King Kong

Well well. This one has certainly been hyped. For the most part, King Kong lives up to its buzz. Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) directs this blockbuster starring Jack Black (School of Rock, Shallow Hal), Naomi Watts (The Ring, 21 Grams) and Adrien Brody (most recently of The Jacket). All three do a fine job, though it's hard for me to look at Jack Black without laughing.

Set in the Depression era, Kong begins with a (presumably) realistic slice of Americana seen through the eyes of filmmaker Carl Denham (Black) and aspiring actress Ann Darrow (Watts). Both need a hit movie: Denham to save his fledgling career and Darrow to simply eat and survive. In search of a fresh face for his latest picture, Denham meets Darrow by chance and she agrees to do the movie. The only catch is that filming will take place in a remote location, accessible only by boat. The cast and crew, including Brody as screenwriter Jack Driscoll, find the island only to discover it inhabitaed by hostile and violent natives. They abduct Darrow and set the stage for the moment we've all been waiting for: the introduction of Kong. The only word to describe the beast is amazing. His expressions are nuanced and human-like, giving a strange quality of depth to the portrayal. Props to the folks at CGI, or whoever made this thing, because it looks real. The interaction between Watts and the beast is really very good, especially given that Watts was probably in front of a green screen during filming. She looks as if she's staring right at the gorilla and into his soul. Their interaction is a strange mix of love, fear, bewilderment and wonder. Kong seems genuinely in love with Ann Darrow, and she appears to have the beauty and gentility required to tame the savage beast.

The special effects are incredible, and there is a particularly long action sequence that lasts 10-15 minutes. No dialouge is necessary because Jackson has the audience riveted with what's taking place on screen. Suffice to say that Kong is one bad MF. One drawback, in my opinion, was that the first part of the movie prior to them arriving on the island was a tad boring. I had a few long blinks. At 3 hours and 7 minutes this movie is long as hell -- and you feel it in the beginning. Bring out the ape already. Overall King Kong was thoroughly entertaining, though I don't think it's good enough to surpass Titanic as the highest grossing movie of all time, as some are suggesting. King Kong: hot monkey love disaster flick with a heart.

Aeon Flux

I was looking forward to this one, and I must say that I was mildly disappointed. Charlize Theron (most recently of North Country) stars in the title role, which is based on the early 1990's MTV cartoon of the same name. I watched the cartoon a few times back in the day and it was hella weird.

Theron is not bad as Aeon, my complaint is just that the movie was inexplicably strange and unfulfilling. There is something about it I didn't like, I just can't quite put my finger on it or articulate it. I know this nebulous description is useless in determining whether or not you should check this movie out, but bear with me. The movie is set in the future (of course), where the government is controlled by Trevor Goodchild, a man who is trying to preserve life in the last known society on Earth. You see, a plague has eliminated nearly all of the world's population. The survivors reside in Bregna, a fortified city surrounded by a wall. Aeon is a member of a small rebel faction seeking to overthrow the administration. Goodchild seems to be up to something nefarious, and Aeon is dispatched to assassinate him. When she gets the opportunity to do the deed, she spares him. It seems they have a past connection. The rest of the movie explores the aforementioned connection and the underlying secrets of the Goodchild adminstration.

This movie is not as cool as it looks. There are a few good scenes, but you've seen most of them in the trailer. Aeon is cool, but she does not kick enough ass. The special effects and fight choreography also look cheesy. It's too acrobatic. I've seen more realistic fight scenes from The Bride in Kill Bill, and if you want to go for the implausible but sick, Trinity in The Matrix was better. Sooooo.....if I were you I'd wait until this little number is on DVD.

Get Rich or Die Tryin'

The s*it was terrible. Period. I will leave a little room for the possibility that my interpretation was skewed by the number of mojitos I drank at the bar before the movie, BUT I'm pretty sure it still sucked. I also went to the bathroom for two minutes, so maybe those were a really good two minutes that would've explained everything...somehow I doubt it. My date was snoring. If you like the straight- to-video rap movies advertised in the Source magazine, maybe Get Rich or Die Tryin' is just the movie for you. There are plenty of good hip-hop influenced movies out there, from Belly to 8 Mile to Hustle & Flow. Get Rich aint one of 'em. There are plenty of talented rappers turned actors, from Will Smith to Ice Cube and even DMX. Fifty aint one of 'em. Actually, his performance was better than I thought it would be and his acting wasn't even the biggest problem with the movie. The movie was just a bunch of random $hit happening. A collection of scenes. Terrence Howard (Crash, Four Brothers) has been in everything this year and the brother is talented, but this was a waste. Joy Bryant (The Skeleton Key, Antwone Fisher) is featured as Fif's girl, so the role was pretty basic. Homeboy from Oz plays the gangster who won't let 50 go straight. OK I'm done really trying to break this movie down like it was something. I didn't like it. Go see it if you want.

Derailed

This suspense thriller is an okay addition to the genre, but it's definitely not going to set the world on fire nor the box office. I suspect that moviegoers may want to see Jennifer Aniston (Along Came Polly, Bruce Almighty) shine in her first post-Friends role, so the movie may do well in its first week. After that, I expect it to sink. Who knows, maybe I'll be surprised.

