Reviews by skbreese

skbreese says "Heartwarming, but predictable romantic comedy" about New In Town

skbreese — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:50:48 GMT

Sort of a weird combination of the Coen's Brothers Academy Award winning dark comedy Fargo, and Disney's Snow Dogs, the 2009 romantic comedy New In Town, chronicles the travails of a single female executive who experiences culture shock in a big way, when she relocates from sunny Miami to a small Minnesota town in the winter. Despite a formulaic, and highly predicable plot, this film succeeds on the strength of strong performances by a fine ensemble cast.

Lucy Hill (Renee Zellwegger) a successful executive with a Miami based corporation, is given the difficult task of modernizing a small manufacturing plant in the remote town of Ulum, Minnesota in the dead of winter. Despite a warm greeting by the plant secretary, Blanche Gunderson (Siobhan Fallon Hogan) Lucy is met with a chilly reception by the Plant Manager, Stu (J. K. Simmons) and Union Representive Ted Mitchell, (Harry Connick Jr.) who have learned to associate relocation of corporate executives with lay-offs.

As expected,...

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skbreese says "Crossing The Border: Frozen River" about Frozen River

skbreese — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:39:47 GMT

First time Director Courtney Hunt very deftly captures the desperate circumstances of two struggling single mothers, in the harsh, gut wrenching, critically acclaimed, 2008 Independent film Frozen River. In the process, Hunt also touches on some sensitive issues in the small, bleak, upstate New York town, including illegal immigration, race relations, and economic hardship.

Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo) has just been deserted by her deadbeat husband, Troy, a gambling addict, two day before Christmas. Barely eeking out a living working part-time at the Yankee Dollar store in a small town near the Canadian border, Ray is struggling to come up with the down payment on a nice, new, double wide trailer with a whirlpool bath.

When Ray goes searching for Troy at a bingo parlor on the Mohawk reservation, she finds his car in the possession of Lila Littlewolf, (Misty Upton) a stoic Mohawk widow who earns extra money smuggling illegal immigrants over the Canadian border, to help support her young son, currently...

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skbreese says "A Hilarious Who Donut" about Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death

skbreese — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:57:09 GMT

The comedic duo of Wallace & Gromit are back with their latest caper, and right in time for Halloween, in the hilarious murder mystery Wallace & Gromit: A Matter Of Loaf and Death. As a part of their 20th Anniversary Collection, this recently released animated film, features Wallace & Gromit in a delightful who-dunit that will appeal to both children and adults alike.

In this latest adventure, Wallace tries his hand at the bakery business, opening a shop called "Top Bun," while the local newspapers are running a story about a string of murders of local bakers. In the process of a delivery, Wallace meets the Queen of the baking business, the rotund, Piella Bakwell (voice of Sally Lindsay) ironically, well known for her line lite bakery products. In the midst of the whirlwind romance, Gromit discovers that Piella will stop at nothing to get rid of the competition, as he races against the clock to prevent Piella from claiming Wallace as her next victim.

Director Nick Park draws on a variety...

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skbreese says "Survival In The Wild: Open Season" about Open Season -- A Delightful Movie

skbreese — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:18:00 GMT

The 2006 feature length animated film, Open Season, is a warm and funny coming of age story about a domesticated Grizzly, who learns to survive in the wild, with the help of some new-found friends. An all star cast including Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Debra Messing, and Gary Sinese, help bring their woodland characters to life in Sony Pictures animated film debut.

Boog, (Martin Lawrence) a 900 lb Grizzly Bear, has led a carefree life of ease and comfort in the garage of a Park Ranger, Beth (Debra Messing) until he meets an adventuresome deer named Elliot, (Ashton Kutcher) who introduces him to the lure of the wild, just days before the opening of hunting season. Lacking basic survial skills, Boog, with the help of his new-found woodland friends, must learn fast, as the animals stage an all-out war against an overzealous hunter, Shaw, (Gary Sinese) and his companions.

