The Libertine

**1/2 Stars

For what it is, it's well done. There is two reasons to see this movie: 1. If you enjoy the study of hedonism and 2. Johnny Depp. His performance is deeply disturbing, yet surprisingly touching. He plays John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester, in London of the 17th century. He has a passionate romance with a young actress, Elizabeth Barry, and he writes a rebellious play which lampoons the monarch who commissioned it, Charles II, leading to the Earl's banishment and eventual downfall. It's a total blast to watch Depp, especially in an opening dialogue where he explains that you will not like him throughout the entire film. Well done Johnny.

V for Vendetta

***1/2 Stars

"Remember, remember, the fifth of November, gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."

It's an action adventure, it's controversial, its a political thriller and much more. From the creators of the Matrix trilogy, V for Vendetta is the first big hit of 2006. Based on Alan Moore and David Lloyd's ground-breaking comic books from the late 1980's V for Vendetta tells of a totalitarian Britain in a futuristic setting. A young woman named Evey (a bald Natalie Portman for half the movie) is rescued from a rape and beating by a masked vigilante known only as "V" (Hugo Weaving who is perfectly cast). V is mysterious character who is skilled in the art of combat and deception. He urges his fellow citizens to rise up against tyranny and oppression. As Evey uncovers the truth about who this man is, she also discovers the truth about herself and that spirals into who she becomes.

This is an action thriller that refuses to let you have a moments breath. It requires incentive, concentration, and an open mind. Do not look at this as an attack on our government. Look at it as a "what if" situation. America is in their 2nd Civil War, the world is falling apart, and Civil Liberties have been taken completely (taken more than what's morally right). If you aren't ready to see explosions in London then stay away, but go to this movie and expect a damn good time.

The Hills Have Eyes

** Stars

The Hills Have Eyes is no classic to the horror genre, but manages to rise to the level to satisfactory if what you are expecting is torture porn.

16 Blocks

**1/2

There is a purpose to 16 blocks. What that is I cannot tell you. It's basically another movie of the Bruce Willis assembly line. Of course there's nothing wrong with that.

The Pink Panther

**1/2 Stars

Starring: Steve Martin

I can't recommend it, but I wouldn't discourage you from seeing it...that much.

Oscar Results

Best Picture: Crash
Best Director: Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain
Best Original Screenplay: Crash
Best Adapted Screenplay: Brokeback Mountain
Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line
Best Cinematography: Memoirs of a Geisha
Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote
Editing: Crash
Foreign Language: Tsotsi
Sound Editing: King Kong
Best Song: It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp
Best Sound Mixing: King Kong
Original Score: Brokeback Mountain
Art Direction: Memoirs of a Geisha
Documentary Feature: March of the Penguins
Documentary Short: A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age
Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener
Makeup: Chronicles of Narnia
Costumes: Memoirs of a Geisha
Animated Short: The Moon and the Son
Live Action Short: Six Shooter
Best Animated Feature: Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Best Visual Effects: King Kong
Best Supporting Actor: George Clooney, Syriana


CRASH UPSETS BROKEBACK! This is the second greatest upset in the history of the Academy Awards...the 1st: Shakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan.

Capote

**** Stars

Philip Seymour Hoffman: Truman Capote (Which one is which?) This performance will haunt you, shock you, and blow you away. This is the year for Hoffman.

Date Movie

0 Stars

In its 80 minute or so run time, can you guess how many times I laughed?...



None.


It's pure and simple, Date Movie is the cinematic equivalent of nuclear waste.

Oscar Predictions

The 78th Academy Awards...

Who Will Win- *
Who Should Win- +

BEST PICTURE

Brokeback Mountain*

Capote

Crash+

Good Night, And Good Luck

Munich

Who Got Snubbed:
King Kong: It deserved more than a nomination. It deserved a win with its style, its emotion, its story, but must of all, it was the best time at the movies all year.

Cinderella Man: I knew it was a long shot, but I would have really enjoyed seeing the fantastic four up for another prize (Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Russell Crowe, and Akiva Goldsman)

A History of Violence: Not only one of the best reviewed movies of the year but it gives us stunning performances, an ingenious screenplay, and an ending that will literally blow you away.

