Movie Review: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Robin Wright Penn, Christopher Plummer,
Rated: R for brutal violent content including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity, and language
From the incredible title sequence of David Fincher's adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, one immediately gets the tone, harshness, and masterful style of the film. Based on Steig Larsson's book and the Swedish film adaptation, this new version of Dragon Tattoo perfectly depicts the story better than the Swedish version; the script is more poignant, the mystery is much easier to understand, the characters are more interesting, the casting is perfect, and the crisp, digital cinematography is more powerfully used. However, it is also much harsher in it's depiction of post-western (or "post-Christian") view of Europe. While the sexuality bordered on non-titillating pornography and it's violence and gore as unflinchingly grotesque, the aspect that concerned me the most was it's lack of a moral code. Fincher's Se7en is brutal and graphic, but it's a morality tale and doesn't glorify it's grotesqueness. His film Fight Club is as harsh as Dragon Tattoo, but it delves just as deep into it's nihilistic philosophy, so it approves and glorifies the violence. Even the Swedish film of Dragon Tattoo forces Lisabeth and Mikael to discuss the morality of it's story, and define that some people are evil. However, Fincher's version lacks any moral contemplation, even when considering it's villains, which leaves the characters and their various sins rather undefined, forces good and evil to be defined by individual perspective, and rendering true justice unanswerable. In the end, no one is good, only because no one asks what it means to be good. Even gender becomes construed, depicting the masculine-like Lisabeth (a terrific Rooney Mara) as emotionally detached from relationships, morality, and life as her masculine counterpart Mikael (Daniel Craig.) While the film is well-done (minus the thirty minute ending) and the depiction of the hopelessness of 21st century Europe is spot-on, there is nothing good in Dragon Tattoo to celebrate; which is exactly what Fincher wanted.

Movie Review: "We Bought a Zoo"

We Bought a Zoo
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Hayden Church
Rated: PG for language and some thematic elements

Cameron Crowe's specialty is deep relational drama's that traditionally take you into his masculine-yet-sentimental characters. His latest film, We Bought a Zoo, is a more so family film than his previous efforts have been, but it still fits within his style. Matt Damon plays Benjamin Mee, a widower, who quits his job and moves his two kids to a new home in an attempt to get away from the life and painful memories of their past. However, the home is connected with a closed and rundown Zoo, and having his family and the few staff still there re-open the Zoo is the external plot of the film. While Matt Damon gels perfectly in the "soccer dad" role, the film can never really figure out exactly what it is trying to be, or perhaps tries to be too many things. This makes for an extremely cluttered climax of the film, where everything seemingly has to find resolution, and you can never tell exactly what storyline is propelling the film. There are also some campy and ridiculous moments that feel more out of place considering the deeply human tone of the film, particularly the cartoonish Zoo inspector, who seems more like a villain from some Disney channel tv show rather than a Cameron Crowe film. Also thought that the "un-socialized homeschooler", played by Elle Fanning, was a little over-the-top, but perhaps that is my homeschool bias coming out. Perhaps the most unsavory element of the movie was the fact that this PG-rated film had 4 uses of the "s-word" and a handful of other profanities, which, I felt, made it inappropriate for some of the young children in attendance. It's certainly not a Pixar-rated PG film, and I would argue not even a family-friendly film. Despite it all, We Bought a Zoo is a heartwarming movie, thanks to the performance of Matt Damon, the adorable character of Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones), music from Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi, and the human element that, surprisingly, puts animals and people in their proper place. As Benjamin's brother wonderfully puts it "I like the animals, but I love the humans."

