Review: The Coen's "The Big Lebowski" (1998)

I think there is a sense of debt movie goers actually owe the Coen brothers for delivering such a raw and honest film, portraying the life of "the dude". The character development in this feature some of the best in the industry. No modern hippie is more real, or more developed in even real life than Jeff Bridges portrays.

The supporting cast is stupendous. Never before and never again have we seen a performance nearly as great given by John Goodman. Each scene one after the other is almost more intense as the last. The Coens take you on a roller coaster ride for 2 hours and you hate when it ends. Even now, I want to hear about a sequel, after 12 years.

There are though a few random scenes of nudity and sexual content I could do without. Women show up out of the blue, naked on trampolines, multiple times in the film.

The dialogue in the film is just another home run at the hands of the Coens. I really don't know who I am more impressed with in the film, the directing or the acting. The story is also something to desire, how complex a simple idea can turn into while remaining top notch quality.

I am baffled at some of the reviews given by critics for this film, as the only flaw in the film is its sensuality and nudity. This is a movie about the worlds biggest unlucky loser and it is executed in almost every way amazing. It is just too bad the nudity and some of the sensuality is just such a speed bump in the film. When they happen, it feels like you freeze up until its over, and when a film does that for any reason, it takes a nasty hit. Subtract the nudity and it would be almost flawless.

"The Big Lebowski"
8 / 10

Review: Werner Herzog's "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" (2009)

Werner Herzog is one of Hollywood's biggest mysteries. How he could be attached to such a variety of films is bizarre, but this one? This one was plucked out of the 90's style film making with a handful of Herzog moments. When those moments happen, it is unmistakable. Herzog really doesn't achieve anything above decent in this film as a director.

Nicolas Cage appears to still have an ounce of talent somewhere in his demon possessed, National Treasure accepting self. I think Nicolas Cage needs to start attaching himself to quality instead of quantity, it just makes sense when you have the talent needed. Leave the selling of souls to Brendan Fraser.

The film itself isn't sure what it is. Every few minutes it goes from bland to funny, from funny to exciting, then from exciting to boring, all the way to the end. Sprinkle that unsteadiness with an overdose of sexual content and you have a pile of offensive feces mixed into your excitable sequences.

Skip this one, there are plenty better on the shelves, like The French Connection. I think there are 2 reasons this film didn't flop. One, Herzog being the director, and second, Nicolas Cage's performance.

"Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans"
6.5 / 10

Review: "Toy Story 3" (2010)

I have been very pleased watching this movie. I did not see it in 3-D and will determine in the coming weeks whether to spend the additional cost to do so. But, from the non-3-D version of the film, delivered great fun. The folks at Pixar really do have an epic team putting together films. They know how to tell stories, using all the human techniques of displaying emotion in a story. This movie was successful in its delivery of suspense, excitement, and despair.

The character development in the Toy Story trilogy are among the possibly the best in animation, but also reaching among the top of all movies. I won't tell you the ending, but I will say it delivers 100% for all the Toy Story lovers through the past 15 years! This movie exists, as an example to why we love the movie experiences, from our youth, on up.

Toy Story has always made itself so applicable partly by using real toys or ones just like them, in order to connect with multiple age ranges. It is steady in that application even into the 3rd installment. So many things in these films I find myself attached to, or even bringing me back memories as a child. The goal was indeed accomplished. The 3rd installment was easily the best of the 3 movies in my opinion. If you haven't seen it yet, mark it on your "to do list".

One of the things holding these films back a little are the random moments of adult humor that feels inconsistent with the rest of the movie. They find a reason to appear to be cussing in a scene for the sake of laughter and that feels like them separating themselves from the younger audience. When they separate themselves from anyone to focus or benefit a specific age group, I think it hurts the movies. The moments do pass by almost as fast as the word/s are said, so it isn't awkward for more than a breathe or two. Overall though it is a great childrens film and a great adult film. In order to be a fan of the film, you require to have at least for a day of your life enjoyed playing with toys.

"Toy Story 3"
9 / 10