Week in Reviews 4/7/08 - 4/13/08

This past week can only be described as historic. 14 Movies in 5 days.....9 on Friday and Saturday alone. With the wife out of town for the weekend, I pulled out several classics that I had been meaning to watch for quite some time. I had high expectations for most of them and wasn't disappointed at all. The movies were so good that 5 of them made there way into my top 100 of all time.

*I had previously seen Temple of Doom and Stand by Me when I was a child, but didn't remember much about them. It was like seeing all 14 films for the first time.

Featured Review

Carlito's Way (1993)

Directed by Brian De Palma Starring Al Pacino and Sean Penn

Acting: (9) As much as I love Pacino in The Godfather series, he's even more dynamic as Carlito. Unlike Michael Corleone, Carlito is portrayed as a man who sincerely wants to bury his demons and start a new life in paradise. Pacino is tough and dangerous, but really comes off as being a good guy. Sean Penn, while looking ridiculous, delivers an impressive performance as Pacino's pal and lawyer.

Effects / Cinematography: (9) De Palma is a genius behind the camera and Carlito's Way is his ultimate masterpiece. The film transitions from gritty to elegant and back again without missing a beat. Everything from the music to action sequences is enthralling. Its only rival in this category that I've seen is another De Palma Classic, The Untouchables.

Plot: (9) The film starts at the ending. Even though De Palma shows us Carlito's fate in the first few minutes, I found myself still hoping against hope, that he'd find a way to get out.

Entertainment: (9) This was one of the best movie watching experiences I've had in quite some time. Carlito's Way is a worthy challenger to any organized crime movie you want to match it up with. It's more entertaining than The Godfather and every bit as intense as Scorsesse's, Goodfellas or The Departed.

Cumulative Score: 9


Other Films from this Monumental Week

Broadcast News (1987)

Directed by James L. Brooks
Starring William Hurt, Holly Hunter, & Albert Brooks

Acting: (10)
Cinematography: (8)
Plot: (9)
Entertainment: (9)

Cumulative: (9)





Walk Hard (2007)

Directed by Jake Kasdan
Starring John C. Reilly and Jenna Fischer

Acting: (7.5)
Cinematography (8)
Plot: (5.5)
Entertainment: (7)

Cumulative: (7)





The Untouchables (1987)

Directed by Brian De Palma
Starring Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, and Sean Connery

Acting: (8)
Cinematography: (9)
Plot: (8)
Entertainment: (8)

Cumulative Score: (8)






Me, You, and Everyone We Know (2005)
Directed by Miranda July
Starring Miranda July and John Hawkes

Acting: (6.5)
Cinematography (7)
Plot (5.5)
Entertainment (6)

Cumulative Score: (6)







This is Spinal Tap (1984)

Directed by Rob Reiner
Starring Christopher Guest and Michael McKean

Acting: (7.5)
Cinematography (7.5)
Plot: (8)
Entertainment: (7)

Cumulative Score: (7.5)





I am Legend (2007)

Directed By Francis Lawrence
Starring Will Smith

Acting: (6)
Cinematography: (5)
Plot: (7.5)
Entertainment: (5)

Cumulative Score: (5.5)






Deliverance (1972)

Directed by John Boorman
Starring Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight

Acting: (8.5)
Cinematography: (8.5)
Plot: (8.5)
Entertainment: (8)

Cumulative Score: (8)





Life of Brian (1979)

Directed by Terry Jones
Starring the Monty Python Cast

Acting: (6.5)
Cinematography: (6)
Plot: (5)
Entertainment: (5)

Cumulative Score: (5.5)





The Godfather 2 (1974)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Starring Al Pacino & Robert Deniro

Acting: (9)
Cinematography: (9)
Plot: (9)
Entertainment: (9)

Cumulative Score: (9)






Stand By Me (1986)

Directed by Rob Reiner
Starring Will Wheaton and River Phoenix

Acting: (7)
Cinematography (7)
Plot: (7.5)
Entertainment: (7)

Cumulative Score: (7)





Indiana Jones: The Temple of Doom (1984)

Directed by Steven Spielberg
Starring Harrison Ford and Kate Capshaw

Acting: (6)
Cinematography: (9)
Plot: (7.5)
Entertainment: (7)

Cumulative Score: (7)






Misery (1990)
Directed by Rob Reiner
Starring Kathy Bates and James Caan

Acting: (8.5)
Cinematography: (7)
Plot: (8)
Entertainment: (7)

Cumulative: (7.5)






Pieces of April (2003)

Directed by Peter Hedges
Starring Katie Holmes, Derek Luke, Patricia Clarkson & Oliver Platt

Acting: (8.5)
Cinematography: (7)
Plot: (8.5)
Entertainment: (7.5)

Cumulative Score: (7.5)