Aniston stars as Lucinda Harris alongside Clive Owen (Sin City, Closer) in this somewhat predictable movie. Owen plays Charles Schine, a married man who encounters Lucinda on a train during his morning commute. She pays his fare when he comes up short, and the "sparks" fly. Except they really don't. But I can tell I'm supposed to think that they are flying. Sorry, Jennifer Aniston is not a knockout, so I'm not buying that she's this head-turner who has all the men on the train breaking their collective necks just to get a peek. Charles is open to the idea of getting to know Lucinda better because his marriage is strained. He and his wife are caring for a diabetic child and have stretched their finances to the limit. Thus the door is open for an affair, and Lucinda strolls right through it. The plot thickens when their seemingly impromptu meeting at a hotel goes violently awry. Suddenly getting busted on a late-night creep session by the wife is the least of Charles' problems. I'll stop right there. The rest of the movie is comprised of Charles trying to get his life back on track.

I dig these kinds of movies, so I figured I'd check it out, despite the fact that I'm not really a Jennifer Aniston fan. She did an okay job, but the role could've been so much more. I can't figure out if it was the writing or just her performance. She didn't do anything really wrong, but she didn't really do anything right either. I will need to see her in something else before I'm convinced that she has any depth or range to speak of. I like Clive Owen, so I think he did a fine job, although nobody will be winning any awards for this one. However, I must say that Vincent Cassel (never heard of him before this) was very good as the villain who terrorizes Owen's character. Xzibit (XXX: State of the Union) and RZA (of Wu-Tang for you non-hip hop heads) are in this too, so that was kinda interesting. X to the Z is a decent actor, although not much was required of him. RZA was sorta cute as the mail guy at Charles' job.

This movie was kinda cheesy. I had to laugh when Charles went to the "hood," and the filmmakers were sure to cue in the "gangsta" rap to make sure the audience knew that Charles was going to encounter some scary ethnic types. If you're a big Aniston fan, you'll probably like this. If you're a fan of really good movies, maybe you better wait for the DVD.

Check for this TV Show: Criminal Minds

This show is great. I don't really get into the new dramas the networks unleash on us every Fall, but Criminal Minds is like a mini-movie each week. Like Law & Order, CSI, and other prime time crime dramas, Criminal Minds is self-contained and doesn't require that you watch each episode, so jump in any week. The premise: a group of FBI profilers solve sadistic and heinous crimes through careful deconstruction of the victims' lives. This show isn't exactly breaking new ground in terms of the profiler plot, but it is uniquely entertaining in its darkness. It's like a psychological thriller done for the small screen, and each week the case is just as chilling as the last. CBS has definitely become the network for crime/mystery dramas and features the best: Cold Case, all of the CSIs, and Without a Trace. If you're not doing anything else, Criminal Minds is definitely worth a look. Wednesdays 9 PM EST on CBS. Starring: Mandy Patinkin (Dead Like Me) and Shemar Moore (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, The Brothers).

Jarhead

I was really looking forward to this movie, and I was not disappointed. Jarhead features a stellar cast in both starring and supporting roles. Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko, The Day After Tomorrow) stars as 20 year old Anthony Swofford, a real-life Marine who served in Desert Storm. The movie tells of his personal experiences dealing with the boredom, uncertainty, anxiety and disappointment that may come with military service.

Set in 1989(?), Jarhead paints a truly realistic portrait of Marine life, from the hazing rituals to the Marine vernacular. Anyone who knows a Marine or is a Marine themselves can see that director Sam Mendes (Road to Perdition, American Beauty) did his homework. I guess it's pretty easy to convey the authenticity since the movie is not fictionalized, although I assume some artistic liberties were taken. FYI, a "jarhead" is another name for a Marine and the name comes from the standard haircut which makes the Marine's head look like a jar.

Gyllenhaal has really grown on me. Swofford is wide-eyed but gutsy, and never tries to be something he isn't. He misses his girlfriend and wonders if "Jody" is keeping her company. He's proud to serve his country and is a good marine, but like a lot of Marines, his grip on sanity is a bit loose. His experiences in Desert Storm show the pointlessness of his purpose….he is a sniper who never even gets to fire his gun. I could feel his boredom and desire for some "action" in the desert. How does one "fight" in a war as a sniper and never fire his gun?? Particularly effective was a scene between Gyllenhall and Peter Sarsgaard (Flightplan, Shattered Glass) as they return from a mission to find that the war is over. The other members of their troop are partying, drinking, celebrating and dancing around a fire, happy to be returning home after months in the sweltering heat. Their euphoria and wild abandonment contrast sharply with Gyllenhaal and Sarsgaards's crestfallen faces. They should be happy, the war is over and we won! They can go home now. However, the unspoken question is "what was the point?" What did I do, why was I here?" And to top it off…I never even fired my weapon! This feeling dissipates as Sarsgaard's character tells Swofford to fire his weapon now. A great scene follows where Swofford fires his weapon in the air and sets off a chain reaction. Men. Gotta love 'em. They're so beastly and cute.

Anyway, suffice to say this movie was highly entertaining and gave a different account of the military. There are many great war movies out there (Full Metal Jacket, Born on the Fourth of July), but this one (I think) is the first one to capture the mundane aspects and real day to day experiences of a soldier who didn't see much combat. Gyllenhaal was simply great and Peter Sarsgaard is a supremely underrated actor. This man should be a bigger star than he is. Jamie Foxx as Staff Sargeant Sykes is also great. Foxx doesn't even seem like he was ever a stand-up comedian, this man is a real actor who can hang with anyone on the big screen. The cinematography and imagery were also beautiful. There's a scene where Foxx and Gyllenhall are shown in silouhette against the backdrop of a red and orange sky as oil fires burn in the distance. Good stuff. I put Jarhead in my top 3 of the year, behind Crash and ahead of Sin City. Check it out.

