Sex and the City

© 2008 Ray Wong



Four years after the cultural phenomenon that was Sex and the City went off the air, the girlfriends are back, this time on the big screen. With shoes and high fashion and lusty relationships at stake, can producers Sarah Jessica Parker and Michael Patrick King recapture the magic?

Picking up four years after the show's finale, the story begins with our heroines all settling into their daily grooves. Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) is finally happy in a long-term relationship with her once off-again-off-again beau, Mr. Big (Chris Noth). She's a best-selling author and a contributor at Vogue. Meanwhile, Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) has moved to Los Angeles to manage her boyfriend's (Jason Lewis) booming TV career. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is in domestic bliss with husband Harry (Evan Handler) and adopted daughter Lily (Alexandra and Parker Fong). Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), however, is having problems juggling between her career (as a lawyer), motherhood, her marriage to Steve (David Eigenberg) while taking care of his mother who's suffering from Alzheimer's.

While things are going strong, Carrie can't help but feel a bit insecure about Mr. Big, given their turbulent history. But things get better when Mr. Big finally asks her if she wants to get married. Of course, she says yes. Charlotte goes into a frenzy planning Carrie's wedding, and things get bigger and more glamourous. It's a dream come true for Carrie.

And then, Miranda receives some bad news that changes her outlook, making her feel defeated. Then more things happen (I won't give out spoilers here) and everyone becomes really sad. Meanwhile, Samantha is feeling restless in her relationship; and the hot stud next door isn't helping either. Charlotte discovers that she's pregnant, but she's so afraid that something bad is going to happen to her perfect life.

Sarah Jessica Parker (Smart People) has said Carrie Bradshaw is a role of a lifetime for her. It's probably true. It remains one of her most memorable performances. Carrie is the ultimate material girl, what with her Manolo shoes and Louis Vitton handbags. But Parker also reveals deep layers of Carrie's emotional life. Carrie the writer is a perpetual philosopher. She muses over love, pain, disappointments, and forgiveness while she herself can't seem to see through the veil. Parker has done some good movies such as Smart People and the Family Stone and some not so good ones (Failure to Launch) but Carrie Bradshaw remains her signature performance.

Kim Cattrall (Ice Princess) has the showiest role in the series as well as the movie. Her cougar is sexy, fun, and always full of life. She's definitely the SEX in Sex and the City. However, her character arc in the film seems to be inconsistent and superficial. I have a feeling that the writers don't really know what to do with her well-defined character. Kristin Davis (Deck the Halls) doesn't really have much to do here. Her story arc is the most stagnant (simply because she's happy, devoid of any drama). Cynthia Nixon (One Last Thing) has the meatiest role next to Parker, and she delivers. Her story arc is the most layered and human, and she's a such as good actress. Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) is a new addition -- she's adequate in her underwritten role.

The men are functional in such an estrogen-laden film. Chris Noth (The Perfect Man) is obviously the top gun here. Mr. Big is charming, dashing, sophisticated, rich, and seemingly emotionally reserved -- no wonder he's every woman's Prince Charming. David Eigenberg (Raines) is also very good as Steve, Miranda's troubled husband. Even Handler (Californication), like his onscreen wife, doesn't have much to do.

Written by Sex's alum Michael Patrick King, the script is tight and crisp. Since he has to tell the stories of four different women, it doesn't leave him a lot of room for anything else. Even at 148 minutes, the film feels short -- it's as if they try to cram a four-hour-long episode into a 2-hour-30-minute movie. The dialogue, however, is witty, funny, and sharp, much like in the show. The observations about relationships are also spot on. There are certain cliches -- it's chick lit, after all -- and the high fashion and parade of shoes can be intimidating (especially to a guy like me).

By and large, however, King keeps the story and characters real. It's not some high fantasy or fairytale set in the Big Apple. Yes, the plot is actually rather predictable, but at the same time, how the characters act and react to situations feels authentic -- except for Samantha. I feel that her arc is forced, and it seems that King has run of options for her.