Movie Review: "The Descendants"

The Descendants
Directed by: Alexander Payne
Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller
Rated: R for language including some sexual referencesPerhaps the most unassuming of critically acclaimed films this year is Alexander Payne’s The Descendants, a dark comedy that lacks any real flare but is deeply personal and internal. The film is really more of a character study of Matt King (a brilliant George Clooney), who despite living in the paradise of Hawaii is in the midst of a personal hell; his wife, whom he is currently at odds with, is not only in a coma after a brief boating accident, but was also evidently having an affair. The physical, psychological, and emotional toll this turn of events takes on Clooney is actually the plot of the film; he struggles to figure out how to respond to it all, as well as trying to figure out how to raise his daughters, the eldest of whom knows about her mother's infidelity. As cruel as this may sound, it is truly fascinating to see King and his daughter Alexandra (an Oscar-worthy performance from Shailene Woodley) balance this teeter-totter of emotions towards their wife/mother that at one moment demand sympathy for her and then anger and betrayal at the next. It’s not only believable, but something we start to empathize with; we want Matt’s wife to wake up so they can work things out as much as to have her see the grief that her choices have caused. But, it is through this subtle connection with him that Payne works his magic, making the brilliant ending as emotional for us as it is for the King family. The Descendants may not be paradise, but it is as close to perfect as they come.

Movie Review: "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows"

Sherlock Holmes:
A Game of Shadows
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Rachel McAdams
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of action, and some drug material
Following the groundwork set in 2009's Sherlock Holmes film, Guy Ritchie expands his interpretation-turned-reinvention of Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective with his sequel: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. It's yet another fun film from Ritchie, with plenty of crazy visuals and enough action to easily fill it's 2 hour run time. However, the charm of the previous movie is somewhat gone, mainly because the mysterious and quirky character of Sherlock is replaced with the plot of this rapid movie, which hardly has time to explain itself, nevertheless explorer the characters involved. Sherlock has no time to play the violin, nor Watson to be the voice of reason, and we don't even seem to care about Noomi Rapace's character, whom we are evidently supposed to care about despite not giving us time to connect. Because of it, the story, action, and visuals, which are more impressive than the first film, leave less of an impact than it's predecessor. Interestingly enough, Ritchie also abandons the detective motiff almost altogether and, and the film is spent more like a Bond-film, where Sherlock is trying to figure out the master villain's plan rather than solve the perplexing puzzle given at the beginning of the story. Despite the talents of the ever-great Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr., Game of Shadows is a fun and unique movie (with another terrific score by the legendary Hans Zimmer) but a mere shadow of the first film of the franchise.

Movie Review: "Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol"

Mission: Impossible
- Ghost Protocol
Directed by: Brad Bird
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg
Rated: PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence

After about 15 years of looking for a formula to differentiate the series from James Bond and Jason Bourne, Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible finally finds a sense of style and tone that is not only different from other films, but makes it the best in the series. Although the previous movie, M:I 3, was a moderate success that re-ignited the franchise, it is far past by this latest installment, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. At the helm for the first time with a live-action film is famous Pixar director Brad Bird, who succeeds in keeping the action and story always moving forward. Whether on an internal or external plot, there is never a slow or dull moment in the film. More important, he and DP Robert Elswitt choreograph the shots in a way that add to the adventure of the story, especially when Tom Cruise's character is climbing along the outside of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. The sequence was shot in such a way that, even though I have no fear of heights, my palms were sweating and I was experiencing extreme vertigo. But perhaps Ghost Protocol's greatest contribution to the series was expanding Cruise's team to a higher importance. Much like the television show before it, the team of agents William Brandt (Jeremy Renner, the heir-apparent of the series), Jane Carter (Paula Patton) and Benji Dunn (once again, a humorous but not ridiculous Simon Pegg) all share a significant amount of time and development during the movie that gives it a fresh and far more interesting plot than the previous films in the series, simply because we get to explore other agents beside Cruise's Ethan Hunt, who after 4 movies we've gotten to know pretty well. Add that to that mind-bending technological devises, wonderfully action-packed fight scenes, and just enough humor to keep the film lighter than Bourne or the newer Bond's, and you have not only the best, most exciting film of the series, but possibly of the year.

