Movie Review: Farewell August 4, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Photography.Tags: Farewell
add a comment
Movie Review: Inception July 24, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Movie Review: Inception
3 comments
Movie Review: The Girl Who Played with Fire July 22, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Lisbeth Salandar, Stieg Larsson
1 comment so far
![]() Alternate Title: The Little Match Girl Story: Lisbeth, Lisbeth, Lisbeth. Life is not easy for this fiery, angry young woman. In the second part of the Millennium Trilogy we find Lisbeth enjoying life somewhere in the Caribbean (although it is never easy to tell if Lisbeth Salandar is having fun since her range of expression is nil). This second film in the series was directed by Daniel Alfredson and written by Jonas Frykberg and, of course based on the book by Stieg Larsson. This time out we find Lisbeth, on her return to Sweden, sudden wanted for a triple homicide. Her devoted friend Michael Nyqvist seems to be the only one in the country that is sure Lisbeth is innocent and is ready to move heaven and earth to prove it. We meet more dastardly, abusive, rotten men and get to see most of them get their comeuppance (always my favorite part). Part two answers many of the questions left hanging from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I am ready for part three, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest to be released in October.
Acting: Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander owns this part. Brava. Michael Nyqvist as loyal Mikael Blomkvist also has ownership of his role. A fine supporting cast includes: Annika Hallin (Annika Giannini), Per Oscarsson (Holger Palmgren), Lena Endre (Erika Berger), Peter Andersson (Nils Bjurman), Mikael Spreitz (Ronald Niedermann), Yasmine Garbi (Miriam Wu) and Johan Kylen (Jan Bublanski) Trivia: Noomi Rapace used the holes of her old piercing’s when she was a young punk rocker in her role as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Form his website: Stieg Larsson (1954-2004) was a Swedish writer and journalist. Prior to his sudden death of a heart attack in November 2004 he finished three detective novels in his trilogy “The Millenium-series” which were published posthumously; “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”, “The Girl Who Played With Fire” and “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest”. Altogether, his trilogy has sold more than 20 million copies in 41 countries (spring of 2010), and he was the second best selling author in the world 2008. Before his career as a writer, Stieg Larsson was mostly known for his struggle against racism and right-wing extremism. http://www.stieglarsson.com/ Predilection: I liked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Critters: A fawn Food: There seems to be absolutely no time to eat in Sweden. Sex Spectrum: Oh my yes. Blatant Product Placement: Apple Laptop Computer Soundtrack: Appropriately scary. Opening Titles: A sequence opens with a semi-relaxed Lisbeth on some unnamed Caribbean isle. Visual Art: Sweden is a bit dreary in these films. Theater Audience: Four other people Weather: Cold and rainy. Sappy Factor: 0 Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: 0 Drift Factor: I paid attention throughout. Predictability Level: High Tissue Usage: 0 Oscar Worthy: Probably not. Big Screen or Rental: Go for the big screen. Length: A tad over two hours. LOBO HOWLS: 7.5
|
Movie Review: The Kids are All Right July 12, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Movie Review: The Kids are All Right
3 comments
Movie Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo July 5, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Review Archives, Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer, Photography.Tags: cockamamie, Movie Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson
2 comments
![]() Alternate Title: Don’t Get Mad, Get Even Story: It is better to get to the party late than to not get there at all, right? And what a dark party this gripping film turned out to be. It was directed by Niels Arden Oplev and written by Rasmus Heisterberg and Nikolaj Arcel and based on the immensely popular novel by Stieg Larsson. I admit that I have not read Larsson’s Millennium trilogy of books featuring the fascinating character called, Lisbeth Salander. Journalist Michael Nyqvist has just lost a libel suit brought by a corrupt financier and is about to spend months in jail. While awaiting his jail time he is hired by wealthy industrialist Henrik Vanger to solve the case of his niece who disappeared or was murdered 40 years ago. I will skip over lots of sub-plots and say that Salander, an amazing computer hacker, teams up with Nyqvist to attempt to solve this 40 year old mystery. Yes, there are many characters and tangential story lines but I was most interested in the crime solving nitty gritty details and the use of one heck of an Apple laptop, internet searches, photo-editing software, web cams and some other very familiar computer geekiness. If you need a break from this summer’s heat, check out the The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I, for one, am ready for the next film in the trilogy. That tattoo of a Lobo was a cockamamie – and is now gone (erased with rubbing alcohol)
