Short movie reviews...

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Good storytelling. Although most people miss the point of the whole film, anyone can watch if only for the outstanding makeup effects. Brad Pitt delivers. Cate Blanchett, beautiful as always, is effortless as Pitt's love interest. Great cinematography.



Gran Torino. Regarded by many as Clint Eastwood's "weirdest" film, which is weird. Reminded me of About Schmidt. Touching, if not a bit too melodramatic. Cast of unknowns, most of them are first-time actors. The kind of movie you'd like to watch on rainy Sunday afternoons. Pointless ending, but all in all, engrossing and uplifting. Oh, and the haunting original song at the end was sung by Eastwood himself and Jamie Cullum.


Slumdog Millionaire. Bollywood at its best. Danny Boyle (of 28 Days Later and Trainspotting fame) is not Indian but he magically captures the land of dal, kama sutra, and Taj Majal in its stark beauty and ugliness. The movie is so raw you can almost smell it but Boyle's direction is seamless, no loose ends here. The production number at the end credits is a bonus. Who says only fairy tales have happy endings? (Note: As of this writing, Slumdog tops the Golden Globes, winning all 4 nominations: Best Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Musical Score)

Yes Man and Bedtime Stories. Nothing extraordinary on both counts. Just wait for the DVDs.

Not another dog movie...

Saw Marley & Me Saturday night. I read the reviews, most of them were not encouraging. Usually, I'd trust the critics and save myself the effort and time; but I can't pass up the chance of watching a "dog movie". I'm glad I watched it.

No dull moments in the film, which is based on a true story. Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson underplay their roles. This is a good thing, since we can all focus on the movie's protagonist, Marley, the lovable yellow lab who just steals every scene he's in. I'm not going to spoil everyone's interest and excitement by narrating the whole story here. All I can say is this, please bring tissue, rolls of it, when you watch. You'll need it in the last 20 minutes of the movie.

Verdict: Marley & Me is no Fluke or My Dog Skip, or even Homeward Bound. Still, it is a very honest, straightforward, and uncompromising look at love, family, life, and death. At least, it's infinitely better than Underdog and Firehouse Dog (I told you, I don't pass up on "dog movies").