Domino

Yo, this movie was all over the place. Frenetic and stylish, director Tony Scott (Man on Fire, Enemy of the State) brings us the real life (sort of) tale of Domino Harvey, a former model and bounty hunter. Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean) stars in the title role, accompanied by a hodgepodge of other actors ranging from Mickey Rourke (Sin City) as sidekick/mentor to Lucy Liu (Charlie's Angels) as an FBI interrogator.

The story begins at the end and is interspersed with flashbacks throughout. The basic plot is that Domino, Choco (Edgar Ramirez) and Ed (Rourke) must retrieve 10 million dollars that was stolen from the owner of the Stratosphere casino in Vegas. Everything else that happens in the movie varies from comic (a Jerry Springer clip) to violent (can we say missing limb?) to erotic (impromptu lap dance). Was Tony Scott on acid when he made this? The lighting is stark and there are a million flashbacks – some as far back as Domino's childhood – some as recent as two years ago. Domino has been soundly trashed by the critics, and I can see why. The story has some pretty absurd elements towards the end, but I also think the writing is very smart in other places. Domino can be described as all of the following: Action, Crime Drama, and Biopic. The movie was scattered and random as hell but I thought it was pretty kick ass and entertaining. It's a little sad that the real life Domino died about a month before the movie's release, but we do get to see her for a second at the very end. This movie was cool and different: violent, funny, provocative and a bit trashy. Knightley seemed to relish the role and it comes across on screen. The humanity of the character is never lost. Domino: sloppy mess but a fun ride.

Two For the Money

I'm not gonna spend a lot of time on this one. It was not good. It wasn't bad either...it was just blah. That's right, I said it. Despite having the incomparable Al Pacino (most recently of The Recruit) and fine-as-hell Matthew McConaughey (Sahara), it was NOT good. Throw in Jeremy Piven (Entourage) and Rene Russo (The Thomas Crown Affair) and you have the ingredients for what should shape up to be a pretty good movie, right? Wrong.

I don't know who wrote this crap but it sucked. It was just boring, and I'm a person that watched The Constant Gardener and A History of Violence, so I know I don't have a short attention span. This movie gave you nothing to care about or root for, even McConaughey. I don't think Pacino could give a bad performanc if he tried, but I just don't think he had enough to work with. Although Pacino is a legend and I could eat McConaughey with a spoon, I need a little bit more from the movie than having the privilege of watching these two breathe on screen. Here's the plot: McConaughey is Brandon Lang, a former star college quarterback who suffered a career-ending injury. Pacino is Walter Abrams, a man who runs an agency that advises its clients on sports betting. He brings Brandon into the fold as his new star, and he excels making accurate picks that bring in loads of dough. Of course, Brandon's luck runs out and he starts to lose. That's the crux of the story. So what. I'm done talking about this one. It didn't blow totally, but it definitely sucked a little bit.

A better movie about lies and greed: Boiler Room. A better movie about gambling: Rounders. I know it's hard to pass on Pacino, but skip this one. The cast was wasted.

Serenity

Sci-Fi movies are not really my thing...but this movie was pretty entertaining -- and not in a nerdy sort of way.

The only cast members I recognized were Chiwetel Ejiofor (Four Brothers) as the villain and that black girl that used to be on Alias -- Gina Torres. Anyhoo, the basic plot is that 500 years in the future Earth has been destroyed, leaving the mythical government/dictatorship, "The Alliance" to establish human life on various other planets. Human beings have been sanitized in the quest for a perfect, "sin-free" society. A young girl named River has psychic abilities, and The Alliance holds her captive, performing government-sanctioned experiments on her. She is trained to kill. Why, I don't know. Things like that aren't important in a movie like this. Soon, she is freed by her brother in a daring rescue. The rest of the movie centers on The Alliance's operative (Ejiofor) trying to get River back. She and her brother are passengers aboard the ship of Mal, some sort of intergalactic thief, and anti-hero (of course).

This movie was entertaining, containing all the basic elements of a watchable flick: action, mild violence (River single-handedly kicks the collective ass of an entire club full of people), and humor. There is enough of a plot to keep you mentally involved, and the cast is amusing and likeable. I don't really have any complaints...so check it out if you liked the following movies: Starship Troopers, any of the Star Wars movies (of course it's not as good). This movie has received very good reviews and is even ranked in the top 250 at imdb.com. Now it wasn't that damn good, but it was better than I expected.

A History of Violence

Whoa!……..When this movie was over I had a headache and I was speechless. Talk about a movie living up to its name! A History of Violence is R-A-W with a capital 'R.'

Viggo Mortensen (A Perfect Murder, Hidalgo) and Maria Bello (The Cooler, Coyote Ugly) are a happily married couple living in America's heartland. Their kids are cute and sweet as pie. Everyone knows everyone else by name in their sleepy town…a town that will be turned upside down in a random act of violence. Mortensen plays Tom Stall, the owner of a local diner bearing his name. One night, right before he is about to close up shop, two strangers enter. They request coffee…and then the horror begins. Events transpire that send our protagonist and anti-hero into a tailspin from which he and his adorable little family will never fully recover. I won't reveal any events that you cannot deduce from the commercials. Suffice to say that Tom saves his life and the lives of his customers from these monstrous drifters. He dispatches the villains with a ruthless, instinctive efficiency that belies a dark past and begs the question, Who is this guy? Former assassin? Ex-government hitman? It appears that Tom is not exactly who he claims to be. Enter Ed Harris (Radio) as a painful reminder from Tom's past who menaces his family and threatens to unravel the nice, neat little life that the Stalls have carved out for themselves. I think that's enough of a plot revelation to reel you in…

This movie was absolutely fascinating. It is NOT for the faint of heart. The violence is mind-blowing…never have I witnessed such a spectacle. The graphic footage never comes across as gratuitous or unnecessary, which is a testament to the quality of this movie. This is arguably the most violent movie I've ever seen, mainly because the violence is not stylized at all. Unlike the ultra-violent Kill Bill, or even Sin City, something about the brutality in A History of Violence seems all too real. It left me dumbfounded. I think a girl sitting a few seats down from me in the theater was actually crying.