Walk the Line: Apparently, the Golden Globes and audiences don’t seem to matter anymore.

Who Shouldn’t be There:
Munich: Sorry Steven, but you just are not worthy of any awards with this film. Your three hour long thriller should have been reduced to an hour and forty-five. End it Steven. Just end it.


BEST DIRECTOR
Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain*+
Bennett Miller, Capote
Paul Haggis, Crash
George Clooney, Good Night and Good Luck
Steven Spielberg, Munich

Peter Jackson for “King Kong”: Jackson is a masterful storyteller. He respects the original film more than any other man. This should be his year like in 2003 with “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”

David Cronenberg for “A History of Violence”: Cronenberg gives us one of the most powerful films of the year. It will mess with your head and crush you when you least expect it. This is his baby.

BEST ACTOR
Philip S. Hoffman, Capote*+
Terrence Howard, Hustle & Flow
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line
David Strathairn, Good Night, And Good Luck

Who Got Snubbed:
Russell Crowe in “Cinderella Man”: Maybe the Academy would have given him the nomination if it wasn’t for the incident over the summer. Come on, give the guy a break. His performance was sensational.

BEST ACTRESS
Judi Dench, Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman, Transamerica
Keira Knightley, Pride and Prejudice
Charlize Theron, North Country
Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line*+

Who got snubbed:
Joan Allen in “The Upside of Anger”: I loved her in this film. It reminded me so much of Diane Keaton in “Something’s Gotta Give”

Ziyi Zhang in “Memoirs of a Geisha”: She had to learn English and play woman with a different racial background.

Naomi Watts in “King Kong”: It’s the first time Watts has tackled this material and she gives a dead-on performance as Ann Darrow, Kong’s first and only love.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
George Clooney, Syriana
Matt Dillon, Crash
Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man*+
Jake Gyllehnaal, Brokeback Mountain
William Hurt, A History of Violence

Who got Snubbed:
All five contenders deserve their nominations. All five contenders deserve a win.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, Junebug
Catherine Keener, Capote
Frances McDormand, North Country
Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener*
Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain+

Who got snubbed:
The entire cast of “Crash”.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Crash*+
Good Night, And Good Luck
Match Point
The Squid and The Whale
Syriana

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Brokeback Mountain*+
Capote
The Constant Gardener
A History of Violence
Munich

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Howl's Moving Castle
Corpse Bride
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit*+

Each film in every category is a deserving nominee except one…the last hour of Munich. But with Steven Spielberg, anything can happen and that has been proven this year. But with this race heating up, it seems that each film could win. But right now, it seems that Brokeback Mountain is leading the charge. There were two kings of 2005: Kong and Clooney. Now it seems they will not rule at all at the Oscars.

Firewall

*** Stars

Ford is back with a bang...

Ok, it's not a big bang...

But it sure is a good time.


Harrison Ford has been absent from the movies since 2003's Hollywood Homicide. Now he's back in this thriller about Jack Stanfield, a bank security expert, whose specialty is designing theft-proof financial computer systems. Bill Cox (Paul Bettany) is bank robber who threatens to kill his family if he doesn't rob the bank for him. Jack is forced to find a flaw in his own system and steal $100 million. With the lives of his wife and children at stake, he has only hours to intervene Cox's plan and beat him at his one game.

Firewall is an effectively made thriller. Sure, it's routine and yes we have seen it before. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. I love watching Harrison Ford doing what he does best...act. He convinces me more than any other actor when he fights. He's tired, he misses his punches, he gets knocked down and just barely has enough strength to end the battle. Am I a bad person for enjoying this movie more than Spielberg's Munich?

Final Destination 3

**1/2 Stars


"You have to respect a franchise where its purpose is to kill off the main characters. Just stop thinking and enjoy the fun..."

