Chick 2 says:

Director Danny Boyle definitely has a style about his movies (Trainspotting, Millions, the Beach), and I always enjoy the way he likes to push barriers.  Sunshine is a film that brings up philosophical questions about creation, natural selection, and preservation of life in a sci-fi setting.  Eight astronauts are on their way to a dying sun carrying a nuclear bomb with which they hope to restart it, the second mission following a mysteriously failed first attempt.  The closer we get to the end the further off the deep end this film steps, not quite to the extreme of 2001: A Space Odyssey.  (As far as landmark films go, I get Citizen Kane; I don’t get 2001.)  Perhaps some needed exposition was cut from the beginning of the story in order to quicken a still slow start, but the hand-held close-ups of the actors during the climax only adds to the confusion.  “Is he trying to get away or running to his death?”  It was hard to tell.  In the end you realize that this movie is actually “pro global-warming” – apparently death by solar fire is beautiful and pleasurable.  The cinematography is very stylistic, gorgeous, and just plain cool, as were the CGI effects.  There are also good performances by the cast and it’s nice to see Cillian Murphy, who I think is a decent actor, in a good guy role.

IF you like stylish, weird, philosophical, and not entirely lucid, THEN GO (rent it).

Chick 2 says:

If 1+1+1=3, then in movie math Leonardo DiCaprio + Russell Crowe + Ridley Scott should = great film.  But Body of Lies just doesn’t quite add up.  It is well acted, at times intense, and there’s nothing wrong with the direction or the cinematography, but it is not packing a punch.  Crowe’s character is in charge of CIA Intelligence in the Middle East and DiCaprio plays his man on the ground in Jordan.  Crowe, who is generally watching the action unfold via satellite sitting inside Langley, only knows his bottom line in the goal to get intel and hopefully apprehend the world’s most wanted terrorists, while DiCaprio is in the middle of the fray and the culture witnessing first hand the personal collateral damage that is brought about on the way to the bottom line.  While I would now watch a movie about paint drying if Leo was in it, and I consider Crowe one of the best actors of our time, it has to be the script that falls short this time.  The movie seems long, the intrigue expected, and though there is the required near-death experience, there is no unexpected climax.  However, the fact that what takes place in this movie must happen every single day in that real world makes you ponder things for a quite a while after you leave the theater.  It does make an impression.

IF you don’t mind that 1+1+1= 2.5, THEN GO.

Chick 2 says:

Hoping for something a little more historical or, in these times, political, or even something as different as Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, The Duchess was somewhat disappointing.  Based on the true story and adapted from the Amanda Foreman novel Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire, the story quickly dissipates into soap opera love stories rather than epic romances. At her first dinner party engagement the Duchess voices her political views and gives hope for a more intelligent and meaningful movie, but just as abruptly as the Duke leaves the table apparently bored with political rhetoric, the script leaves behind depth and underlying story.   Kiera Knightly gives yet another impressive performance, and Dominic Cooper is proving that he could quickly rise to the same ranks.  Ralph Fiennes can always make you love him or hate him and gives another stellar performance as the Duke of Devonshire.  With such extravagant sets, wardrobe, and actors I would have thought that the script, camera work, and continuity would have been better, but good acting goes a long way.  As the love triangles unfold, it just makes a girl thankful not to be married into royalty, especially in the 1700’s.

IF you are looking for yet another period piece about adultery and bearing a male heir with talented actors doing their thing, THEN GO.

Chick 2 says:

In the refreshing generation of movies like Juno, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is good, but not great.  Two high schoolers dealing with the usual heartache of the teenage years find what they are looking for in each other during one night of trying to prove who they are to the rest of their teenage world.  Michael Cera is as endearing as ever, immediately likeable, and plays confident nerd superbly.  Up-and-comer Kat Dennings is all at once vulnerable and strong and delivers her down to earth but quippy lines with relatability.  While music is a definite factor, it doesn’t play as big of a character in the movie as much as I would have hoped given the title.  I did however pick up a few possibilities for my iPod.  The supporting cast also adds something to the layers, including drunk friend Ari Graynor and always fun Aaron Yoo.

IF you’re satisfied with clever lines, new actors on the scene, and the latest version of John Hughes teen-angst, THEN GO.