The Perfect Storm

Grade: B-

It’s always sad when one of the best movies of the year – isn’t. Great story, solid actors, often stunning special effect (and I’m usually a very harsh critic of computer generated stuff), especially a truly breathtaking ending for the ship. And one of the worst screenplays of the year. Plots thrown in that are meaningless (why is Cherry Jones making a career of cameos??) to the central plot. Dialogue that makes you go “ugh” in your seat, ie. “This is where we separate the men from the boys.” Seriously. Plot contrivances that are suppose to make us care but fail miserably (why, oh why do the two fisherman hate each other? And will the two captains yawn ever yawn hook up with each other yawn.) An ending that should be devastating is only somewhat touching, thanks in large part to a good performance by Mark Wahlberg – his storyline with Diane Lane is the only one we care about, lord knows the picture of Captain George Clooney’s kids that we get to see over and over doesn’t cut it. And with all due respect to the noble career of fishing, it just ‘aint as important as the film wants us to believe, with shots of the crew walking the dock to the boat that makes them look like they’re walking off to World War II or to man an Apollo flight. This one should have been great, instead it’s just an okay summer popcorn movie. Not unlike Mission Impossible, it really only gets a marginal recommendation because it’s over 80 degrees and this is the kind of movie you go to when it’s over 80 degrees.

More Movie Info: http://imdb.com/title/tt0177971/

Jesus' Son

Grade: B+

Quirky, surprisingly funny, with an Oscar caliber star turn by Billy Crudup. Who would have thought a tale of a young man’s fall into drug addiction and self destruction could be so enormously charming and entertaining. Choppy, episodic, and occasionally relying a little too heavily on symbolism for it’s own good, the screenplay is nonetheless worthy of an Oscar nom as well, so richly detailed and filled with fully dimensional characters it is, and with one of the most honest portraits of addiction, the addictive personality, and recovery on film – the movie should be required viewing for anyone even peripherally involved with “28 Days.” Samantha Morton proves that she can do more than play mute (“Sweet and Lowdown”), and there are some nice cameos as well, especially from Holly Hunter, Dennis Hopper, and the guy from “High Fidelity,” whose name escapes. But the film belongs to Crudup, who is gawky at the same time he is adorable, and who somehow manages to make the audience laugh at his tears, at the same time we’re stunned by his virtuosity.

More Movie Info: http://imdb.com/title/tt0186253/