Director David Cronenberg has painted a chilling and unnerving portrait of violence and a revealing look at the complexities of human nature in the face of psychological upheaval. Mortensen and Bello are nothing short of superb, particularly Mortensen as a man desperately trying to maintain his family-man façade. His character descends into darkness as bits and pieces of his former self are revealed. His once loving wife now wonders about the stranger sleeping next to her. We watch their marriage go from a passionate, vibrantly sexual union to a living hell, characterized by lies and mistrust. There is one scene between Bello and Mortensen that is too raw for words…think Monster's Ball (Berry and Thornton getting it on) or the 25th Hour when Monty asks Francis to "make him ugly" before he goes to jail. Get the idea now? Powerful shit, to say the least. If you can survive the following movies, you will be able to appreciate this one: American History X (cringe-provoking violence), Sleepers (uncomfortable themes involving children), Monster's Ball (raw but consensual sex). This movie was a real mind-f*ck. I needed a cigarette afterwards

Flightplan

First Red Eye, now Flightplan. I never knew flying could be so terrifying. Jodie Foster (Panic Room) returns to the silver screen as Kyle Pratt, lending her considerable talent to the story of a mother who loses a child on a flight from Berlin to NY. Suspenseful and harrowing, Flightplan was a satisfying movie experience. I see that this movie has been criticized by some...but I was sucked in from the beginning, due in large part to the fascinating premise. The audience can't help but be entranced from the start, because quite honestly, how in the hell can a woman lose her daughter on a plane? Where could she possibly be, and how come no other passenger remembers seeing her? Finding the answer to these seemingly simple questions is the driving force behind the movie, and it works. Like most flicks, Flightplan is not without its flaws. Namely, it makes NO sense that no other passengers remember seeing the kid, including two annoyingly nosey brats who are seated right in front of Kyle and her daughter. The other problem: a couple of red herrings. I know the director/screenwriter or whoever has to keep the audience guessing until near the end -- but spare me the cheap tricks please.

The aforementioned drawbacks are easy to accept when you have Jodie Foster and Peter Sarsgaard (The Skeleton Key) as part of the cast. Despite what you may have heard, Flightplan is hella good.

Roll Bounce

Malcom D. Lee (The Best Man) brings us "Roll Bounce," the tale of a group of young black kids coming of age in 1978, when apparently roller disco was all the rage. Starring Bow Wow (Like Mike), this movie is heartwarming and sweet, albeit a little disjointed.

Bow Wow stars as Xavier, aka "X", a young kid in Chicago. He spends his summer days at the local roller rink, but has to venture into new territory when that same neighborhood rink is closed down. He and his Southside crew must go to "Sweetwater's" if they want to skate: a rink located in a more affluent part of town. All of this is relatively insignificant. The point is: Bow Wow skates, faces off against the local playboy, romances Meagan Good, and comes to grips with the recent death of his mother. This movie is charming and cute. It's also cool to catch the 70s vibe, which I completely dig. My one complaint: some of the movie just comes across as shoddy. Some of the dialogue sounds forced and totally out of place. I'm going to venture a guess that 70's youth didn't use slang like "trippin'," nor did they refer to their area as "the hood." These colloquialisms are strictly 1990s at the earliest. Little missteps like this detract from the overall authenticity of the movie, which is a shame. The story also leaves a lot to be desired: it's rather corny. I'm not gonna beat this move up too badly, because all in all it's a cute little movie. I just wish it could have been more true to the era in which it took place.

G

G is a modern interpretation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic, The Great Gatsby. I read Gatsby in high school and remember liking it…but ask me if I can recite a word of it today.

Bearing this in mind, I'm not sure how true G is to its source material, so I will evaluate it on its own merits. The basic plot: Blair Underwood (Set it Off, LAX, L.A. Law) and Chenoa Maxwell (Hav Plenty, Girlfriends) star as Chip and Sky Hightower, a handsome black couple vacationing in the Hamptons. Chip is an inattentive philanderer who puts his wife on a pedestal. He discourages Sky's use of profanity, saying that she's too beautiful to use such language. Huh? Sky's cousin Tracy (Andre Royo of Shaft and The Wire), a writer, is in the Hamptons for a visit, and to interview Summer G (Richard T. Jones of The Wood and Kiss the Girls), a successful rapper and record company CEO. Summer has recently purchased a vacation home near the Hightowers. Here's the kicker/conflict: Summer and Sky go back like babies and pacifiers. Sky used to be Summer's girl back in college, before she was "stolen" by Chip. That's the basic gist of the movie.