Glitzy, well-produced and fast-paced, the film does feel like a long TV episode. Personally I think it will play better on TV than in theater. As I said before, I think the story deserves a four-hour treatment. The peripheral characters as well as the men didn't get enough screen time. And the women deserve their own longer arcs. That said, the film certainly lives up to the hype and expectations, and should please the fans (mostly women and the occasional men) who are craving for sex. And love.




Stars: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cythia Nixon, Chris Noth, Candice Bergen, Jennifer Hudson, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler
Director: Michael Patrick King
Writer: Michael Patrick King
Distributor: New Line
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content and graphic nudity
Running Time: 148 Minutes

Ratings:

Script – 7
Performance – 8
Direction – 7
Cinematography – 8
Music/Sound– 8

Editing – 7


Production – 8


Total – 7.5 out of 10

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

© 2008 Ray Wong



Fourth time is a charm? After 19 years, Indiana Jones emerges from the ruins of Hollywood past in search of the box office gold. Is it a glorious return or just the same old, same old?

The story opens in 1957 when a group of Soviet agents, led by Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), kidnap Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and partner Mac (Ray Winstone). Apparently, there's something in a hanger in Nevada that the Soviets desperately want. It turns out to be a mysterious, magnetic "body." Indy escapes but the Soviets disappear with the body.

Under suspicion by the US government, Indy's tenure at the university is abruptly terminated. That's when a young greaser, Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) seeks him out. Mutt is a student of Indy's colleague, Dr. "Ox" Oxley (John Hurt) who has been kidnapped while searching for the legendary Crystal Skull. Apparently, the KGBs are also looking for it. Together with Mutt, Indy tries to find the mystery behind the skull which, as legend has it, would lead them to the lost city of Akator (or El Dorado). They must rescue and find the city first before the Soviets catch up with them.

Reprising his role as the iconic Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford (Firewall) is still dashing, charming, and full of his trademark humor and vigor. Sure, he's almost 20 years older since he last donned his hat and whip, but Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones. There's no substitution. It's a joy to see Indy doing all his tricks and stunts (with the help of some very good stuntmen). It's also wonderful to see Karen Allen (Poster Boy) as Indy's old flame Marion Ravenwood. Unfortunately, Allen's character doesn't have the same gravity and relevance as she did in Raiders of the Lost Ark. But the spark between Marion and Indy is still there, as well as the bickering and genuine affection. It's a joy to see them back together on the big screen.

A new character, Mutt, is introduced and played by Shia LaBeouf (Transformers). He plays the role -- a clueless rookie thrust into an adventure he didn't ask for -- well enough but somehow Mr. LaBeouf seems to be Shia LaBeouf the actor in every film he's been in. I'd very like to see him get out of his shell and become the characters instead. There seems to an idea that someone is hoping to pass the torch of the Indiana Jones series to LaBeouf -- I hardly think he's ready yet. Prolific Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) goes over the top as the KGB. She's fun, what with her funky accent and hair. But ultimately, her role is very two-dimensional.

Ray Winstone's (Beowulf) role is seriously underwritten but he adds the right humor to the film. John Hurt (Hellboy II) and Jim Broadbent (Hot Fuzz) also add their professionalism to the film as Ox and Dean Charles Stanforth respectively.

The screenplay, written by David Koepp (War of the Worlds) based on the story by George Lucas (Star Wars) has all the typical Indiana Jones ingredients: mystery, paranormal events, adventures, out-of-the-world places, super villains, campy one-liners, and a lot of running and chasing. It should be a guaranteed good time, right? Unfortunately, what has transpired seems to be a hodgepodge of ideas, a hot stew of half-cooked bologna. No, we don't expect Indiana Jones to be Shakespeare, but at least the last three films had coherent plots that actually made sense. Here, Lucas and Koepp have come up with an outlandish premise that expands to a bunch of mismatched plots mixing legends and genres. The central plot loses its focus because of that, and there are so many plot holes and unresolved questions even for Indiana Jones.

