Since it’s been over a month since you last heard my opinion on a new release (and I just know you can’t go to the movies without hearing what I have to say first), I thought that my first review of the new year should be an encapsulated review of several movies released over the break. So, without further ado:
Bounce—Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow have real chemistry in this film. The plot might seem like a downer (Affleck gives a stranger his plane ticket and then the plane crashes) but it still manages to be both incredibly amusing and very moving. Possibly the best romantic comedy of 2000.
Cast Away—Tom Hanks does some of the most powerful acting he’s ever done, but the script is a real bore and the direction is sub-par. This movie should have been more daring, spent more time with Hanks on the island exploring what a man would really go through while stranded for four years on a deserted island. Instead a time lapse cuts out all the interesting stuff, giving us only his arrival and his escape. The trailer for this movie gives everything away, so I’d recommend just watching it and not sitting through the real thing.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon—Full of kinetic action sequences set against beautiful backdrops, this film also manages to incorporate the idea of forbidden love quite well. Michelle Yeoh’s performance is especially powerful, conveying her emotions with a wide range of facial expressions. Don’t be turned off by the thought of having to read subtitles for two hours; this movie is well worth it.
Dracula 2000—Your standard vampire fare, Dracula 2000 fails to set itself apart from every other vampire movie ever made. Even real horror movie fans will want to skip this one, which offers nothing new and is nowhere near sexy enough for all the young attractive people its cast is populated with.
Family Man—Never before have I seen a movie so heartwarming and funny while also being incredibly boring and clichéd at times. This drama starring Nicolas Cage explores the question “what if?” and manages to make this well-established premise somewhat interesting. But an uneven script and lackluster performances make this movie a real disappointment.
Finding Forrester—Sean Connery plays an author who used to be famous and is now a recluse (in other words, J.D. Salinger). Meeting a promising student by chance slowly draws him out of his shell, while at the same time he introduces the student to the world of writing. It’s a tad on the long side and the premise isn’t exactly new, but it’s still a well-made movie worth seeing.
Traffic—Not only does this movie have a great cast that all deliver wonderful performances, but it also has a wonderful script that weaves three different plots together into one narrative and a terrific director who knows how to balance these three stories perfectly. This movie presents its message about the futility of the war against drugs impressively, without being preachy. A real Oscar contender.
What Women Want—Mel Gibson should have done a romantic comedy sooner. Though some of the women’s thoughts we are shown would seem sexist if this movie had a male director, it’s still an entertaining ride.
Keep checking back here for full reviews of each of these movies in the next few days! Thanks for dropping by!
