"Get your fokkin' tentacle out of my face!" -Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley)
It has plenty of action and emotions, great special effects, a solid, surprising and entertaining story with a touch of social commentary.* * * *
District 9 (2009)
It has plenty of action and emotions, great special effects, a solid, surprising and entertaining story with a touch of social commentary.
Ladyhawke (1985)
"Sir, the truth is I talk to God all the time, and no offense, but He never mentioned you." -Phillipe Gaston (Matthew Broderick)
Ladyhawke has a very good story, excellent actors, and some truly beautiful images but is somehow ruined by a horrible pop-rock soundtrack.* * * ½
140 characters on... Luc Besson's Female Leads
Héléna, Johanna, Nikita, Mathilda, Leeloo, Jeanne d'Arc...
They are all strong-willed women, beautiful, charming & driven but they also always show a hint of vulnerability and even sometimes naiveté.
The Big Blue (1988)
"Roberto, mio palmo!" -Enzo (Jean Reno)
A wonderful story that shows us the beauty of the sea, friendship & love. The cinematography, both on earth and under the water, is amazing.
* * * * ½
Sin City (2005)
"That's the thing with dames; sometimes all they gotta do is let it out and a few buckets later there's no way you'd know." -Marv (Mickey Rourke)
A superbly directed and wickedly stylish piece of eye candy, with great characters played by excellent actors & an overdose of testosterone.* * * *
140 characters on... Translations
"T'as pas une gueule de porte-bonheur..." meaning "you don't have a lucky charm face" was used for the french translation of the punch line "You're one ugly motherfucker..." in Predator (1987).
It changes the meaning of the dialog, robs us of the actor’s performance & the intentions of the director. Subtitles are the only way to go.
The Hangover (2009)
"Jesus, he's like a gremlin. Comes with instructions and shit." -Phil Wenneck (Bradley Cooper)
It’s idiotic and juvenile, but it will make you laugh… The main actors are all excellent, and their banter is well written and delivered.* * * ½
140 characters on... Sacha Baron Cohen
Cohen is one of those rare actors capable of completely owning a character and never breaking from the role in the most absurd situations.
Brüno (2009)
"Can I give you guys a word of advice? Lose the beards, because your King Osama looks like a kind of dirty wizard... or a homeless Santa." -Brüno (Sacha Baron Cohen)
There are moments that are outrageously funny, but it’s not as interesting as Borat: the originality is gone and the rhythm is inconsistent.* * *
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
"Although Kazakhstan a glorious country, it have a problem, too: economic, social, and Jew." -Brat (Sacha Baron Cohen)
Borat is hilarious, completely over the top and makes us discover an intolerant America with hysterical, surprising and shocking interviews.* * * *
New feature: Table of Content
You now have access to a complete list of all the reviews from this site, in alphabetical order. The search function from Blogger was kind of unreliable and some reviews were not showing up, even with the right title. So now, by using the link provided at the top of the page (under the title bar), you have an easy access to all the 28000 characters that were written for this site...
Scarface (1983)
"So say good night to the bad guy! Come on. The last time you gonna see a bad guy like this again, let me tell you." -Tony Montana (Al Pacino)
Everything is over the top in DePalma’s Scarface: the violence, the intensity, the characters, and the legendary performance by Al pacino.* * * * ½
200th review of Reviews 140 !
