Telekinetic guy teams up with girl that can draw the future to find his lost love that can put thoughts and memories into people’s minds. Wackiness ensues.

Overall, it was good. Dakota Fanning did a great job acting, and Camilla Belle did a great job of looking great. The bit characters did a good job being interesting. The ending was a little unsatisfying, but I think they were leaving it open for a sequel. I do not know if it will earn enough money to justify a sequel, though.

My recommendation is to rent it. I do not think it is worth $10 a seat at the theater.

A Quantum of Story

So, since I somehow miraculously got the day off today, my wife and I went to go see Quantum of Solace.  I love Bond movies.  Casino Royale was a great restart of the series, and I was pumped to have another one come out.

The director totally messed this one up.  Bond is known for great actions scenes, and the trailers were pushing that fact.  However, every action set-piece was shot with a hand-held camera and manically cut.  In the opening car chase, all you really saw were shaky shots of bits of car bouncing all over the place with the occasional cut to Daniel Craig’s face.  Every now and then a car would drive off the road, and I assume it was because Bond had something to do with it, but I’m not really sure.  All the action is just a big shaky blur of body parts and scenery.  They are practically incomprehensible.

So, the action sucked.  I was hoping that since Casino Royale actually had a lot of good acting and dialog that would at least save Quantum of Solace. Again, my hopes were dashed.  When there was dialog, it was actually good, however we had more shots of Daniel Craig walking around various hotels than we did of him getting a chance to act.  The man can act.  Judi Dench can act.  Give them a chance to do it!

QoS had a good premise, and the script itself seemed to be really good, except the director messed this one up, badly.  Too much cutting.  Too much hand-held.  Not enough acting.  Bring Martin Campbell back.  He’s proven with Goldeneye and Casino Royale that he knows how to direct a Bond movie.

Weekend On The Town

Friday night I went to see Eddie Izzard with my wife and two of our friends.  I was a bit disappointed to see that Eddie was not in drag for the show, but he did give us the finger.  As always, his routine was topical, extemporaneous, and extremely hilarious.  It was also good to see Graham and Terry again.  It had been over a year since we saw them.

Saturday, Ritsa and I went to see Iron Man.  Fantastic movie.  It takes itself seriously enough to make sense, have three-dimensional characters and provide a little social commentary, but it had enough sarcastic comedy in it to keep from being overwrought and pretentious.  Robert Downey Jr. was inspired casting, and he acted his ass off.  Gwyneth Paltrow was not annoying and even almost pleasant to watch.  The most surprising part for me was Jeff Bridges playing a corporate leader extremely well.  He put aside The Dude and Kevin Flynn and created a memorable character in Obadiah Stane.  I was impressed.