Ahh! I saw Snow Angelsyesterday afternoon! Rather than spoiling the entire film (as I typically do with my reviews), I leave with you the suspense of simply tell you that it's amazing. Absolutely epic. Gut wrenching. Wonderful.
Beautifully assembled story with some of the best cinemaphotography I've ever seen. The acting, especially by that of Sam Rockwell, was cliff hanging. But of course, Kate was fantastic too. I reckon that it's easily the best movie she's ever starred in.
A definite favourite: 10/10
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
'Snow Angels' Review (Glide Magazine)
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
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Snow Angels
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell
By Dave Astor
February 11, 2008
Grade: D
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell, Michael Angarano
Director: David Gordon Green
Rated: R for language, some violent content, brief sexuality and drug use.
Runtime: 105 min.
Release Company: Warner Independent Pictures
www.snow-angels.com
"If Terrence Malick was 20 years younger and half as talented he might have presented us with this dreary ensemble pastiche. The bleak, frigid Midwest (ever typified as little more than a breeding ground for freaks and misfits) is Green's stage of the absurd. Stuttering loser Glenn (Rockwell, in a skin than he seems to be most at home in) feebly attempts to hold down his entry-level job and keep his thoughts on the lord instead of his ex-wife, who just makes him want to die. His far-too-pretty-to-be-believable, inexplicably pathetic ex-wife Annie’s shoes are filled by a passable but decidedly miscast Beckinsale. The emotional tragedy of Glenn, Annie, and the awful disappearance of their four year old daughter is clearly the film's central story, yet for whatever reason we spend a great deal of time following Arthur, an ineffectual teenager than Annie used to babysit, Arthur’s cute Anne-Hathaway-lookalike girlfriend who adores him for no fucking perceptible reason, and his divorcing parents, whose aimless storyline wouldn’t even constitute a short film in itself. Glenn, never passing an opportunity to be pitiable, simpers and stalks his way back into Annie’s simple life (which is somehow too complicated for her to handle) just as their daughter disappears – if Glenn’s lord has a sense of humor, the joke’s on Glenn.Angels is a half-hearted effort in which Green should've demanded much stronger performances. It's pretty clear that mumbly improvisation only works when it's coming from a highly talented actor (and almost exclusively in a comedy setting), and for such an understated product like this, it simply doesn’t cut it. There is an awkward imbalance of comedy and drama - Green seems to have chosen drama over comedy as the dominant mood, but can't reconcile the decision, continually working tiny half-jokes into virtually every single scene, injecting the world he creates with a grim absurdity. The film ends leaving us with the feeling that our random, irreverent lives will spiral into oblivion and that the incomprehensible boulder of the world will roll on with no imprint of our struggles and confusion – darned pessimistic. Angels is too stylish and off-puttingly lighthearted to function as seriously as it attempts and at best will resonate numbly, and only with those who ‘really appreciate what Green was going for.’ The problem is that the film is really only at all useful to those who are currently caught up in the same bullshit as Green... although... given his obsession with ignorant hicks with poor senses of humor and virtually no control over their own lives, that may be more people than I'd care to admit."
Courtesy of Glide Magazine.com
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Updates
Firstly, I must sincerely apologize for the three day delay in updating KateBecks. In addition to being strained for time personally, news relating to our beloved Kate hasn't exactly been rushing in.
Anyhoo, the first update is a review of the Blueray version of "Vacancy" written by one Peter Cullen. Peter not only gives us a respectable review on the film, but takes the time to go through some of the features which this recently released Blueray version of the film features.
Excerpts:
"So it is a refreshing change to see a film like Vacancy eschewing the full-on gross out horror that has become the norm and letting the viewer imagine and experience fear via tension and scares rather than buckets of claret."
"As unsavoury as the premise of the film may be, Vacancy is more of a thriller than a horror film, and you would have seen more blood and guts in an episode of Millennium than here. Fans of suspense should enjoy this one."
