National Treasure: Book of Secrets

So yeah I saw this movie, I saw the first one as well. I can't be mad at the movie, becuase shame on me for wanting anything from this movie or franchise. I guess I am a little frustrated that I saw this instead of Charlie Wilson's War, but at the time I had no idea that was movies was going to get some much love and I didn't think I would be as dissappointed in this movie as I was.

I really don't want to give a synopsis of what this movies was about becuase honestly I don't really want to expend the effort and in truth it doesn't really matter. National Treasure: Book of Secrets is less about the story and more about the outrageous escapes and puzzles throughout the movie, same as the original. I guess I was a little more lenient with the first movie becuase it was sort of new, but this movie made no effort to do anything different. Nick Cage and Justin Bartha are an amusing duo, but no terribly funny. There were a bunch of heavy weight actors, Voight, Harris, Keitel, even Helen Mirren shows up, but in the end it just wasn't enogh to save this movie from itself.

I wish I could suggest this movie as a fun pop corn flic that you can watch and turn your brain off, but honestly you will be bored 40mins in and your brain will actually fight you back. I guess if you catch in on capable you can put it in on in the background.

GRADE - D

The Great Debaters

It seems like a couple of movies get made ever year with the specific purpose of being melodramtic enough to warrant award recognigtion. I often resent these movies and avoid them or watch them just so I can bash them. Last year I thought Pursuit of Happiness was going to be that kind of movie and this year I was certain The Great Debaters would also fit into that category. Well I was wrong about Pursuit of Happiness last year, it turned out to be a really good movie that was held together, by the strength of a great performance by Will Smith who kept the movie from being too melodramatic. I am happy to say that The Great Debaters also avoided being too melodramtic and in fact turned out to be a really good movie, not based solely on the acting, which actually did get a little melodramatic, but rather, on strength of Denzel Washington's directing, I know I am kind of surprised too.

This is Denzel's first movie, Antwain Fisher get that honor, but this movies does help to pad his resume and move him in the direction of being a really good director. Set in the Jim Crow south, The Great Debaters is the story of the Wiley College's debates team's history journey to wining a match against Harvard University. Denzel Washington is Professor Melving Tolson, professor and debate coach by day and union organizer by night. Professor Tolson tries to instill in his students and team members that power of words and a disciple over one's emmotions. The Wiley College debate team's journey to Harvard is by no means a smooth journey. There are many obstacles that hinder their progess, but in the end Wiley College proves to the nation there is much more to the American Negro than the rage associated with living in a country that considers you sub-human.

In the end Denzel crafts a vivid work full of emmotion and gripping speeches, it teeters on melodramatic at times and for this most part pulls back at just the right time, although there were occassion where the movie slipped. All in all this was a passionate film, with a lot heart and the brains to match.

GRADE - B+

I Am Legend

As the draws to a close there are a couple of movies out there I would still like to catch before I bid 2007 a dieu. However one of the movies I knew there was no way I was going to miss was Will Smith latest, potential blockbuster, if such a thing is possible in December, I Am Legend. This movie along with American Ganster were a must for me before the close of the year. Both feature two of my favorite actors, Mr. Washington and Mr. Smith, and both had all the makings of greatness in the design. American Gangster did not disappoint and delivered everywhere it was supposed to, I Am Legend was in no way a disappointment, but did fall a little short. Please don't mistake what I am saying, and I will get to this later, the movie is definitely worth seeing, I highly recommend it, but when you are Will Smith I expect greatness every single time, and this fell just short of greatness.

The premise of the movie was an interesting idea; supposed cure for cancer turns out to be infectious disease that turns all those that come into contact with it into "mindless" super zombies that are faster, stronger, and more agile than humans. However they feed on flesh and blood and are extremely sensitive to ultra violet light. Dr. Neville, Will Smith, is immune to the disease and spends several years alone in New York as the only apparent human survivor trying to develop a cure. Along with his dog Will spends his days, trying to contact any other potential survivors, working on a cure and trying to stay alive.

I Am Legend features a couple of very cool action sequences and a handful of very poignant moments, in particular one between Will and a mannequin. I cannot say anything negative about Will's acting, once again he is exceptional. While Will did not bulk-up to Muhammad Ali size, he definitely toned up and got really fit for this flick, in addition to the look Will had absolutely no problem pulling off the role of genius, super soldier, trying to save the world. Both acting and visually the movie was tops, the movie fell a little short on the story side of things. I can't say the ending sucked, but I don't know it fell a little short. If you haven't seen it I won't ruin, but there was this big build up and in the end the story cheated itself. I will however disagree with many of the critics that felt the infected humans were not scary enough. I don't think the point was for them to be scary, the movie was unaffected by the design of the infected humans.

I really enjoyed this movie, a lot of fun, exciting, suspenseful, emotional, I want to say it was great, but it fell just short of great, but no excuse to not see this movie or even own it.

GRADE - B+

American Gangster

I am not sure how this movie was not going to be great, I mean I guess it was possible for this movie to not deliver in every aspect, it has happened before, but in no way was this movie not freakin awesome. I mean I really don't want to say much more because it will all sound so cliche, but man this was a really good movie. I can sum this movie up in one scene. Russ and Denzel face off near the end, it is just the two of them sitting down at table across form one another from one another, each trying to get the other to give up more than they are willing to give up. Normally Denzel crushes the other actor, not in any ill inteded way, but he is just that good and his personality is just that strong and it is hard to hold your own with Denzel and not look like you are literally trying to out do him, but Russ man, Russ stood toe to toe, nose to nose, to one of Hollywood's biggest giants and he did not blink. That is American Gangster, Ridely Scott telling the story of two giants from opposite sides of the law finding enough common ground to work together.

