The Assassination Of Richard Nixon
This movie is a serious downer. I'm not saying it wasn't good, just that it is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. It is a tribute to the extraordinary talent of Sean Penn that this character study is so interesting. Penn turns in a beautifully subtle performance, nothing new for Penn who seems to do this every time out. Don Cheadle and Naomi Watts play supporting roles as Penn's character's best friend and ex-wife. They don't have a whole lot to work with, but they do what they can. The movie follows a man on his descent from family man to madman and does it so subtly that you won't know exactly when he went from one to the other. Penn plays this man who is just looking for his piece of the American dream, only to find out that not everyone gets a slice. Somewhere along his descent, he figures Richard Nixon is probably as good a person as any to blame for the mess his life has become and he starts to plan an assassination plot. The movie isn't so much about a man attempt to kill Richard Nixon, as it is about what could lead a man to that point. The movie can be slow at points, but it works only because Sean Penn works so nicely here.
Blade: Trinity
All I have heard since it's release was that "Blade: Trinity" was dreadful, god awful. I never saw it is the theater, but I just couldn't fathom a third Blade movie could be that bad. Not with the same writer involved. Turns out I was right. That's not to say this movie is on par with the first 2 Blades, because it clearly is not. This Blade is played more for humor, which I believe is the reason for a lot of the anger from hardcore fans, I kind of liked the humor. The dynamic between Blade, who isn't exactly jovial and Ryan Reynolds humorous character was fun to me. Reynolds is going to be a big action star, I can just feel it. He doesn't always work here, but he is believable as an asskicker and as a funny man. Jessica Biel is pretty much just eye candy. She plays Whistler's long lost daughter who also runs (along with Reynolds) a group of vampire hunters called the Nightstalkers. Blade and the Nightstalkers join forces to take on Dracula, who is brought back to life. This Blade movie is more about action and less about story, but it works for me as an action flick. It surely isn't on par with the first Blade though.
House Of Flying Daggers
"House Of Flying Daggers" is a beautiful movie to look at. The cinematography is striking. Aside from that, I am not sure how I feel about it. The movie was good, but it just lacked something that keeps me from being able to put it up there with "Hero" or "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". This is more of a love story than those two, which I kind of liked. The first half of the movie however was real slow, and I found myself wishing I had watch "Hero" instead. At a certain point though, the movie started to get rolling and it turned into a real solid film. Had the first half been as good as the second half, it would surely be on par with the afore mentioned films. The story revolves around a blind girl who is rescued by a man who is using her to get to the Flying Daggers, a group of killers enforcing their own laws. Needless to say, the government isn't to high on the Flying Daggers and they will do anything to find out who the new head of the Flying Daggers is. Zhang Ziyi seems to be in every one of these movies, and for good reason. She is a gifted actress who can also pull off the martial arts needed. Hopefully after her star turn in this years upcoming "Memoirs Of A Geisha" she will become a bigger name here in the states. If you liked "Hero" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" check this one out. If not, save your time.