Movie Review: "Our Idiot Brother"

Our Idiot Brother
Directed by: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer, Zooey Deschanel
Rated: R for sexual content including nudity and language throughout

It is hard to get to the diagnose what exactly went wrong with the film Our Idiot Brother, which had the potential to hit that indie dark-comedy feel that has been the key for several good films. It has a funny and interesting protagonist in Ned (Paul Rudd), a loveable-yet-stupid slacker, almost as if The Dude from Big Lebowski were more like a loveable teddy bear. Because of a recent jail stint, Ned is left crashing at his various sisters’ houses over the course of a few weeks. While helping Ned find a permanent home should have been the external goal and changing his siblings’ lives for the better in the process should have been the internal goal, we are left with a smattering of R-rated subject matter and external plot points that are hard to follow, extremely offensive, and add absolutely nothing to the story. These moments leave the audience confused and wondering if the movie is trying to be moving or funny. It’s neither; it’s just infuriating. Then, in the end, Ned’s love of life somehow fixes everyone’s issues, which is mind-boggling since a lack of love wasn’t what got them in to theirs problems. Worst of all, the cast of fairly popular actors and actresses (Emily Mortimer, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Rashida Jones, Steve Coogan, and Hugh Dancy) are all terrible, practically playing themselves rather than some other character, which definitely doesn’t add to the believability of the plot or story. With the exception of Paul Rudd’s performance, there is nothing redeemable about this movie. This film isn’t about an idiot brother, but an idiotic cast and crew who somehow thought this movie was going to be worth the 90 minutes audiences spent watching it.

My Favorite Christmas Movies: "The Muppet Christmas Carol"

Zach's Favorite 10 Christmas Movies:
Movie #1

The Muppet Christmas Carol
Directed by: Brian Henson
Starring: Michael Caine
Rated: G

Charles Dickens' masterpiece “A Christmas Carol” has had many adaptations over the years, and major actors and actresses have played it’s famous characters. But to me, the story is synonymous with Jim Henson’s Muppet cast thanks to Brian Henson’s movie The Muppet Christmas Carol. While nostalgia certainly plays a part in this (my family watched this movie in theaters on it’s release back in 1992, and has watched it every year since), I still feel that, objectively, this film stands apart from others. To begin, Michael Caine is the best Scrooge ever on-screen, simply because his transformation is so understandable; he is stoic and cold at the beginning, then pained by his past, cheered by his present, frightened by his future, and is grateful at the end. And to give that great of a performance opposite stuffed puppets is truly remarkable. Plus, the Muppets just seem to capture the enjoyment of the season and the music truly uplifts the soul. Some previous adaptations are so dark, you can understand Scrooge’s coldness. With the Muppets, you are pulled in to this season of frivolity and holiday cheer. And, although missing the connection with Christ (like Dickens' novel also did), it encourages us to see the camaraderie of the Christmas season and recommending that “every night will end and every day will start with a grateful prayer and a thankful heart.”

My Favorite Christmas Movies: "Love Actually"

Zach's Favorite 10 Christmas Movies:
Movie #2

Love Actually
Directed by: Richard Curtis
Starring: Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Martin Freeman
Rated: R for sexuality, nudity and language

Upon it's release, the film Love Actually was heralded as the "ultimate romantic comedy." Little did they know that it would become one of the most beloved and respected romantic comedies, as well as Christmas films, of it's decade. This is certainly not a blanket justification of the movie's content; it’s not suitable for all audiences, and some things for any audiences. However, the film is a splendid take on what we already understand about love, all with a wonderful, enjoyable, heart-warming backdrop of the Christmas season. Through this film (which stars some of my favorite actors and actresses, including Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, among others) we walk away with a deeper understanding of love and all the warm-fuzzies it brings. Love is beyond political or social status, beyond nationalities, beyond age, beyond friendships, beyond sex, beyond infidelity, beyond selfishness, beyond understanding, and, my favorite storyline, beyond communication. (The Portuguese proposal at the end may be the best proposal ever in a movie.) However, the film doesn't just caught up in romantic love; from friendships to blood relatives, love is explored throughout every frame of this wonderful story. "To love" is a way of life and it affects everyone around us. While this movie will be far too offensive for most, I find that Love Actually touches hearts in ways unlike any other modern rom-com. And, to quote film’s opening scene, it makes us aware of how "love actually is all around."

