Sinners

Sinners; A layered, intriguing take on a century old genre that owes much to the cinematic auteurs who inspired Coogler, while also being highly original, thoughtful and inspired. Stellar work by all involved in the filmmaking, for entertaining us foremost, yet offering deeper meaning to it all; A

Clockers

Directed by:  Spike Lee
Starring:  Harvey Keitel, Delroy Lindo, John Turturro, Mehki Phiffer
Running Time:  2h 09min

No one has more style to his films than Spike Lee.  Some of it may be borrowed (from his executive producer no doubt) but the way he puts it all together is stunning.  Some of it filmed in documentary style gives the subject matter added life, truly expressing the reality of it all.  He adds old cinematic techniques to release the drama in the dynamite and tense emotional scenes.  Then to make the film truly his own he adds his style.  The mock video game which mimicks reel life (or is it the other way around?), the camera spinning around Strike, the reflection of Keitel in the eyeball, this movie has more impact than any hood film, Hollywood cop story, or mystery murder.  Sure to become a classic in time.

Grade: A

Feeling Minnesota

Directed by:  Steven Baigelman
Starring:  Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Vincent D'Onofrio, Dan Akroyd, Delroy Lindo
Running Time:  1h 39min

Cameron Diaz does her best Keanu Reeves impression which leaves us with two emotionless, monotone, dull as shit romantic leads.  This film is written in the style of "what do we do now?"  It's as if the writer had an interesting premise which amounted to about five minutes, and kept tacking on another five minutes of stupidity every time the previously braindead five minutes started going nowhere.  D'Onofrio supplies the only laughs in this romantic comedy that isn't romantic or funny.  His one scene with Lindo is the only thing worth watching.  Well, Diaz is beautiful but totally wasted playing dumb with Keanu's typecast dumbness.  I'm proud to say that I didn't pay a cent to see this!

Grade:  D