L.A. Confidential (1997)
"Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush." -Sid Hudgens (Dany DeVito)
With Crow as a tough guy, Pearce as a nerdy rookie, Spacey as a crocked cop and Basinger doing a lurid vamp, it was destined for greatness.* * * *
140 characters on... John Hughes
Trainspotting (1996)
"I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?" -Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor)
Dark and troubling, funny and touching. It’s a perfect movie on heroin addiction with superb performances by Ewan McGregor & Robert Carlyle.* * * * *
Boogie Nights (1997)
"I am a star. I'm a star, I'm a star, I'm a star. I am a big, bright, shining star. That's right." -Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg)
A lot of style and humour, some excellent music, superbly directed, with an absolutely perfect casting in a big swirl of glamour and kitsch.* * * * ½
The Great Global Warming Swindle (2007)
"Apocalypse my arse" -Working title
After seeing An Inconvenient Truth, this well done documentary will hopefully make you doubt a little. A perfect tool for Devil’s advocates!* * *
An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
"I'm Al Gore, I used to be the next president of the United States of America." -Al Gore
What’s more troubling about this documentary is that we can see how much better the world would be if Gore had been elected in Bush’s place.* * * *
140 characters on... The various James Bond
Connery: the original
Niven: the forgotten
Lazenby: stylish
Moore: the funniest
Dalton: very “British”
Brosnan: almost perfect
Craig: most intense
Hancock (2008)
"If you don't move, your head is going up his ass. Y'all fellas sure you wanna ride this train?" -Hancock (Will Smith)
For once, the previews did not steal the punch. But unfortunately, it did not even help: the finale is muddled and there is no sense of fun.* * *
Tropic Thunder (2008)
"Cockburn, from now on my fist is going to be so far up your shithole that every time you have a thought, it's gonna have to tiptoe past my wedding ring..." -Les Grossman (Tom Cruise)
Downey Jr. and Cruise totally steals the show in this pretty funny movie that makes fun of Hollywood and pays it an homage at the same time.* * * ½
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
"I'm not a big fat panda. I'm *the* big fat panda." -Po (Jack Black)
Superb animation, great design and excellent voice casting. The script is downright predictable, but still offers some pretty funny moments.* * * *
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
"I don't train girls." -Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood)
This is a superb drama. Directing is impeccable and the script is surprising. Eastwood, Freeman and Swank are simply perfect in their roles.* * * * ½
The Bank Job (2008)
"Look honey, I'm going to be working some strange hours over the next week or two, so don't ask me what I'm doing because I don't want to lie to you." -Terry Leather (Jason Statham)
Impressive movie. It’s intelligent, full of unpredictable twists with interesting & well played characters. Statham even show some emotions!* * * *
21 (2008)
"You know what I like most about Las Vegas? You can be whoever you want to be." -Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth)
There is nothing extraordinary in the script or the casting, but still, 21 is a nice little film that offers some pretty good entertainment.* * *
RocknRolla (2008)
"We all like a bit of the good life - some the money, some the drugs, other the sex game, the glamour, or the fame. But a RocknRolla, oh, he's different. Why? Because a real RocknRolla wants the fucking lot." -Archie (Mark Strong)
Pretty bland effort by Guy Richie. There is a lot of style, but really no substance… Butler & Wilkinson both offer an excellent performance.* * *
Role Models (2008)
"I like to rock n' roll all night and *part* of every day. I usually have errands... I can only rock from like 1-3." -Danny (Paul Rudd)
The only good thing in this movie? The young actors. The rest is without interest. Can Scott play anything else that the Stiffler character?* *
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
"This is a whole new level of weird." -Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth)
We are far from Iron Man and even more from Dark Knight, but it’s still better than the other one, because of Edward Norton and Tim Roth.* * * ½
Hulk (2003)
"We're going to have to watch that temper of yours." -Dr. David Banner (Nick Nolte)
It’s never-ending! And when it finally start, we’re so bored that we don’t care anymore. Only Lee’s “comic style” direction is worth seeing.* * ½
Les poupées russes (2005)
"Les filles c’est comme des poupées russes. Chaque fois qu’on croit tenir la bonne, on en découvre une nouvelle." -Xavier (Romain Duris)
It’s great fun to renew with the characters of l’Auberge espagnole and even if it’s a little more lovey-dovey, it’s still always excellent.* * * * ½
L'auberge espagnole (2002)
"Xavier, ça veut dire quoi « la fuck » ?" -Wendy (Kelly Reilly)
A great film, well directed and very original, full of interesting characters, unique situations and the famous European « joie de vivre ».* * * * ½
140 characters on... Ben Affleck
Affleck is a terrible actor, but becomes almost bearable when under the direction of Kevin Smith. See Chasing Amy or Dogma for the proof...
140 characters on... The casting of Star Trek
"I am and always shall be your friend..."
For J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek, they talked about casting Matt Damon as Kirk. Does that mean we would have been stuck with Ben Affleck as Spock?
