Possum Holler

Time for the first reviews of 2007 films!!!

OK, so I've not watched much worth writing about, but I do have grades for you so that you can update your Netflix queue. We'll start from the top:

Blades of Glory
Director: Josh Gordon
Possum's Grade: B-

I suppose this is what you could call minor Will Ferrell. While still fairly entertaining, it is no Anchorman or even Talladega Nights. So for those of you that are hesitant to embrace Ferrell's brilliance, you can take that for what it's worth.


Hot Fuzz
Director: Edgar Wright
Possum's Grade: A-

Several critics while saying they enjoyed Hot Fuzz, still think it isn't as good as the first movie from the troupe of director Edgar Wright and actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, Shaun of the Dead. And maybe it's because I saw Hot Fuzz first, but I thought it was much funnier than Shaun of the Dead. Dry and over-the-top at the same time it will take a lot for this movie not to make my 10 favorites at the end of the year.


Smokin' Aces
Directors: Joe Carnahan
Possum's Grade: D+

This movie was terrible. And yet, I had a really good time watching it.



Music and Lyrics
Director: Marc Lawrence
Possum's Grade: D-

This was the worst movie I have watched in a long time (and it was not by choice). Hugh Grant is a parody of himself, and both he and Drew Barrymore seem to be phoning it in. They lack any sort of chemistry together and the story unravels at about the 30 minute mark. The writing makes Star Wars Episode II sound like Casablanca.


Breach
Directors: Billy Ray
Possum's Grade: B-

An entertaining and reasonably suspenseful thriller, it's intriguing mostly because it is a true story. Chris Cooper's gives a strong and eery performance as always. The movie focuses on Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillipe), an aspiring FBI agent, who reluctantly brings down the greatest double agent in American history, Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper). While certainly an interesting story, I think Hanssen's story is likely more interesting. Laura Linney, who still hasn't taken me up on my offer to be her escort to the Oscars (which has been extended through her cousin), turns in an unusually unmemorable performance.


I'll try to post again soon. I have Alpha Dog, Ralph Nader: An Unreasonable Man, and Black Snake Moan on Netflix, and plan to see Michael Moore's Sicko this weekend.

Also, my longtime friend, Greg, is going through the AFI top 100 and posting (gushing) thoughts on each on his blog. Check it out, I've posted some personal comments on some: stillwaitingforthedawn.blogspot.com