Glory Road

*** Stars

Worst Movies of 2005

10. Be Cool
9. Dukes of Hazzard
8. Bad News Bears
7. Boogeyman
6. Saw II
5. Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
4. Deuce Bigalo: European Gigalo
3. Son of the Mask
2. Alone in the Dark
1. White Noise

Top Ten Movies of 2005

1. King Kong
2. Crash
3. Cinderella Man

4. Sin City

5. A History of Violence
6. Walk the Line

7. Good Night and Good Luck

8. Capote
9. Brokeback Mountain

10. Wedding Crashers

Brokeback Mountain

**** Stars

It is now impossible to look at these two fine actors the same ever again. For Heath Ledger, we are now looking at one the most talented young men in Hollywood. But lets not leave out Jake Gyllenhaal, who turns in yet another heartfelt and Oscar worthy performance. Brokeback Mountain sets a new landmark for the film industry. It is powerful, brilliantly acted, and for Ang Lee, this may be his turn to take Oscar glory.

Brokeback Mountain takes place on the vistas of Wyoming and Texas surrounding a love story between to men. is an epic love story set against the sweeping vistas of Wyoming and Texas. Two young men, a ranch-hand Ennis Del Mar (Ledger) and a rodeo cowboy Jack Twist (Gyllenhaal) meet on Brokeback Mountain in the summer of 1963 and begin a life long relationship hidden from the outside world.

Once the summer ends, they part ways, only to be reconnected years later. They marry, have kids, and try to live their lives without one another, when really for them, it is impossible. Michelle Williams is Ledgers wife, Ann Hathaway is Gyllenhaal's and both give powerful supporting performances as two women who will never know who their men truly are. Ang Lee's vision is captivating. The cinematography alone will sweep you away from your home and will place you on top of the most peaceful yet most painful place on earth...Brokeback Mountain.

Speaking a straight man, this is one of the best films of the year.

Munich

**1/2 Stars

Steven Spielberg is one of my favorite film directors. Every single one of his movies is a treasure for me (alright A.I was just ok). But as I walked out of the theater after seeing Munich, it was the first time in my life Spielberg disappointed me.

This is the story of what happened after the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. It follows a fictitious secret Israeli team assigned to kill Palestinians suspected to have planned the Munich attack. The plot is thick. Spielberg doesn't give us the characters he has given us before. We really don't care for them as much as we should. The assassination squad included four men, headed by Avner (Eric Bana), track down and kill those who were behind the attack. These Israeli’s must look strong to the world in order to protect themselves. But all in all, it really comes down to revenge.

The acting is above par. Bana gives us the performance he can give (he is a Non-Jewish man playing a Jewish man). The supporting cast including Geoffrey Rush and Daniel Craig have their moments. Some scenes are very well done, especially the flashbacks of the actual hostage situation and an assassination on one of the terrorists is quite chilling when it suddenly goes abrupt. But still, after two hours and forty-five minutes, you wonder when Spielberg really wanted it to end. If I had to choose, I would say after minute 120. Many say "Munich" is a bold move for Spielberg. Well that may be, but I don't care. The movie just isn't that good.

Hostel

**1/2 Stars

Hostel delivers the goods...and the god-awful at the same time.

King Kong

Starring: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody
Directed by: Peter Jackson

**** Stars

“It was beauty killed the beast…”

Peter Jackson's King Kong is one of the great movie-going experiences of my life. It's more than just perfect; it's a visual and cinematic treasure that will live on for generations. Kong is back, and boy is he back all right.

Peter Jackson reminds us that he is a genius. He gives us more spectacles and thrills in three hours then most movies do in a lifetime. But Jackson never loses focus on character and story development. He is the heir to the throne of Steven Spielberg, in being the next great film director of time.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of my favorite films of all time. So, when entering King Kong, I expected the world from Jackson, and he delivered the galaxy.

Jackson starts off with a view of New York City during the Great Depression. It then tells the story of the lying, cheating, and stealing Carl Denham, (the surprisingly creepy Jack Black) a washed-out film director with nothing left to do but to break the rules in hope of a shot at the big time. Fortunately, for him, he discovers a map. This map is the key in shooting his next picture. It is known as Skull Island, where the fate of him and dozens of others will be revealed.

