High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The High School Musical gang is in their senior year, so they're playing their last basketball game, performing their last musical, and trying to figure out how they will deal with their broken hearts as they leave each other to go off to college.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Bart Johnson, Alyson Reed, Olesya Rulin, Chris Warren Jr., Ryne Sanborn, KayCee Stroh, Matt Prokop, Justin Martin, Jemma McKenzie-Brown

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution... Unless you're under 8 years old, in which case congratulations on finding and reading this incredibly mature blog.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Mostly at yourself, for being there.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you grew up watching good musical and dancing movies about high schoolers, like Grease and Footloose, it makes you sad to notice that not only is the depth of teenage music, life and angst only scratching the surface here, but bizarrely, as real life teenagers get more and more wild, the depiction of them in movies gets more and more tame. What's that trying to prove?

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Craziest phenomenon of the new millennium.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Zac Efron is dreamy. Which is the only reason I can think of that justifies how this series caught on. As far as the rest of the cast goes, you find yourself wondering where they will be 5 years from now. My guess is The Surreal Life.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: It's like watching The Disney Channel on a really big screen.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: If you're going to this movie for the story, you don't know anything about High School Musical. And if you don't know anything about High School Musical, you're living under a rock. And if you're living under a rock, you've got bigger problems to worry about than how lame this story is.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: You should probably take my in-depth analysis with a grain of salt on this one, because while I did see the first High School Musical, I missed the second one, so I might have missed some of the important hidden innuendo in the third.

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Role Models

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A couple of energy drink promoters (Seann William Scott & Paul Rudd) have a very bad day that leads to them getting in trouble with the law. Now they have to choose between jail time and community service as “Big Brothers” to children in need. They go for the kids.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Elizabeth Banks, Jane Lynch, Kerri Kenney, Ken Marino, A.D. Miles, Ken Jeong, Nicole Randall Johnson

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! It’s a good reminder of how when you’re feeling down, spending quality time with even the worst of kids will raise your spirits back up. And even though the movie isn’t nearly as deep as that sentence, it’ll still make you laugh. A lot.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Only if you’re open to that sort of thing. And I’d like to give the movie credit for not trying to steal laughs by having anyone walk into a wall, fart, or get bit by an animal.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It’s not that good.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Like I said, it’s not that good.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The casting is perfect. Seann William Scott gives one of his most grounded comedic performances to date (see Road Trip and American Pie 3 for examples of him not being grounded.) Jane Lynch’s schtick is put to perfect use in the role of an ex-coke addict turned do-gooder... kind of. Kerri Kenney expands nicely on the talent she’s established in Reno 911. And 12-year-old Bobb’e J. Thompson is so natural spouting out swear-words that you almost wonder if he was weaned on them instead of milk.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: David Wain has really made great strides since Wet Hot American Summer.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Mostly it’s a good time. Emotionally it could be a little deeper, both in the beginning of the second act and in the beginning of the third act. But the funny is there.

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W.

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Biopic about a man (Josh Brolin) who becomes president of the United States (George W. Bush) to prove to his father (George H.W. Bush) that he's not a disappointment.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Josh Brolin, James Cromwell, Elizabeth Banks, Richard Dreyfuss, Ellen Burstyn, Thandie Newton, Jesse Bradford, Rob Corddry, Dennis Boutsikaris, Scott Glenn, Michael Gaston, Toby Jones, Stacy Keach, Bruce McGill, Jason Ritter, Marley Shelton, Jeffrey Wright

