Monday, June 9, 2008

NMR: Quickies

I've once again fallen behind on my Netflix reviews, so here are some quick thoughts on the stuff I've caught most recently:

The Rainmaker - Decent legal thriller, but for a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, it lacked a certain level of gravitas. Nothing really noteworthy here besides Matt Damon in one of his earliest roles. Netflix rating: ***

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm - This was actually an animated film that got a theatrical release in 1993. The animation is solid and the storyline is decent, but I thought too much time was spent on Batman's love interest. I understood why they did it, but it really dragged the film down. Love interest subplots belong in Superman and Spiderman, not Batman. Netflix rating: ***

Bowling for Columbine - Typical Michael Moore film (this one is on gun control), aside from the fact that it was made before he truly became famous, so he could still get away with his ambushes against people KMart, Charlton Heston, and Dick Clark. Thought provoking stuff, although I felt some of the material was too tangential and there were too many montages at the beginning. Netflix rating: ****

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - This one just came out last winter and was directed by famed director Sidney Lumet. A story about two desperate brothers who's failed attempt at a burglary goes horribly wrong. The film starts out really interesting but grows increasingly depressing as it goes on. The lack of a likeable character makes it a real downer. The best part of the film was getting to see a lot of Marisa Tomei here. Credit also to Lumet for making a well-crafted film that directors half his age wish they could make. This film is well-done but doesn't have a lot of rewatchability. Netflix rating: ****

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