Also, while there is plenty of their trademark humor, including a few winks at the first trilogy and the TV series (Young Indiana Jones), sometimes such humor feels forced and artificial, as if the writers are saying, "Here, we need a laugh. There, we need a quip." It feels like they're trying too hard to repeat what they did some twenty years ago. The result is less genuine and more manufactured.

Director Spielberg (War of the Worlds) still has what it takes when it comes to popcorn entertainment. The production is fantastic, the stunt work amazing, and the special effects impressive. The production design is a nice throwback to the action films of the 40s and 50s. In fact, there's one extended segment that is a clear nod to the 50s. Sadly, it's also one segment that seems unnecessary and outright implausible, even for Indiana Jones. Also, I think Spielberg misfires as far as pacing is concerned. There are some great sequences, of course (such as the hilarious car chase on campus). However, the beginning of the film drags, as well as the middle, with many scenes of people sitting around doling out information. The expositions are boring. There are also many shadows of the previous films, especially Raiders of the Lost Ark, but without evoking the same sense of awe and wonderment. There's a lot of wandering around with no special purposes except to, well, make the character wander around. The pace finally picks up in the Amazon jungle when the group gets closer to finding Akator. That's when the treasure hunt, the adventure, the action and the humor finally come together. Unfortunately, it's a bit too much, too late.

Don't get me wrong. Crystal Skull is a perfectly fine action adventure for the entire family to enjoy (there are, however, some scary moments too intense for the younger kids). It just requires you to completely suspend your disbelief, more so than any other Indiana Jones movies. Too many "WTF" moments if you try to think, and they all add up to an unsatisfying film. If you have never seen Indiana Jones before, it's an okay introduction to the franchise. If you're a fan, however, you may be sorely disappointed by this overblown installment. The Kingdom of Indiana Jones may be crumbling, even as it does outstanding numbers at the box office. We fans deserve more.

Stars: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Shia LaBeouf, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, Igor Jijikine
Director: Stephen Spielberg
Writers: David Koepp, George Lucas, Jeff Nathanson
Distributor: Paramount
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for adventure violence and scary images
Running Time: 124 Minutes

Ratings:

Script – 5
Performance – 7
Direction – 8
Cinematography – 8
Music/Sound– 7
Editing – 8
Production – 9

Total – 7 out of 10

Then She Found Me

© 2008 Ray Wong



Helen Hunt the actress has been out of the spotlight for a few years. What emerges lately is Helen Hung the writer-director, with her directorial debut, Then She Found Me based on Elinor Lipman's novel that explores the intricate relationships in one woman's life.

April Epner (Helen Hunt) is a Jewish woman who decides to marry her best friend Ben (Matthew Broderick) even though he often acts like a child. As an adopted child, April wants her own children, but after ten months of trying, she is becoming desperate -- she is, after all, pushing 40. Unable to handle the pressure, Ben leaves her.

When her mother (Lynn Cohen) passes away, April's life nearly falls apart. That's when she meets divorced father Frank (Colin Firth). They feel their attraction toward each other immediately, but they both know they carry too much baggage of their own to get into a relationship. They proceed cautiously anyway.

Then April's birth mother, Bernice (Bette Midler) starts to make contact with her. April wants to have nothing to do with the woman who gave her away, but her curiosity and desire to know her past get the best of her. To complicate matters, April finds out she's finally pregnant, with Ben's child. Obviously she wants to keep the baby, but she also wants to be with Frank, who is already struggling as a single dad of two. Can a man love a woman who is carrying another man's child?

