Review of All the Real Girls (2003) by Russell C — 21 Feb 2006

Hey, finally some consistency! I saw 3 excellent movies over the weekend. And they couldn't have been more diverse, either. [i]All The Real Girls[/i] is a movie that explores young love and young betrayal, subjects that are nothing new, but it does it in such a beautiful, natural, and heartbreaking way that it was compelling anyways. The acting was great, and the script was tight. I wasn't a big fan of David Gordon Green's first film George Washington, it was too abstract for me, but this film runs the emotional gamut, from hilarious to heartbreaking, from bleak to hopeful.

[i]Ong-Bak[/i] is probably the best Kung Fu film I have ever seen. Tony Jaa has a style that puts all the Jackie Chan's and Jet Li's to shame. His Muay Thai techniques hit hard, and the stunts are balls-out bad-ass. Pure visceral and visual fun. There's a bit of a thin plot, but it actually has a decent emotional core, with the son who has left the village but eventually regains his honor, and Ting's reluctance to use his craft until only absolutely necessary. The music is phenominal, and helps puts a fresh face on the action.

I finished off the weekend with [i]Rope[/i], and old Hitchcock classic. This is actually quite an experimental film, especially for it's time. The whole thing unfolds in real time, and it goes on in one continuous shot, masked only by sly hidden cuts. Absolutely brilliant. One of Hitchcock's best, and somewhat of a departure for the master of suspense.