This movie is difficult to describe…overall I enjoyed it, but I also could not ignore little implausible details and silly side stories that yielded no fulfilling payoff. Certain things happened as a matter of convenience to move the story along, which detracted from the movie. Director Chris Scott Cherot (Hav Plenty) also relies on the audience's common sense instead of taking the time to reveal and explore important details. I'm not sure what the budget was for this movie, but I read on its website that they shot it in a few weeks. Perhaps haste is the reason for some of the contrived situations in the movie. Regarding the players, Blair Underwood is always very capable and he did not disappoint. I haven't seen him play a snake since Just Cause with Sean Connery, and he was quite loathsome in G. Chenoa Maxwell was okay…some things she did well (subtle facial tics and expression changes) and some things not so well (cutesy delivery of questionable dialogue). Richard T. Jones was alluring as Summer and was the perfect contrast to Underwood. Andre Royo did a fine job as well. He usually functions as a character actor but showed some talent here. G is very slick and polished, clean and nice to look at it with its attractive cast and inviting setting, but I was left wanting more. I felt like the movie had so much untapped potential. Why did Sky vacillate so much between Chip and Summer? Especially when Chip was such a dog? Yes, we know it's difficult to just walk out on a marriage, but I needed to see more of a basis for Sky's inconsistent behavior. I'd like to see Cherot get more opportunities as a writer and director, and hopefully he will improve.

Random Rant/Pop Quiz: What killed the victims of Hurricane Katrina?

A. Water, they drowned
B. Lack of food/water in the aftermath, they starved
C. Red tape, they were strangled by it
D. All of the above


ANSWER: Do I really need to tell you?

The Constant Gardener

This is a dramatic political thriller with a few love story elements as well. It is the love aspect that is prevalent in the commercials, and that is what made me hesitant about viewing this film. I don't particularly enjoy love stories. As I began to hear that this movie was suspenseful, I reconsidered.

Starring Ralph Fiennes (Maid in Manhattan) and Rachel Weisz (Constantine), The Constant Gardener unfolds against an African setting. Filmed in stark colors, Gardener is visually arresting-both for its insight into African culture and its gifted cast. The story begins with Justin (Fiennes) and Tessa Quayle (Weisz) preparing for Tessa to depart for Nairobi(?) with Justin to join her later. Before he is able to join Tessa, Justin learns that she was murdered, along with her doctor and friend Arnold Bluhm (Hubert Kounde'). Almost instantly we are made aware that there is a surreptitious reason for Tessa's death. The intricacies of her marriage to Justin are revealed though flashback, and we see that Tessa kept many secrets from her husband: from her relationship with the good Dr. Bluhm (merely friends or more?) to her everyday activities.

Fiennes and Weisz give amazing performances, especially Fiennes as the grieving and indulgent husband. His character is sensitive, almost to the point of being weak. We rarely see flashes of anger, even as various people admit to different roles in his wife's murder. Weisz is the passionate wife, ardent in her humanitarian goals and uncaring about the corporate feathers she ruffles in Africa. This film is layered and interesting, definitely not for everyone, but worth checking out. If you enjoyed these movies, maybe you will like The Constant Gardener: The Interpreter, Frantic, Three Days of the Condor.

KANYE WEST: LATE REGISTRATION

Please do yourself a huge favor and purchase the sickest hip hop album of the year. West narrowly edges Common to take the crown for best of '05.

Heard 'Em Say featuring Adam Levine of Maroon 5
This is a sweet beginning to the album. Kanye waxes humble about his success, saying "Nothing's ever promised tomorrow today." He reminds us why we love him: he's equal parts asshole and wide-eyed nice guy.

Touch the Sky featuring Lupe Fiasco
This song is triumphant, featuring a prominent horn sample, courtesy of Curtis Mayfield's "Move on Up." Kanye raps about his success, saying that he's "sky high." When we hear about from whence he came, we can't be mad at him for bragging about where he is now. At least he remembers how it all began.

Gold Digger featuring Jamie Foxx
You've heard this one. Kanye laments the bane of a rapper's existence. Jamie Foxx channels Ray Charles on the hook. The subtext is that black women stick with a black man's broke ass until they get famous, then the man turns around and "leaves her ass for a white girl." Speak on it Kanye!

Drive Slow featuring Paul Wall and GLC
This one is rather unremarkable but it's cool. West does a little something for the dirty dirty. Paul Wall lends a verse and the end of the song is "chopped and screwed."

My Way Home featuring Common
Kanye lets Common get a track to himself. The beat is steady, a continuous loop of Gill Scott-Heron's "Home Is Where The Hatred Is." Common is his usual poignant and political self.

Crack Music featuring Game
This is the best, most powerful track. Kanye analogizes crack and rap music: both addictive, both used as a means of financial escape by its purveyors, and both are craved by the masses…well not quite. I've never done crack, have you? Anyway, this beat kicks ass and just stirred something in my soul. West raps about Bush and Reagan and how crack destroyed the black community, then asks God how He could let this happen. This song is very moving. Kanye stylistically departs from his first album by beginning some songs in a certain rhythm, then morphing the song into a new and distinct beat at its conclusion: I like it. If you don't like "Crack Music," you must be on crack yourself.

Roses
When rappers allow themselves to be introspective, the payoff is usually good. Nas and Jay-Z (in his later work) come to mind. Here Kanye raps about his grandmother and how he and his extended family feared for her life after a medical emergency placed her in the hospital. He paints a vivid image, and one can almost picture the scene. He says that he and his family are the roses. Interesting metaphor.

Bring Me Down featuring Brandy
As I said previously, this album is nearly flawless. So, this song is good---but Brandy annoys me sometimes, so I skip it when it comes on. Kanye raps about haters, and he has a lot of them. Moving on. Next!