My Favorite Christmas Movies: "Joyeux Noel"

Zach's Favorite 10 Christmas Movies:
Movie #3

Joyeux Noel

Directed by: Christian Carlon

Starring: Diane Kruger, Guillaume Canet, Daniel Bruhl, Gary Lewis
Rated: PG-13 on appeal for some war violence and a brief scene of sexuality/nudity
When it comes to celebrating the humanity and peace that the Christmas season can bring, nothing quite depicts it as well as the foreign film Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas), an Oscar-nominated film that brilliantly depicts how a group of Germans, Frenchmen, and Scotsmen laid down their arms to celebrate Christmas together in the midst of World War I. Starring some terrific foreign actors and actresses, such as French star Guillaume Canet (Last Night), and German performers Diane Kruger (National Treasure films) and Daniel Bruhl (Inglourious Basterds), Joyeux Noel successfully avoids the rights and wrongs of war and simply embraces the universal humanity of it’s participants. Themes of forgiveness, selflessness, and the brotherhood of man are always characteristic of Christmas movies, but this film seems to capture it in ways that we, who have never sat in the hopeless trenches of France, may never fully understand. While never specifically addressing that we are made in God’s image, the film certainly depicts the wonder and preciousness of humanity and how that should never be lost, even in the midst of war.

My Favorite Christmas Movies: "Die Hard"

Zach's Favorite 10 Christmas Movies:
Movie #4

Die Hard

Directed by: John McTiernan

Starring: Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, Alan Rickman
Rated: R for graphic bloody violence and language throughout, and for some sexuality/nudity and brief drug use

Don't let the body count and bullets fool you; Die Hard is an excellent holiday movie. Sure, it has the explosions, violence, and suspense of an action movie, but that is not what this movie is about. Like many great holiday films, it's about a relationship on the rocks; Bruce Willis is John McClaine, a NYPD cop who visits his wife, who moved to LA after a big promotion. The distance and position has put a strain on their relationship, and it takes a crazy Christmas party turned hostage situation to bring them back together. Plus, you get witty one-liners, some great action, Alan Rickman playing a villain, and the famous broken glass scene, all packed in to one holiday thriller. "Now I have a machine gun. Ho-ho-ho!"

My Favorite Christmas Movies: "It's a Wonderful Life"

Zach's Favorite 10 Christmas Movies:
Movie #5

It's a Wonderful Life

Directed by: Frank Capra

Starring: Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore
Rated: PG for thematic elements, smoking, and brief violence
Frank Capra's famous film It's A Wonderful Life really isn't as wonderful a people may think; it was a box office disaster when released and is only popular because television stations took advantage of the movie's failure to renew the copyright back in the 1970s. It also takes far too long (half the movie) to set up the plot. Despite it, there is something simple about it that warms our hearts and reminds us of how wonderful and powerful a simple life can be. Jimmy Stewart has had some great roles during his career, but this is my personal favorite; he transcends the story's faults and makes the movie work, just from opening up his character so we can see his many joys and failures. While it may miss the biblical reasoning for valuing life, this typical "Capra Corn" film (the nickname given to Capra's idealistic movies) has withstood the test of time simply because of it's timeless connection with humanity and the holidays.

My Favorite Christmas Movies: "Home Alone"

Zach's Favorite 10 Christmas Movies:
Movie #6

Home Alone

Directed by: Chris Columbus

Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Candy
Rated: PG

The comedic family comedy Home Alone really is that, something for the whole family. The slapstick comedy is timeless, the script witty, the characters unique, the traps Kevin sets are brilliantly fun, and its bursting with Christmas nostalgia. Add that to small themes about redemption with one's family, and you have one outrageously fun family comedy for the Christmas season.