After her high-profile career in the late 90s (Twisters, Castaway, As Good As It Gets for which she won a Best Actress Oscar), Helen Hunt practically disappeared. Except for a few smaller roles, she had been busy working on a pet project: adapting Elinor Lipman's estrogenic novel to the big screen. As the main character, Hunt appropriately looks gaunt and tired, as if life has taken a toll on her all these missing years. Her performance is understated, nuanced and sublime. Her character is flawed, but she makes us empathize with her hopes, dreams, wishes, and pitfalls. She makes us want to see her character happy, and that's half the battle won for this personal drama.

Colin Firth (Nanny McPhee) is also sincere and understated as the equally flawed Frank. He portrays the character with enough kindness, insecurity and pathos that we understand the pain behind his laid back demeanor. It really helps that Firth and Hunt feel good as a couple. The relationship between the characters are well played. In contrast, Bette Midler (The Stepford Wives) has the showiest role and sometimes she overplays the comedy. Her larger-than-life character also is somewhat a distraction in the otherwise "small" personal dramedy. Matthew Broderick's (The Producers) role is too small to make an impact. His relationship with Hunt isn't really convincing. I don't buy their sexual attention to each other, nor do I believe that they are ever best friends as they claim to be.

Written by Hunt, Alice Arlen (Silkwood) and Victor Levin (Win a Date with Tad Hamilton), the script is at its best when exploring the intricate relationships between these characters. There's something genuine about these characters and their interactions with each other. The dialogue is sharp, witty, and even insightful sometimes. It balances the drama and comedy very well. On the other hand, the plot does seem rather contrived, and at times unconvincing. The accidental pregnancy is a trite literary convention, for example. Bernice's character also seems too "out there" to mesh with the rest of the film, which tends to be more quiet and personal. The conflict between Frank and April feels forced.

Hunt, however, proves herself to be quite a good director. She has a good eye for composition and a good ear for sharp, well-paced dialogue. She also has a knack for exploring the subtlety of human relationships and behaviors to make these characters believable. A good actress herself, she really does understand the art of acting, and that shows in her costar's subtle, understated performances. She may have emerged as one of the new breed of "actors' director."

Then She Found Me is a small, intimate, humorous film that looks at the imperfect ways we live our lives. It explores themes such as love, choices, self-respect, and the unpredictability of life. The result is a satisfying little film that, despite its flaws, makes me glad that it's found me.


Stars: Helen Hunt, Colin Firth, Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick, Lynn Cohen, Ben Shenkman
Director: Helen Hunt
Writer: Alice Arlen, Victor Levin, Helen Hunt (based on Elinor Lipman's novel)
Distributor: THINKFilm
MPAA Rating: R for language, some sexual content
Running Time: 100 Minutes

Ratings:

Script – 7
Performance – 8
Direction – 8
Cinematography – 7
Music/Sound– 7
Editing – 6
Production – 7

Total – 7.4 out of 10

What Happens in Vegas...

© 2008 Ray Wong



What Happens in Vegas... has a cute title. It has a cute premise. It has cute stars. It is, in fact, a cute romantic comedy. Just don't expect any substance.

Joy McNally (Cameron Diaz) is an uptight control-freak who just gets dumped by her fiance (Jason Sudeikis). Jack Fuller (Ashton Kutcher) is a slacker who just gets fired by his boss/father (Treat Williams). To blow off some steam and get over their funk, they (separately) decide to go to Vegas for a fun weekend. The two strangers accidentally gets involved with each other and they decide to hang out.

What is supposed to be a one night stand turns into something else. While drunk and out of control, the two get married without knowing what they're doing. The next morning, knowing they've made a mistake, they decide to get an annulment until Jack wins the jackpot playing slots using Joy's quarter. Neither wants to give up the money. They decide to settle the matter in court. Instead, Judge Whopper (Dennis Miller) issues a court order to freeze the money until they give their marriage a chance for six months, with weekly counseling with Dr. Twitchell (Queen Latifah).