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. All the facts we already know. What's interesting is getting to see W's emotional state as these incidents unfold, his relationship with his father, and finding out who said and did what within his cabinet... Unfortunately, all those parts of the movie are based on pure speculation, and not to be trusted.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Not nearly as much as when you watch the real W. trying to speak English.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Again, not nearly as much as when you watch the real thing.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: The whole thing would be a lot more insightful if it came out 30 years from now.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: In many cases the cast of Saturday Night Live could have done these characters more justice. While they are all reminiscent of the actual people they play, either by their looks or by their speech cadence, there is at least one false thing in each of them which keeps you focused on the actor playing the real person, rather than the real person they're playing. For example Josh Brolin sounds right, but he's much too good looking. Thandie Newton looks like Condoleezza Rice, but her speech sounds as if someone has glued her lips together. And Richard Dreyfuss just smiles way too much to be Dick Cheney.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: As is to be expected, watching this film causes you to learn more about Oliver Stone, and his personal fantasies of what it might be like to be George W. Bush, than it teaches you about what it's actually like to be George W. Bush.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It would have worked better as a Reality TV show... In fact, I think there was a similar show on TV once. Wasn't it called something like, "The News"? I don't know, who can remember such things.

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Ballast

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When a man (Michael J. Smith Sr.) loses his brother to suicide, the teenage boy who has been robbing him for drug money (JimMyron Ross) moves in next door, and their relationship grows in new and unexpected ways.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Michael J. Smith Sr., JimMyron Ross, Tarra Riggs, Johnny McPhail

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. To the sophisticated movie goer this methodical and subtle arthouse film will be seen as a rare gem. But it's not for the short of attention span or those who don't have the patience to chip all the carbon off a diamond in the rough.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Only if you're incredibly sick and twisted. And I mean in that serial killer way.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Maybe afterwards, when you go home and think about how messed up life is for poor people in this country... And, not to be a downer, but the way things are going, we'll probably all be living like these folks soon enough, so it might do you good to see this film so as to mentally prepare yourself for what's to come.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: At Sundance it won Directing and Cinematography, and was nominated for the Grand Jury Award.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: This group of non-professionals brings an authenticity that is often missing from professional actors' performance. There is no glitz, no glamor, just a few meaningless people saying so much, with so little.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Blatantly independent, but really interesting. Little, subtle, visual touches all throughout, make this teency-tiny little film a shining example of how to tell stories without using words.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Itttttt iiiiiiiis reallllllllllly sllllllllllowwwww pppppppaced. And don't expect a self-explanatory ending. You will need to think about what the ending means, or if it means anything at all.

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The Express

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The life story of Ernie Davis, the first Black person to win the Heisman Trophy. (And hence, paving the way for OJ.)

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Darrin Dewett henson, Omar Benson Miller, Nelsan Ellis, Charles S. Dutton, Justin Martin, Justin Jones, Nicole Beharie, Aunjanue Ellis, Saul Rubinek, Geoff Stults

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. It's so hard to make a biopic interesting. How do you build suspense when everyone already knows what's gonna happen? In this movie they try to build conflict around the racism that Ernie Davis and his Black teammates faced-- which much like movies about the Holocaust, always makes for interesting and accessible emotional intensity-- but the movie still suffers from the fact that it's a biopic.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: In honor of Sarah Palin, I'm going to ignore that question and answer a different one... You may have noticed that I'm on a roll with seeing race-themed movie about the mid-20th century. And here's something interesting that I've learned from the experience: A Black man won the Heisman Trophy before Black people had the right to vote. I suppose as a country, we never have quite gotten our priorities straight.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: I'm a sucker for these kinds of movies. It's like with romantic comedies, you know where it's going, but it still makes you teary and shivery inside.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: To give an award to a movie about a guy who gets an award is ridiculous. What would be next? A movie about the movie getting an award? And would we have to give that an award, too? No, we have to stop the self-eating cycle of ridiculousness before it begins.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Dennis Quaid is like a fine wine, he gets more textured and tasty as he ages.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Football is one of the trickiest things to film because there are tons of guys running around the field at once, they're all dressed the same, and they're all wearing helmets. Gary Fleder does a good job of keep your focus on #44, and shooting tight close-ups inside his helmet, so you can keep an eye on your main character at all times.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Even though it's a true story, it feels a little like it's been done before. And Remember the Titans did it better. If you like Football-Racism movies, you must rent Remember the Titans immediately.

