Death Race -What an ensemble!

I really do not know what to say about this film. It is directed by the writer of the Resident Evil series, Paul W.S. Anderson, who first gained notoriety by directed the ultra-violent similar Shopping in 1994 (he also wrote), starring Jude Law and Sean Pertwee in a story about thieves who steal by ramming a car into storefronts. The film was banned in some cinemas in England, and became a direct-to-video slightly edited release in the United States. On second thought Anderson may have been the best person for this film.

Jason Statham fans have high hopes on this one. Interesting too, is that Roger Corman and Tom Cruise are producers with Joan Allen, no less, as co-star! What an ensemble.

Traitor – Respect for Cheadle.

I have enjoyed Don Cheadle’s selection of films such as Out of Sight, Traffic, and the Ocean's Eleven series of films. But more especially for his portrayal of Rwandan hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina in the film Hotel Rwanda which gained him a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a leading role. Even more than that, however, is his real life role as a dedicated campaigner calling for the end of genocide in Darfur, Sudan. He has evened co-authored a book concerning the issue titled Not On Our Watch: The Mission To End Genocide In Darfur And Beyond. I really respect the man, his roles and his life.

The Traitor film project has been in development since 2002, and was originally set to be produced by Walt Disney Pictures, but was dropped due to management change (I wonder what really happened here). Interestingly, the script is based on an idea by Steve Martin (who is the executive producer) –he always surprises me. I will view the film with keen interest.

Eagle Eye - Amazingly Fast Climb.

Shia LaBeouf is on the fast track to super stardom. It seemed like yesterday this guy was the kid in the 2003 movie Holes. Wait a second, it wasn’t yesterday, it was the day that director Steven Spielberg cast him in starring roles for the 2007 films Disturbia and Transformers due to LaBeouf’s success in The Greatest Game Ever Played. Raised Jewish, the name Shia is Hebrew for "gift from God" and he certainly has been a gift in Hollywood.

Michelle Monaghan was former study journalism student at Columbia College Chicago where she he did modeling and acting between studies and suddenly got an opportunity in 2002 to co-star --no less-- in the television series Boston Public. She advanced quickly to Mission Impossible III in 2006 where she had the role of Julia, with Tom Cruise. Amazingly fast climb.

Both LaBeouf and Monaghan have experienced quick career climbs, and seem just right for a film about being quickly forced into the roles of assassins. Incidentally, Monaghan plays a single mom in the film and in real life is expecting her first child in late fall of 2008 with her husband.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona Explores Human Chemistry.

Hmm, “open-minded celebration of love in all its configurations.” Here is yet another quality work from the master existentialist filmmaker himself –Woody Allen. Always probing life and its meaning, this time with the focus on romance, or at least on relationship and it chemistry.

Schools study his work. Woody Allen is in a class by himself. Think for a moment about all the possibilities in this plot: Two American women, Vicky and Cristina, are vacationing in Barcelona. Where they meet an artist and the three quickly develop a relationship. The artist, however, is still enamored of his mentally unstable ex-wife. There you go --a plot that is wide open to all kinds of life explorations. And Woody does just that.

The House Bunny. Real Deal

Anna Faris really is a natural blonde who dyed her hair black for the filming of Scary Movie and Scary Movie 2 so that her character more closely resembled Neve Campbell. Amazing, because it is usually the other way around –every other gal in Hollywood dyes their hair blonde.

This is a long way to say Faris is the real deal. She has worked hard at her trade and in this film she is both producer and star. Previously she has participated in a amazing number of films (My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Just Friends, etc.) as an actor and now she enters into the risky world of producing. More power to her.

The Express. Just the Ticket for Brown and Quaid.

As you know, it is based on the life of Syracuse University football player Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

Dennis Quaid seems to gravitate toward sports, remember The Rookie? And, he was recently named the top golfer among the "Hollywood set" by Golf Digest. This role fits him. Additionally, he knows something about overcoming the odds, in the early 1990s he fought and kicked a cocaine addiction. So his heart really shows in this flick.

As for Rob Brown, this film is right down his alley. in all of his earlier films he has played the role of an African-American high school student who overcomes obstacles (Finding Forrester -2000, Coach Carter -2005, and Take the Lead -2006). And, he is at it again, this time as a college student.

The Express is the type of film that gives us hope. And, therefore important.

Hamlet 2. People Wanna Laugh.

A rough edit of Hamlet 2 was screened at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. After the screening, an all-night bidding war took place for rights to distribution, which Focus Features won for $10 million, nearly breaking the $10.5 million record set by Little Miss Sunshine. All this to say, the initial audience really like it.

It is an irreverent comedy with the New York Times noting, "It made sure to take shots at Christians, gays, Latinos, Jews, the American Civil Liberties Union and Elisabeth Shue, one of its lead actresses." Nothing sacred here!

This may have been a hit at Sundance, but will it be a hit in the local cinema? If the reaction to the trailer is any indication, I would say yes! Especially in light of the most recent public response to Pineapple Express! People want to laugh, somehow that is important right now.

Henry Poole is Here. Hope is Here!

