Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Sep 2007, Sidney Lumet, 117 mins

Warning, if you have ever done something wrong, I mean really bad, never go see this movie. I have never felt so worried for myself while watching this film.

OK, here it is:

Two brothers (Andy- Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Hank- Ethan Hawke) need money. So, they plan the perfect, victimless crime... they decide to hold-up their parent's jewelery store... but since this is a movie, the plans go awry. And when I say awry, I mean terribly terribly wrong.

Andy and Hank spend the rest of the film digging themselves deeper into hell. At some points the film is as painfully uncomfortable to watch as Lisa Kudrow in The Comeback. This is a true testament to the actors and director who have put together a wonderfully crafted piece of art that is so haunting, it hurts the watcher.
In a supporting role, Albert Finney is fantastic as their father. But the two leads steal the show. It amazes me that Hawke and Hoffman, who share no physical similarities at all, can still fool the audience into thinking they are blood.

Anyways, tough movie but very good at the same time.

No Country for Old Men

Nov 2007, Ethan and Joel Coen, 122 mins

By now a million stunning reviews have come out for this Coen Brother's Western. Critics have called it a Masterpiece, an instant classic, and the best movie of the year. Awards groups have nominated it for Best Picture, Best Director/s, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Screenplay (New York Board of Review, SAG, Golden Globes...) ...bottom line, they're all right!

No Country is a taught thriller that hits you right in the face with its loud and bloody scenes. Javier Bardem is the perfect psycho assassin. Josh Brolin is as good as he could ever be. Tommy Lee Jones is spot on as the stoic, quiet, humbled sheriff. And for the first time since Larry Flint, Woody Harrelson doesn't suck.

Props to the directors for making a modern western with real men. The three main characters are not pretty boys like Christian Bale and Russell Crowe (3:10 to Yuma, anyone?). These are gritty men who, with their presence alone, make every moment feel real.

Not hard to "COPE" with

I'm in love with a man named Randy, a brother named Lee, and a musician named Citizen Cope. From his mellow coffee drinking demeanor to rasta like beats, Cope is a truly entertaining artist. His lyrics, simple in phrasing, carry some of the greatest slow head bouncing sounds I have ever heard.

A fan of him prior to the show, I must say that the chance of catching him solo with just his guitar was more than I could have hoped for. From the staples, 'Pablo Picasso, Bullet and a Target, and 107 Degrees', he also played damn near everyother song I've ever heard from him.

Disappointment was not a possibility during this show. A few sound problems aside, it was perfect. And even the small malfunctions came to show the crowd what a 'real' guy Cope is.

Though a small fish in a large ocean of alternative/rock/reggae/blues, Cope's beats set him apart. I challenge anyone to listen to one of his Cd's and not be able to pick out 2-5 songs that you would immediately add to any play list in your life.

In closing, find him if you can and enjoy every second of it.

A true pleasure all the way through.

American Gangster

Nov 2007, Ridley Scott, 157 mins

There hasn't been a classic gangster movie in a long time, and unfortunately its going to be a little longer. That's not to say that 'American Gangster' doesn't have its better moments but the film is by no means the new 'Goodfellas' or 'Scarface'. The overly long 'Gangster' does offer a splendid performance from both of its leads. Denzel puts in his best work since 'Training Day' while Russell Crowe and director Ridley Scott have found a picture that can fully overshadow their collaboration of last year, the terrible 'A Good Year'.

This crime epic is at times flirting with perfection but at other times flirting with disaster. The understuffed 160 minute running time is filled with 3-5 solid scenes of crime drama but shot down by 5-7 10 minute periods of borderline filler.

'Gangster' should have been better. It had all the pieces it needed to succeed ( as a great film, box office is already cashing in), 2 A list stars, and A list director, and one of the most exciting genres. However, the film failed to be anything more than just GOOD ENOUGH.

Overall, the film could have benefited from more violence, less talk, and about a 40 minute shorter running time.

Gone Baby Gone

Oct 2007, Ben Affleck, 114 mins

Lets get this out of the way before we get started; This movie is not as good as Mystic River or Good Will Hunting. OK, now that we're past that, lets move on.

Gone Baby Gone is a stinger of a movie. From its great cast to methodical twists, the film is really good. Casey Affleck ( Ocean's 11 and sequels) takes direction from his older brother better than would be expected. The younger Affleck turns in what is without a doubt the greatest performance of his career. Throughout the film, as bad situations get worse, you can actually see his character grow. Casey has a mild rasp to his voice that does not allow much emotion to be heard but his facial expressions and non verbal communications shows he is a man dealing with a lot.

Without giving any of the plot away, the twists come hard and heavy... almost to a fault by the end, but over all movie is powerful. Ben Affleck should be proud of his brother and himself for putting together a solid white knuckle thriller.