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Thank You For Smoking (2005)
 This movie is not about smoking. If you find you learned something new about smoking from this movie, you have been living under a rock for the past 7 years. Why seven? Because back in 1999 a little movie called The Insider came out. If you missed it, do yourself a favor, rent it, and go see Thank You For Smoking. The former movie is about smoking, the latter - is about public relations. It's about perceptions, about power of argument. The main character, tobacco lobbyist Nate Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) says at one point that "if you argue correctly, it doesn't matter if you're right or wrong". And that's exactly why this film came out of nowhere last fall at Toronto Film Fest, and has been quickly snatched up by a bigger studio. The current wide release is very small, but it's building on word-of-mouth. read more...
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Syriana (2005)
 Do you drive a car? The next time you fill up, consider the arguments of this movie, consider the kind of people that occupy it, consider their motivations. I'm not accusing you of anything, only suggesting a deeper analysis. Just think about where this gasoline comes from, how many lives it affects, and how. The movie, despite the backlash and promotional campaign, doesn't accuse anyone either. It's not pro-environment. It's not anti-Republican. It's not peacenick. It simply looks at the oil industry a little closer, revealing fascinating, shocking and compelling stories. It's a marvel to watch, and even if you may not understand every plotline all the time, you know you're being educated, and this film comes with a lot of passion. read more...
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Brokeback Mountain (2005)
 NOTE: I have seen this movie just before the Oscars, after a long string of award wins. I'm posting this review late on purpose - waiting for the Oscar craze to die down, as well as all the hype surrounding the movie in the first place. Too much has been said about Brokeback's loss to Crash already, and unfortunately, the loudest, most outrageous opinions stick around the longest. I'd like to correct them - some other time. Right now let's go to Brokeback Mountain, let's enjoy the movie for what it is, and let's avoid cheap gay jokes for a few paragraphs. No promise on the last condition  . While it's an outstanding film, the last few weeks leading up to Oscars, and the subsequent backlash have been very-very illuminating for me. Showed the industry, the media and of course, the audiences in a slightly darker light. But i digress. read more...
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Capote (2005)
 Truman Capote was brilliant, disturbed man. An intellectual with constantly wounded ego, he loved the sound of his voice almost as much as he loved when people turned to see or hear him. His ongoing self-hatred and self-admiration is at the core of this movie, and at the core of Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance. He embodies the man who was famous for being famous. He thinks like Capote, and sounds like Capote. He also steals every scene he's in, which makes it so difficult to review the movie. I do remember the plot, and I have noticed the other characters, the visuals, and haunting score, but it's the Truman Capote whom I took home and kept seeing again and again. He stole the film, just like he would steal every camera, every pair of eyes and ears in any company or situation. He craved it, and he was a worthy, interesting attraction. read more...
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Match Point (2005)
 Ahhh, to be a part of posh, British, exclusive high society. To be leading edge, and and the same time - countryside; to be screwing around one weekend, and going through the paces of an arranged marriage the next. To be at the opera one night, and lurking in the motels the next day. Ahhh, to be an outsider to such lifestyle, and slowly, patiently crawl your way into a random high-society family, climb the hierarchy, claim your stake and admire your accomplishments from a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking a famous London bridge. Must be nice, this lifestyle. And must be amusing to eavesdrop on the people occupying such universe. And that's exactly what this movie does. It gives a glimpse into London's high society, very similar to Altman's Gosford Park - without judging, without comparing, without there even existing any other classes, or any other people. It's just the family, and their social circle. A marvelous, amusing and frightening view and you can't look away. read more...
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Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
 Memoirs of a Geisha wants so hard to be a poignant, serene observation of human nature in the Far East that it gets lost in its own narrative, frequently prefers style over substance, and offeres a gorgeous film, with wonderfuly misguided casting, and a lot of build-up with little payoff. Which is a shame, because this movie, based on a bestseller by Arthur Golden could have told us so much more about the culture of geishas, the rivalries between schools, the bidding wars for the girls' affection and the war that ravaged Japan's delicate balance of classes. There's so much more on the pages of the book that never made the movie. And while the movie is a great tale, it just doesn't do the book justice. Or, maybe I got spoiled by successful book adaptations in recent years. read more...
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Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)
 They never closed. The famed Windmill theater in London prided itself on never closing its doors to audiences during the worst air raids of WWII. Yes, that is one way to remember the theater, but Mrs. Henderson Presents mentions this in passing, as a matter-of-fact. The movie is based on a tense and hilarious relationship between the theater's owner, a recently widowed Laura Henderson (Judi Dench), and theater director, Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) who was hired to assist her run the business properly. And although their stubborn and insightful dialogue gives the movie its backbone, there are many things presented here that go beyond the stoic theatre performances, and beyond the nude scenes. Yes, the movie is also about nudity. You wanna read some more about nudity?... read more...
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Kong Kong (2005)
 King Kong has been playing in theaters for about a month now, and prior to that it's been promoted on say, every possible medium - newspapers, television, radio, internet, and bus stops. Too much spin for my liking. Now that it's out of the top ten box office films, I decided to go check it out. No screaming fanboys, no crunching popcorn under my seat, no high expectations, just a movie on the screen, a story that may or may not engage. That may not even be memorable. A film that will make me think twice about yet another story of dinosaurs chasing doomed humans on a mysterious island. Oh, whom was I kidding. King Kong takes its time building up the characters and their world, and then throws them all into a whirlwind of an adventure. On the ship, on the island, in NYC - the adventure stops only when the credits roll, and not a moment sooner. You can catch your breath in the lobby on the way out. As long as you're in the seat, you're part of that adventure. Hope you enjoy the ride. read more...
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The Weather Man (2005)
Thanks to J.D. Salinger we know everything there is to know about teenage angst. The book (“Catcher in the Ryeâ€, for those who don’t read much) was about a boy growing up and dealing with becoming a mature individual. Dealing with rejection, lust, trust, friendship, loss. Basically, becoming an adult without a reliable, constant authority figure to help along. A good book, maybe I should re-read it. In fact, after I’m done with this review, I just might. The music industry has milked this “angst†concept to death, first with Nirvana a decade ago, and currently with all the neo-punk teenage bands, all trying to sound really depressed, disillusioned, and lost in this big, loud world. But this is something different altogether – a movie about a middle-aged man who’s basically in the process of growing up, maturing. Perhaps I didn’t get the point of the movie at all, but this is all I kept thinking – it’s “Catcher in the Rye†for adults. read more...
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Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
 Don't you just hate it when a fun, entertaining movie opens up and dies a slow and painful death in a few weeks? Don't you feel really good about yourself for having "discovered" it along with a dozen of so people who were also sitting with you in the dark, laughing out loud, enjoying the film, connecting with the script and in a way, with you? Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is that type of a movie. It won't make the big bucks, and it won't have a cult following. And I have no idea why - it's a great ride, delivered by actors who actually had fun on the set. How come Oceans 11 (and the sequel) can rake in gazillions and this little flick can't even break double digits? Is George Clooney really that much cooler than Robert Downey Jr? Is he, really? read more...
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