Cameron Diaz (The Holiday) is arguably the queen of romcom these days. She has that zany, goofy girl-next-door quality, what with her supersaturated glow of a tan and wide grin. It's a little difficult to believe that she's an uptight career woman; fortunately, the writers make sure we understand that deep down she's a free spirit. There's really nothing groundbreaking about Diaz's performance. She's doing what she does best, and she delivers. Ashton Kutcher (The Guardian) also returns to his root: playing a dumb jock with a great heart. It is a good role for him, drawing on his strength as a comedic actor and banking on his charms and good looks. Diaz and Kutcher do have good chemistry, especially when they're bickering, insulting, and trying to pull one over each other.

Rob Corddry (Harold & Kumar Escape to Guantanamo Bay) is kind of irritating as Jack's doofus lawyer-friend. Actually that's how the character's written so Corddry's doing his job, perhaps a little too well. Lake Bell's (Over Her Dead Body) character as Joy's best friend is a bit more likable. At least she seems to truly care for Joy's well-being. The rest of the cast is fine in their minor roles: Treat Williams (The Hideout) as Jack's critical father, Michelle Krusiec (Far North) as Joy's conniving rival at work, Dennis Farina (Snatch) as Joy's boss, and Queen Latifah (Stranger Than Fiction) as the couple's counsellor.

Written by Dana Fox (The Wedding Date), the story is as distinctive and familiar as the bells of a slot machine. The "they meet cute" premise is interesting, and the initial romp is fun and witty despite the contrivance. The dialogue is sharp, the insults fast and amusing. The first half of the script moves quickly and does a good job establishing the characters and their relationships. However, in the second half, the story loses momentum, especially when the couple stops bickering and begins to show true affection for each other. It becomes trite and predictable, and not very convincing either. The metamorphosis in the characters is forced and unauthentic. The plot becomes cliched and overtly sentimental. It loses its comedic edge.

Director Tom Vaughan (John From Cincinnati) is part of the problem as well. The first half of the film has great comedic energy. Lots of laughs. Despite the general plot contrivance, we actually believe in the characters as they bicker and trample over each other. But unlike in the Break Up where we see the characters going through with the bitterness to the end, both Fox and Vaughan make the mistake of softening and slowing down everything. We're forced to witness how great these characters really are, and we're supposed to root for them to get together. Sure, we know where the story is going, but do we really need to be spoon-fed the mush and the "I'm actually a better person" speeches? And unlike in Knocked Up (which has a similar theme: unlikely couple fights to stay together despite the odds), What Happens in Vegas... becomes flaccid as the plot and characters become too cookie-cutter for us to care. Or laugh, for that matter.

So my problem with the film lies entirely in the second half. It seems like there are two movies in one, and the two halves don't mesh. The contrivance only becomes obvious and irritating like the bells of a slot machine once the story turns serious. At least the first half is entertaining and funny. The second half feels like a rerun of any nighttime soap opera. I do wonder: what happened during production?



Stars: Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Rob Corddry, Lake Bell, Jason Sudeikis, Treat Williams, Deirdre O'Connell, Michelle Krusiec, Dennis Farina, Dennis Miller, Queen Latifah
Director: Tom Vaughan
Writer: Dana Fox
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sexual and crude content, language, drug reference
Running Time: 99 Minutes

Ratings:

Script – 6
Performance – 7
Direction – 6
Cinematography – 7
Music/Sound– 7
Editing – 7
Production – 7

Total – 6.7 out of 10

Iron Man

© 2008 Ray Wong



Once in a while an action movie comes along and blows us away. A few years ago, there was the long-anticipated Spider-Man. This year, summer officially begins on May 2 with the electrifying Iron Man.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is the playboy billionaire who owns and runs Stark Industries, the world's leading weapon manufacturer. Stark's world changes when he is abducted by terrorists in Afghanistan. He's badly injured and he needs a magnetized chest plate to keep tiny shrapnel from entering his heart. He realizes his weapons have been acquired by "bad guys" all over the world. The terrorists force him to make his latest and greatest missile for them. Instead, he makes a body armor with a miniature reactor as a chest plate, and breaks out of captivity.