Addiction
This track features Kanye's trademark sped up drum sample. He raps about those things that conflict him, stating "Why everything that's bad for me makes me feel so good?" I hear you brother. I would elaborate more, but my family reads this page and I've already said too much.

Diamonds from Sierra Leone(remix) featuring Jay-Z
Balance. I can tolerate rappers talking about the overdone topics of gold diggers and haters if they throw me a bone every now and then that makes me think. Here Kanye raps about "blood diamonds," or "conflict" diamonds, and how people crave these beautiful stones that literally costs people life and limb in Sierra Leone.

We Major featuring Nas and Really Doe
This song is a mess. I was particularly disappointed in Nas, I expected so much more. Believe it or not, his verse is weak and he only has one good line. The beat is good, although it too is all over the place. Perhaps it confused Nas and that’s why he couldn't bring his A-game. Kanye is alright. Really Doe—who the hell is that? I don't care enough to find out.

Hey Mama
An ode to Mama. It's so sweet! I'm a Mama's girl, so I like it. I can't picture the local hard ass driving around blasting this one through the speakers, but you know you like it!!

Celebration
This one is unremarkable. It's cool, though. Kanye raps about getting in some girl's pants and partying: not exactly profound.

Gone featuring Cam'ron and Consequence
Nice Otis Redding sample and West and Cam'ron switch up their vocals to match the fast tempo. Prominent keys enhance the beat: thumbs up.

Bonus track: We Can Make it Better
This is a good one. It probably sounds good under the influence. Not that I would know, Mom! Kanye effectively captures the college experience, even though he dropped out. We get tired of hearing songs with drug references and misogynist lyrics, kudos to 'Ye.

To sum it up, this CD is great. Kanye challenges himself musically and steps out on a limb with co-producer Jon Brion (he's done stuff for Portishead) who had never produced a hip hop song prior to Late Registration. The production is stellar, and this album is the most creative since Outkast's last project. I know, I know that sounds extreme but it's true. Think about the music that has come out since Speakerboxx/The Love Below. It's been good (Nas, Game, Common, Jay-Z) but truly creative? Nah. Common is the shit, don't get me wrong: but Kanye has got it with this one. It's a masterpiece and in the words of Nikki Giovanni, "it's so hip even its errors are correct."

Red Eye

Red Eye is like having only one bite of your all-time favorite dessert: good but ultimately unsatisfying. The "master of horror" Wes Craven (who can forget A Nightmare on Elm Street?) brings us a psychopath on an airplane, and believe me: this guy's name isn't on any government terrorist list.

Starring Rachel McAdams (The Wedding Crashers) and Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins), Red Eye takes place in the not-so-friendly skies. McAdams plays Lisa Reisert, the manager of a Miami hotel returning home after her grandmother's funeral. While in the airport she has a "chance" meeting with Murphy's character, Jackson Rippner. Can you imagine? A psycho named Jack Rippner? Oh yeah, at this point Lisa doesn't know Jack's a psycho. He seems like a friendly stranger. They share a drink while they wait to board their delayed flight. Once the two strangers happen to be seated next to each other on the flight, the fun begins. Turns out Jack has a little assasination to carry out. One of the guests at Lisa's hotel, a political bigwig, must be taken out. Jack needs Lisa's assistance. If she fails to cooperate, Grandma won't be the only relative needing a funeral: she can kiss dear old Dad goodbye. That's the premise of the movie, and I think it's a good one. Here's my problem: The movie has excellent, taut pacing but ends too quickly. The resolution, although an intelligent one, is all too neat and comes too soon. The only thing missing is a cherry on top or a big red bow. 85 minutes! That's short by movie standards, or at least it is to me. The movie spends too much time in the beginning trying to make the audience fall in love with McAdams. OK, we get it: she's cute, lovable....blah blah blah. Move on. The writer didn't need to spend so much background time on Lisa. I always point out the implausible, and I'll just say this: Jack is a sorry ass assassin. I won't reveal anymore, see for yourself. Some positives: Red Eye is VERY smartly written. McAdams and Murphy also make the most of their roles: she as plucky, resourceful heroine--he as twisted but inept villain. Murphy seems to have quite the knack for playing the meanie. This makes his second badguy role of the summer, and it suits him. He looks scary as fu*k, in my opinion. He has the most amazing/ugly/pretty/scary clear blue eyes. They look unreal and hella creepy. Like a teensy weensy bite of your fave dessert, Red Eye is good while it lasts but after it's done you feel a little empty and wish you had more.

Four Brothers

A man's movie. Chicks will dig it too. Director John Singleton (Baby Boy, Boyz n The Hood, 2 Fast 2 Furious) doesn't disappoint. Whoever said that revenge was a dish best served cold never met the Mercer boys. The tagline for this flick reads, "They came home to bury mom... and her killer." Hellz yeah, kick ass and take names!! And let me tell you, there is plenty of ass to be kicked when four adopted brothers return home to Detroit after their mother is ruthlessly gunned down in a convenience store robbery.

