Monthly Archives: April 2007

Movie Reviews

Movie Review – Next

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Next

Directed by Lee Tamahori

Starring Nicholas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel, and Jose Zuniga.

Backstory

So, my boss won a contest in the Edmonton Sun. The prize was a pair of tickets to the special advance screening of Next. Boss didn’t want to go, so she gave the tickets to me and my co-worker. I was all like, “Cool! I’ve never been to one of these special advance screenings!” Of course, all the Edmonton media was there to review the film, and I got to sit next to CBC Edmonton legend Colin McLean. I was all like, “Dude! It’s Colin McLean!” and my co-worker was embarrassed.

Plot

Chris Johnson is a man with a unique ability. He can see two minutes into the future. He had some bad experiences in regards to being “studied” as a kid, so he leads a low-key existence in Las Vegas, where he uses his power to make his living as a mentalist and occasionally make a few bucks at the blackjack table. But then, his ability catches the eye of the FBI, who want to use him and his powers to track down a nuclear weapon that’s been hijacked by some French terrorists. But Chris, well, he wants none of that. See, he’s started seeing farther into the future, but only when he’s with a woman named Liz. Well, he finds Liz, and wants to settle into happily ever after, but the terrorists and the FBI are in hot pursuit! Will he live happily ever after? Will he save the day?

What I Liked

It’s an interesting premise. There’s some good special effects and some really good action scenes.

What I Didn’t Like

I have a whole bunch of logic problems when it comes to the power of seeing two minutes into the future. Like when everyone says, “Let’s just wait two minutes before we do anything, so then he won’t know!” Yeah…that won’t work. And French terrorists? WTF? Plus, I won’t give it away, but there is a twist ending that really, really ruins the film.

Final Assessment

This movie is just not very good. I’m glad I saw it for free.

1 Nib

Movie Reviews

Movie Review – Fracture

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Fracture

Directed by Gregory Hoblit

Starring Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn, and Rosamund Pike.

Backstory

When we last we left our intrepid heroes, their boss had given them tickets to the special advance screening of Next (You can read my review of that film here.) My co-worker and I showed up at the theatre a few hours early, so we decided to see another movie, too. The only one we both really wanted to see we couldn’t see, cuz my buddy had promised to take his girlfriend to it come Saturday night. So, our second choice was the courtroom thriller Fracture.

Plot

Willy Beachum is a young hotshot prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office. He just got himself a new job at one of the city’s most prestigious law firms, and he’s kind of checked out. For his final case, he’s handed the case of Ted Crawford, a structural engineer who just tried to kill his cheating wife. Beachum’s got the confession, the murder weapon, everything, so the case is a slam dunk, right? Wrong. We eventually see that Crawford is the doddering old man he pretends to be, everything starts to unravel, and it starts to get personal. Will Willy be able to get Crawford behind bars?

What I Liked

No one plays a brilliant old genius like Anthony Hopkins. Ryan Gosling once again proves why he was nominated for an Oscar. Great acting all around.

What I Didn’t Like

Maybe I’ve watched too many Law & Order re-runs, but I could see the plot twists coming from miles away. The whole thing was rather dull and clichéd.

Final Assessment

I shrugged my shoulders and went “meh” as I walked out of the theatre. It’s good, but unremarkable.

2 Nibs