ghonzo Reviews

Barbershop (2002)

The barbershop itself becomes the main character here

[8/10 · 26 February 2004]

This is a warm-hearted comedy that is quite poignant at times. There were lots of memorable performances in this movie: Eve was really good (a natural talent) and Cedric the Entertainer almost stole the show. But I know what I'm going to remember most about this movie is the complete ensemble ... the barbershop itself becomes the main character here. Even though Ice Cube plays the lead character, it's actually a similar role to his part in Friday -- he's more of a detached observer (or, in the case of Friday, chronicler, pun intended) of an environment rich with vibrant personalities. Now that I know these characters, I'm looking forward to reuniting with them in Barbershop 2.

Stuck on You (2003)

A surprisingly effective comedy

[7/10 · 25 February 2004]

This turned out to be a surprisingly effective comedy. Okay, sure, you can say that a movie that pokes fun at conjoined twins is in poor taste, but there's nothing malicious about it -- it feels, if you can believe it, genuine.

You really get a sense of the tenderness and the bond that has developed between the two brothers. Of course, as you'd expect from the Farrelly brothers, it's laugh-out-loud funny. As you might not expect, there's not really any gross-out humor: it's more "Hal" than "Mary". If you can't tell, I was pleasantly surprised by this movie.

Some gag highlights: Cher with her boyfriends, Matt Damon's stage fright, Greg Kinnear in a animal costume.

8 Mile (2002)

Definitely better than it could have been, but this is no Purple Rain

[7/10 · 10 February 2004]

Definitely better than it could have been, but this is no Purple Rain. Eminem gives a passable performance, but the storyline is a little too fractured to be satisfying. This film does do an effective job of portraying the depressing circumstances of growing up in poverty near Detroit. Oh, the battle scenes were entertaining.

And Your Mother Too (2001)

This is far from a teen sex comedy

[7/10 · 6 February 2004]

After watching this movie, I looked at what a few critics had to say about it and I was shocked to see some of them refer to this movie as a "teen sex comedy". Wow, I didn't get that impression at all! Yes, the movie is infused with sex, and the two lead characters are horny teens, and there are quite a few comedic moments, but this is far from a teen sex comedy. It's treatment of the subject matter is real, for one thing, and backdrop of the Mexican countryside (and the director's detached observation's through third-person narration) bring some sobriety to the film. Be warned, though: there is a lot of sex, so not exactly a movie you're going to want to watch with the in-laws.

Lost in Translation (2003)

I was expecting "more"

[7/10 · 26 January 2004]

I think my expectations might have derailed this film for me a little bit. I was expecting "more", but this film is really about subtlety and patience I wanted more Tokyo, more Bill Murray, more laughing. But that's not this movie. I do think it was a very plausible treatment of a relationship given the characters and the context. I will definitely watch this movie again to give it another chance -- for now, I give it a "good".

American Wedding (2003)

Not nearly as good as the first Pie, and not even up to the level of the second one, it's still a teen comedy that works

[6/10 · 26 January 2004]

I was really wincing the first ten minutes or so of this movie -- the performances were so forced, especially by Stifler, that I thought the whole movie was doomed. Everyone soon settled into their characters, though, and it became the American Pie experience we all know and love. They've pared down the cast a bit: no Tara Reid, no american beauty Mena Suvari, no mini-Keanu Chris Klein , no Nadia, and thankfully no that guy that plays Kevin). No, wait, I think Kevin was in the movie, but did he even have any lines? Glad to see Fred Willard, but I looked around and couldn't find Harry Shearer much to my surprise. Not nearly as good as the first Pie, and not even up to the level of the second one, it's still a teen comedy that works.

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

A great caper flick with fun performances

[8/10 · 26 January 2004]

This was the second time to see this movie, and it's just as cool as I remembered. "Cool" and "style" are really the two words that spring to mind when trying to describe this movie. A great caper flick with fun (though maybe a little too self-aware) performances by Pitt and Clooney and the rest of the cast.

Adaptation. (2002)

A masterpiece

[9/10 · 7 January 2004]

Boy, to be a fly on the wall for this movie pitch. A fictional movie about the inside of a real writer's head that's writing a half-real screenplay about a real book based upon real characters. This movie works on all those levels with amazing and surprising intersections between the layers. This is one of the most creative screenplays I've ever seen. It's just so funny and clever and recursive, especially how it handles the "second part" of the movie (I don't think it's a spoiler to call it hilarious satire). I didn't even know that "The Orchid Thief" was a real book based on real characters... and it blows me away that Charlie and Donald Kaufman were both nominated for "Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published", which must have been quite an interesting decision for the Academy.