Nuff said

GRADE - A

Michael Clayton

George, George, George, when did you get so good at this whole acting thing. George Clooney is one of those guys that your like, man how long as he been acting, then you look at his filmography and your like wow, this dude has been acting for a while. And not only that, but the man makes pretty good movies. This was not exception, in fact this was definately near the top of his list, if not his best work, which it very well maybe.

Michael Clayton is a janitor at one of largest most powerful law firms in the world. And by janitor I mean attorney that legally cleans up all the messses other attorneys and their really, really, really wealthly clients make. Michael has made a living out of being able to undo what other dumber more carless attorneys do. This is a niche that Michael has carved out for himself and in the world of corporate law, this niche is as close to tenure as you can get in a law firm.

This film features Michael setting out to clean up the mess of one of his long time friends and a giant at the law firm, Arthur Edens, played by the uber talented Tom Wilkinson. Michael sets out to clean up Arthur's mess, but when Arthur seemingly kills himself Michael sets out to finish the work that his friend Arthur started. Which is taking down one of their major clients for really grimy business practices.

The story is strong, lots of twists and turns and u-turns and suspense and just really good things happening on screen, but I can't say enough about how well acted this peice was. Everyone, I mean just everyone was gold, Tilda Swinton, playing lead council for the grimmy argicultural company that has poisoned people, Sydney Pollack, playing one of the partners at the firm, Tom Wilkinson I already mentioned and of course Mr. Clooney. I don't know if he is getting Oscar buzz and really that doesn't matter all that much to me, but he should, the dude was just money, for two hours he was on, he never missed not once.

You would be crazy if you don't stop reading this right now and go get this movie... ok if you have just come back from wherever you get movies get ready to enjoy one of the best movies of the year. If you haven't left yet let me make it easy for you.

GRADE - A

The Kingdom

What do you get when you combine, Jaime Foxx, Jason Bateman, Jen Garner, Chris Cooper, Peter Berg, the middle east, terrorism and the most intense 3o minutes of climatic action you will ever see, give up The Kingdom. This movie is about what goes on in Saudi Arabia that most Americans have no clue about. I cannot vouch for how accurate the film is, I studied Latin America college not the Middle East, but I can tell you that felt like it was accurate.

Peter Berg is like my favoritest director that I never think about. This dude just makes solid, fun to watch movies that are never boring. Now the marketing of this movie would lead you to believe it was going to be more than a simply action movie, so don't believe the hype, but than again what is wrong with being a simple action movie. For an action movie this one was a little slow, the begining was good, the middle dragged in parts, but the ending more than made up for it. In fact I am comfortable saying the movie was built around the last 3o minutes and in that regard it did not fail. It delivered several times over.

The story was believable in the sense that stuff goes down in Saudi Arabia, Americans get killed and the last thing the Saudi government wants is American involvment so everything it took to get the FBI over there is believable. It is also not difficult to imagine that once over there they would not be welcomed with open arms. So the initial investigation was slow going, but stuff happens a common ground is found and the investigation is off and runing.

I should say a word about the acting, GREAT. I don't need to say much about the aforementioned cast, however I want to spend a special shout out to Ashraf Barhom, who played the Saudi Colonel that aided the FBI's investigation. This guys was awesome, I mean really really good he along with Ali Suliman money all the way. It is nice that western film has gotten to the place where we put in the effort to cast people from the region to play these roles as opposed to casting a westerner with a tan and learning an accent. This way the acting is much more authentic and pays huge dividens on screen.

Whats not to like about this movie, it was not perfect, but most movies aren't. The Kingdom is a good time at the flix, definately a must see.

GRADE - A-

The Brave One

Is it possible to be tough and vulnerable at the same time, if you are Jodie Foster it is. This is just another one of those films that Jodie has added to growing list of Jodie Foster movies. There are a handful of actors/actresses that have become so good at developing a character composite that it becomes their role, their movie; Jodie Foster, Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino. These folks have become so good that movies are written for them to do their schtick. This is not a knock in anyway, there personalities are so strong that they define the roles they take and it becomes them. It is hard for me to think of anyone else playing this role, Jodie is the best at it.

From a film making perspective this movie did not do much to move me or impress me in anyway. The story was sort of perdictable and in the end the lesson learned is being a vigilante is acceptiable as long as you have a really good reason. Having said that the cast is strong enough to make the movie watchable. I really don't need to say anything about Jodie. Terrance Howard is very quietly turning himself into a big time actor that demands respect. He was strong, on time and did not shrink into the background in his scenes with Jodie, but also did not try to steal them either. Naveen Andrews wins the award for luckiest guy ever because he as like two lines in the whole movie. All he had to do was show up and make out with smokin hot Jodie. Granted his character also got beat to death in maybe the most brutal fashion possible, but hey making out with Jodie might be worth it.

Good acting, weak story, weaker ending, not a must see, but worth a Netflix selection.

GRADE - C+