Date: Monday, August 13
Location: Clifton Living Room
I’m not sure what exactly to make of this movie. It’s very well-made, with shots and situations worthy of Jaws, to which it’s been compared. It also has a lot of screwball humor and political satire that works only about half the time. And the ending, while “brave” in the way it upends the expectations of movies like this, left me very cold. But I’m glad I saw it, and I suspect director Joon-ho Bong will be a talent to watch for some time.
Date: August 8
Location: Muvico Boynton Beach
I told Sophia we’d see a movie because we’re both home during the day the next couple weeks. She chose this one (I was pulling for a Ratatouille repeat). The 12% Tomato ranking was not encouraging, but it was just fine. Jason Lee was charming as the eponymous canine and Peter Dinklage was great as the mad scientist. I wish he’d get more work, and in height-agnostic roles like this one. The best news… Sophia and I plan to see Ratatouille next week.
Date: August 3
Location: Boynton Muvico Premiere
Salty watched the kids and we paid $2 extra per ticket to watch Jason Bourne in the “Premiere” theater, meaning we got free popcorn, a 21-and-over crowd and assigned seats. I can’t stress enough the beauty of the assigned seats, exactly where we wanted them in a brand-new, huge theater. We walked in 10 minutes before the movie with no worries. This is the way to go. And the movie was awesome. I’m so glad we watched the first two Bourne films this week in preparation for the third, because there are a lot of tie-ins here that would have been harder to catch. In particular, there’s a chronological overlap that’s just brilliantly conceived and executed. I hope this is the last film in the series — in its own way, this is as finely realized a trilogy as the Lord of the Rings or Star Wars films, and miles better than the Matrix and Pirates series. A minor quibble… the handheld cam is occasionally too much, as it is in Greengrass’ other films. But overall his direction is a huge asset, lending an immediacy and intense realism that sets these films apart from other action hero fare.
Date: July 28
Location: AMC Sunset Place
Amy’s plug for Talk to Me went unheeded not because we don’t value her opinion but because it wasn’t playing anywhere near South Miami. Hairspray was a great time, with excellent songs and a teriffic cast. Travolta was particularly effective as Edna Turnblatt. Like most musicals, it probably won’t stick with me long after the first viewing, but I sure did enjoy myself in the theater. And I have to admit a salacious interest in Amanda Bynes’ character.
Date: July 24
Location: Clifton Living Room
Another great-looking film for the big-screen TV — I loved the use of D.C. locations. There’s no way this film (or Zodiac, for that matter) should have been released in the first few months of the year. Had it come out in November, Chris Cooper would be a shoo-in for a Best Actor nomination and the film’s writing and direction would be in the running as well. It’s exceptionally smart, exciting and poignant and all the more interesting for being based on such recent history.
