Helvetica

Release Year: 2007
Director: Gary Hustwit

Review: This is a documentary on a font. Not typography in general, but a single font. If this doesn’t sound interesting to you, then you probably would be best to skip this one. It’s a fine documentary. Nothing all too earth shattering, but informative nonetheless. I guess that’s my problem with it. I wanted something more, and it just wasn’t. It tried to stretch what would have been a fantastic short documentary into a full-length feature, and try as I might, I just could not muster enough interest to stay focused for the duration. There are some interesting historic explorations of the font and it does touch on some general principles of typography which did briefly snap me out of my bored trance, but in general its one note.

Helvetica is used a lot, in every walk of life. It is omnipresent in modern life despite the majority of people being oblivious of how the type influences them. This sentiment is repeatedly constantly in every possible way for the entire documentary, and it just doesn’t really go anywhere. If a documentary of this nature can’t excite my passion in some way, or at least make me understand someone else’s passion then I can’t say it succeeds.

Rating: 2/5

O'Horten

Release Year: 2007

Director: Bent Hamer

Review: Odd Horten is a 67 year old train engineer two days away from retirement.  He is very proud of his career, and it's very much his identity.  Faced with the evaporation of that identity with his career coming to an end, Odd is forced to go out and live his life.  'O'Hoten' is just this.  A man living his life.  He meets colorful people and some interesting things happen to him, but there isn't really much of a story here, its just a series of events. A man discovering himself again, perhaps for the first time, near the end of his life.  The problem is, there just isn't enough here to really make an impact.  Its often boring, and the changes in Odd seem to be matters of circumstance rather than anything that is really profound.  It was a bit too disconnected to really deliver any sort of message.  It left me shrugging and forgetting about as the credits rolled.  There wasn't much to dislike, but there wasn't anything to really take away either.
Rating: 2.5/5

Hot Fuzz

Release Year: 2003

Director: Edgar Wright

Review: 'Hot Fuzz' is a unique film in that it is a satire that takes itself seriously, but in a way that completely works.  It stands on its own as being a very solid cop movie.  Yes the plot slowly unwinds to become absolutely absurd, but it never seems out of place.  A lot of times in satire there are throw away bits that are just meant to get a laugh.  This never seemed to be the case here.  Everything was done for a reason, and it engaged me in plot first, and comedy second.  It did start to lose me towards the end by overreaching into the ridiculous, but I went along with it anyway.  There isn't too much biting satire here, so much as clever cliches and sharp wit.  It's visually crisp and the action is tight.  It's a very solid action comedy that has great replay value.
Rating: 3.5/5



Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix

Release Year: 2007
Review: The best in the franchise to date, 'The Order of the Phoenix' is the first of the films which feels comfortable being an entity in of itself. While missing a lot of content from the book, the movie still manages to feel complete and has a satisfying story arch. The best aspect of the film is the introduction of the Order members who are all played by talented actors, easing the acting load on the younger and far less talented school age wizards. It's still not at the top level as a stand alone film, but its a step in the right direction for the series and certainly does the book justice.
Rating: 4/5

My Father (Ma-i pa-deo)

Release Year: 2007 (Korea)
Review: This is an emotionally charged film from Korea based on a true story about an American adopted Korean man, James(Daniel Henney) , who joins the army in search of his birth parents. After being stationed in Korea he manages to locate his father who is on death row for murder. Through repeated visits to his father James learns to love him despite his past. The cast did a great job handling this emotional and sensitive subject. While the plot was interesting and engaging what I missed out on was the motivation behind Jame's actions. However, this is based on real events, so the film only had so much liberty. It also felt as though the film sacrificed itself in some areas in order to shove in some needless comical or overly emotional scene. I enjoyed the film, but can't give it a higher rating simply because I could not connect with the main character or understand his motivations.
Rating: 3/5

Postal

Release Year: 2007
Review: Uwe Boll is back at it adapting yet another video game into a film and once again produces a colossal failure of anything resembling entertainment. I believe Uwe was trying to push the limits on what is considered decent and shock the viewers into entertainment. This might have worked out had it been more tongue in cheek, or at least been either funny or meaningful. Unfortunately all this film provides is the offensive without any of the laughs. I don't consider myself up-tight and enjoy my share of gross out or offensive humor, but there is none to be had here. It's not about Uwe crossing any lines or being offensive, there is just nothing there beyond that. This film has nothing going for it. There is no interesting plot to speak of, no laughs and the action is lacking. There is no reason to waste your time watching this garbage.
Rating: 1/5

The Visitor

Review: Writer/Director Thomas McCarthy's second film, and much like his first, Station Agent, this film is simple, quiet and full of emotion. About a college professor who, lonely and morose after the death of his wife, inadvertently gets dislodged from his monotonous rut when he visits his New York City apartment only to find two illegal immigrants occupying it. Despite the lack of effusive dialog the the film crackles with life by the great acting and hypnotic African drumming. McCarthy has a way of communicating so much while saying so little. The anger and pity this film evokes over the injustice in immigration laws in this country is remarkable.
Rating: 4/5

Award Consideration: Richard Jenkins is up for best actor in the only Oscar this film is nominated for. He is very good, but the role isn't anything too challenging. I would have preferred to see Haaz Sleiman get a nomination for best supporting actor, but It's nice to see Jenkins get nominated if for no other reason than to get this film some deserved recognition. Jenkins won't, and shouldn't, get the win however. There are far more deserving nominees this year.

Bridge to Terabithia

Release Year: 2007

Review: I remembering reading the book in grade school, so I thought I'd check this one out. Unfortunately it didn't work for me as a fantasy epic or a touching friendship story. It was very bland and unimaginative. When it came time to sink its emotionally biting teeth in, the set up was to sloppy to really make an impact. The film implements the same, tired, archetypal characters that seem to be in every children drama. It's a good story, just not executed well.

Rating: 2/5

Confessions of a Superhero

Release Year: 2007
Review: A documentary on four struggling actors who make ends meet by dressing up as super heroes in Hollywood, posing for pictures for tips. This is a fascinating look at those dreams that Hollywood has smashed and the delusions of those who refuse to give up on that dream. The people in this documentary are interesting and you can't help but pity they situation. I highly recommend this documentary..unless you are an aspiring actor in which case it might just depress you.
Rating: 4/5

Wild Hogs

Release Year: 2007
Review: An ensemble comedy featuring middle age white collar bikers trying to rekindle the flame of their youth. Despite the comedy potential of the group, this is one of the worst comedies in recent memory. The plot is formulaic, uninspired and downright pathetic at times. The jokes are hokey and obvious. Worst of all they felt the need to resort to physical comedy that is just hard to watch. None of the characters are original in any way. They might have just as well been plucked off the generic stereotypical middle age guy assembly line. The entire movie felt like a mad lib of a lame comedy, filled in by a slow fourth grader. There is nothing redeemable about this film.
Rating: 1/5