The Citizen Review " A man goes to the movies. A critic must be honest enough to admit that he is that man." -Robert Warshow

Average Grade: A-

Matthew Says: A+

There Will Be Blood begins with Daniel Plainview (Daniel-Day Lewis) pounding coal for oil in a swinging hand motion. This is vital to the movie, but I won't tell you why. The film is brilliant. It's seaping out with greatness. It has great direction, acting, writing, cinematography, and the outcome is overwhelming.

Daniel Plainview is an oilman. A man named Paul comes up to him and tells him there is oil in his town. Daniel and his son, H.W. go to the place, and buy the Sunday Ranch where the oil is. He builds an oil drill and becomes aquainted with the town. After this, well, there will be blood.

The performance by Lewis is amazing. You truly can't see him at all. he even get's the voice right. Which I'm not sure how is possible. it sounds like the voice of an oilman, rusty, gristly, and syrupy. It is filled with other good performances like Paul Dano as Eli, and Paul. The film is great and needs to be seen and studied many more times after the first viewing, which will not be enough.

Sincerely,

The Citizen Review

Highs:

Average: C+

Jack says: C

Some films, in my opinion, are meant to be short and some are meant to be long. My Blueberry Nights is a full length movie that ought to be about twenty minutes long.

The film is the first in English for director Kar Wai Wong, and it palys out like a never ending sleepwalk experience. But it must be said that the cinematography of this film is exceptional. Yes, at times it does get a little too artsy for many. You will find that that the camera hardly every has a straight shot of a face, it is usually obstructed by a window or something like that. It must also be said that there must be some compromise between story and visual appeal, because My Blueberry Nights has about half a slice of the latter.

There are times in the film, mostly among the lousy monologues, I wondered if the crew and cinematographer just let the cameras go, and went to sleep.

What is most mystifying to me is the casting. Why would Wong have enough faith in first time actress Norah Jones with the lead role while surrounded by seasoned, great actors. It's like punishment: for Jones and the audience alike. Jones' character is the least redeeming and interesting of the bunch. Also, it is funny to me that the two wonderful actresses given supporting roles have such similair characters: southern drawled women wearing slutty dresses.

The only thing that saves this film from utter disaster is the artistry and supporting actors: Law, Weisz and Portman. Miss Jones asks us in the opening act of the film, "What's wrong with the blueberry pie?" at this time the pie should have reacted, "It's not me, it's you."

Matthew Say's: B-

To be one hundred percent honest, I'm not really sure what to make of My Blueberry Nights. It's not a bad movie. It's well made, and has a good supporting cast. However, the film certainly has it's problems. One being that there isn't much of a plot, there is somewhat, but it's not quite connected, and doesn't all together work. The other problem being Norah Jones.

This is Norah Jones' first movie, and should be her last. She is not very good at delivering a line, no, she is terrible at delivering a line, and doesn't know how to react to certain situations. She has the looks but not the acting chops.

On the other hand, it has (as I've said before) a good supporting cast which could save her. Jude Law gives a solid performance as the owner of a cafe in New York. Rachel Weisz gives an especially good performance as the unfaithful wife of a polieman. And, Natalie portman gives a good performance as the gambling addictive woman going to Las Vegas.

The movie isn't terrible and is saved by a strong supporting cast, and good filmaking. If only the plot was better, and connected more. And if only Norah Jones stayed on the soundtrack.

Sincerely,

The Citizen Review

Average: A

Jack says: A

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is what all film lovers love about movies. Or at least what I find I love most often.

Here is Woody Allen's portrait of what can happen to beautiful women in a beautiful city. Vicky and Cristina are complete opposite when it comes to love but are the best of friends, and they find themselves in Barcelona for the summer, staying with Vicky's aunt and uncle. The two are bombarded by an extremely romantic Spanish painter, Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). He invites them for a weekend of art, food, drinks and of course the 'inevitable'. Cristina, the romantc herself, finds the man sexy and interesting. Vicky, the rational with a fiance, won't have any of it.

The two end up traveling by plane with Juan Antonio to Oviedo and a rather tumultuous weekend unfolds (mostly for Vicky). The rest of the film is about choosing, losing and finding love in wierd and scary places.

Like I said, the film has it all: great performances, simple and delicate writing and beautifully shot European scenery. A film about love to fall in love with.

Matthew Says: A-

Vicky Cristina Barcelona begins and ends in similar ways. I won't tell you how, but it begins with Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Critstina (Scarlet johanson) leaving the airport into Barcelona. They meet with Vicky's Aunt and have lunch. They invite them to an art gallery and they go. While they are there they see a mysterious man. They go to dinner and see him there again. He offers them to go to Oviedo. They do, and from there is where most of the plot takes place.

After they leave, Cristina is invited back, she stays for awhile, then Juan Antonio's psycho ex-wife returns, and the trouble begins.

The film has a simple and quaint script that works for the film. It is filled with little great performances. One by Penelope Cruz. She gives a marvelous and eccentric performance. The other performance that stood out was Rebecca Hall's. One of the most underrated perrfomances of the year. She was real, funny and in her character.

The film is shot lovely, with a quaint script and wonderful performaces. It just might be worth watching.

Sincerely,

The Citizen Review