Inglourious Basterds

Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Starring:Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, B.J. Novak

Running Time: 2h 33min

i'm not one for the war movie genre much, but if i'm going to sit through two and half hours of World War II make believe, let it be one supplied by Quentin Tarantino. True to his violent, yet conversationally driven films of his oeuvre, Inglorious Basterds re-imagines second world war history through a group of soldiers bent on killing Nazis. Though the film doesn't do for war films what Kill Bill did for Kung Fu movies, it does offer us Col. Hans Landa, a film Nazi of gargantuan proportions, sure to go down in history as one of Hollywood's greatest villains.

Christoph Waltz bears mentioning, as his portrayal of Landa evokes as much charisma and charm as it does evil and menace. Never has a simple request for a glass of milk so chillingly foreshadowed such doom and gloom. Waltz speaks four languages in the film, and his ease at which he cunningly inspires fear and nervousness in each of them makes him all the more memorable.

The film has some amazing set pieces, (the film's first scene is an instant classic), which will be long remembered more than the sum of its parts. i may seemingly be too harsh in judging this film, as i do not think it ranks among Tarantino's five all-time best. In all honesty, i left the movie somewhat disappointed. That's not to say that Inglourious Basterds is not one of the year's best films. It's just, like Scorcese, Tarantino has given us such exemplary work, that to judge them against anything other than their own portfolio is to give serious short shrift to their cinematic measuring stick.

Grade: A-

Funny People

Directed by:Judd Apatow

Starring:Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman

Running Time: 2h 26min

Not very funny. Am i the only one who thinks Apatow is overrated? Sure, the resurgence of dramedy for adults that he's leading has been refreshing, but someone has to show the guy how to cut a movie down to a suitable length. He's not Scorcese! All the actors are fine, but a documentary that shows what life is like for a stand-up comedian off stage would provide more interesting drama, (and probably a LOT more laughs) than this film delivers. Should have stuck to one or two simple themes, as this film gets too crowded and off base when it comes to its tone and content.

Grade: C

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Directed by: Stephen Sommers

Starring: Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans, Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ray Park, Byung-hun Lee, Christopher Eccleston, Jonathan Pryce, Rachel Nichols

Running Time: 1h 58min

Sommers knows how to make fun, silly movies. This one is pure guilty pleasure. i have two words for you: FREAKIN' NINJAS!!! Watching Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow go toe to toe is worth the price of admission alone. Throwaway gags, decent action and explosions, over the top line delivery ("Knowing is half the battle"). What more could you ask for?

Grade: B+

A Perfect Getaway

Directed by: David Twohy

Starring: Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich, Kiele Sanchez

Running Time: 1h 37min

A Perfect Getaway is one of those genre films that you really can't find too much fault in. Its small premise and beautiful locale make for your typical paradise thriller. All the formula is there: beautiful newlywed couples, one couple appears a little dangerous, there's a killer on the loose, isolated location, intermittent cell phone service. You know the drill. Still, there's something fun about watching these types of films, and Zahn and Olyphant both have that campy quality that works for shits and giggles. There's not a lot of doubt with foreshadowing that is basically foretelling, but it's fun to go along for the ride. Twohy is an able handed director, having made low budget, low concept, high tension thrillers before (Pitch Black) with just the right amount of humour. This one's no exception.

Grade: C

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Directed by: Mark Waters

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Michael Douglas, Breckin Meyer, Lacey Chabert, Robert Forster, Amanda Walsh

Running Time: 1h 40min

There's something about Matthew McConaughey that just allows him to click with many a female lead. In Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, his umpteenth romantic comedy, all with similar premises, character traits, settings, occupations, etc., the list goes on and on, McConaughey manages to pull off another decent, likable rom com. This time around he gets a lot of help from the very likable Garner, who has a way of retaining her dignity in less than stellar roles and films. She is every bit McConaughey's equal and adds an element of decency and integrity to the movie.

Two decent leads does not a good movie make, and the supporting cast listed above are what finally bring this movie above passing for me. Chabert and Walsh are funny enough, in a bizarre train wreck sort of way, but it's Michael Douglas stealing the show, relishing his golden years in a ghostly performance that evokes his best roles as a philandering Hefnerite. Meyer and Forster are always reliable, decent actors in their own right, and with a cast that's performing up to par, the movie does not slide into formulaic staleness. It's more of a freshly baked formula; a familiar taste with a subtle elegance to it. Sure, the plot is telegraphed from start to finish, and the lines can be seen from a mile away, but when you have actors like these delivering it all, it makes it worth the while. Somewhat worth the while.

Grade: C

The Time Traveler's Wife

Directed by: Robert Schwentke

Starring: Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Ron Livingston, Jane McLean

Running Time: 1h 47min

What with the multiple instances of the drive-in reel overheating and stopping the film, along with the movie's own stops and starts and bouts of inconsistency, The Time Traveler's Wife made me feel like I was jumping through time, lost, confused, bewildered, uninterested, perplexed and indifferent. For a movie to make claims for a love that transcends space and time, there needs to be some reason for this couple to actually love each other. Sadly, there is none, and there is little chemistry for the audience to care for. In fact, the whole premise that Bana's character visits McAdams as a young child carries with it a creepy pedophilia premise that i don't want to explore. Not only is it downright unsettling, it's simply boring.

Grade: D+

Bruno

Directed by: Larry Charles

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf Hammarsten, Ron Paul, Paula Abdul

Running Time: 1h 21min

Every bit as funny as Borat, but in extremely different ways. Bruno shocks more than it evokes laughter. The preposterous situations and amazing ability of Sacha Baron Cohen to remain in character during the insanity that ensues offers up plenty of laughs. However, Bruno angers civilians and us as viewers more often than not, whereas the Borat character elicited sympathy more than anger or hatred.

The social commentary that Cohen creates through these outlandish characters is really what powers the comedy and establishes the humour. If there weren't outrageously homophobic (and in the case of Borat, xenophobic) people in this world, there would be no reason to unleash the likes of Bruno upon them.

It's sad to contemplate the danger that Cohen put his life in, on multiple occasions, throughout this film. Just when you think an ambulance is going to be needed, the film cuts away to another place, another scene, another provocative situation. At a lean 84 minutes, one wonders what the outtakes consist of. Is it merely Cohen breaks character (such a thought seems ludicrous, his concentration is so superb) or the laughs stop? Or do the homophobes reveal too much of themselves that the movie doesn't want to embarrass them (anymore than they have already embarrassed themselves)?

This is certainly not a film for everyone. Even those who liked Borat may be turned off by this one. It's amazing that some people's homophobia runs deeper than their ignorance. Depending on your level, this is either a hilarious expose of societal norms and stereotypes, or a repulsive display of sex and nudity. My level must be set high on the tolerance scale.

Grade: A-