Review: I Am Legend

A friend and I had a few hours to kill early in the day while vacationing in Denver and decided to spend it in a theatre. The week before Christmas, I Am Legend seemed like the best choice, so off we went. The movie is directed by Francis Lawrence, a first-time feature director whose previous work included several popular music videos for Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears. Had I known that fact ahead of time, I might have chosen to skip the film just on principle. But I didn't.

The movie loosely follows the plot of a 1950's sci-fi/horror book by the same name authored by Richard Matheson. It was previously performed for the screen under the title The Omega Man, starring Charlton "Cold Dead Hands" Heston. Judging from the ratings, I'd say the public likes this version a little bit better, possibly only because we Americans just can't get enough of cool special effects.

This version stars Will Smith. I don't know if the Academy has rules for qualifying for a supporting role, but if they do, no one in this movie qualifies. There is a brief, ominous and uncredited appearance by Emma Thompson at the beginning of the film. And, I'm willing to bet there were a few paid product placements, but I doubt those were credited, nor eligible for any Oscars.

The book's plot revolves around a plague that turns everyone but Robert Neville into vampire-like creatures. The film version modernizes the original, feeding on a fear I'm sure many people have regarding modern science. The film also adds a pet dog, Sam, who I suppose has enough screen time to qualify for a Doggie Oscar.

Robert is just your basic kick-ass good guy; He's smart as a whip, funny, strong, quick, etc. He's also hell bent on finding a cure for the mystery disease through good ol' medical research at his in-home lab. In between clinical trials, he "rents" DVD's, hunts wild game, goes for joy rides in a souped-up Mustang and chats up mannequins. Hey, everybody needs a little companionship now and then.

Smith does a respectable job for someone previously known as The Fresh Prince. I was somewhat amazed that I didn't get tired of him by the end of the film, seeing as how he was pretty much in every minute of every scene of the movie. It's pretty entertaining for the most part, and if you're willing to let go of a couple plot holes, you'll probably enjoy it. Just don't expect it to change your life. My imdb rating: 7/10.

Review: Bella

I've attended the Toronto International Film Festival nine times and I've never seen the winner of the audience award. Now while I would like to believe that this has something to do with the fact that I rarely vote, the more likely truth is that I just don't pick films all that well. Okay, to cut myself a little slack, I don't even see ten percent of the movies and with only a few hours to sort through 350, the chances of picking the winner are slim.

For some reason, I thought Bella was the audience award winner at this year's film festival. But, my fact checker (imdb) tells me that it was actually the winner in 2006 as well as the first feature film from director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde. He also co-wrote the screenplay, which centers on Jose (Eduardo Verástegui), an ex-soccer player and the head chef at his brother Manny's restaurant. Jose has tragedy in his past, which gives him a different outlook on life than his business owner brother. He's plagued by a not-so-underlying sadness, which he apparently tries to hide by growing a Grizzly Adams-like beard.

One day, Jose abandons the restaurant during a busy lunch rush in favor of talking with a recently "emancipated" waitress, Nina (Tammy Blanchard). They go to lunch together at another restaurant, as I doubt Manny would have given them a table. Afterward, Jose takes Nina to his parents' house for dinner with the family. Nina's got her own problems and I'm not sure who ends up helping whom more, but let's just say that both their lives improve by their chance encounter. And no, you male readers out there, I'm not implying anything by that.

The story is nice, much more uplifting than, say, No Country For Old Men, which was our other choice on that afternoon. The script could have used a little touch up here and there, but I give Monteverde credit for not falling into the predictable romance category. He has a good nose for subtle comedy. And for you weepers out there, you might even get a little sniffly by the time the credits roll. My imdb rating: 7/10.