Frost / Nixon (2008)
"That's our tragedy, you and I Mr. Frost. No matter how high we get, they still look down at us." -Richard Nixon (Frank Langella)
A fascinating, intense intellectual and historical battle of wits supported by riveting performances by both Michael Sheen & Frank Langella.* * * *
Death Race (2008)
"This is a race! You don't go backwards!" -Case (Natalie Martinez)
Over the top action flick that has no ambition of being something more. It’s violent, gratuitous, badly written, but it’s perfect to unwind.* * ½
140 characters on... Ron Howard & Apollo 13
If we compare the old archive footage & Ron Howard’s film, what can be concluded? It’s an homage or does Howard sorely lack any imagination?
Watchmen (2009)
"None of you understand. I'm not locked up in here with you. You're locked up in here with me." -Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley)
While the movie is visually pleasing and technically perfect, the script leads to a conclusion that lost its meaning when the Cold War ended.* * * ½
New feature: "140 characters on..."
We are trying a new feature on Reviews 140. It's called "140 characters on...". Those are appreciations, comments or remarks on small details that are beyond the scope of regular reviews. It can focus on a certain actor's performance, the trademark of a director or a specific detail of a particular movie...
You can have a quick access to all the "140 characters on..." by using the rapid link on the right side of the site.
Check them out and tell us what you think!
140 characters on... The Sixties in Dirty Dancing
140 characters on... Count Dracula (Gary Oldman)
"You will, I trust, excuse me if I do not join you. But, I have already dined, and I never drink... wine."
We feel Dracula’s grudge, his hatred, rage and torment with a great performance, subtle but also impulsive, even under 15 inches of make-up!
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
"The blood is the life... and it shall be mine!" -Dracula (Gary Oldman)
The directing, the imagery and the special effects are astonishing. All the actors are great, except for Keanu Reeves who is out of place.* * * * ½
Les choristes (2004)
"Action, réaction." -Chabert (Kad Merad)
This is a story we seemed to have seen a thousand times, but never got tired of: melodramatic, very well acted, with a superb soundtrack.* * * *
Footloose (1984)
"Hey, I like that hat, man. They sell men's clothes where you got that?" -Ren (Kevin Bacon)
It’s a step up compared to the usual teen musicals, mostly because of John Lithgow & Kevin Bacon, and well developed story and characters.* * * ½
Dirty Dancing (1987)
"I carried a watermelon." -Baby (Jennifer Grey)
A typical 80’s chick flick… Morale is cheesy, characters are paper-thin, actors bland, it’s way too long and everything is black or white.* * ½
Man on the Moon (1999)
"You're insane, but you might also be brilliant." -George Shapiro (Danny DeVito)
Jim Carrey is absolutely brilliant in this movie that shows rather than explain the mysterious and unique character that was Andy Kaufman.* * * *
Apollo 13 (1995)
"With all due respect, sir, I believe this is gonna be our finest hour." -Gene Kranz (Ed Harris)
Polished direction, very classic, very clean, with an excellent suspense, great actors and a tight focus on the mission and not much else.* * * *
The Right Stuff (1983)
"Request permission to relieve bladder." -Alan Shepard (Scott Glenn)
An historical film that is as ambitious as it is spectacular, with exceptional actors but also with one of the worst title in movie history…* * * * ½
War of the Worlds (2005)
"Yet across the gulf of space, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic regarded our planet with envious eyes and slowly, and surely, drew their plans against us." -Narrator (Morgan Freeman)
A movie with surreal images & superb special effects that would have been almost perfect if it wasn’t for one of the worst happy ending ever.* * * *
Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis (2008)
"Quand on vient dans le Nord on braie 2 fois : quand on arrive et quand on repart." -Antoine Bailleul (Dany Boon)
It’s funny, well acted and full of good intentions, but there is nothing here that explains the phenomenal success this movie had in France.* * * ½
L'aile ou la cuisse (1976)
"Il est gouleyant, il a de la cuisse, il attaque sèchement le palais, il ne manque pas de retour... Pouvez servir!" -Gérard Duchemin (Coluche)
The 1st collaboration between two of France’s most funny actors, De Funès and Coluche, gives an enjoyable movie, funny but a little uneven.* * * ½
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
"Well, being me... has its privileges." -Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon)
The first part is boring, the second part is longish but funny and the third one, amazing and emotionally charged, saves the whole ensemble.* * * *
Harry Potter Countdown, Final Day.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
"Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than we are now. Students. If they can do it, why not us?" -Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe)
The long novel was efficiently reduced to a good movie length. It’s very well done, well acted, more mature and always full of imagination.* * * *
Harry Potter Countdown, Day 5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
