Cliff Note Reviews is an ongoing series where I briefly state my thoughts on recent films I've watched but don't have the desire to create a full review surrounding. Short and to the point opinions on films that might make decent weekend watchers when you have nothing else to do, films to completely stay away from, and occasionally a few highly recommended films that I simply don't feel need to be given a full review due to already overexposure.
True Grit (2010)
My vote for the funniest movie of 2010! Yes, you read that right. I haven't laughed so much during a movie in recent years as I did watching this film. Intentional or not the combination of Jeff Bridges harking Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade, the dry humor of Hailee Steinfeld, and Matt Damon as the cornball Texas Ranger, La Boeuf, was pure unadulterated entertainment. Without the humor I can only imagine how stale and tiresome this film could have been, but the Coen brothers seamlessly threaded it throughout the film, marvelously balancing out the drama and the humor to make a western that truly is unique. 8/10
Johnny Depp in a somewhat normal role is a rare sight to see. His natural mild demeanor plays well into the character Frank Tupelo, a math teacher from the United States whose picked off a train going to Venice by Angelina Jolie (Elise) as she attempts to make the authorities believe Depp is her boyfriend whose been on the run for about two years for tax fraud and stealing an enormous amount of money from a mob boss. The Tourist isn't your typical thriller, most of the film is very uneventful in terms of action, and is really more of a bizarre melding of romance with thriller. The chemistry between Depp and Jolie isn't great, but with the breathtaking locations and Depp's nervous wit even the multiple slow spots aren't excruciating. What saved the film for me was the big twist at the end which I never saw coming; it definitely made the film's rather slow start worth sitting through. 6/10
The combination of Stanley Baker (who I thought was great in Hell Drivers) and the awesome looking poster drew me in. Unfortunately Sands of the Kalahari quickly becomes rather tiresome as it grows into your run of the mill survival film where one man takes control of the party and members start "mysteriously" disappearing, apparently volunteering to trek off into the wilderness to their death. The only real unique aspect to the film are the killer monkeys which are prominently featured on the poster and had originally sparked my interest. They're given sporadic screen time throughout the film, and finally see some action at the very end, but by then it was too little too late for me. 5/10
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