Jeff's Reviews

Thoughts on every movie I've ever seen.

recent product reviews

U2: Elevation 2001 Live from Boston (2001)

Reviewed on Sep 1, 2012

Documentary-like concert footage, with simple shots of the performers and few shots of the crowd. Not much pizzazz. Much of the footage suffers from resolution and/or focus issues. The Bono cam is cool but hardly used. The tour’s flashy video is hardly integrated at all. The only creative license seems…

Full Review

127 Hours (2010)

Reviewed on Aug 29, 2012

Harrowing, emotional story and performance. For the first time, Franco really shows what he can do. Really uncomfortable to watch, but that just makes the ending that much more powerful. Great score, editing, and photography, especially considering the small space where most of the story took place. Boyle knows what…

Full Review

Another Earth (2011)

Reviewed on Aug 28, 2012

It’s fine having a weird main character, but when everyone is weird, or if everyone acts as if the main character is not being weird, it doesn’t work. When people do not act and react in realistic ways, the story is not realistic. And I won’t even get into the…

Full Review

Knight and Day (2010)

Reviewed on Aug 28, 2012

Stupid. Cruise is weird enough to put his heart and soul into a dumb movie, but Diaz should be ashamed.

Full Review

Breakdown (1997)

Reviewed on Aug 28, 2012

Better than I thought it would be. Nice story and pacing. Walsh is quality.

Full Review

21 Jump Street (2012)

Reviewed on Aug 22, 2012

Started out silly and just got dumber as it went on. Tatum is surprisingly funny, Hill is surprisingly unfunny.

Full Review

About Schmidt (2002)

Reviewed on Aug 16, 2012

Depressing, but there’s enough quirkiness to keep it light. Payne’s good at that. He’s not Wes Anderson quirky, but there’s just enough to take the edge off. Nice to see Nicholson embracing his old age. Interesting ending. What’s the message there?

Full Review

Shaft (1971)

Reviewed on Aug 14, 2012

Slow-moving and a little awkward, like most movies from the 70’s. But this one’s got style. Roundtree’s silky smooth in the lead role.

Full Review

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Reviewed on Aug 12, 2012

A happy movie filled with magic and innocence, but not much happens. It evokes a feeling more than it tells a story. Miyazaki seems to use the same themes, animation, and music in all of his movies. Nice characters. Fanning does a good job in the Disney dub. I want…

Full Review

Ip Man (2008)

Reviewed on Aug 11, 2012

Donnie Yen is fantastic. A stoic, engaging performance, and the guy can really move. A perfect example of how understated heroes are always the most interesting. Siu-Wong Fan and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi are bad-ass villains. Wonderful kung fu with some real impacts. Well-shot and edited, this martial arts action is some…

Full Review