The quality of the animation in this film rivals that of Dreamworks and Pixar, with vibrant, colorful, 3-D images and......

skbreese says "City of Lights: Paris, Je T'Aime" about Paris: Je t'aime

skbreese — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:07:13 GMT

The 2007 film Paris, Je T'Aime, translated "Paris, I Love You," is a series of vignettes or brief meditations on life and love, in what has often been referred to as the "most romantic city in the world." It features 18 short films from some of world's top directors including The Coen Brothers (Fargo, No Country for Old Men), Alexander Payne (Sideways), and Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting). It also includes performances by an all star cast; Natalie Portman, Elijah Wood, Juliette Binoche, Nick Nolte, and Miranda Richardson.

Each and every story, whether tragic or sweet, is unique, and set against the backdrop of one of the most scenic and atmospheric cities on the globe. From the opening segment, in which two people meet by chance in a traffic incident and find that they have a lot in common, to the young man who falls in love with an attractive Muslim girl to the astonishment of his sexist friends, to the weird vampire story that contains modern, as well as, Gothic elements,...

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skbreese says "The Legend Comes Alive-The Waterhorse: Legend of the Deep" about The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep

skbreese — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:10:49 GMT

Most people are familiar with the Scottish legend of the Loch Ness Monster. The 2007 family drama The Waterhorse: Legend of the Deep, based on the novel by Dick King-Smith, is the magical tale of a creature similar to the Loch Ness Monster, that changes the life a young boy in Scotland during World War II.

The tale is told in flashback style, to a curious young couple, by an old man in a pub. The old man tells the story a lonely young boy named Angus, (Alex Estel) who lives in the small village of Loch Ness in Scotland. Angus' father is away at war, while his mother (Emily Watson) is head housekeeper on a Scottish estate. One day, near the seashore, Alex discovers a large egg, which he stores in his father's workshop. In the meantime a drifter, Lewis, (Ben Chaplin) comes along, and agrees to work on the estate during the German occupation. Soon, Angus' egg hatches, and out comes a mysterious creature Agnus calls Caruso. Although he tries to keep his discovery secret, Caruso eventually...

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skbreese says "Art Form of the 20th Century-Eyewitness Companions Film" about Eyewitness Companions Film

skbreese — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:14:22 GMT

The D K Eyewitness publishing company, known for their comprehensive Travel Guildes, has released a variety of colorful, informative. guidebooks on a wide variety of topics including, art, music, architecture, and film, to name a few. The Eyewitness Companions Film, edited by Ronald Bergan, a renowned film historian and critic, is THE authority on cinema, that includes sections on the history, genres, world cinema, an alphabetical list of directors, and list of the top 100 movies of all time chosen by the books contributors.This 512 page volume also includes a reference guide that features a list of award winning (Academy, Golden Globe, Cannes, etc) films, directors, actors & actresses, a glossary of cinema terms, index, and acknowledgments page.

Each section is color coded and provides a wealth of information and color illustrations and vintage photos from movies. This history section covers the birth of cinema in 1895 through the golden age, war years, to the new wave of 1960's,...

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skbreese says "Music In The Wind: August Rush" about August Rush

skbreese — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:52:35 GMT

With the majority of films coming out of Hollywood being dominated by sex and violence, it's refreshing to find a family friendly film like August Rush, a charming little film that is nothing more than what it pretends to be; a modern fairy tale, with an appropriately happy ending.

Evan Taylor (Freddie Highmore) is not your average, ordinary orphan. He is a sensitive young boy, who hears music all around him, when others hear only noise. Music is his one solace in an otherwise cold and lonely world. The story of Evan's parents is told in flashback, when his mother, a concert cellist, Lyla Novacek, (Keri Russell) meets his father, Louis Connelly, (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) a singer in an Irish rock band, and fall deeply in love, one magical night. The next day, fearing that Louis will ruin her career, Lyla's father wisps her away, much to her dismay. In a fit of anger, Lyla runs out of arestaurant after a fight with her father, into on-rushing traffic, and is seriously injured. Unaware that...

