POINT BREAK

Okay, this one is a guilty pleasure of mine, so much so that I actually “on-demanded” it the other day to watch it for to 50th time. Look, the movie’s no Oscar winner, but it’s pure action, pure adrenaline and pure Keanu (“I can’t describe what I’m feeling right now”…we know, Keanu). If you like any of those three elements, you’ll enjoy the film. I happen to like all three. I don’t expect many people to dig this film the way I do, but I think it can still be appreciated for it’s pure entertainment value. Car chases, foot chases, great surfing shots, bank robberies, skydiving (parachutes optional)…what the hell else do you need? Plus, there are some classic Busey moments. In fact, one can’t help but wonder if Busey’s character in Big Wednesday quit surfing, joined the FBI and became the washed up old agent that partners up with Utah. Hey, it was his idea that the ex-presidents were surfers after all! Kathryn Bigelow (director of the recently released Hurt Locker) does a great job making an otherwise terribly cheesy B movie with mega stars into something great (well, maybe not GREAT, but great). Patrick Swayze also turns in a solid performance as Keanu’s surfer guru and eventual nemesis. The movie is old school, but to me it is a classic that can never be overlooked. It is best viewed late night in the summer on any cable channel to remind you of the times you watched it over and over again when you were thirteen. “Utah! Git me two!”

MOON

Fly me to the moon, and let me play amongst the stars…Moon is good, not great, good. I saw it last week with a buddy at the Angelika in Dallas. Had never been there before, but it seemed like the movie theater that “the cool movie kids” go to. That’s beside the point. Moon has everything that movie aficionados and indie freaks are looking for: top quality acting, solid skilled directing, and it's particularly well written. It even throws in a little action here and there to keep it exciting. I truly believe that this movie is best viewed with absolutely no information about the plot or characters, so I’ll limit the review to just my own personal opinions about the film’s attributes. Rockwell and Spacey give terrific performances. I would not be surprised to see accolades coming both their ways next winter. The directing is also top notch; the shots are well composed and every frame is kept interesting despite the limited nature of the environment (it all takes place on the dark side of the moon, okay, sorry, that’s all I’ll say about the story). But where this movie really succeeds is in the writing. The story moves at just the right pace to keep you interested, while revealing just enough to keep the plot going. Moreover, the character development is superb. Throughout the film, you get the feeling that you are seeing every single personality and emotional aspect of Rockwell’s character, exhibited in the most intriguing way (you’ll have to watch it to understand what I’m saying). Spacey’s portrayal of Gerty, Rockwell’s computer system and moon bound companion (I know, I know, that’s all I’ll say), gives off an eerie sense of compassion that no machine should ever possess. I’ve already read and heard too many comparison’s to 2001’s (and 2010’s) HAL, so I’ll avoid that cliché, but that doesn’t make it not true. All in all, I would recommend this as a date movie, believe it or not. It’s interesting and intellectual and evokes a lot of emotion. Both you and you’re sweetie will be nice and entertained and have plenty to talk about once the projector rolls out.