I have so much to say about this movie I don't know where or how to start. Mark Wahlberg (The Italian Job), Tyrese Gibson (Baby Boy), Andre' Benjamin aka Andre 3000 (1/2 of rap duo Outkast and most recently featured in Be Cool), and Garrett Hedlund (Troy) are a ragtag band of brothers, united by their troubled childhood and the unyielding love of their foster mother, Evelyn Mercer. Wahlberg as "Bobby" is the unofficial leader and the hothead of the bunch. He's followed closely in machismo by Gibson as "Angel." Andre' 3000 as "Jeremiah" is the most level-headed and stable of the group, serving as the lone voice of reason as the Mercers unleash the fury. Rounding out the foursome is Hedlund as "Jack," the youngest and most sensitive. I don't want to paint a picture of the brothers as bloodthirsty and mean…quite the opposite. They are suffering the loss of their mother (neighborhood sweetie pie and all around good lady) and quickly realize that her death was not random at all. Particularly poignant is the aftermath of her funeral, when the brothers attempt to have Thanksgiving dinner without their mother. They each stare wistfully at her now-empty chair and reminisce about the loving way in which she guided them. These four actors had great chemistry together and really conveyed a sense of family, despite the fact that 2 are Black and 2 are White. It doesn't matter. Wahlberg particularly is the perfect blend of swaggering, roguish masculinity and sensitivity. I think all of the performances were strong. However, the movie is not without its flaws. Detroit is depicted as the Wild Wild West…and I can dig that the neighborhood is rough as hell, but are we supposed to believe that the Mercer boys are kickin' ass all over town and the cops aren't getting involved any quicker?

Powered by a '70s era soundtrack, Four Brothers has a no-nonsense throwback vibe. It's also interesting to see how the brothers piece together the motive for their mama's murder. There's one scene in the movie…man you gotta see it! The tension/fear/adrenaline are completely palpable. We want these boys to win. Also featured are Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dirty Pretty Things). Payback's a bitch!

The Skeleton Key

I'm getting old. I just don't have it in me anymore. I used to be able to go see creepy movies and enjoy them. Now…I'm literally on the edge of my seat, cringing from the screen. Don't get me wrong, I still love a good scare – but sometimes I don’t know if my heart can take it! The suspense of The Skeleton Key absolutely killed me. I don't know if that's a testament to how good the movie is or a reflection of how soft I've become. While watching, I had to remind myself that the movie is PG-13, so how scary could it be? Enough rambling, let me tell you what the movie is about.
Kate Hudson (Almost Famous, How to Lose A Guy In 10 Days) stars as Caroline, an aspiring nurse who accepts a position as live-in caretaker for a dying elderly man, deep in the Louisiana bayou. I found myself resisting the urge to yell out, "Stop! Don't go in there!" Unless you were born yesterday, you know that in order for spooky movies like Skeleton to chug along, our heroine must be doggedly curious and meddlesome – just like those rascally Scooby Doo kids. So when we see Caroline persistently poking around in the attic despite being warned not to do so, we have to just sit back and accept this plot device for what it is: a means to an end. Caroline was hired by the old man's wife to care for him after a stroke. She's the third or fourth caregiver to quit: shouldn't that clue her in to something? The man's wife claims he had a stroke, but Caroline grows suspicious as she learns the history of the house. Let's just say the previous inhabitants met with a rather unfortunate demise. I don't want to give away too much, but there are references to voodoo, hoodoo, spirits and the like. Unsettling and atmospheric, The Skeleton Key begins strong, dips into absurdity, and then finishes with a bang. Overall, pretty good. I would say more, but I'm not gonna spoil it for you. I applaud the filmmakers for attempting an original ending. I think movies can be saved or ruined in the last 10 minutes, and this one went out on a high note.

The Island

Send in the clones. This movie was cool as $hit to me. Featuring "it girl" Scarlett Jo (Lost In Translation) and charming Ewan McGregor (Revenge of the Sith), The Island takes place in the not-so-distant year of 2019. McGregor and Johansson are two "humans" living amongst others in a sort of pristine bio-dome type of place. The world as we know it ended years ago, and McGregor and Johansson are two survivors of the great contamination that ended human civilization...or so they think! Turns out they're clones (I'm not giving away anything here-you can glean as much from the trailer) of real people. As we learned in movies such as A.I., clones/robots have feelings too! The truth doesn't sit to well with our heroes once they discover it, and we watch them flee for their carbon-copied lives. They run. And they run some more. The movie tends to drag towards the end, peppered with a few explosions for those who missed their morning testosterone milkshake. Also featured are Djimon Honsou (Amistad, Gladiator) and Steve Buscemi (most notably of Reservoir Dogs). A few script details don't quite add up. For example, the clones are prohibited from having sex, yet some of the females are pregnant. I guess the powers-that-be are in no short supply of turkey basters, I dunno. Aside from the pacing and a few plot holes, I think it was pretty good though it begins better than it ends.

Hustle & Flow

Inspired by a pimp? Yes, I was. You will be too. I read somewhere that everyone can relate to this movie, I don't know how true that is, but on my way out of the showing I saw a 90-ish looking white lady exiting the theater. 'Nuff said!

