Zodiac

Let me just start by saying that the cast of Zodiac is absolutely stellar. Here’s a rundown of some (and most) of the testosterone-filled cast. Jake Gyllenhaal (He’s more than just a pretty face), Robert Downey Jr. (such an underrated actor), Mark Ruffalo (He’s so versatile), Anthony Edwards (Where have you been all my post-ER life?), Brian Cox (Um, seriously, he’s in everything), Dermot Mulroney (charming), Donal Logue (Love him! He was in tv series Grounded for Life and a frequent VH1 commentator), Tom Verica (American Dreams alumni), Adam Goldberg (Dazed and Confused), John Caroll Lynch (Norm in Fargo) and the one supporting female role, Chloe Sevigny (indie film superstar). Phew! Now that that’s out of the way…I loved this. With previews, it’s just shy of being three hours, but it never really drags along, and part of this is because it is smartly played out in roughly three acts. The first portion focuses more on Gyllenhaal and Downey Jr.’s roles, but more so the latter, as a San Franciscan reporter who deteriorates because of the enigmatic Zodiac serial killer. The second act focuses more on the Ruffalo and Edwards’ characters as their cops conduct in-depth investigations that lead them in circles. And the final part revolves around Gyllenhaal and Ruffalo, but mainly how the former becomes obsessed with solving the ten-year-old case. Set in the 60s and 70s, I did find it peculiar though that Gyllenhaal’s look never changes, and he doesn’t even grow gray hairs, which seems unlikely for a stressed-out guy trying to find a killer. But the costume choices for Downey are so great – gotta love those embroidered denim jackets. Sometimes it’s hard to follow along with the quick-talking dialogue that involves key plot developments in terms of places and names (practically every scene). Also, some of the “killing-off” scenes are pretty morbid, as can be expected, but it’s gut-wrenching to watch since you know what’s coming. Overall, Zodiac is infused with witty lines, smooth transitions, individualized characters, quality acting, and a few thrilling moments to boot! It’s definitely a good way to kill some time. And yes, that pun was intended.

Directed by David Fincher
Runtime: 158 minutes

Factory Girl

I think I’ve seen this movie before: a troubled soul gets lost in the fast-paced times of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. The structure of the film lacks a solid foundation, thus making the narrative inconsistent and choppy. So really this film is more of a showcase for the evolving Sienna Miller as Edie Sedgwick and the spot-on Guy Pearce as Andy Warhol. Even Jimmy Fallon gets serious (and new tresses). Hayden Christensen plays what is obviously supposed to be Bob Dylan and I’m still torn on whether I think he actually pulled it off or just sounded constipated the whole time (any thoughts?). By the end, it all just got annoying, predictable, and repetitive – which are probably the three words least used to describe Sedgwick’s life. Ironic, no?

Directed by George Hickenlooper
Runtime: 90 minutes

Pan's Labyrinth

Something that disappointed me about Pan’s Labyrinth was that there were not nearly enough fantastical elements in it then what the previews implied. In fact, I would say that there’s less fantasy than reality. Maybe it’s a good thing that the previews were somewhat deceptive, because the last thing you want is a movie’s entire plot given away. I wish the movie explained more about why the creatures were the creatures they were (maybe I’m missing out on some underlying symbolism here?), but I did enjoy the real-time story and the blatant evilness of the Captain, who’s certain facial injury is awfully entertaining. The music, especially Pan’s Lullaby, is haunting and Ivana Baquero and Maribel Verdú as Ofelia and Mercedes, respectively, are wonderful. I did find it interesting that even though Ofelia’s adventures deal with pretty scary stuff, she prefers it, and ultimately pays a big price for it, rather then participate in the much more terrifying events of her reality.

Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Runtime: 112 minutes

west bank story

"a little singing. a little dancing. a lot of hummus."

That's the tagline for the Short Film which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short. It's definitely worth checking out, as it's a Romeo+Juliet-esque musical about the opposing falafel stands, Kosher King and Hummus Hut. It's pretty entertaining.

Go to www.westbankstory.com and watch the trailer

the oscars in review

Here's a link to my official review of the academy awards last week.

http://media.www.californiaaggie.com/media/storage/paper981/news/2007/03/01/ArtsEntertainment/Muse-The.Academy.Awards.In.Review-2751498.shtml