Friday, June 15, 2007

Movie Review: Ocean’s Thirteen

*** MIGTH CONTAIN SPOILERS! ***

Featuring: Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Elliott Gould, Al Pacino, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Ellen Barkin

Genre: comedy, action

Plot: with some twists and apparently elaborated in places but it doesn’t really compare to the other two

Acting: the triplet is doing well as expected, Pacino disappointed a little but he didn’t have much to work with and maybe another actor would have fitted the part better. Would have liked to see more of Garcia, Barkin’s part was a disgrace, a very weak and unnecessary female character.

Drama: it evolves around money

Action: less than in the other too

Funny: it was the same trademark humor they used us to

Visuals: an architectural mutation

Soundtrack: appropriate

Comments: While it was fun for sure, it was not nearly as entertaining as the previous two movies. It lacks a strong female part and love interest. I liked it better when the boys kept their operation on a smaller scale and there was much more in stake.

Rating: 3/5

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Movie Review: California Dreamin’ (Nesfarsit)

*** MIGTH CONTAIN SPOILERS! ***

Featuring: Armand Assante, Jamie Elman, Razvan Vasilescu, Maria Dinulescu, Alexandru Margineanu

Genre: drama

Plot: simple but oh so actual

Acting: Armand Assante was good as usual, Razvan Vasilescu was briliant, Maria Dinulescu wasn’t bad, it still shows that she’s used to star in soap operas though

Drama: the whole Romanian system

Action: street fight scene

Funny: tragically so

Visuals: it bothered me the fact that it was shot with a mobile camera, it’s tiring for the eyes I think and it doesn’t improve the quality of the movie

Soundtrack: nothing special

Award: Un certain regard at Cannes in 2007

Comments: For an unfinished movie it's not bad at all. It’s definitely a Romanian movie, it seems this is all they’re able to produce these days. They get awards and prizes for them because people outside are shocked to see such a reality but the thing is we live in it and this is the saddest part of all.

Rating: 3/5