Friday film roundup: A Bee, a Gangster, a Martian, and So On
Here’s today’s film roundup from Past the Popcorn:
Jerry Seinfeld’s long-anticipated animated project with Dreamworks debuts this week — and Bee Movie is just dreamy enough to be a solid release, if not a blockbuster. Says Mike Brunk of this high-concept romance between a honey bee and a florist, it’s “another of those rare animated movies that is funny to children and still manages to entertain an adult audience, on a different level, at the same time. And it’s a remarkably inoffensive and positive movie.” Fans of Seinfeld’s TV show who have not yet had children may be disappointed, though.
In which case they might want to check out the R-rated American Gangster, directed by Sir Ridley Scott and featuring two powerhouse performances from Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Jeff Walls, who missed out on the film explosion of the 1970s, is thrilled to find that the film is a throwback to one of cinema’s golden ages. It’s “a terrific entertainment,” he says, “and one of the best films on the already impressive resumes of Crowe, Washington and Scott.”
Such raves probably won’t be rolling in for Martian Child, though, a PG-rated widower-and-child dramedy that’s struggled to find its niche in the release schedule. Says Mike Brunk, “if you enjoy seeing the Cusack siblings on the silver screen you’ll probably find something to like about this film. Despite the film’s shortcomings, I still walked out of the theater having enjoyed the journey. On the other hand, you won’t be missing out on much if you elect to wait for the inevitable DVD release in the not-too-distant future.”
In other, smaller releases, Mike Smith loves Wristcutters: A Love Story. “Look for funny lines and irony. Look for a good time,” he says — and skip the whole R rating thing, too, he advises. Meanwhile, Jenn Wright finds the Tibetan drama Milarepa filled with “stunning cinematography” if saddled with “bland acting” and pacing problems; still, not bad for a Lama’s first film!