Carl finds Ann Darrow (an Oscar-caliber performance from Naomi Watts), a struggling actress who is looking for stardom. She agrees on the picture but is tricked by Carl saying that the picture will be shot in China. Many of the crew members are unaware of this, as well as playwright/screenwriter Jack Driscoll, who is unwillingly taken on board because he was unable to get off the ship before it set sail.

Kong and Skull Island is not revealed until an hour into the picture. Jackson wants Kong’s presence and first look to be shocking and powerful. And is it ever.

When Skull Island is reached, things start to unfold. Jackson has created the scariest place on earth, with zombies, monsters, dinosaurs, and of course, Kong himself. Its as if hell has been sprouted onto earth.

After meeting natives on the island, Ann is soon captured by them and will soon be sacrificed to Kong. But when Kong sees Ann, he sees beauty; beauty he has never seen before. Ann, scared out of her mind, starts to dance for him to calm him down. We see Kong smile. From this moment, Ann and Kong begin to develop a mysterious and confusing attraction, in which neither one of them understands. Jackson does not use dialogue. He uses emotion. Staring into one another’s eyes, Ann and Kong realize that they are restricted from one another because the world cannot socially accept this.

When Carl’s camera is destroyed, he thinks his career is over. Suddenly, he believes he can take Kong back to New York City, where the world can give him the praise and honor he thinks he so humbly deserves. Carl tricks Ann and Jack (who is in love with Ann) to bring Kong back to the city, where the climax unfolds.

Jackson stays true to the 1933 original and its story. The 2005 King Kong is not just an action-adventure. I mean, of course, it is an action adventure. It is probably the greatest action ever put on screen. But, it is also a touching story of love between Ann Darrow and Kong. There love is forbidden and Jackson creates a powerful experience. I can admit: I laughed-I cried.

King Kong is the best movie of the year and it proves to us that Peter Jackson is one of the great directors working today. Beauty has killed the beast. I am that beast.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

Directed by: Andrew Adamson

*** Stars

The adaptation of C. S. Lewis's children's masterpiece "The Chronicles of Narnia" is an amazing film to look at, filled with charm and excitement. Many will forgive its early pacing once the true adventure of Narnia begins.

It tells the tale of four siblings, Peter (William Moseley), sister Susan (Anna Popplewell), brother Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley) are sent to an old and mysterious house for their safety during WWII.

On a rainy day, the four children decide to play hide and seek. The youngest, Lucy, finds a lonely Wardrobe in an abandoned room. She hides inside it and literally steps into another world. The view and scope of Narnia is Oscar Worthy.

Lucy meets a faun and soon befriends it. When her friend is taken by the evil Witch of Narnia for not reporting that a human has entered the world, Lucy quickly goes back to tell the others. Eventually, Lucy takes all the other children into the world. And by the way, Lucy is played by an adorable Georgie Henley who gives true emotion and skill to her role.

Edmund, one of the children is taken capture by the evil witch. There is a prophecy saying that four humans will come to end the hundred-years winter and bring freedom back to Narnia from the evil witch. He can only be rescued with the help of Aslan the lion (a perfectly cast voice by Liam Neeson). Together, battles will be fought, and death seems inevitable.

The Chronicles of Narnia plays like a Lord of the Rings Jr. It's exciting and scary, yet charming and lovable. It takes some time to get into the excitement, but once it starts, it's hard to resist.

Rent

"Everyone has aids..."
Team America: World Police

** Stars
Starring: Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs


Rent is definitely a story of love and friendship. Whether you are black, white, a racial-couple, gay, a lesbian, an ex-boyfriend who's ex-girlfriend is a lesbian, or a transvestite, Rent is still a story of love. Rent is based around the story of men and women struggling with paying the rent, sexually transmitted diseases, drugs, and love. During a year, they will struggle to survive and cope with the losses of careers, love, and life. Rent is a redundant, dissapointing failure. Its flow is somewhat annoying, its delivery is low-key, and its climax is so cheesy that what may have looked good on stage, is a humiliating bore.