The reviews are mixed on this one! But this is typical of small indie type films. One critic wrote, “If you want to see a movie about faith and the power of it. This will be the choice for you.” Most, however, have been more subdued in their commentary.

The thing that went through my mind was the Luke Wilson connection with his brother’s “suicide attempt.” Owen Wilson, as you might remember, was taken to St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California on August 26, 2007, after a reported suicide attempt at his Santa Monica home. So, here is a film about HOPE! Here is a film about overcoming depression. I think there is a very real connection here.

I believe Luke took this role to say something encouraging to his brother and to all of us. That is: There is hope , no matter how depressed you might feel. Hang in there!

The Day the Earth Stood Still Remake!

I think this movie is going to be huge. Most know this is a remake of the 1951 classic. But there is a risk in doing remakes.

It has been said of the original that “the cast, story, and directing all combine to make this one of the best all time science fiction movies ever made.” There is a very real risk in treading on the sacred ground of a classic by doing a remake. “The Invasion of the Body Snatchers” is an example of this. There have been several remakes, but none as good as the original. However, “War of the Worlds” did very well when Spielberg remade it. So, what of this remake?

The story is retold to a new time and in a new world situation. The message is not “get along with other nations” (as in the cold war), but be more earth friendly. A good message.

Babylon AD, A Wanna-Be?

There are curious question being asked. Is this similar to Van Damme's Cyborg? Or, could it pass as the sequel to Children of Men? It even has a 5th Element feel to it (woman messiah). This genre has many incarnations with different takes on the same basic story. But actually nearly all films are like something else. So, the real question becomes how good is this particiular take?

Due to the late August release (coming after the mega-events films like Dark Knight) there is some discussion as to whether or not this is a "wanna-be" film. IOW, good, but not great. I am interested in how the public will respond to it and does it add anything new and interesting to the mix.

Bangkok Dangerous, Again!

Have you noticed that the same directors of the 1999 original, Oxide Pang Chun and Danny Pang, are also directing this one? They also wrote both of them! Interesting, because this rarely happens. Foreign films, even good ones, do not pull audience in the U.S. But, good ones are often remade for a larger general audience with big budgets, and this is just such a case. But again, what makes this one different, is that the same director/writers are in charge.

With a good story and a proven success as the backdrop, it will be interesting to see how well this take will do.

Star Wars is No Longer Epic

Nobody seems to be going crazy over this Star Wars installment. Such releases were epic events, but no longer. Actually this big screen episode was an afterthought while developing a weekly TV animated series.

Josh Tyler of Cinema Blend correctly notes, “Star Wars as a cartoon? Why not. The past two movies were almost entirely animated anyway. The only thing real in Revenge of the Sith were its handful of human actors, and even then they were mostly done with computer animation, except in close up shots.”

But that’s the problem says Michael Rechtshaffen of the famed Hollywood Reporter. “The transition from live action to animation isn’t really all that dramatic -- and that’s part of the problem with the latest adventure.” Critics largely concur, it’s not all that dramatic.

Even George Lukas is diminishing expectations that fans might have. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that “George Lucas said fans shouldn't get their hopes up about any future films that take the epic beyond the point of Darth Vader's death at the end of ‘Return of the Jedi.’ In other words, it ends with the Ewoks.”

Perhaps that is true in more ways than one. Star Wars ended with the Ewoks.

Tropic Thunder - An End-of-the-Summer Fun Film

The motivation behind this film was simply to have fun! John Hazelton of Screen International says, “(it) produces some real laughs but was probably more fun to make than it ultimately is to watch.” Perhaps the best part of the movie is “another shining performance” from Robert Downey Jr. as critic Eugene Levy observed. However, audiences who don't mind "Mad TV"-style humor stretched out to nearly two hours should be sufficiently entertained, contends Kevin Lally of Film Journal International.

Plot - An action comedy about a group of self-absorbed actors who set out to make the most expensive war film. After ballooning costs force the studio to cancel the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast into the jungles of Southeast Asia, where they encounter real bad guys.

Sisterhood 2 Scores Too!

Virtually every movie targeting females these days has the main characters looking for love and marriage. This one is different. It’s about the interrelated factors and importance of friendship. In fact, it is their very life blood. It is a terrific film, with a great life lesson, but it is sad to know it is the last one. It was a refreshing change from the usual story line.

Swing Vote Swings!

Kevin Costner has hit a home run. Excellent movie. And newcomer Madeline Carroll, who plays the little daughter, is an absolute charmer. The story centers around the importance of the individual and the difference one person can make. It is also about the ridiculous way campaigns are run in our democracy. It is a challenge to listen the people and the concerns that are most real to them.

The Mummy 3 was Bland

Bland! I do not know what to say about this movie. The CGI was enjoyable, but no real connection to the characters. I think the problem was the script. It did not spend the time developing strong believable relationships between the key players. Several have commented about the lack of fear and terror. Never do we feel the sense of impending doom so necessary in the kind of genre. Perhaps if I viewed it again, but then, I am just not motivated to do so.

Excellent effects and excellent acting when actors were allowed to exhibit any. Maria Bello is always good. It will be interesting to see how well this does at the boxoffice.