Babel (2006)

Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Adriana Barraza, Elle Fanning, Nathan Gamble, Rinko Kikuchi, Kôji Yakusho

Directed by: Alejandro González Iñárritu
( The review...Collapse )

Crash (2005)

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Ludacris, Thandie Newton, Michael Peña, Ryan Phillippe, Larenz Tate, Shaun Toub

Directed by: Paul Haggis

( The review...Collapse )

( You think you know who you are. You have no idea.Collapse )

There are some mighty fine performances in Crash, & for once, I didn't hate Ryan Phillipe. HUZZAH! I was surprised to learn that it's classified as a 2004 movie by IMDB.com, but with the quality of the acting, it makes sense. I'm sure the production company was fishing for Oscar nominations back in December with a limited release of some sort. Ludacris seemed to come across as a talented actor, so perhaps Sam Jackson should just shut up? Nahh, I take that back, Sam can slam all the rappers trying to get into the acting game. Best performances in the movie go to Cheadle, Thandie Newton & the fantastic Michael Pena. 4 outta 5.

Roger Ebert's review

The United States of Leland (2003)

Starring: Don Cheadle, Ryan Gosling, Chris Klein, Jena Malone, Lena Olin, Kevin Spacey, Michelle Williams, Martin Donovan, Ann Magnuson, Kerry Washington, Sherilyn Fenn

Directed by: Matthew Ryan Hoge

( My spoiler-filled review, if it were possible to spoil a movie like this...Collapse )

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel

Directed by: Clint Eastwood
( The review...Collapse )

forgive me, its late, but im going to try and make it through this one any way...

million dollar baby seems to be the film to beat in this years oscar race.
clint eastwood has been a critics darling ever sense his re-emergence with the
unforgiven, excepting maybe blood work...and true crime, and absolute power, uhhh and
space cowboys. anyway, he follows last years oscar contender mystic river with this
foray into the world of boxing, and nearly succeeds in making his finest film. i wont
go into any details for fear of spoiling it for those who havent seen it, but what
starts as a semi-traditional boxing movie shifts gears and becomes...something else.
the first hour of million dollar baby gave me goose bumps, it had moments, moments
where i felt like i may be viewing the best boxing film ever, (that means you rocky)
even moments where i felt it may be the best sports film ever. it has tremendous heart
and drama, but ultimately, it was all potential. it felt like, plotwise, if it
goes in this direction, or that direction...wow. but it succeeds in going in the most
unlikely direction imaginable and becomes a separate film, almost entirely. i wont reveal
anything else...


the performances are nearly perfect, hillary swank embodies the role, morgan freeman
could have been given more, but plays the *ahem shawshank redemption* narrator
note perfect, and eastwood embodies the true soul of the movie. you feel, at times, like
this will be the best performance he has ever given, but then heartbreak ridge, or any other
familiar clint-y-ness seeps through and you get taken back to square one where the process is
repeated. i really liked the cinematography, the use of shadows and darkness. in mystic
river i felt eastwood had a point and shoot mentality, not so much this time. you can feel
his presence as a director, but not to the point of distraction. he finds a great balance.

in a year where a lot of really good movies came out, but not many great ones, million
dollar baby stands out, but not by much. it could be argued that the shift the movie takes
is a cop out, or the true agenda of the film is hidden by boxing, all debatable. but the power
of the film cannot be denied. these characters will live with you some time after you leave
the theater, and the debates will rage on in the coffee shops and car rides home. its a strong
film, and it deserves its place among clint eastwoods best. 4 outta 5 stars

Million Dollar Baby

Director: Clint Eastwood. Writer: Paul Haggis. Based on stories from Rope Burns by F. X. Toole. Cast: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman. Running time: 135 minutes. Rated PG-13, for violence, some disturbing images, thematic material and language). A Warner Bros. release.

“Million Dollar Baby” is an example of artists and professionals putting everything they have in their craft and succeeding. This is not only one of the best films to be released in 2004, but I can safely say that we will call this one of the finest of the decade.
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