Mooney at the Movies: Eagle Eye

Eagle Eye (B)

Starring Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Anthony Mackie, Ethan Embry
Story by Dan McDermott
Screenplay by John Glenn & Travis Adam Wright and Hillary Seitz and Dan McDermott
Directed by DJ Caruso

Read the full review here.

Photo courtesy DreamWorks

Mooney at the Movies: Choke

Choke (C-)

Starring Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly MacDonald, Brad William Henke, Clark Gregg
Written and directed by Clark Gregg
Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk

Read the full review here.

Photo courtesy Fox Searchlight.

Mooney at the Movies: Ghost Town

Ghost Town (B+)

Starring Ricky Gervais, Téa Leoni, Greg Kinnear, Kristen Wiig, Aasif Mandvi
Written by David Koepp & John Camps
Directed by David Koepp


Ghost Town is the most pleasant surprise of 2008.

What could have been a painfully unfunny and misguided vehicle from the seriously hilarious Ricky Gervais is actually a pleasant romantic comedy that makes up for its trips into cliché with consistently sharp, chuckle-inducing jokes and impeccable timing.

And the person most responsible for this movie's success is Gervais himself. Yes, the master of sarcasm is up to his old tricks again as Bertram Pincus, D.D.S., a character as awkward as his name. His people skills leave something to be desired, as he avoids contact with the living as much as possible. (His reasonings are later explained, but not as fully as I would've liked. But hey, this isn't supposed to be As Good as it Gets.)

So imagine his surprise--and irritation--when, after his death and resurrection on the operating table, he can, like little Haley Joel Osment, see dead people. And he's gotta help them. Just like little Haley Joel Osment.

Yes, Ghost Town cribs a LOT from Sixth Sense, but this ain't no horror show. This one's strictly for the laughs. And there are plenty.

Anyone who's seen the original Office knows Gervais elicits laughs like few other sitcom actors. And his first big exposure to U.S. audiences (which makes it even sadder that Ghost Town bombed opening weekend) will win over lots of loyal fans. Not only does he shine in his showdowns with his nurse (Audrie Neenan), his surgeon (Kristen Wiig, again proving she's better than SNL), and the otherworldly thorn in his side Frank (Greg Kinnear, gliding through this role with the greatest of ease), he's also got outstanding chemistry with his neighbor Gwen (Téa Leoni, one of the most shamefully underutilized actresses in Hollywood).

Though their relationship starts out frosty, they grow closer as Pincus tries to fulfill the bargain Frank struck with him: break up Gwen's upcoming wedding, and the ghosts are gone for good.

And of course we all know what's coming next. Fortunately Ghost Town remains razor-sharp and hilarious throughout, and it's easy to forgive a movie this joyous for its occasional trips into cliché.

The one piece of good news about Ghost Town's poor box office performance is that soon and very soon audiences will be able to catch up with this gem on DVD. But it's worth catching anywhere. This is the year's best date movie.

Photo courtesy DreamWorks/Paramount

Week in Review (09-12-08)

This is a new feature on the blog. Kind of a rundown of what's gone on this week in pop culture and what I thought about it:

SUNDAY
Brady out for the season
For those of us who still think he's a douchebag, this is sweet justice. Sort of.

MONDAY
Russell Brand/VMAs backlash
How can someone so funny here, be so horrendously unfunny at the awards? We may never know. Personally, I have no problems picking on the Jonas Brothers. But go after them for being talentless, not abstinent. And even though I didn't watch the whole thing, I got enough of it to know it was simply two hours of pro-Britney propaganda.

Michael Caine misleads the public about 'Dark Knight' sequel casting
If Nolan isn't signed, no one else is. Geez. All the rumors just need to die.


TUESDAY
New iPod Nanos released
I want one. Period.


'Disturbia' getting sued
Really? Shouldn't this have been done last year? When the film came out? Before it made lots of money? Oh right, no one ever sues anyone who has no money.

WEDNESDAY
Kanye releases "Love Lockdown" on his blog
New direction or not, this is just dreadful. The Auto-Tune is not your friend, Kanye. You don't know how mad this makes me. You're better than Akon, T-Pain, and Sean Kingston. What are you DOING?!

THURSDAY
Kanye arrested
Sure he's got an ego, but everyone at TMZ is a jerk. So I guess I'll side with someone who does something for a living?


Liberace biopic planned
Who asked for this? Was it you? Was it Michael Douglas? If they do this, they better mention that awesome 'Batman' two-parter where he plays a pianist who seduces the women of Gotham (snicker) AND his evil twin brother Harry (guffaw).



FRIDAY
'The Women' remake released
Why why why? You just don't mess with a classic, holmes.

My McConaughey interview runs
Produceorial duties are tough, man.

SATURDAY
I discover kitchenpundit.com
My life is complete

The Lookout: Fall Movie Preview 2008

This summer was pretty mixed. But things will hopefully change this fall (at the moviehouse and the White House) with loads of Oscar contenders and smart entertainment. Here are the 30 movies to get excited about. All release dates subject to change. Photos courtesy Rotten Tomatoes and the respective studios, except where noted. Any possible copyright infringement is strictly unintentional.