Hustle & Flow weaves the tale of D-Jay, a Memphis pimp trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cents. Starring Terrence Howard (Crash, The Best Man) in another stirring performance, Hustle is gritty and inspiring throughout. D-Jay has a stable of hoes, two of which bring in money. His right-hand girl is the young, white "innocent" Nola. D-Jay is getting along in age and feels life slipping away as he realizes that he can't hustle forever (he sells weed along with women). He and the girls live in a dilapidated home and earning money is a struggle. When a chance encounter at a store reunites D-Jay with childhood friend "Key" (Anthony Anderson in a serious role), opportunity knocks. Key has the means to produce some tracks for D-Jay, who is encouraged to revive his never-realized rap dreams. Howard brings a plaintive sympathy to his role as pimp. Though his language is salty, he is rarely violent, and we see the unique and caring relationship he has with all the girls. However, he's still a pimp, let's call a spade a spade. He proffers women for sex and there's nothing glamorous about that. Particularly moving is a scene where he and Nola clash after he offers her services to a merchant in order to get a new microphone. At this moment we are reminded of the vileness of the trade. The most powerful thread running through the movie, and the one that I related to most was: The desire to be greater than what you are at this very moment. Sometimes you find yourself stuck in a rut and ask yourself: "Is this what I'm here for? Is this all there is?" I felt that, and you can see that every character in the movie is reaching for something to pull themselves out of their existence...D-Jay is that hope. The movie has a sweaty, dirty, sticky, hot quality, creating an oppresive urgency. Does D-Jay make it? Find out at at your local theater.

Wedding Crashers

Yooooo...this movie was hilarious! One word: sick! Too funny, the dude Vince Vaughn is crazy. If you didn't know, the movie stars Vaughn and Owen Wilson as two sleazebags who crash weddings to score with women. Tacky right? The pair actually wind up endearing themselves to you by the time the movie's over...even though they're despicable we love it. Wilson falls for the daughter (Rachel McAdams of Mean Girls and The Notebook) of a wealthy politician (Christopher Walken) when he crashes her sister's wedding. The comedy gets a little low brow at times, but I'd liken it to the humor found in Something About Mary. Wilson and Vaughn had good comedic interaction and look for Will Ferrell in an outrageous cameo. The movie is a little predictable, because you know this terrible duo will get their comeuppance, then win the girl in the end. It was good to actually see an R-rated comedy, too -- for a change. Leave the kiddies at home for this one. Maybe the funniest of the summer.

Rize

This joint was good but I will preface my review with the following caveat: You have to actually be interested in the subject matter before you go see this movie. It's a documentary, so it is what it is: kids from the hood dancing. For like 80 minutes. I went with a friend and probably wouldn't have gone to see this flick independently. I just wasn't sure I wanted to watch them dance the whole time, and I was skeptical about whether or not "krumping" is worthy of a film. Krumping is the name given to the frenetic dancing featured in the movie. The movie was directed by David La Chapelle, who is renowned for a bunch of stuff, I guess -- but I recognize his name from directing videos. Anyway, this art form basically saves the lives of the people who do it by serving as an alternative to gang banging and other hood activities which spell the downfall for so many black youth. So, props to La Chapelle for showcasing it. And the dancing was off the hook, why can't I shake my ass like that? By the way, don't try to practice "krumping" when you get home like I did. You'll probably look like an a$$hole.


Mr. & Mrs. Smith
By now you've probably seen this movie if you're inclined to do so. I thought it was good. You have to check your brain at the door, but I mean really -- is that a problem? LOL. If you want an intellectual movie-going experience, check out the Crash review below. Back to the topic at hand. Pitt and Jolie do their thing as a married pair of assassins, assigned the task of killing each other. The first half of the movie may seem plodding to some, but it shows how a marriage can deteriorate into a mundane routine. The ending is totally implausible, but you have fun getting there. Arguably the best scene in the movie is a knock-down (literally) drag out fight between the two leads. I hate when women and men fight in the movies, and the viewer is really expected to believe that some chick is kicking a guy's ass...but Jolie actually pulls it off and the two actors seem to be having fun doing it. The fight winds up serving as foreplay as the two make up the old-fashioned way. 2 pretty people kickin' ass and blowin' stuff up? Works for me.


Crash
These movie reviews aren't exactly hot-off-the press, so again--if you really wanted to see Crash you probably would have done so by now...if not SHAME ON YOU! This is the hands-down best movie of the year. Some people thought it was heavy-handed, but I thought it was dead on. I've even heard that some moviegoers felt compelled to walk out...can't handle the truth!!! The movie is in the vein of other intersecting lives/ensemble movies like Magnolia, 21 Grams etc. The cast is stellar and the acting superb. Expect nothing less from the likes of Don Cheadle, Thandie Newton, Terrence Howard and Larenz Tate. Howard and Tate are pretty underrated outside of the black community, but take my word for it, these guys are some powerful actors. Howard's reputation may get a boost from the upcoming Hustle & Flow, stay tuned. Anyhoo, Crash examines contemporary racism in L.A. It was written by Paul Haggis, the man who penned Million Dollar Baby--and like Million Dollar Baby, Crash gets under your skin and settles there long after you've left the theater. Just when you've decided that you absolutely detest a character they go and do something that flips your whole perspective. When you decide that you've finally found a character with some redeeming qualities, an event happens that ruins even that! This is an Oscar-worthy flick that should not be overlooked. Check it out.

Batman Begins
I'll keep this one short. This movie is worth checking out, as it explores the darker side of the Caped Crusader and shows the psychological demons that shape his existence. We know that Bruce Wayne's parents are killed in front of him as a child. The movie accurately depicts a child's guilt and despair, and we can see how witnessing this tragic event stays with Bruce essentially forever. Christian Bale stars as Batman, and does an excellent job. He's dark and tormented and looks good without a shirt. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine are always effective, and they bring a level of dignity and refinement to any role. Katie Holmes? Umm, wasn't really feelin' her. Any actress could've played the role, it really wasn't a big deal. Her character is a lawyer in the D.A.'s office and a childhood friend of Bruce. Big whoop. The villains are particular creepy as well. Overall a good movie -- not comparable to Spiderman, but not bad either.