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Body of Lies

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A CIA operative in the Middle East (Leonardo DiCaprio) tries to take down the head of a terrorist cell, but his biggest challenge is figuring out which of his allies he can trust.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Goldshifteh Farahani, Oscar Isaac, Ali Suliman, Alon Aboutboul, Simon McBurney, Kais Nashif

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Nearly as difficult to follow as Syriana, and not necessarily as fresh or interesting. If you go to the movies to escape or check out, you won't be able to do that here, as you have to pay attention every moment, and think to follow-- or you can do what I did, and cat nap when your brain starts to hurt. Okay, so I didn't like it very much, but that doesn't mean you won't. I mean, I'd be hard pressed to find a woman who enjoys this. But if you're a guy, and you like to watch guns and blood and war and things blowing up and sand-- this is whatever the male equivalent of a "Chick Flick" would be called. "A Him Flim?" "A Guy High?" (Feel free to submit better suggestions, so we can finally have a derogatory term for movies that alienate women.)

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: I laughed really hard once at a poorly framed shot of a guy in a suit standing in front of a fountain with his legs open. Completely unintentionally, the water was spurting up and down between his legs, making him look like he's either peeing through his suit or standing over a bidet, washing his rear. That was my favorite part of the movie. I like to laugh.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, but it will give you a sense of hopelessness about the war on terror. Our plan to fight terror with terror doesn't work. For every terrorist you kill, at least 10 new vengeful ones sprout up like the water fountain between that guy's legs. We need a new strategy-- and how! So if you have any suggestions, please post them on Facebook.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I liked the song that played over the closing credits... or maybe I was just happy the movie was over.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Russell Crowe plays a caricature of a bad guy. He's cold, he doesn't care about anyone, and we don't care about him. Leonardo DiCaprio's performance is fine, but his character is like an automaton: he does what he's told-- and he has integrity, too! Every character in the film feels like an object, only put there to accomplish a goal. None of them offer anything compelling for the audience to relate to, latch on to, or care about.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Ridley Scott sure does like to blow things up and shoot people dead. Hey, why shouldn't he? He's damn good at it!

Q: How is the story/script?

A: This story has no emotional through line. I don't know about you, but I remember things whether in conversation, in movies, or in life, by how a moment made me feel. Without feelings, you only have the words to remember things by. So in this movie I tried to pay attention to the words, and I tried to retain them so that I could recall them later when I would need them again... but I couldn't.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: If you want to see a great thriller about the clusterf**k we've gotten ourselves into in the Middle East, go see Traitor with Don Cheadle. It's smart, it's emotional, and it's a much clearer demonstration of the ambiguities between good guys and bad guys, when it comes to us and them. Here's a link to my review:
http://moviereviewfaqs.blogspot.com/2008/08/traitor.html

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The Secret Life of Bees

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: In 1964, a teenage girl (Dakota Fanning) runs away from home with her Black nanny (Jennifer Hudson), to follow a path that she hopes will lead to learning more about her dead mother. During these racially charged times, these interracial friends are taken in by a family of Black women who make and sell honey.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo, Paul Bettany, Tristan Wilds, Hilarie Burton, Nate Parker

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! If you like culturally relevant dramas that explore the many shades of what it is to give and receive love, this is the one for you.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Here and there, it's very rare. Dramas just don't care. Laughter is meant to be shared.
(If you noticed that was a Haiku, You Are Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, and you should audition here: http://www.fox.com/areyousmarter/showinfo/)

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Well, first off, there's a montage to a song called, "Beautiful," by India.Arie that always makes me cry-- so that's cheating. But before all is said and done, the film itself also manages to earn a few of your tears.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Sophie Okonedo has a good chance of getting a nod for Best Supporting Actress, because she plays a somewhat mentally handicapped person. In fact, she has just the right amount of mental handicap to win an Oscar, if you follow the lore explained in Tropic Thunder-- which I do.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: How is Dakota Fanning a child actress? She's such a consummate professional that it's hard to imagine she's only 14. And watch-out world, she's growing up fast now, kissing boys on screen, and as soon as she starts wearing make-up, she's going to be as much of a knockout as Heather Locklear in the 80s. Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys are passable, but they don't quite hold their own next to Queen Latifah's strength and charisma, or Sophie Okonedo's conviction and depth of character.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Aside from a few pacing problems where things could've been tightened up, there's nothing particularly wrong with the directing, but at times it is all too clear how often the director has worked in television.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Spike Lee could take some lessons from Gina Prince-Bythewood on how to confront racism in a manner that's relevant and compelling.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: You should know going in that Queen Latifah's character is supposed to be in her upper forties or lower fifties. Without that information, certain scenes may be confusing.