Review: Dan in Real Life

Steve Carrell sandwiches a smaller comedy between the likes of Evan Almighty and Get Smart (which I will see and I hope it doesn't suck I hope it doesn't suck I hope it doesn't suck). Peter Hedges directs his second film, after his decent freshman effort Pieces of April starring Mrs. Tom Cruise. Hedges has a great cast to work with in addition to Carrell, including Juliette Binoche ("French or English, Juliette, pick a side -- we're at war!" I can hear Stephen Colbert saying), Diane Wiest (see Parenthood, Bright Lights, Big City, and 40+ other films), and John Mahoney (of Frazier fame).

Carrell plays Dan, if you hadn't already guessed. Dan is a widower, father of three girls, and writer of a local advice column with aspirations for syndication. The oldest daughter is bookish, responsible and judgmental; the middle wears slingshots about five years before she legally should be able to and has a boyfriend named Marty; while the youngest is just predictably cute. Steve hasn't dated since his wife's tragic death, and everyone in his extended family thinks maybe it's time he starts trying.

Dan drives the girls to his parents' house for a weekend with family. While there, he runs into Marie (Binoche) at a book store, with whom he flirts in somewhat corny fashion. He tries to pursue things further, but alas, Marie is seeing someone. But fate brings Marie, and her date, into the picture. Comedy ensues.

I thought this movie worked a little better than Hedges' first. Some of the scenes are a little trite, the script occasionally falls into schmaltz, but in general the story is enjoyable and the acting is solid. And, if schmaltz is your thing, then you'll like it all the better. My imdb rating: 7/10.

Review: Lars and the Real Girl

When making my film festival picks this year, I remember skimming by a movie about a guy who buys an anatomically correct sex doll. I thumbed to the next page without much thought, figuring it was probably either a farcical comedy or -- well, what would my mother think when she read the review? Anyway, in various conversations with fellow festival goers in line (uh, I mean "queueing"), I heard that it was actually quite good. So a couple friends and I (who also claim not to frequent sex doll films) headed down to the local art theatre for a viewing.

Lars and the Real Girl was directed by Craig Gillespie, who unfortunately also has the juvenile comedy flick Mr. Woodcock to his credit. Ryan Gosling plays the title character. He's one of those actors who sounds and looks vaguely familiar, but you just can't place him. He's been a busy guy, and to name a couple credits, he played the title roles in The United States of Leland and the TV show "Young Hercules".

Kudos to Gosling for his portrayal as the deluded Lars, who is exactly the opposite of a "people person". He lives in the garage of his boyhood home, a safe distance from his brother and sister-in-law who now occupy the home. A porno-surfing coworker turns him on to a web site featuring lifelike sex dolls, and voila! Lars has a girlfriend, Bianca.

The small northern town pulls together to try to help Lars through his delusion. I won't go into it, but a lot of the good laughs come from interaction with the town folk.

The movie is occasionally sweet, good for laughs here and there, and the characters are good for the most part, but something seemed lacking to me. I think this is one of those movies that seems better in a crowded theatre, so I'm sure the festival crowd though it was great. Me, I thought it was good. My IMDB rating: 7/10.

Review: Michael Clayton

A friend and I went to see Michael Clayton last week. I was supposed to go with two friends, but one was overtaken by the allure of an American League playoff game. Now while I take as much joy in watching the Red Sox and the Yankees of the world lose as much as the next red blooded non-east coast American male, it's still the American League, and that's inexcusable.

Moving on.

I anticipated a decent socially conscious suspense drama, as that's mostly what George Clooney does these days. Why wouldn't he? I don't think he needs more money. For some reason, I thought it was based on a true story, but apparently it's a complete work of fiction by Tony Gilroy. He wrote the screenplays for the Bourne Franchise (that should be the name of the next movie, by the way) as well as Armageddon and The Devil's Advocate. This was his first big screen original since The Cutting Edge, a figure skating drama (really) and also his directorial debut.

I mentioned that I anticipated a socially conscious suspense drama, and though that's what it was, the socially conscious part of it was not of the preachy variety, and likely wasn't even the purpose of the movie. It was, however, an excellent popcorn-eating flick.