My Favorite Christmas Movies: "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

Zach's Favorite 10 Christmas Movies:
Movie #7

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Directed by: Bill Melendez

Starring: Peter Robins, Bill Melendez
Rated: TV-G

One of the most classic of all Christmas films, A Charlie Brown Christmas was not only cutting edge for it's time, but may have the best message of all Christmas films. Like his comic-strip Peanuts, Charles Shultz infuses this animated-movie with children facing adult-like problems. Despite his young age, Charlie Brown goes to a psychiatrist for depression and is sickened by the commercialism of Christmas. These aren't your normal childhood problems, but perhaps Shultz was as concerned with communicating with his adult audience as much as with the kids. And, in the end, he points to the true meaning behind the season; the incarnation of Christ. This is what we celebrate and what defeats the depression of the holidays. And what better way to depict that than a pathetic, unloved tree Charlie Brown chooses that, in the end, is transformed into a beautiful tree that signifies the Christmas season.

My Favorite Christmas Movies: "White Christmas"

Zach's Favorite 10 Christmas Movies:
Movie #8

White Christmas

Directed by: Michael Curtiz

Starring: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney
Rated: Approved

Despite the 3-strip technicolor look, the film White Christmas feels more like a broadway musical than a play, having a very theatrical story structure and, of course, musical numbers that seemingly replace important dialogue. While I normally don't care for films like this, White Christmas has a certain nostalgia and romanticism towards Christmas that is hard to dismiss. Reminiscent of his film Casablanca, director Michael Curtiz is terrific at boiling down the grandiose events of the film to relate on an intimately personal scale without straying too far into cliches. The film is far from perfect; the two sisters don't even look like distant cousins and Bing Crosby is about as old and boring of a protagonist as one can find. However, Danny Kaye fills in his comedic side kick-roll well, the music is fun, and the whole military storyline really connects, even if you don't care if the two bachelor's find love with their showbiz partners.

My Favorite Christmas Movies: "The Nightmare Before Christmas"

Zach's Favorite 10 Christmas Movies:
Movie #9

Tim Burton's
The Nightmare Before Christmas

Directed by: Henry Selick

Starring: Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara, Chris Sarandon
Rated: PG for some scary images

Although Tim Burton's claymation feature may not always provoke the feelings of merriment and fellowship that traditional Christmas movies evoke, it's hard not to include this movie on the list, even if you only look at the technical aspect of the film. To think Burton made this before a real understanding of digital technology and computer animation, this movie is simply astounding. Plus, you have the musical pieces written (and performed) by Danny Elfman that are almost as good as anything Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote for Broadway; they're truly some of the best songs written for any movie, nevertheless a Christmas film. And if you can get through all of Burton's dark imagery, you can even spot some of the holiday spirit that makes a good Christmas movie. You just have to see it from the eyes of Tim Burton.

My Favorite Christmas Movies: "Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Special"

In honor of Christmas, over the next month I'll be reviewing my 10 favorite Christmas movies of all time. To kick it off, I'm going to list my favorite Christmas TV special, which technically doesn't qualifiy as a movie.

Zach's Favorite 10 Christmas Movies:
#10 (which isn't really a movie)

A Claymation Christmas
Celebration Special
Directed by: Will Vinton
Release Date: 1987

Growing up, my favorite Christmas video was claymation-extrodinaire Will Vinton’s collection of Christmas Carols sung (or played) by his claymation (or visual effects) creatures and creations. The effects are really fantastic and the characters are just great, especially the hosts Rex and Herb. Plus, it's just a simply little TV special that is fun to watch. It totally reminds me of my childhood, and I still laugh at a few jokes, even as an adult. You can watch the whole thing on youtube, and one of my favorite songs here: