Capsule Reviews

A stampede of movies has opened up in Memphis over the past couple weeks. All of a sudden Memphis has become a movie lover's paradise, at least for the time being. Also, it is not like the theaters are being flooded with standard Hollywood crap, but they are showing engaging, adult dramas. Over the past few days I have seen a number of movies, so instead of boring you with my lengthy reviews, I am going to just write some quick short ones.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" (***)
Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas" has been brought to the big screen once again, this time in glorious 3D. The movie remains a classic, visual achievement, and this notion is only strengthened when in 3D. The songs are great, especially "This is Halloween" and "Sandy Claws." The film runs short, not even reaching the 80 minute mark. The story seems to steam along, and the characters could have been given more to do, but at least it is not like most Hollywood films that don't know when to end. The 3D effects keep the viewer engrossed in what is going on. If you get the chance, check this out.

"Things We Lost in the Fire" (***)
"Things We Lost in the Fire" is a slow-moving, character drama that features some strong performances from Halle Berry and Benicio del Toro. The film follows two people going through some rough times who don't really like each other. Even though they don't particularly like each other, they need each other. The non-linear structure worked really well, giving the viewer a sense of who Brian was. The film did have some cheesy dialogue in some parts and really seemed to drag at the end though.The extreme close ups really emphasize the raw emotion of the characters, intricately scrutinizing their suffering. The film is about loss and coping with what you don't have anymore. It is about the personal struggles people face, whether it be the loss of a husband or drug addiction. It is a refreshing film, though somber, that everyone should check out.

"Into the Wild" (***)
"Into the Wild" is a captivating meditation on human life featuring a breakthrough performance by Emile Hirsch. The dialogue is poetic at times and thought-provoking. The film features many supporting performances, the best coming from Catherine Keener and Hal Holbrook. Emile Hirsch gives a commanding performance that is exhilarating to watch. It is fascinating to watch this man try to find this freedom in the world by leaving society as he knew it. He obviously had a dark past, and he felt lied to by those who were supposed to love him. He escapes to the wild to try to figure out who he is. Though it is lengthy, it is always fascinating.

"Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (*1/2)
This should also be known as "Elizabeth: The Film that Shouldn't Have Been Made." The story plays like a soap that could have been shown on any television station. While Cate Blanchett does a fine job reprising the role of Queen Elizabeth, it pales in comparison to the first one, and I wasn't even extremely impressed with the first one. The film, however, is beautiful to look at, but there is no substance. It is just a soap that tries to pretend to be a good film by giving the viewer some beautiful images. But even those images couldn't keep my eyes from looking at the wall.

"Michael Clayton" (**1/2)
"Michael Clayton" is one of the better thrillers that has hit theatres recently, though it is not as good as "The Bourne Ultimatum." The film has a slow, deliberate pace which works for the most part. The story confuses the viewer in the beginning, but it starts to make sense later on. It was a well-written film, something that you don't see from thrillers today. It was stylized and intriguing with some really good performances. I think George Clooney did well; I'm just not sure if I would deem it Oscar-worthy. Tilda Swinton was also good, but I preferred her perfrmance in "Stephanie Daley" earlier this year, a film that people need to check out. Tom Wilkinson did the best job, always keeping the viewer intrigued, and could receive a nomination.

Those are my thoughts. I still haven't seen "Gone, Baby Gone" or "Rendition" yet. This weekend, six new films open in the Memphis area, but I'm going home so I won't be able to catch them. I probably will end up seeing "Saw IV" which is probably going to suck, but I just have to see it. "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" finally opens up here. I have been salivating at the mouth to see this film ever since I saw the trailer. "Lust, Caution," Ang Lee's latest opens up, which is a film that I am really excited about seeing. "The Darjeeling Limited" also comes to the Memphis area. Even though the reviews have been mixed, I'm going to see it because the word of mouth seems to be strong. And finally, "Lars and the Real Girl" is also a film that I am excited about checking out. Who wouldn't want to see a film about a guy who gets involved with a blow-up doll?