Nichols | House

Charlie Wilson’s War, directed by Mike Nichols, is one of the best films this year. Aaron Sorkin, creator of West Wing and Studio 60, has written another hit. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are amazing, yet Philipp Seyore Hoffman cast a hilarious and stunning shadow over them both (well except when Roberts gets out of the pool, nobody could cast a shadow over that).

I know all the reviews are writing about Hoffman and his amazing-ness, but I have no problem doing it too. Every single thing Hoffman says is hilarious and daring, which also embodies the film as well.

I’m excited to see where Nichols, who also directed Closer, is up to next. Overall Charlie Wilson’s War is extremely funny and comical, yet simultaneously “bi-partisan” with an ominous point.

Though I wonder: Would liberal minded people, like myself, enjoy the movie as much if Charlie Wilson was a Republican?

A seizure may have been more interesting than National Treasure: Book of Secrets.

First Book of Secrets was EXACTLY the same as the first National Treasure. Second the only reason we liked the first National Treasure is because we were surprised that it was a decently good movie. The sequel held no surprises or really anything resembling interesting. Third, how in the world does Nicholas Cage keep getting work?

Enough said. Do not waste your time with Book of Secrets unless your renting, or better yet pirating, DVD’s and you are extremely bored.

Who is the real Online Pirate, YOU or THE STUDIOS? This is a documentary about piracy made solely from pirated media.

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Walk down Canal Street in southern Manhattan on a Sunday afternoon and every direction you look loom countless pirated DVD’s. DVD piracy is a crime, but generally DVD’s are only sold in a few extremely urban areas (Anti). A more important and less understood issue is internet piracy, defined, by the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) as:

Downloading or distribution of unauthorized copies of intellectual property such as movies, [or] television…. It is no different from stealing another person’s shoes or stereo, except sometimes it can be a lot more damaging. (Anti)

In recent years the MPAA and other Hollywood studios have launched a massive anti-piracy ad campaign, blaming average Americans and mostly young guys for billions of dollars in media theft (Anti). Jack Valenti, of the MPAA, once said, “We are resolute that we’re going after people who use our material, without permission, in an illegal fashion. We’re going after them every-where they exist (Fox).” Yet internet piracy is not as simple a crime as Valenti discuses. The MPAA’s anti-piracy campaign is unfounded and illogical because the ads contradict known facts about piracy and almost solely blame basement lurking, video game playing, teen guys, when there are many other forms of piracy online.

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This movie was just bad. It was a really expensive rip of LOTR. Basically there a bunch of problems but most of all the movie was just boring! (GASP, did I just say that about a movie? yes)

PS the books rock.

This film is a giant bundle of cliches which build to the climactical line “Run August, Run.” Enough said. Oh fun fact: the reverend in this movie also played Bubba in Forrest Gump.

Also it has a 37% on Rotten Tomatoes. (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/august_rush/)

There was never a doubt in my mind that George Clooney could act, but in Michael Clayton, directed and written by Tony Gilroy, the gloves come off and Clooney shows us what its all about and instantly redefines the lawyer movie. The film is smart, really smart, but don’t let this intimidate. As for the plot?

Just accept the mystery and let it unfold around you into a cloud of coherent confusion that exponentially builds the artfully told story.

Without the gritty beard, I half expected clean cut Ocean’s Clooney, and even though he’s ridiculously well dressed, Clooney still pulls off an honest interpretation of true grit. It might be easy to forget to watch the other actors with Clooney’s inspirational performance, compiled with his three minute stare at the end (just watch it), but don’t forget about the ensemble of brilliant support. Tom Wilkinson plays a genius yet unstable lawyer, while Tilda Swinton defines power through her rehearsed character, and Sydney Pollack explores evil.

With the start studded cast, Gilroy convincingly takes that great Jason Bourne magic and applies it to one hell of a dialog driven story. Some might say this film is boring but trust me Michael Clayton is one of the best films of 2007.

PS this movie blows the socks off The Firm, just incase you thought Cruise could play a better lawyer than Clooney.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age more like Elizabeth: We don’t know why we are making this movie but lets have famous people in cool costumes and nobody will notice the lack of plot Age. This film was truly awful there is no way around it.

It felt reminiscent to The Tudors on Showtime but without the interesting stuff. Simply put I don’t know why I wasted two hours watching this film that lacked essence of movie.

I will always love Ridley Scott for Blade Runner and no matter what he makes he will still be awesome in my book, with that said American Gangster was good but not great. The film proves entertaining in a very violent and bloody way.

I wish Denzel Washington played with his character slightly more instead of just giving us angrier Denzel. Russell Crowe has a great sounding voice and struts a great classic walk but I liked hi more in Gladiator and thats that. American Gangster reminded me of a better version of Scarface (in my mind Scarface was a horrible film). Overall Scott’s Gangster attempt was good but I wanted something great and unexpected, especially since The Departed reinvented organized crime last year.

By the way, I think this film will get an Academy Award nomination or two but there are more deserving film’s for the win. So see it if you have time and don’t mind violence otherwise this might make a great “wait till DVD” film. Though truth be told I enjoyed watching this in a sold out audience. So hows that for confusing? Thats why the film is good but not great.

With a flourish of swear words and maybe traditional vocals who would know that Kanye West’s new album, Graduation, is fantastic even for people who don’t like rap?

Well, I didn’t know and thats why although the album was released in September I’m writing about it now. It reminds me of Madonna’s Confessions of a Dance Floor compared to her earlier work. I love this newly styled and heavily remixed album.