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skbreese says "Good liberal arts school, beautiful campus" about Huntingdon College

skbreese — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:03:46 GMT

I graduated from Huntingdon College in 1976, a beautiful campus with Gothic style architecture, in heart of the thriving capitol city of Montgomery, Alabama. There have been many changes, I'm sure, since I attended, but the motto: "Enter to Grow in Wisdom, Go Forth to Apply Wisdom in Service," has served me well over the years The school features a beautiful campus, small class sizes, above average faculty, and is a great place to get a good, quality, liberal arts education. It is a private, church (United Methodist) supported school, and is a bit pricey, but generous scholarships are available. I will always fondly remember my years at Huntingdon. It provided me with a strong foundation for further educational pursuits and helped prepare me for the future....

skbreese says "Love Lost and Found: Love In The Time Of Cholera" about Love in the Time of Cholera (2007)

skbreese — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:08:54 GMT

The 2007 film adaptation of the novel by Nobel Prize winning Author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Love In The Time Of Cholera, is a noble, but ultimately unsatisfying, attempt to capture the epic scope and passion of the widely acclaimed novel. Set in South America in the late 1800's, this film succeeds more as a sumptuous period drama, than an epic romance, due to lack of character development and bland storytelling.

In the early scenes of the film, a young man of limited means, Florentino (Unax Ugalde) falls in love at first sight, with a beautiful young girl, Fermina (Giovanna Mezzogiorno). Her disapproving father (John Leguzamo), does everything possible to discourage the romance, hoping for a more lucrative match for his daughter. His dreams come true, when Fermina is treated for a suspected case of cholera, by a handsome young doctor (Benjamin Bratt), who is smitten with her beauty. The two eventually marry, much to the dismay of a brokenhearted Florentino. He vows to wait for Fermina...

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skbreese says "Rabbit Tales: Miss Potter" about Miss Potter

skbreese — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:40:43 GMT

British Author/Ilustrator Beatrix Potter, the creator of Peter Rabbit, is one of most beloved children's authors of all time. Set during the Victorian era, the 2007 biopic, Miss Potter, tells the story of her growth from a lonely spinster, struggling to find a publisher, to a wealthy, independent woman and conservationist. The story opens with Miss Potter's (Renee Zellwegger) attempts to establish herself as a writer and illustrator, despite a lack of support from her harsh mother, and encouraging but dismissive father. Miss Potter's search for a publisher leads her to a small, family owned, publishing firm, that offers to publish her story, although they have doubts about it's saleability. The owners turn over the job of publishing Ms. Potter's book to their youngest, most inexperienced publisher, Norman Warne (Ewan Mc Gregor) who not only successfully publishes and markets her books, but offers her a marriage proposal, much to the chagrin of her society minded parents.

Most of...

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skbreese says "A Glimmer of Light: Things We Lost In The Fire" about Things We Lost in the Fire

skbreese — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:00:34 GMT

In the opening scenes of the film, a child asks his father, the meaning of the word florescent. The father lovingly replies, "It means to glow from within." the child asks, "am I florescent?" to which the loving father replies, "yes you are." In the 2007 family drama Things We Lost In The Fire, the word florescent is a metaphor for the glimmer of light that we all must look for in our darkest times, and sometimes find in unexpected places.

The plot in this film unfolds slowly, through the use of flashbacks, opening with the funeral of a loving young father, Brian, (David Duchovny) tragically killed while performing a good deed. His devastated wife, Audrey, (Halle Berry) attempts to deal with her grief, by reaching out to Brian's childhood friend, Jerry, (Benicio Del Toro) a struggling drug addict, whom Brian refused to give up on, despite his reckless lifestyle. Audrey offers Jerry a room in the unfinished basement, and despite his limitations, he becomes a sort of substitute father...

