Finally!

July has been a rough month for movie watching and with all the traveling and everything else that has been going on I just haven't had the time to plop down and watch a bunch of movies. That said we made it out on Friday night to the $2 theater to catch Baby Mama, which wasn't nearly as bad as I expected.





Baby Mama (2008)
Directed By: Michael McCullers
Starring: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler




Acting: (7) I haven't figured out what it is about Tina Fey, but she is awesome and to be completely honest I think she is one the prettiest women in Hollywood. I guess growing up in a small town we didn't have a bunch of Hollywood beauties walking the halls of our high school so Fey represents a more realistic view of the women I have met over the course of my life. While at times the movie fell into an extended SNL skit it was entertaining even though it was predictable.

Effects / Cinematography: (5) Nothing sticks out.

Plot: (6) Maybe predictable, but I generously gave it a slightly above average mark. There was some originality baked in there....somewhere.

Entertainment: (6.5) I was pleasantly entertained and it rated slightly higher than I expected.

Cumulative: (6.125) If I had spent $20 to see this I probably would have rated it lower, but having only paid $4.50 I feel that I got decent value. Worth seeing once.





Elizabeth (1998)
Directed By: Shekhar Kapur
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes




Acting: (7) Blanchett was decent although I think this is her weakest performance to date that I have seen. She is one of my favorite actresses too. Also the supporting cast was nothing special and outside of Geoffrey Rush no one else stood out. It should be noted that it is almost impossible for a movie with Vincent Cassel to be any good. I just looked on his filmography and I hope that when I get around to watching Brotherhood of the Wolf again he doesn't ruin that film for me as well.

Effects / Cinematography: (5) For being a period piece with extravagant gowns, etc. this was absolutely plain. The music and effects were completely average and the costumes come no where close to matching the likes of an Amadeus or a Gladiator.

Plot: (7) Interesting to the extent that I knew little about Queen Elizabeth prior to this movie.

Entertainment: (6)

Cumulative: (6.25) Blanchett and Rush make it watchable, but the rest of the film is average at best.





Serpico (1973)
Directed By: Sidney Lumet
Starring: Al Pacino





Acting: (7) Pacino is decent, but I don't think this performance was incredible by any means.

Effects / Cinematography: (5.5) Completely average nothing horrible, nothing great.

Plot: (6) True life story sure, but I wasn't that taken by it.

Entertainment: (6)

Cumulative: (6.125) Pales in comparison to all of the modern cop dramas. There was nothing unique for me in this film.