Bonus Features
Functional without being overkill would be a good description for the bonus features on this disc. First up is what the menu calls an alternate beginning is actually an alternate ending, a brief camera pan that ties the story up a little better than the actual ending does. How the mistake got past the disc creation is beyond me!
There is a single deleted scene that is rather forgettable, the complete snuff film reel is included but considering the film goes out of its way to cover the horror up, it seems a slightly strange choice to include here.
The main feature is a 22 minute “making of” documentary. Nothing particular awe inspiring here, your average talking head piece where the principal actors talk about the film but there’s nothing particularly interesting revealed.
Sadly there is no writer or directors commentary which would have completed the set nicely. Minor gripes aside, the features are presented in 1080i/MPEG2 and look just fine (the Raccoon Encounter is 480i SD video).
Original Link
Meanwhile...
Though neither the article or the pictures within the article are new, a writer on Egotastic summed up their insight on Kate's spectacular body - based upon shots taken at the Die Hard 4: Live free or Die Hard premiere a while back:
Link to his comments
P.S. - Happy Remembrance Day to you all.
Anyhoo, the first update is a review of the Blueray version of "Vacancy" written by one Peter Cullen. Peter not only gives us a respectable review on the film, but takes the time to go through some of the features which this recently released Blueray version of the film features.
Excerpts:
"So it is a refreshing change to see a film like Vacancy eschewing the full-on gross out horror that has become the norm and letting the viewer imagine and experience fear via tension and scares rather than buckets of claret.""As unsavoury as the premise of the film may be, Vacancy is more of a thriller than a horror film, and you would have seen more blood and guts in an episode of Millennium than here. Fans of suspense should enjoy this one."
Bonus Features
Functional without being overkill would be a good description for the bonus features on this disc. First up is what the menu calls an alternate beginning is actually an alternate ending, a brief camera pan that ties the story up a little better than the actual ending does. How the mistake got past the disc creation is beyond me!
There is a single deleted scene that is rather forgettable, the complete snuff film reel is included but considering the film goes out of its way to cover the horror up, it seems a slightly strange choice to include here.
The main feature is a 22 minute “making of” documentary. Nothing particular awe inspiring here, your average talking head piece where the principal actors talk about the film but there’s nothing particularly interesting revealed.
Sadly there is no writer or directors commentary which would have completed the set nicely. Minor gripes aside, the features are presented in 1080i/MPEG2 and look just fine (the Raccoon Encounter is 480i SD video).
Original Link
Meanwhile...
Though neither the article or the pictures within the article are new, a writer on Egotastic summed up their insight on Kate's spectacular body - based upon shots taken at the Die Hard 4: Live free or Die Hard premiere a while back:
Link to his comments
P.S. - Happy Remembrance Day to you all.
Monday, April 30, 2007
"Vacancy" Review
Excerpts from my "Vacancy" Review
-While it doesnt persist entirely through the movie, this has got to be the least likable character I’ve ever seen Kate Beckinsale play. For the first half she plays quite a bitch (although you find out her attitude is understandable)
-Her acting is very good in this movie and while I found myself disappointed not hearing Kate’s beautiful accent, she played her American role very well. Her American accent was perfect (as in "Click")
-Dare I say it’s one of her better acting roles? I think I would. As far as I care, the “Underworld” films didn't really display her true acting skills, nor did “Click” (although she was great in both). The character of Amy Fox is far less likable and because of that I believe it’s a better display of her acting talent.
-Me
See the full review on my personal blog
-While it doesnt persist entirely through the movie, this has got to be the least likable character I’ve ever seen Kate Beckinsale play. For the first half she plays quite a bitch (although you find out her attitude is understandable)
-Her acting is very good in this movie and while I found myself disappointed not hearing Kate’s beautiful accent, she played her American role very well. Her American accent was perfect (as in "Click")
-Dare I say it’s one of her better acting roles? I think I would. As far as I care, the “Underworld” films didn't really display her true acting skills, nor did “Click” (although she was great in both). The character of Amy Fox is far less likable and because of that I believe it’s a better display of her acting talent.
-Me
See the full review on my personal blog
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