Red Dragon (2002)

Not as good as "Silence of the Lambs, but way better than "Hannibal"

[7/10 · 2 January 2004]

Not as good as "Silence of the Lambs, but way better than "Hannibal". I also liked this interpretation of Red Dragon better than the Michael "Miami Vice" Mann version called "Manhunter" which starred William "C.S.I." Petersen in the 80s. Ed Norton's performance was good (nice recovery from "Death to Smoochy") and I bounced back to liking Anthony Hopkins' performance after detesting him in Hannibal. This movie was actually a little better than I expected, but it's no masterpiece.

Elf (2003)

Completely inoffensive, somewhat sappy, very funny movie

[8/10 · 9 December 2003]

This is a great Christmas movie done in the classic style (I was going to say "old school" but I didn't want to get my Will Ferrell movies mixed up). I give Will Ferrell tons of credit for playing it straight and never once winking to the camera. Good job by Jon Favreau for showing restraint and nodding to Christmas movie traditions. Completely inoffensive, somewhat sappy, very funny movie.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

I put on my "comic book violence"-colored glasses and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

[10/10 · 19 November 2003]

Oh wow, it's a lot of fun to watch a Quentin Tarantino movie when he's at the top of his game like he is here. I've read and heard quite a few reviews/opinions about this movie, and I can understand why it's a love-it-or-hate-it kind of thing: it all depends on your reaction to the violence and gore, which is the polarizing factor with this film. I put on my "comic book violence"-colored glasses and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

There are two things that QT did so right with both Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill: the use of music to create the perfect atmosphere, and his mastery of a non-linear presentation of the storyline. First, the music: QT has an uncanny ability to bring a smile to your face (or make you cringe in the case of Reservior Dogs) simply by the music he chooses. I don't know how he does it, but it's always *just* *right*. From the opening credits of Pulp Fiction (with the changing of the radio stations) to the Nancy Sinatra tune and Mexi-Japanese songs in Kill Bill, it helps to create a memorable experience. Second, the non-linear storyline. While it's not used quite as effectively as Pulp Fiction, it's still effortless and entertaining. I mean really, there's not much of a plot here, so it adds some interest, but the story is kind of besides the point. It's a tribute to the genre with the QT spin on it. Can't wait for Vol. 2.

The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest (2002)

Cheeseball interpretation of the book

[6/10 · 14 November 2003]

I enjoy the writing of Po Bronson, with Bombardiers being right up there with Catch-22 as one of the funniest books I have ever read. I remember enjoying The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest as well, although I think I keep confusing it with Microserfs by Douglas Coupland. When I saw this movie was playing on Showtime, I had no idea that it was made into a movie. I guess it was only released in L.A. and New York in 2002. Well, it's certainly a cheeseball interpretation of the book, with sub-par writing by Jon Favreau, who adapted the screenplay. But, being a movie about the dot-com generation, I can't resist. It's not horrible, and having Rosario Dawson cast as the female lead certainly doesn't suck.

The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat (1974)

Sometimes incredulous, often distgusted, and never amused

[2/10 · 14 November 2003]

WTF? This is one messed up movie. I guess I should have expected that with anything remotely related to Robert Crumb, but this movie redefines the boundaries of tastelessness for me. I was sometimes incredulous, often distgusted, and never amused. The only value to this movie is as a historical record (made in 1974) of a sick and twisted mind. I like subversive material as much as the next guy, but come on!

Darkness Falls (2003)

Stay away

[3/10 · 8 November 2003]

Ugh, what a piece of crap. A pitifully acted story about a killer tooth fairy that has to stay out of the light. Touching. I didn't even make it to the end of the movie. The opening scene was the only thing halfway decent: it was genuinely scary and suspenseful, but it sure took a nosedive from that point on.

The Ring (2002)

I don't know if I'd really call this movie "scary" ... it was certainly suspenseful and interesting

[7/10 · 1 November 2003]

I don't know if I'd really call this movie "scary" ... it was certainly suspenseful and interesting. In fact, the premise was interesting enough to make me look into the story deeper than one should ... the plot is really holding together by a thread and shouldn't really be examined too closely. You get the feeling that all of the source material is there, but it was maybe chopped up a little too much in the editing room. Nonetheless it was a good Halloween night movie to watch ... better than "The Others", not as good as "The Sixth Sense".

Secretary (2002)

Touching, twisted love story

[8/10 · 25 October 2003]

Ah, the perfect antidote to Legally Blond 2 (the movie I saw previous to this one). This movie had much more of a sense of humor than I was expecting, and I laughed out loud a number of times. Terrific performance from Maggie Gyllenhaal (last saw her in Donnie Darko with her brother Jake), and better than average performance from James Spader. Spader, never one to turn down a weird role, is definitely in his Crash/sex lines and videotape mode here. I think the best thing about this movie, though, is that underneath it all it's actually kind of a touching, albeit twisted, love story. Recommended.