Once rescued and back to Los Angeles, Stark decides he doesn't want to make weapons anymore. He doesn't want his dad's and his legacy to get into the wrong hands. That doesn't sit well with his business partner, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), who urges Stark to take some time off. During his "recovery," Stark improves on the body suit and decides to don the suit to rid the world of bad guys and their weapons. His stunts upset his army buddy Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard) and worries his assistant, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Meanwhile, the terrorists get hold of his blueprints and are making their own armored suit. The race is on.

As Tony Stark/Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. (Zodiac) is perfectly charming, droll and smug. He's at once not your typical hero (is he ever serious about anything?) and the hero you can actually root for. Tony Stark is spoiled, irrelevant, and irresponsible. Yet his alter ego, Iron Man, is full of purpose and pathos. Robert Downey Jr. captures that essence of the character extremely well -- it's almost impossible to imagine anyone else in the role.

Jeff Bridges (A Dog Year) plays Stark's nemesis wonderfully. He can effortlessly convey certain darkness under his "concerned uncle" veneer. With his shaved head and grizzly beard, he looks fantastic. Terrence Howard (Awake) doesn't have a whole lot to do as Tony Stark's best friend, but he's sincere enough to make an impression. Gwyneth Paltrow (Running with Scissors) is excellent as Stark's assistant and potential love interest. She's cool and sophisticated and beautiful, and she has some of the best lines in the film.

The supporting cast includes Leslie Bibb (Talladega Nights) as a saucy, hard-nosed reporter, Shaun Toub (The Kite Runner) as the captive who saves Stark's life in many ways, Clark Gregg (Choke) as a serious agent, and Faran Tahir (Charlie Wilson's War) as the leader of the terrorist group.

Adapted from the Marvel comics, the writing team, headed by Children of Men's scribes Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, injects much sophistication, energy and real heart in the script. It all starts with the writing, and the writing here is crisp, taut, and it moves well with lots of humor. The dialogue is snappy and funny, and the relationships between the characters are well developed. You really do believe in the genuine affection between Stark and Pepper, and there's just something real about the friendship between him and Jim Rhode. When you believe in these characters and their relationships, you've achieved 80% of the challenge in telling a generally tongue-in-cheek superhero story.

Granted, it's easy to pick apart the plot if we want to. But do we? Sure, when Iron Man hits the fighter jet, one has to wonder why Tony Stark doesn't die just from the impact and vibration? Or why would he leave the blueprints in the cave without destroying them first? But really, who cares? This is a superhero movie. It's supposed to be fun, not scientific. The fact is, the script is actually very intelligent, with tons of geeky pleasures for us techno-nerds to salivate over. Just watching Stark learn how to fly is fantastic fun. And the romantic subplot is subtle enough to be touching yet not mushy. And that's the important thing, and the film delivers.

Actor-Director Jon Favreau (Zathura) does a great job putting the film together (he also has a cameo as Stark's personal assistant Hogan). Full of energy, the pace is brisk and the plot moves so well you hardly notice the movie is over two hours long. Granted, the plot can be predictable but that's actually a good thing. You don't really want to think too much while indulging in an adventure like this. Favreau's job is relatively simple, given the sharp writing, and the great performances by the award-caliber actors (all four leads were either Oscar winner or nominees), but he pulls it off beautifully.

While it may be somewhat too intense or at times too adult for the young ones, Iron Man is a fantastic, fun movie for the entire family, and in particular, the fanboys and fangirls. This and its inevitable sequels should do iron-clad business at the box office for years to come.



Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb, Shaun Toub, Faran Tahir, Clark Gregg
Director: Jon Favreau
Writers: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway (based on Marvel comics)
Distributor: Paramount
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violance, and brief suggestive content
Running Time: 126 Minutes

Ratings:

Script – 8
Performance – 8
Direction – 8
Cinematography – 8
Music/Sound– 8
Editing – 8
Production – 8

Total – 8 out of 10