Comments for sotto voce

Comment on Zombieland by fingerquotes

fingerquotes — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:01:14 +0000

Oh that darned 500 Days of Summer! It’s the Annie Hall for the emptiest generation…

Comment on Zombieland by Sebastian

Sebastian — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:48:06 +0000

Saw this on a whim when it came out and really enjoyed it. I know it’s a little cutesy with the titles and Zombie Kill of the Week and whatnot, but those things were also worked into the film better than the cheeky touches in your personal favorite, 500 Days of Summer.

The performances are great, although Eisenberg must give half of his income to Michael Cera in royalties.

I also didn’t know it was originally going to be a TV show when I saw it.

Comment on The Hurt Locker by Sebastian

Sebastian — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:34:24 +0000

Finally watched this. Agree 100% on the very good but not great point. Is being an excellent, tense action thriller what it takes to be the leading Oscar candidate? By avoiding any political commentary, it didn’t suffer from preachiness or overtly slanted viewpoints, but it also kept the film from achieving any lasting feeling with me.

Renner was excellent. I wish Guy Pearce appeared in more major films. Love that guy.

The Peter Berg reference is dead-on. There was one point when I thought they were going to recycle a plot point from The Kingdom. The distance between the two films isn’t as great as some critics might suggest.

Comment on Surrogates by Sebastian

Sebastian — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:56:57 +0000

This seems like a Sunday afternoon TV movie a few years from now, but I do like that Hudson Hawk fellow.

Comment on Castaway by Sebastian

Sebastian — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:38:16 +0000

With you 100% on Cast Away. Remarkably affecting.

Beowulf was just terrible on all levels, especially having read the poem countless times for school. At no point during those readings did I think, “You know what would be awesome? If they changed the plot and themes to this poem and made it into a 3D film!”

Comment on The Thing by Sebastian

Sebastian — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:45:38 +0000

Seeing The Thing a few times prompted a greater fondness for John Carpenter’s films. If you think the acting in this film is a touch loud (which is on point, although I do like Kurt Russel in this role), the leads in They Live will make it seem like a subtlety-driven micro-indie. That I still enjoy They Live is a testament to how unique of a world Carpenter can create, although it’s better in a contained world like The Thing than in Big Trouble in Little China.

Interesting note re: Alien. Dan O’Bannon, the writer of that film, had earlier worked with John Carpenter on his debut film, Dark Star. I wouldn’t be surprised if the pacing of Halloween (1978) influenced Alien (1979) as well.

Comment on The Perfect Storm by Sebastian

Sebastian — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:04:36 +0000

The Gene Shalit joke killed.

Comment on The Matrix by Sebastian

Sebastian — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:01:51 +0000

You hold off on showing the kids the Matrix sequels until they’re old enough to understand why they’re such bad movies.

Comment on Strays by Sebastian

Sebastian — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:55:59 +0000

Important question: How fast and/or furious is this movie?

Comment on Burn After Reading by Sebastian

Sebastian — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:45:42 +0000

I missed this one in theaters, so I’m excited about the DVD release. Most reviews said it was a lesser Coen Brothers film, which is a bit of a concern, but there’s absolutely no way it’s worse than the Ladykillers.