Review: David O. Russell's "The Fighter (2010)

David O. Russell... helming "The Fighter" after really only 3 accomplishments, which the term accomplishment could be up for debate here. He put together "Flirting With Disaster" (1996), "Three Kings" (1999), and "I Heart Huckabees" (2004). Based on those films, I wouldn't be so sure this project would end up in the best of hands.

"The Fighter" start off strong. The film is so lucky to have had Christian Bale attached to it, and I feel that should be the first emphasis. The story really was an automatic victory as it was based on a true story with interesting characters with an interesting idea. I think based on everything I saw, in hindsight, when I think about what the director had, I think he could have and should have accomplished much more than he did in this piece. I think without Christian Bale, the flaws of his directing would be much more visible.

When a scene was funny, it turned hilarious, then it seemed like the director knew he had something, and went back to it a few times. At times, it felt like I was listening to a stand-up comedian, a good one, and then after a great joke, he starts it all over again thinking he might get the same applause. He rode every success out till it couldn't be ridden anymore.

Every scene inside a boxing ring was mediocre, made for television quality stuff. The slow motion, scene cutting was lame. Sprinkle some bad music in on it and you have a nice steaming pile. It is too bad Christian Bale couldn't get into the ring and fight, because it would have been more interesting... after all, he was the most interesting person in the whole film, by far. The side characters, or extras, were good enough. As for Marky Mark, he was exactly what I expected, he was Marky Mark. He is the absolute epitome of mediocrity in Hollywood. Mark Wahlberg so far is incapable of carrying a film on his own. He should hang onto whoever it is he knows in Hollywood, because the roles he gets are far beyond his abilities. When Marky Mark turns from losing the fight, to winning the fight, it is the most awkward moment in the whole film... Boxing movies need to realize what each great sports films accomplished and why before they dig into making another random sport flick.

Overall the problems in the film include the score, cinematography, and just plain average acting from the majority of the cast. Everything good about the film was every scene which had Christian Bale's face in the shot. Christian Bale just keeps proving how much ability he has in his closet, with too vast a range to contain. Bale proves he is among Hollywood's elite.

If just to see Christian Bale's performance, see this film. You should be entertained in watching this film. I think Bale should be nominated for 'Best Supporting Actor' and the film should be nominated for 'Best Comedy/Musical'.

Amy Adams does have my interest now. I am bad with recognizing actresses, but I dug back into her filmography and noticed she impressed me in "Sunshine Cleaning", "Julie & Julia", "Doubt", and "Catch Me If You Can"... Now I will try and remember her.

"The Fighter"

6.5 / 10

Review: Oliver Stone's "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989)

Oliver Stone... where oh where and why oh why? I think back on Stone's work, and I remember "Platoon" and "Wall Street". But so much of Oliver Stone's work is so bad. I haven't had the pleasure of diving head first in experiencing the brunt of his work, but I have plenty to chew on for now.

"Natural Born Killers", "Any Given Sunday", "Alexander", and "World Trade Center" are just some of the piles this guy pulls out from his pants. Some of his films feel extremely passionate, and very thought out... but how much can someone think about meaninglessness? It feels like he gets a concept, a word or phrase even, and then barricades himself in a closet to dwell on it. Then he emerges to deliver the worst examples of his thoughts as he can. He says so little in the films that fall short, its a wonder how his brain operates.

In "Born on the Fourth of July", he gives us one of the few good films of his career. The movie is good, but I think most of the credit goes to Tom Cruise in this one. This film reminded me why Tom Cruise is Tom Cruise, the great distances he can go as an actor really separates himself from the competition. I think there are only a handful of actors in which can be relied on carrying a film, and Cruise is definitely one of them. His performance is enough for me to try pushing this film on others, but the story is a glimpse of a few interesting things that at least I or my generation may not think about.

The film will make you sad, it will make you laugh, and it will surely please you. How much you will be pleased depends on the interest of the content to the viewer.

"Born on the Fourth of July"

7 / 10

Review: Breck Eisner's "The Crazies" (2010)

Breck Eisner doesn't have a very long list of accomplishments in film. He has directed "Sahara", staring Matthew McConaughey, and is now working on a remake of a very popular creature feature called the "Creature From the Black Lagoon". Hopefully the remake is at least mediocre, because the original, this time, wasn't worth breathing on unless you were taking a class on how easy it can be to make such a film.

Eisner took on the task, before his current remake, to remake another creature film, "The Crazies". This film, tells a new tale of zombies, but doesn't take long before this tale becomes extremely unbearable. As hard as it was to finish, I did finish it.

A zombie film if taken serious should at least try to scare the viewer. This film really just tried playing with the style of scaring that comes from jumping out of a closet at someone around midnight. Really boring, and very uncreative. The sound, effects and music, were terrible. This is just another addition to the ever long genre of zombie failures. So few understand how a good zombie film is made, and I am even casting doubt on the godfather of zombies himself Mr. Romero. Romero hasn't done anything new or inventive since... "Night of the Living Dead".

This film follows a bunch of characters you couldn't care less about, as they do just about everything you wouldn't do or believe someone would do. The story is simple, there are zombies, and everyone should run. That concept for a story is pretty ideal for a zombie film, too bad its full of idiotic filler.

Timothy Olyphant is working at my patience. if he keeps up the trend of films he chooses, I will black list him forever. A good actor can still prove impressive amongst filthy story or even filthier staffing, and Olyphant keeps revealing his value in cents.

"The Crazies"

4 / 10