Clooney convincingly plays the title character, a somewhat washed up attorney, part time father of one, and recovering poker addict (hey, I'm not an addict, so just get your mouse cursor off the Comment link). Tom Wilkinson is excellent as Michael's brilliant, yet clinically nutty attorney friend Arthur. Arthur stopped taking his meds, and some of his resulting behavior leaves a high-profile client feeling just a tad miffed. Michael's job is to clean things up and make everything better, which is apparently where he really excels. Tilda Swinton is chillingly realistic as Karen Crowder, who doesn't think much of the job Michael is doing.

The movie starts at a key point in what turns out to be near the end of the movie, chronologically. Don't worry, it all eventually makes perfect sense. Sit back and enjoy it. My imdb rating: 8/10.

Review: 3:10 To Yuma

I admit that I don't like westerns -- never have. They're dusty, full of drama I can't relate to, and the acting is just plan bad. Maybe this is a reflection on the crappy "B" westerns (in Technicolor!) that always played on the tube when I was a kid. Anyway, It's sort of a a rule, so I don't know why I went to this movie. I suppose it was because I was bored, wanted to see a movie, got indecisive, and just decided to see the highest ranked movie on imdb.com showing in Des Moines. So there's that.

3:10 to Yuma is a remake of the original produced in 1957 starring Glenn Ford, who died shortly before filming began (the remake, not the one he starred in). Russell Crowe stepped into Glenn's shoes (acting shoes, not the ones he was buried in) as Ben Wade, the worldly bad man, yet charming, but need I remind you that he's very bad, yet good with women. Ben robs and kills people for a living, which isn't the worst job you could have in the 19th century desert southwest. I mean, it pays well and all, and it beats working for "the man".

Opposite Crowe is Christian Bale, who plays the apparent wuss named Dan Evans. He owes money to someone, who would apparently rather foreclose on Dan, because he keeps doing petty little things like burning down his barn and threatening his family. But is Dan that much of a wuss? And is Ben really all bad?

Rounding out the cast are Peter Fonda, as a gritty old bounty hunter, and Ben Foster, who previously played Claire's bisexual boyfriend Russell on Six feet Under. He serves quite well as Ben Wade's creepily lethal number two.

Okay, I admit I liked the movie, even if I found one turn in the plot a little unbelievable. There's good character development, rounded off off with decent action and suspense. The child actors don't make you want to puke or anything, which is another plus. And kudos for avoiding trite, predictable, and convenient endings. My imdb rating: 8/10.

Lessons Learned

I learned a variety of lessons at this years festival, both from the films and the experience in general. Here's a recap of the ones I can remember in my jet lagged state:

I should take a day off to spend some more time picking my films, or arrange for therapy while I'm there. Minimally, I should mix the different types of trauma, maybe start with a blown heist, move on to a bloody war, and then after a brief stop at hopeless drug addiction, wrap things up with a terminal illness. But I know it sucks to keep on the same depressing theme. By the way, I learn this lesson every year.

Never forget your lock pick kit.

No gimmick films next year. If it actually turns out to be stupendous, I can catch it on DVD.

It's really all about the director. I knew this, but got confirmation this year.

Never, under any circumstances, kill innocent people for personal gain. Even if it seems like a good idea, it will just end with the destruction of you, your family, and of course the person you kill. And you'll probably feel bad, too.

Something will go wrong on the way to Toronto. Accept it and move on.

Someone always forgets to turn off their cell phone, no matter how many reminders the festival programmers give you.

Comments aren't questions, but people will give them during the Q&A anyway.

Further west on Bathurst, there are groovy restaurants:

1. SAN, a Korean joint
2. Chehoskey, a fusion restaurant just a little further west with good beer
3. Cocoa, Tapas & Brazilian food across the street from Chehosky
4. Terroni, Italian joint even further west

Sit downstairs at the Elgin. The sound isn't all that great in the balcony.

Keep notes on lessons you learn as you learn them. Later you might forget.