Movie Ratings

Stanley Kubrick

B

Brilliant, disturbing, violent, and provocative. I am not sure the violence against women has aged well. Incredible performance by Malcolm McDowell. Watching with subtitles highly recommended.

Cord Jefferson

A-

The book is better, but the film is excellent. I thought some of the nuances of Erasure would be difficult to adapt to film, but Jefferson makes it work. Slight critiques that some of the storyline differs from the novel.

Ron Howard

F-

Recommended by friends Vianney and Vince who knew the movie would annoy me. Plot was ridiculous, science was stupid, I figured out who the bad guy was in about 3 minutes. Horrible movie.

Babel

Alejandro González Iñárritu

B+

A movie of this ambition is difficult to pull off, but Iñárritu is up to the challenge. The connecting plots are driven by a couple outlandish devices, which makes the entire picture less than perfect. I enjoy ambiguity, but I would prefer the ending have a little more to hint what was in Chieko’s note.

Darren Aronofsky

C+

Several very good acting performances. However, the “lead character has mental illness and sees scary visions” motif is tired and overdone. Movie was fine, but not totally satisfying.

Roger Kumble

D

After 25 years, I must say this movie has not aged well. I suppose I liked it because of Sarah Michelle Gellar and Reese Witherspoon, but the movie is both unbelievable and unrelatable.

Mike Newell

C-

Nice to remember that at one time, Johnny Depp was capable of acting that didn’t involve being a pirate. Of course, that is balanced by Al Pacino going back to the mob movie well another time. The movie departs from the real Donnie Brasco, and Joseph Pistone’s actual story is more interesting than the film.

Stanley Kubrick

A

Flawless. My favorite Kubrick and Vietnam movie. Lee Ermey deserved an Oscar.

David Fincher

B-

Great acting. Rosamund Pike was excellent, and nice surprise to see how good Tyler Perry was. Several big plot holes. I should have read the novel first. And I can’t resist a Trent Reznor soundtrack.

Michael Mann

A-

Nearly flawless. Perfect cast, unusual character development for an action movie. 90s Moby on the soundtrack. Very slight issues with typical shootout cliches and this was the era of Pacino’s overacting.

Spike Jonze

C+

Overrated. Nice set design. An AI movie, but the lead character’s job would obviously be lost to AI. Can confirm Scarlett Johansson has a very nice voice. Most unbelievable part of the movie: all those digital devices, and they don’t have to charge them even once.

Mike Cheslik

A

Friend Mike told me I had to watch this. Later texted him, “this is so stupid, why am I laughing so hard.” Perfect low-budget slapstick film. Flawless.

Christopher Nolan

B+

Wonderful setup and a great plot. Well filmed and acted. Loses a little from veering a bit to close to The Matrix, and some of the normal cliche action movie tropes.

Coen Brothers

A-

All the hallmarks of a Coen Brothers movie. Isaac Oscar and the cat(s) were fantastic.

Curtis Hanson

B+

Solid crime noir with a fantastic cast. Excellent all around, but I found Danny DeVito’s character to be unnecessary and in the way. A tabloid writer felt like a movie add-on that could have been eliminated and the story remains powerful.

Quentin Tarantino

A

My favorite Tarantino film, and one that seems to be overlooked. So many great performances. Max, why did you not go to Madrid with Jackie?????

Christopher Nolan

A-

Everything works in this film. Other than the “amnesia” cliche, the movie is nearly flawless.

Coen Brothers

B-

If ever there was a way to parody a gangster movie, the Coen Brothers found it.

Wes Anderson

B

My first Wes Anderson movie. Great cinematography. Lot of great names in the cast. Couple outlandish plot advances. Recommended by my friend Bill – he snuck in a Scout movie.

David Lynch

A

Impressive and surreal. Naomi Watts’ performance was incredible. I haven’t figured out the movie’s resolution and I am not sure I want to. Sometimes, not knowing is better.

Coen Brothers

A-

Coen Brothers rule. Fantastic execution. I do not understand why Llewelyn went back to the crime scene. Bugged me the entire movie. Dare I say that Javier Bardem’s performance was a little overrated?

Quentin Tarantino

A-

Excellent Tarantino sentimentalism and revisionism. Ending was well executed. Brad Pitt was very good in this one.

Coen Brothers

C

Early Coen Brothers, but all the elements that would make their future films great were in their infancy. Good to see that Nicolas Cage was a mediocre actor all the way at the beginning.

Darren Aronofsky

A

This movie had me at Jennifer Connelly. Perfect acting everywhere. While some have criticized all the screen effects, I think it accurately portrays the metal state of every character. Clint Mansell had one of the best scores ever. Flawless.

Quentin Tarantino

C-

Unpopular opinion, I know. I view it as a limited movie that doesn’t satisfy. Always feels like part of the film is missing. One of the weakest Tarantino movies.

Alexander Payne

A

I don’t know anything about wine. But I think this movie is great. Paul Giamatti was great.

Guy Ritchie

A

The quintessential Guy Ritchie movie. First time I watched it, I was baffled. Every ensuing viewing has been hysterical. Great performances by Alan Hale and Dennis Farina.

Coen Brothers

B+

Ridiculous and funny. Very quotable. I don’t want my ashes in a Folgers can.

The Fifth Element

Luc Besson

D-

Director, speaking to the studio: “I have this great idea. What if we combined Die Hard, Stargate, Indiana Jones, and Blade Runner. Oh, and let’s make it a comedy as well.” This was a bad idea. And it was not funny. Is it possible to request a refund 27 years later?

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

John McTiernan

D-

Ridiculous plot. Nothing is realistic. Plenty of eye-rolls. This seemed to be the beginning of the end for John McTiernan. Unfortunate suggestion by friend Vianney.

Tommy Lee Jones

A-

Jones’ directorial debut. Great performances by Tommy Lee Jones and Barry Pepper. Great morality tale. West Texas is always a great setting for a movie.

Darren Aronofsky

A

There couldn’t be a better role for Mickey Rourke. Rourke and Marisa Tomei were great. Beautifully shot, the grainy film worked perfect. Fantastic in every way.

Steven Soderberg

A

Brilliant. Soderberg’s cinematography was unique and helped drive the movie. Excellent performances all around. Steven, I must say though, La Jolla is part of San Diego, not North of San Diego.