More Movie Reviews

Last week we saw three movies. Here are some quick thoughts on each of them.

Baby Mama - Buddy comedy/Romantic comedy starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Greg Kinnear. I'm a fan of Tina Fey as 30 Rock is the best comedy on TV besides The Office. She also wrote and starred in Mean Girls, a very good movie, surprisingly. Amy Poehler is funny occasionally and along with Fey had a good run on SNL. The movie had the potential to be funny so Laura and I paid two dollars to see it at the cheap seats. It was worth two dollars. Maybe I would have paid three. But I definitely wouldn't have paid four. That's too many chicken nuggets. It was a disappointment as the funny moments were few and far between. It had all the corny aspects of many romantic comedies and the humor was nothing like what I've come to expect from Fey. The biggest sign that I knew the movie wasn't working for me was that I found it long and tedious at times. And it only had a running time of 99 minutes. I'm looking forward to the new season of 30 Rock so Tina Fey can restore my confidence in her.
1.5/4 Chicken Nuggets

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - Nominated for four Academy Awards and included on numerous top ten lists for 2007, The Diving Bell is based on the memoir of the same name by Jean-Dominique Bauby. Bauby, a French fashion magazine editor, suffered a stroke at the age of 43 which left him with a condition called locked-in syndrome. He was completely paralyzed except for his left eye, which he used to communicate with through blinking. The movie shows Bauby's struggle to cope with his condition, the strain it puts on his relationships, and his determination to write his memoir. It is a fantastic movie with great acting, directing, and cinematography. The story is incredible, an uplifting tale showcasing the determination and fight of the human spirit. As a warning, it is in French with English subtitles. If that's a problem for you, learn to read faster. Do not watch this movie dubbed. I believe it would lose much with goofy English voices not matching the moving lips. Always watch foreign movies with subtitles. I can't stress that point enough. Always subtitles! AHHH!
3.5/4 Nuggets

In Bruges - Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes star in this dark comedy about two hitmen hiding out in the city of Bruges, Belgium. After botching a job in England, Ray (Farrell) and Ken (Gleeson) are sent by their boss Harry (Fiennes) to lay low in Belgium until he contacts them. Ken loves Bruges, taking in all the sights and historic architecture. Ray, morose after botching the hit in England, finds Bruges terribly boring and complains constantly. Ray eventually finds some enjoyment as he befriends a midget and falls in love with a local drug dealer. Things seem good for Ken and Ray until Harry calls with some troubling news that will test the growing friendship of the two hitmen. A fairly funny movie with good acting and a clever premise, In Bruges is worth checking out. Farrell has never been a good actor in my book, but he was funny and enjoyable to watch. Granted, he played an Irishman and he is an Irishman so it wasn't much of a stress. Gleeson is good in everything he does. If you don't know him, he plays Mad Eye Moody in the Harry Potter movies, a Scotsman in Braveheart, and a soon-to-be zombie in 28 Days Later. Fiennes is funny for his foul mouth and his undying love for Bruges. It is dark, so if that type of comedy is not your cup of tea, this may not be for you. Also, if you are a midget, are friends with a midget, or love a midget, be ready for lots of midget jokes. I found them pretty amusing.
3/4 Nuggets