SEPT. 12
Burn After Reading (Focus)
STARRING: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins
DIRECTED BY: Joel & Ethan Coen
THE SKINNY: Hot off their Oscar win for No Country for Old Men, the Brothers return to quirky comedy with this farce about two idiotic gym employees who try to blackmail an ex-CIA analyst.

SEPT. 17
Appaloosa (Warner Bros.)
STARRING: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger, Jeremy Irons
DIRECTED BY: Harris
THE SKINNY: After last year's bleak Western 3:10 to Yuma, this looks like another successful addition to the canon, but I don't think anyone will call it "crowd-pleasing."

SEPT. 26
Miracle at St. Anna (Touchstone)
STARRING: Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Turturro
DIRECTED BY: Spike Lee
THE SKINNY: A Spike Lee Joint is always worth seeing, but his filmography can be divided into two subgenres: deep insights on racism in America and straight-up, dern-good entertaining flicks. This looks to be a good mix of the two.

Eagle Eye (DreamWorks)
STARRING: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monahan, Rosario Dawson, Billy Bob Thornton
DIRECTED BY: DJ Caruso
THE SKINNY: Caruso and LaBeouf seem to be on a roll here, with Disturbia (lawsuit notwithstanding) and the upcoming Y: The Last Man. This high-tech thriller looks like a great throwback to '70s paranoia films. Check out this creepy but effective viral site.

OCT. 3
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (Sony)
STARRING: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings
DIRECTED BY: Peter Sollett
THE SKINNY: Based on the funny and heartfelt novel, this hipster-friendly tale of a night of passion between two music lovers and their crazy night in New York.

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (MGM)
STARRING: Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Danny Huston, Jeff Bridges
DIRECTED BY: Robert B. Weide
THE SKINNY: Another transfer of novel-to-screen, this black comedy features Simon Pegg (who proved earlier this year that he can hold his own without Nick Frost) as a journalist who constantly puts his foot in his mouth. (Photo courtesy Collider.com)

An American Carol (Vivendi)
STARRING: Kevin P. Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Leslie Nielsen
DIRECTED BY: David Zucker
THE SKINNY: It might be a mess, but for now this looks like a swift upper-cut to the far left. Farley (yes, Chris Farley's brother) plays a documentary filmmaker who learns the true meaning of the Fourth of July. (Photo courtesy Vivendi Entertainment)

OCT. 10
Body of Lies (Warner Bros.)
STARRING: Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio
DIRECTED BY: Ridley Scott
THE SKINNY: Based on the novel from Washington Post writer David Ignatius, this timely action pic features two of the hardest working actors in the biz as spies, one of which (DiCaprio) goes rogue.

RocknRolla (Warner Bros.)
STARRING: Gerard Butler, Idris Elba, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton
DIRECTED BY: Guy Ritchie
THE SKINNY: With this return to form (we're talking quickly-edited, foul-mouthed British gangster movies here), Ritchie can almost (almost) be forgiven for Swept Away.

City of Ember (Fox/Walden)
STARRING: Saoirse Ronan, Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Toby Jones
DIRECTED BY: Gil Kenan
THE SKINNY: After creating the phenomenal Monster House, Gil Kenan's first foray into live action looks like (finally) an adaptation of a kids novel that will appeal to both kids and adults, and features a timely plot point about the energy crisis.

OCT. 17
W. (Lionsgate)
STARRING: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Richard Dreyfuss, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Ioan Gruffudd, Scott Glenn, James Cromwell, Ellen Burstyn
DIRECTED BY: Oliver Stone
THE SKINNY: It's sure to be unbiased (not), but at least someone is taking a shot at making a movie about one of the most controversial presidents ever. And just look at that cast...

Max Payne (Fox)
STARRING: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Ludacris, Beau Bridges
DIRECTED BY: John Moore
THE SKINNY: There has never been a good live-action video game adaptation. Ever. But this could be a start. We'll just have to wait and see...

What Just Happened? (Magnolia)
STARRING: Robert de Niro, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, Robin Wright Penn, John Turturro, Stanley Tucci
DIRECTED BY: Barry Levinson
THE SKINNY: Levinson is in dire need of a hit to patch up his recent record of shoddy work. It looks hilarious, but this movie (about a producer's trying time in Hollywood) may be to inside for the average moviegoer. (Photo courtesy Collider.com)

OCT. 24
Changeling (Universal)
STARRING: Angelina Jolie, Amy Ryan, Andrew Donovan
DIRECTED BY: Clint Eastwood
THE SKINNY: Probably the hardest working director in Hollywood, Eastwood continues to make thought-provoking movies, this one looks to be no exception: Jolie (finally in a meaty role) plays a mother who's son is kidnapped. But she doesn't believe the police when they return her boy.

Synecdoche, New York (Sony Pictures Classics)
STARRING: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Michelle Williams, Samantha Morton
DIRECTED BY: Charlie Kaufman
THE SKINNY: The Oscar-winning screenwriter of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind makes his directorial debut with this tale of an obsessive playwright who builds an almost full-scale replica of New York in an abandoned factory.

