Review of Heaven (2002) by Jared C — 15 Mar 2006

I watched a couple of movies lately that aren't really worthy of a full entry but out of boredom I would like to mention them in passing. I figure movies deserve as much passion and thought as what was put into them.

[color=black][b]Domino: [/b]I'm Domino-I'm Domino-I'm Domino Harvey. Who's idea was it to create echo voices? I know Keira's got a great sexy accent but did I have to hear her line readings three times to get the picture? I hope Tony Scott got knee deep in her for this role otherwise I have no idea why she was cast as the bounty hunter. She was about as believable as OJ's "I'm looking for the real killer" performance. There are a lot of cuts and camera tricks that make this a visual feast not to mention the fact that Keira is a buffet of hotness herself. Other than that a stupid fucking movie. Quick note: you can trick the audience but it sucks when you continuously lie to us. Over and over the film shows you things and then takes it back. Look, that is not clever. That is lying. There is a big difference. See [b]The Usual Suspects[/b] for a movie that tricks you. See Domino for a dumb script that lies and thinks it is tricking you.[/color].

[b]Jarhead[/b]: For me the definitive Gulf War I movie is [b]Three Kings [/b]it perfectly captures the emptiness and boredom of the ground troops trained for a war that never happened. The irony of Jarhead is that the best scene is where the soldiers are watching [b]Apocalypse Now[/b]. Jarhead is a movie about a boring guy jerking off and waiting for an event we know isn't going to happen. Jamie Foxx is trying to steal scenes but never comes close to being Ermey from [b]Full Metal Jacket[/b]. There are some amusing scenes here and there but the movie falls flat whenever they attempt to be emotional or poignant. The acting and script are just too hollow to pull it off. I think in part because the war itself was so anti-climactic and hollow it is hard to really glean some deep thinking out of it. This isn't the Vietnam Conflict or even Gulf War II. There was little questioning for why we were there and even less sacrifice. Sometimes I think the writer put a little more importance on the conflict and events than we the viewer actually feel.

[b]Heaven[/b]: This is an average movie that started great and completely derailed into cliches and absurdity. Ribisi is a great actor and Blanchett is usually enjoyable so we have two good leads. The script is dull and the overall plot is weak so eventually you have performances drug down in the doldrums. Not a bad way to kill some time.