Movie Review - Quantum of Solace

Quantum of Solace (2008)
Director: Marc Forster
Actors: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench

Overall:
I really like these new 007 movies. Although I probably enjoyed Casino Royale more than this latest Bond installment, both of them were far superior to the last few Brosnan flops. C'mon, you know any movie starring Denise Richards as a research scientist named Christmas Jones is going to be terrible! But these new films are different. They're truly a blend of the classic Bond and the new Bond. They've still got the cool opening credit sequence, shaken martini's, and Bond's uncontrollable sexy appeal, while toning down on the corny gadgets and ridiculous character names. I also like that they've stepped up the action. I'm not just looking for huge explosions and 10-minute fight scenes, but it's nice to actually have a tough Bond character again.

Plot:
Although seemingly complex at first, the plot line is actually pretty straightforward. I would have liked a little bit more suspense with regard to the plot line, but you could also start to tell that the real story was more about Bond and his personal demons. And actually there's nothing wrong with that, it's just so different from the previous Bond movies where you never got the sense that anyone or anything really meant anything to Bond. I feel like he's a much more dynamic character now.

Setting/Mood:
In true 007 style, this film takes Bond all over the world. From Italy to Bolivia to Austria to Russia, the locations are beautiful. There's something so romantic yet dangerous, tempting yet detestable about being a secret agent, and this film really connected with it. You both envy and pity Bond at the same time. I thought the atmosphere really brought this point home.

Acting:
Daniel Craig is excellent! I really like what he brings to the Bond character and I thought his performance in this film was great. You could just see all of the emotion just beneath the surface ready to explode. However, Mathieu Amalric's performance as Dominic Greene, the film's chief villian, wasn't as impressive. I think they were trying to create a "mastermind"-type character who was soft-spoken but deeply sinister, but it never really got that far. He just came across kinda flat and weak. I really liked Amalric's performance in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007), so this was quite disappointing.

Recommendation:
I would highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoyed Casino Royale or is a fan of high-energy action movies. It's another solid Bond film.

Movie Review - King Corn

King Corn (2007)
Director: Aaron Woolf
Actors: Earl Butz, Ian Cheney, Curt Ellis

Overall:
I really enjoyed this documentary because it wasn't a big budget, propaganda-filled film. It just focused on the issues and came across like an independent film about the realities of our modern diets. There's a lot that we should know about the agricultural industry and what we're putting in our bodies. It's actually quite amazing to discover how much corn-based product we consume on a daily basis.

Plot:
This film is a documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation. Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis are college buddies who travel to a small town in the heartland of America to learn about where their food comes from and with the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow an acre of America's most-productive, most-subsidized grain. Along the way they also point out how pervasive corn has become in the modern American diet.

Setting/Mood:
Set in the sprawling corn fields of Iowa, the film paints a distinct picture of what life is like for the average American corn farmer and illustrates what they must do to stay in business. Nestled among the corn fields are also these anonymous small towns that are struggling to stay alive as the corn industry nears a crossroads. Although depressing at times, the underlying feeling throughout the film is that we ultimately have a choice about what we put into our bodies.

Acting:
What can you really expect from a couple of college students filming a documentary. They actually are pretty good on screen and keep it interesting. The supporting cast of characters are great and provide an authentic element to the film. With some of the farmers, you can just tell they haven't made it off the farm much.

Recommendation:
I'd recommend this film for anyone interested in the American agricultural industry, anyone concerned about what we put into our bodies, or anyone who just enjoys documentaries.

Movie Review - La Vie en Rose

La Vie en Rose (2007)
Director: Olivier Dahan

Actors: Marion Cotillard, Sylvie Testud, Emmanuelle Seigner

This film was really all about Marion Cotillard's performance as Edith Piaf. Without her tremendous performance this film would have fallen completely flat. There's no doubt that Edith Piaf was one of the most iconic French performers in history and this film helps bring her to life for a whole new generation. The story played out very true to form and didn't attempt to sugarcoat any of her life's trials and tribulations. My only criticisms of the film were that (A) it was a bit too long and (B) portions of the story were a bit too slow. Without giving this film two thumbs up, I would still recommend it for it's historical subject-matter and an excellent performance by Marion Cotillard.

Movie Review - Superbad

Superbad (2007)
Director: Greg Mottola
Actors: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera

This film delivered far more than just the usual teen-movie hijinx, it helped illuminate the complex relationship between teen boys as they transition out of high school. From the first word out of Seth's mouth, played by Jonah Hill, you think you know where this film is heading, "American Pie" Land. Yet by the end, you start to understood what it's really about. It's about more than just trying to be cool, getting wasted, getting laid, and all the other pitfalls of high school. It's about having a best friend, sticking together, standing up for each other, and eventually letting each other become their own person. The strange characters, crazy antics, and ridiculous jokes keep you laughing all the way through, and the bond of friendship lifts you up at the end. As long as you can handle some crude humor, the underlying themes make it a worth while film. I definitely recommend it!