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Happy-Go-Lucky

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A few weeks in the life of Poppy (Sally Hawkins), a grade school teacher who can find the humor in just about anything, including having her bike stolen, a flamenco teacher on the edge of a nervous breakdown, and a driving instructor who hates just about anything that is set in his path.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Alexis Zegerman, Samuel Roukin, Karina Fernandez, Sinead Matthews, Kate O'Flynn, Caroline Martin, Oliver Maltman, Jack MacGeachin

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. A lot of memorable scenes and interesting characters populate this movie, which hasn't much more direction than a slice of your own life.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: The laughs are very British, but there's plenty of them.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you're the type of person who gets irritated at people who are always in a good mood, it could stir up some negative feelings in you. Some might call it annoyance, some might call it resentment, I call it jealousy.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Following her Best Actress Award at the Berlin International Film Festival, Sally Hawkins will most likely be considered for both the Oscar and the BAFTA. It's also worth mentioning that the film itself has earned Mike Leigh an Award in Norway which has the cutest name I've ever heard: "Most Enjoyable Film-- Bringer of Joy Award." I'm not making that up.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Delightful. Sally Hawkins is mesmerizing in all her optimism, as she laughs her way through life, making adorable little happy sounds at everything the world has to offer. On the other extreme, Eddie Marsan is perfect as her bitter and angry driving instructor whose every emotion is expressed by yelling. And Karina Fernandez, in a small role, as the Spanish flamenco teacher, delivers several hilarious monologues that acting students looking for original material should probably steal to perform for their classes.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: If you happen to be a Mike Leigh fan, you may be disappointed that this film veers so severely away from his usually morbidly depressing type characters and themes, and instead examines how easy it can be to maintain an upbeat attitude in the face of all that is wrong with people and the world.

Technically, he doesn't let the fact that this is a small film stop him from going out of his way to add artistry to his shots. In particular you may notice his masterful use of foreground extras to add depth, as well as several shots taken from a bird's eye view, that could be framed and shown in a photography gallery.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Very European. The individual scenes are often dramatic, real, and very well played, but neither the main character nor the storyline seem to have any goals, so you're not sure what you're watching for. On a more specific note, there's one scene that literally comes out of nowhere and goes nowhere, as Poppy approaches a homeless man for no apparent reason, and even after he proves to be potentially violent, she sticks around to have what is certainly an interesting and cleverly written conversation, but is in no way believable, necessary, or sane.

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Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Nick (Michael Cera), a heartbroken teen, finally leaves his house to go see his favorite band, and that's when he meets Norah (Kat Dennings), a girl with exactly the same taste in music as him. The rest goes without saying, since in high school, that's all you need to have in common with someone in order to realize that they're you're destiny.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Alexis Dziena, Aaron Yoo, Rafi Garvon, Ari Graynor, Jonathan Bradford Wright, Zachary Booth, Jay Baruchel, Seth Meyers, Kevin Corrigan, John Cho, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Devendra Banhart

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. If not for Michael Cera's undeniable charm and Kat Dennings' ability to fill run of the mill dialogue with palpable teenage angst, this story would not be worth the film it was printed on... Then again, film is expensive, so take that however you will.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It plays more like a drama, but if you pay very close attention, you will find a fair amount of laughs.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, but you may never be able to chew gum the same way again.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Clearly they're trying to sell the soundtrack, so they may campaign for music noms. But ultimately, I don't think the film is important enough to get noticed, even for the little things.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Michael Cera and Kat Dennings can pull tears from a stone, but the writing of their characters is very surface, and the writing for the rest of the characters is much worse.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: With almost the entire film taking place in one night, the director was faced with the challenge of creating light in the dark. Sometimes he succeeds, sometimes he casts Seth Meyers of SNL in a tiny little cameo, and you can't see his face.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Mostly lacking in conflict. There's just not enough stopping the two leads from getting together, so there is very little suspense as to how things are going to go.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: My friend Valerie suggests that if you like clever banter about music, instead of seeing this, you should rent High Fidelity.

