Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

Reaction: Cemetery Junction (2010)
August 24th, 2010 by The Mayor

Cemetery Junction
It’s a town full of losers and we’re pulling out of here to win.
-
Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen

My single most anticipated movie of the last two years has finally arrived, was it worth the wait?  I stayed clear of any form of spoilers and reviews, even shying away from clips posted online.  Cemetery Junction was released on home video (only theatrical in the UK earlier this year) on August 17th;  I bought the DVD (Blu-ray had nothing special) and hurried home.  I watched the feature, the extras and then the feature once more with commentary by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.  Here is my reaction: (more…)

The City Strip

Kevin, weekly.

Take that Claire Danes!  20 issues, that’s pretty great, Kevin you might just earn that Pony ride after all.  Well it’s another week here in the City of Films, glad you could join us.

The Council got together for a team effort article to be posted sometime this week.  Justice claims to have computer issues, but I think she’s just dodging us because we are boys.  Well played new girl, well played.

The summer run of movies is slowing down; hopefully everyone saw something that totally didn’t suck.  It could be worse though, the DA went to a drive-in.  Still recovering.

Reaction: Inception (2010)
July 23rd, 2010 by The Mayor

InceptionYou mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.

Note: CoF reactions are always spoiler free.  We will now be making the habit of condensing all the good things you normally find in a well written review into what we call a ‘Reaction’.  Who are we to criticize someone else art?  So we will just talk about the overall experience, seems fair.

Last week I posted an article titled ‘Why Everyone Should See Inception‘.  I wasn’t just blowing smoke, I am still out there urging people to take the trip to their local cinema and check this one out.  The reason I wrote the article before I even saw the movie I should explain, is because every once in a while and not often, a movie will be released you know you will enjoy (the last one for me being Shutter Island).   My main case in the article was that Inception was original and that moviegoers should be supporting this kind of movie.  Well, I saw Inception opening weekend with a packed house of believers and saying it met my premature hype and expectations would be too obvious.  Would it be less obvious if I said it exceeded them in every way?  Well it did. (more…)

Delayed Reaction: Toy Story 3 (spoiler free)
July 14th, 2010 by The Mayor

Toy Story 3

When I first learned of another sequel to the already perfect film set that is Toy Story and Toy Story 2 I’ll be honest, I was scared.  I immediately felt betrayed by the team at Pixar as I jumped to conclusions as to why they wanted to make another film.  It didn’t occur to me that maybe there was more to tell, something more to say to bring it all full circle.

The journey myself and much of the world took with these toys was one of reminiscence, for the older audience the days of young were behind us and we embraced these toys as if they were at one point our own.  For the young, it gave them a chance to believe – believe that the childhood they were living could last forever with a bit of imagination and a big toy box.  What am I getting at?  Toy Story 3 is the best movie of 2010 thus far and should be nominated for Best Picture when award season comes around.  I had high expectations walking into the film and upon exiting; I knew each of those expectations were exceeded beyond words.  I saw the film weeks ago and can just now put to you how perfect this movie is.  How’s that for hype?

The packed theater stood and cheered when the credits fell, some wiping away tears – older members hiding it with the fake search for their wallet and keys.  It’s another masterpiece by Disney/Pixar that touches on nostalgia to please every possible moviegoer there is.  The final act will have you on the edge of your seat – amazed at what powerful animation, music and storytelling can do for us.  This is what a movie should do; this is why we love them.  It’s worth the wait in line, worth the ticket price and worth the crying baby a few rows over.

Toy Story is a series that will last to infinity and beyond (had to do it), it’s funny, inventive, touching and thanks to this final act; it’s flawless.  The trilogy brings to an end an amazing set of movies that must be cherished.  It’s a story about leaving the past with fears of moving on.  Something we all must come to terms with.

A perfect conclusion to a perfect movie trilogy.  For the folks at Pixar, I have one question for you: Where do you get those wonderful toys?

Woody Toy Story

So long, partner.

Book Review: The Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman
May 10th, 2010 by The Mayor

The Bedwetter

What?! A book review!  Yes, The Mayor can read (slowly) and will stop talking in the third person right now.  In this edition Sarah Silverman makes her literary debut with The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee. Silverman I should add is one of my favorite comedians, she does great things with TV and film and so obviously a book was the next step.  If you are a fan of her famous internet videos (an example below) and The Sarah Silverman Program consider yourself a fan and pick up this book.  It’s irreverent, funny and sometimes emotional.  I’ll explain… (more…)

Review: Shutter Island (2010)
February 19th, 2010 by The Mayor

We don’t know how she got out of her room. It’s as if she evaporated, straight through the walls. – Dr. John Cawley

**This is a SPOILER FREE Review**

It’s safe to say that the partnership between DiCaprio and Scorsese has been a productive one for the famed director – Gangs of New York got 10 Oscar nominations, The Aviator got 11 nods (and 5 wins), and The Departed got 5 nominations and won 4, including Best Picture and Marty’s long-coveted Best Director Oscar [video].  So when it was told that the team was going at it again for Shutter Island, this fan was going to be first in line.  Did it live up to my own hype? It sounded like perfect thriller material, straight out of the third act of Scorsese’s Cape Fear remake, and an ideal fit for the legendary filmmaker.  I am glad to say I was first in line, last to leave and very satisfied.
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Review: The Lovely Bones (2010)
January 13th, 2010 by The Mayor

My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.
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Review: Invictus (2009)
December 23rd, 2009 by The Mayor

invictusClint Eastwood plays it safe with this tale of Mandela and his idea to bring unity to South Africa through rugby. Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon provide the acting clout while Eastwood shapes the direction of the film. I loved Eastwood’s previous outings; Gran Torino, Changeling, Million Dollar Baby and Mystic River – perhaps for the darker side of filmmaking Directed with each.  INVICTUS is a modest, self-effacing movie about extraordinary events that chronicles one battle in Nelson Mandela’s war against the past and his journey to reconstruct a brighter future for his people.

The movie’s plot sounds clichéd, and while the film is a lot of the time, the good news is that it’s not overwhelmed by it.  I found it bland and slow; the movie will win audiences with the charm of Mandela, but descends into a film about rugby.

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