OCT. 31
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (The Weinstein Co.)
STARRING: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson
DIRECTED BY: Kevin Smith
THE SKINNY: Back to show everyone how to balance extreme raunch with sweet message, Kevin Smith finally releases his much contested comedy. And, c'mon, this movie needs no explanation. Just read the title.

NOV. 7
Role Models (Universal)
STARRING: Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
DIRECTED BY: David Wain
THE SKINNY: In his first full-on feature since 2001's cult classic Wet Hot American Summer, the Wainy Days and Stella co-creator lets Rudd and Scott run free as two buddies forced to spend time doing community service in a Big Brothers, Big Sisters-type program. (Photo courtesy Empire Movies)

NOV. 14
Quantum of Solace (Columbia)
STARRING: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, Mathieu Amalric
DIRECTED BY: Marc Forster
THE SKINNY: Probably my most anticipated movie this fall is this direct sequel (a first) to Casino Royale, the highly successful (critically and financially) James Bond reboot.

Assassination of a High School President (Yari Film Group)
STARRING: Reece Thompson, Mischa Barton, Bruce Willis
DIRECTED BY: Brett Simon
THE SKINNY: Saw this at SXSW, and I've got to say this humorous noir set in a Jesuit high school is still one of the funniest movies of the year. Seek it out.

NOV. 21
The Soloist (DreamWorks)
STARRING: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr, Catherine Keener
DIRECTED BY: Joe Wright
THE SKINNY: You'd think Downey would take a break, but it looks like he's going for a hat trick of greatness this year (after Iron Man and Tropic Thunder), playing a journalist who discovers a homeless, schizophrenic cello prodigy (Foxx). Based on a true story. Bring some hankies and your Academy nomination form. (Photo courtesy pop critics)

NOV. 26
The Road (Dimension)
STARRING: Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron
DIRECTED BY: John Hillcoat
THE SKINNY: The novel by Cormac McCarthy won a Pulitzer, but I think it's pretty overrated. That being said, this adaptation looks like it will have much more of a plot, and therefore more compelling.

Australia (Fox)
STARRING: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman
DIRECTED BY: Baz Luhrmann
THE SKINNY: Possibly the most wonderfully over-indulgent director in history, Luhrmann returns to the big screen with this labor of love, a romance set against the backdrop of Australia during WWII.

Milk (Focus)
STARRING: Sean Penn, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna
DIRECTED BY: Gus van Sant
THE SKINNY: Here's a biopic that looks worth investigating: Penn plays Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in U.S. history, who had a controversial run as San Francisco's city supervisor that ended with his assassination.

Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight)
STARRING: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto
DIRECTED BY: Danny Boyle
THE SKINNY: One of the most interesting filmmakers working today, Danny Boyle moves his cameras away from the UK (and well, outer space) to India, where a kid trying to escape the horrendous gang violence of his neighborhood competes on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

DEC. 5
Frost/Nixon (Universal)
STARRING: Frank Langella, Martin Sheen, Kevin Bacon
DIRECTED BY: Ron Howard
THE SKINNY: Keeping the original cast intact from the stage play, Ron Howard directs the duo (disgraced President Richard Nixon and British journalist David Frost) in this film adaptation.

DEC. 12
Doubt (Miramax)
STARRING: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams
DIRECTED BY: John Patrick Shanley
THE SKINNY: Another play adaptation, this one without its original cast (but keeping its original writer/director) about allegations of abuse in the Catholic church. But what a cast... (Photo courtesy WorstPreviews)

DEC. 19
The Brothers Bloom (Summit)
STARRING: Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane
DIRECTED BY: Rian Johnson
THE SKINNY: If there's ever a project I had more desire to see (without knowing what it would be) than Rian Johnson's follow-up to Brick, I couldn't tell you what it was. This twisty, hilarious tale of two con artist brothers going for one last job could just be the greatest thing since, well, Brick.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount)
STARRING: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton
DIRECTED BY: David Fincher
THE SKINNY: After directing last year's best movie Zodiac, I have full faith in Fincher in making the unfilmable material something worth watching. Now if only he could get over his spats with the studio. (Photo courtesy Collider.com)



The Wrestler (Fox Searchlight)
STARRING: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
DIRECTED BY: Darren Aronofsky
THE SKINNY: A Mickey Rourke wrestling movie? What is this? The '80s? Why on earth would I want to see that? But buzz out of Toronto is strong. /Film even says "I haven't read a review yet that didn't mention Mickey Rourke and Academy Award nomination in the same sentence."

Seven Pounds (Columbia)
STARRING: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Michael Ealy, Woody Harrelson
DIRECTED BY: Gabriel Muccino
THE SKINNY: Two years ago (almost to the day) Smith and Muccino teamed up to make The Pursuit of Happyness, which went on to make over $100 million domestically and made us all want to slit our wrists until the final 20 minutes. This looks to repeat that formula. But if there's anyone who can pull off anything, it's the world's biggest movie star.