Acting: Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist was perfect in his role as was the amazing Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander. Trivia: Noomi Rapace used the holes of her old piercing’s when she was a young punk rocker in her role as Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Form his website: Stieg Larsson (1954-2004) was a Swedish writer and journalist. Prior to his sudden death of a heart attack in November 2004 he finished three detective novels in his trilogy “The Millenium-series” which were published posthumously; “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”, “The Girl Who Played With Fire” and “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest”. Altogether, his trilogy has sold more than 20 million copies in 41 countries (spring of 2010), and he was the second best selling author in the world 2008. Before his career as a writer, Stieg Larsson was mostly known for his struggle against racism and right-wing extremism. http://www.stieglarsson.com/ Predilection: None Critters: None Food: Eggs Sex Spectrum: There is lots of sex (most of it violent). Blatant Product Placement: Apple, Nikon, Heinz Ketchup Soundtrack: I stirring soundtrack. Opening Titles: Financier Henrik Vanger opens a strange package from Hong Kong. Visual Art: Sweden is cold and foreboding in the winter. Theater Audience: About 30 other NYer’s escaping form the 100 Big Apple heat. The chilly Swedish landscaped helped to cool my body temperature down. Weather: Cold Sappy Factor: 0 Quirky Meter: 0 Squirm Scale: 3 – the sadistic scenes made me squirm quite a bit. Drift Factor: I paid attention throughout. Predictability Level: I was pretty sure of what was going to happen. Tissue Usage: 0 Oscar Worthy: Maybe Big Screen or Rental: Go for the big screen if you can still find it playing. Length: 30 minutes over the two hour Lobo rule. LOBO HOWLS: 8.5
|
Movie Review: Please Give June 24, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Nicole Holofcener, Please Give
2 comments
Movie Review: Cyrus June 22, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Jonah Hill, Movie Review: Cyrus
add a comment
Movie Review: Winter’s Bone June 21, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Film Awards, Movie Review Archives, Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Movie Review: Winter's Bone, Sundance
1 comment so far
Alternate Title: What a Meth
Story: The Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s seem like kissing cousins compared to the feuding clans in this depressing, sad tale from the Missouri Ozarks. We find 17 year old Ree, taking care of her two younger siblings and her almost catatonic mother because her father, a convicted meth lab druggie has fled the coop. He has put up the family farm as bounty for his court date and never showed up. If young Ree does not find her father, they will be homeless. The law is after the absent father as are some scary competing druggies and a pissed off bounty hunter. Against all odds, brave Ree stands tall to save her siblings and mother.
Yes, this premise sounds like those crowd pleasing David Vs Goliath tales, but I found the film wanting. The characters generally are without any redeeming qualities (other than Ree) and it is hard to cheer when the odds are so very much against this young girl as she heads towards the poor, depressing, feral life that every other character on screen seems destined to live.The film was directed by Debra Granik and written by Ms. Granik and Anne Rosellini, this gray tale was based on the novel by Daniel Woodrell.
Should you see this dismal film that appears to be in black and white? It will probably roam around the Indie Art House circuit and then go to DVD. I have seen better films about the same subject – but it is worth two hours of your life? I think not.
Acting: Jennifer Lawrence as Ree is the only sympathetic character and she does a fine job. The rest of the cast is fine (but scary) including: John Hawkes (Teardrop), Kevin Breznahan (Little Arthur), Dale Dickey (Merab), Garret Dillahunt (Sheriff Baskin), Sheryl Lee (April), Lauren Sweetser (Gail) and Tate Taylor (Satterfield).
Trivia: This film won the Grand Jury Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting award at this year’s Sundance Festival.
Predilection: This got rave reviews and won some top awards at festivals so I was curious.
Critters: Many, many critters including chicks, horses, cows, birds and squirrels who also appear in the food category.
Food: The abovementioned squirrels and venison stew.
Sex Spectrum: No sex, just drugs.
Soundtrack: Interesting musical selection by Dickon Hinchliffe.
Opening Titles: A solo voice introducing the gray scenery and just the title. All other credits are at the end.
Visual Art: The film appears to be in many shades of gray with little color nor anything that is pleasing to the eye.
Theater Audience: About 30 other people and us.
Weather: Wintry and gray.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: I did not like the dressing of the recently shot squirrel. Very squirmy indeed.
Drift Factor: I looked at my watch often.
Predictability Level: I did not care what happened to most of these people.;
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine.
Length: Under two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 5
Movie Review: Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work June 16, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Joan Rivers, Movie Review: Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
3 comments
Movie Review: Ondine June 15, 2010
Posted by judylobo in Movie Reviews, Movie Trailer.Tags: Movie Review: Ondine
3 comments