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skbreese says "Piano Man Delivers: Billy Joel Live from The River of Dreams" about Billy Joel Live From The River of Dreams

skbreese — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:43:42 GMT

Having seen Billy Joel live in concert in the mid 1990's in Atlanta, I can really appreciate his talent as a live performer. It's a shame he hasn't made more live concert DVDs, considering the fact that he has been performing for basically four decades. However, Joel is captured live in a brief 77 minute concert in 1994, entitled Billy Joel: Live For The River of Dreams, promoting the release of his final studio album River of Dreams.

Filmed in high definition and Dolby Digital Surroundsound, this concert captures the excitement of the live concert experience. The concert is set center stage in a large domed arena, as the camera constantly shifts between close-ups of Joel and the other members of his band, and flashing lights assailing the stage. This technique may be a bit bothersome to some viewers, but adds to the dynamic quality of the concert.

Highlights include a rousing performance of one of Joel's early hits, Ballad Of Billy The Kid, with Joel on the piano and harmonica...

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skbreese says "Mind Over Matter: Peaceful Warrior" about Peaceful Warrior

skbreese — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:39:42 GMT

The 2006 film Peaceful Warrior is based on the real life story of Dan Millman, a college gymnast with aspirations of winning an Olympic Gold Medal. Millman's dreams were derailed by a motorcycle accident that left him with serious career threatening injuries. Millman's is an inspiring story, chronicling his experience of perseverance and overcoming obstacles, including his own ambition, to resume a successful career in gymnastics, after doctors had predicted that he would never again compete at the championship level.

Similar in plot the the 1970's hit Karate Kid, Millman (Scott Mechlowicz) is a gifted athlete who lacks the vision and discipline necessary to achieve his goals. By chance, he meets, a no- nonsense, mystical counselor (Nick Nolte ) whom he refers to as Socrates. The story basically centers around Millman's growth from a talented, but emotionally immature, undisciplined, young man, into an athlete with the heart of a champion, gained through adversity, and the support...

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skbreese says "Wild Ride To Cannes-Mr. Bean's Holiday" about Mr. Bean's Holiday

skbreese — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:44:29 GMT

Rowan Atkinson is Great Britain's heir apparent to Benny Hill, the late king of pantomine and physical comedy. Atkinsons' latest film, Mr. Bean's Vacation, is a sort of take-off on John Huston's classic Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, as Mr. Bean sets off on a wild and zany trip to his dream vacation in the South of France.

In the opening scenes, Mr. Bean, in typical bungling fashion, almost loses out on winning his dream vacation, when he fails to realize that his lottery ticket number, which he assumes is 616, is actually the winning number 919, turned upside down. Along with the trip, Mr. Bean wins a video camera, and sets off on his madcap misadventure. Upon landing in France, Mr. Bean misses his taxi and fearlessly walks through traffic with his trusty compass in hand, down the busy streets of Paris, wreaking havoc, but miraculously arriving unharmed at the train station. Once at the train station, he accosts a luckless stranger, whom he causes to miss the train,...

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skbreese says "Spray & Play-Sunscreen for active adults" about Coppertone SPF 50+

skbreese — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:07:46 GMT

I have spent a lot of time out of doors the last few weeks, volunteering at Riverbend, a local 10 day music festival, and on a week long trip to the beach. The gift bag I received for volunteering at Riverbend included Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray Breathable Sunscreen. The main advantages to this product str ease of use, portability, and waterproof protection. It is also unscented, (for those who dislike the fragrance that accompanies most oil and lotion based products), and does not leave skin feeling greasy. Unlike oil and lotion based sunscreens, it is clear, and does not require rubbing on the skin to apply, and can provide more even protection if sprayed at an angle as recommended by the manufacturer, Schering-Plough.

On the downside, this product is difficult to use in the wind, resulting is waste and uneven application. It is also difficult to apply to the face, due to the fact that most people are uncomfortable with spraying products directly on the face and around the...