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Synecdoche, New York

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A theater director (Philip Seymour Hoffman), whose life starts out fairly normal (bad marriage and a kid), gets a chance to direct his life's work-- quite literally-- as the play gradually becomes a metaphor of his own life examination, and at the same time a carbon copy of his life experiences. The project takes the rest of his life to complete, as he's constantly trying to figure his life out, although it's ambiguous enough that at certain points you wonder if he's already dead... I don't know, it's Charlie Kaufman.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hope Davis, Tom Noonan, Sadie Goldstein, Paul Sparks, Daisy Tahan, Robin Weigert

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Don't go to this movie if you're one of those people who likes to understand what's going on. And if you do go, bring a friend, preferably one who likes psychoanalyzing poetry and extracting from it esoteric innuendo. You'll need that someone there to discuss it with you (read: explain) afterward.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: If not for Charlie Kaufman's offbeat brand of humor, this would be a David Lynch movie.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, but it may move your mind. Sometimes to boredom, sometimes to confusion, and sometimes to insight-- or a headache.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Kaufman is the only person in Hollywood who's allowed to do anything original... so probably.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Emma Watson plays Samantha Morton, and you literally don't know which is the real one and which is the fake at times. As for the rest, if I may refer you to the list of talent under FAQ #2, you'll rightly presume that everyone else is great, too.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Charlie Kaufman directs from his own script, and it still looks like a Charlie Kaufman film. Unfortunately, I think it's less strong than some of his previous scripts, most likely due to the lack of an outside eye/director cutting and shaping the insanity into more comprehensible terms for those of us who don't live inside Kaufman's mind.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: I sat through a Q & A to find out just that, and what I learned is that Kaufman himself isn't quite sure what it's about. It conveys certain ideas about life, or dream-states, or maybe after-life, or stream of consciousness... all of which you won't be tested on.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Cleavage. Lots of it. But not the perky kind, either. More like the fleshy kind. In any case, I think our award winning screenwriter may be a breast man.

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Religulous

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Bill Maher documents his trip to many of the most sacred and religiously meaningful places in the world, as he interviews high and low level participants of all denominations, in various religions, about why they believe what's written in the storybooks.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jesus, Mary, Joseph Smith, Allah, Moses, Xenu... and his Holiness: Bill Maher.

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. People of faith will be offended by this film, while atheists, agnostics, intellectuals, and people with a sense of humor will worship it.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Jonah Hill (of Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Knocked up) gives his funniest line reading of the year. And that's not all.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, but you might start talking in tongues. Praise be Jesus.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: That depends on if Maher's God is a vengeful one or not.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Some of Bill Maher's reaction shots are priceless. One of them is the biggest laugh in the movie. And man, is that guy quick!

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The directing looks un-thought out and amateurish. Both the second camera and the boom mics regularly find themselves in the shots.  And while I can't imagine what Larry Charles was thinking when he put his B-Camera on a profile shot of Bill Maher, (causing him to regularly discuss the issues with the right side of the screen), I'm pretty sure I know what he was thinking when he got to the editing room: "Why on Earth did I put my B-Camera on such a stupid, ugly angle?!... I guess God is punishing me for making this film."

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It's kind of like Borat, but instead of an ignorant guy pointing out how stupid Americans are, it's a guy who's too smart for his own good pointing out how stupid devout people are. In other words, it's way more controversial. And sometimes, it's so intellectually mind-bending that your head starts to puff up as if it's about to explode.

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