From time to time, I forget or not motivated enough to write a full length review for every single film I have seen in theaters.
As to catch up, here are some short form reviews:
Seven Psychopaths
The follow-up to his great IN BRUGES, writer/director Martin McDonagh has all of the ambition to create a meta-masterpiece with SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS, yet the resulting film is a bit too meta for its own good. Sam Rockwell is entertaining and muggy as an out of control, constantly failing actor who takes part in a sure-to-fail dog snatching scheme with old crony Christopher Walken. One day, he makes the bad decision to steal Bonny, the cute little Shih Tzu of the even more insane mob boss played by Woody Harrelson. Colin Farrell, a Hollywood screenwriter named Marty(hint hint), gets mixed up in all of this fine mess, all the while he wants to overcome his writer's block and alcoholism to finish his latest work, "Seven Psychopaths". The film does have many fun uses of destroying the fourth wall, such as a delightful gag about the female characters, and the slick dialogue most associated with McDonagh. Unfortunately, it is so constraining with its inventiveness at times that it becomes a chore or sadly loses all sense of laughter. Still, it is might worthy of a watch or to write a film essay about.
FINAL REVIEW: 3 / 5
Atlas Shrugged: Part II
Previously on ATLAS SHRUGGED: Dagny Taggart was crying over an oil field and found a new fusion engine with Henry Rearden, sure to save the world if it wasn't for those pesky kids in Washington. Despite failing hard critically and commercially with the first installment, the unthinking and severely pathetic producers of ATLAS SHRUGGED: PART I thought the world needed a continuation, or had to make one to keep the rights firmly in their grip. ATLAS SHRUGGED: PART II does have a better film poster than the previous laugh-inducing one but it is still an awful experience to watch. The entire cast has been wiped out and replaced with an entire colony of slumming actors, except for the surprisingly way-past-cool and campy Esai Morales as Dagny's former latin flame and an agent for John Galt. Despite Morales' presence, the film has the same returning problems: T.V. production quality, limited sets, redundant subtitles, bad C.G. work, and getting a misdemeanor for abusing the phrase "Who is John Galt?" to cover up the crimes brought on by the trite script. Even if you pay attention through all of the constant empty speeches and boring conflicts, you are sure to go crazy that our so-called brave and superior heroes let the "villains" win thanks to some easily pulled tricks; who knew Rearden would jump on a sword if you tried to blackmail him? If you want two long hours of white business supremacy filtered through by a piteous cast and crew, enjoy wasting your eleven dollars.
FINAL REVIEW: 1 / 5
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