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skbreese says "Sweeping Romantic Period Drama" about The Painted Veil Theatre Release

skbreese — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 20:44:36 GMT

This film adaptation of the novel by W. Somerset Maugham is a beautifully filmed romantic period drama set in colonial Shanghai. It is an intriguing story of love and redemption set against the backdrop of war in Imperial China.

Young physician, Walter Fane, (Edward Norton) falls in love with a beautiful socialite, Kitty, (Naomi Watts) who agrees to a marriage of convenience in order to escape from her domineering parents. However, soon bored by Walter's obsession with work, she is swept into a torrid affair with a married man. When Walter discovers her unfaithfulness, her punishment is to follow him to a village in remote China ravaged by a cholera epidemic, where both Walter and Kitty eventually once again find love and redemption.

This film suffers from extremely slow pacing in the beginning, which may result in losing some viewers early on. The pay-off for patience, is the sweepingly beautifully scenery of the rural Chinese landscape, and the slowly evolving story of rekindled love....

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skbreese says "Top Gun of the Coast Guard" about Guardian

skbreese — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:05:28 GMT

Although the recently released action/adventure film, The Guardian, offers some thrilling moments and a warm and fuzzy story of heroism and friendship, it is a bit too formulaic, too closely resembling a combination of the modern classics Top Gun and An Officer and a Gentleman.

Kevin Costner stars as Ben Randall, a down and out veteran rescue swimmer with the Coast Guard, just coming off a botched rescue mission and facing divorce due to preoccupation with his career. He is re-assigned to the coast guard training center in Kodiak, Alaska, the Top Gun school of the Coast Guard, where he meets a talented, hot- shot, young swimmer, Jake Fischer. (Ashton Kutcher) Although they get off to a rough start, Randall and Fischer discover that they have a lot more in common than rescue swimming, when Fischer reveals a painful secret that binds the two together, as they face a dangerous life and death rescue mission in the Bering Sea.

This film takes the viewer inside the previously unexplored world...

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skbreese says "Superman Unmasked" about Hollywoodland

skbreese — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:14:39 GMT

Although it was ruled as suicide, the real cause of the 1959 death of the original Superman, George Reeves, has never been determined. This story is explored in the intriguing period drama, Hollywoodland.

Starring as the original Superman, George Reeves, (Ben Affleck) had achieved his dream of Hollywood fame in the waning years of its golden age, financed, in part, by his mistress, Toni Mannix, (Diane Lane) the wife of an MGM Exective, Eddie Mannix. (Bob Hoskins) Upon his sudden death, a down- and -out Private Decective, Louis Simo, (Adrien Brody) is hired to determine the cause of death. The more deeply Simo becoms involved in the investigation, the more he discovers the darker side of the Hollywood dream, and its commonalities with his disintegrating personal life.

This moody film takes on many elements of the popular 1950s film noir genre. Reeves' story is revealed in flashback style, interwoven into the post mortem investigation. While writer Paul Bierbaum attempts to present an interesting...

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skbreese says "Fun Family Film" about Evan Almighty

skbreese — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 17:48:40 GMT

Similar in theme to the hit comedy starring Jim Carrey, Bruce Almighty, the recently released family comedy, Evan Almighty, is an entertaining parody of the well-known biblical story of Noah's Ark. Another theme that both films share in common, is Morgan Freeman's role as God incarnate.

Saturday Night Live alumni, Steve Carell stars as a somewhat naive, newly elected Congressman, Evan Baxter, who asks for God's help in making good on his campaign promise to change the world. However, his prayer in not quite answered in the way he expects, when God asks him to build an ark to guard against an approaching storm. The result is a humorous, modernized, retelling of the biblical story.

While Carell delivers a solid performance, Wanda Sykes, in her typical wise- cracking fashion, gets the most laughs with some sharp, sarcastic, one liners as Evans' secretary. Morgan Freeman, once again delivers a strong performance in his role as the wise, compassionate, Almighty. This film also features some...

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