Hardball (2001)

When it's over, Hardball may be hard for some children to watch, but worth a sit through, because it opens up opportunities to talk to children about gambling, violence, drugs, education, and what it really means to win and lose.  In Canada, it's rated as PG, in the United States, it's PG-13, but personally, I'd say it's borderline R for language, violence, and disturbing scenes.  This well-crafted story's about a washed up gambler and drinker named Conor O'Neill, played by Keanu Reeves, who's forced into coaching a Little League baseball team from a housing project in Chicago in return for a loan to pay off his debts.  The kids who live in the project have mouths as foul as sweaty unwashed socks, and their housing complex is filled with criminals, thugs, and gang shootings.  The film does a realistic job at showing the dangers the children face each day, and how they struggle to survive in a world where violence begets violence and in the midst of their dark reality, the children cling to one joy - baseball.  It's through baseball that Conor and the children learn the importance of teamwork, faith, and not giving up.  This film's a bit of a tearjerker in some parts, but not all the tears are sad, they're happy, too. 

My rating: 4 out of 5

Somewhere (2010)

When it's over, this film had the most unique opening I've seen in a very long time.  There was less than 10 words said in the first 15 minutes.  The whole beginning sequence was done in visuals and inter-cutting of well-thought out scenes offering a snapshot into the life of a Hollywood bad boy named Johnny Marco, played by Stephen Dorff.  Johnny's loved by his fans, but can't seem to find a way to love himself and find meaning in his life.  This first 15 minutes sets up the mood and the direction the film will take.  The absence of dialogue evokes a sense of loneliness, emptiness, isolation, and boredom.  I admire Director Sofia Coppola's vision and style (as she always demonstrates in her films), and it's because of her artistic abilities that kept me intrigued throughout the film.  However, there's something very disappointing about going on a journey with a character only to be let down and unfullfilled in the end.  That's how I felt with the ending of this film.  Although the film suggests that Johnny has evolved, I would have liked to see him evolve, perhaps in a 5 - 10 minutes montage of the outcome of his decisions - on his life, his daughter, his career, his car, and it would have been nice to see where he ended up living.  I don't want to give too much of the film away, so you really need to see the film to understand some of the comments I'm making.  No doubt, this film is definitely a small experimental art house film, and would appeal to viewers who enjoy dissecting a film, because this film has a lot to break down - there's lots of metaphors, symbolism, and scenes left open for viewer's interpretation.     

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

X-Men: First Class (2011)

When it’s over, X-Men: First Class wasn’t first rate, but a worthy prequel to the franchise.  I was expecting a lot of special effects and not much plot, but instead I got the opposite, which was great, because it’s really the story that made this film work.  James McAvoy plays Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender plays Erik Lehnsherr who would later become Magneto, Xavier’s archenemy.  Both actors were well casted and did a fine job at reinventing the roles made famous by Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen.  However, the casting for the remainder of the mutants were new faces with “so-so” acting.  One character I didn’t like was the villain Sebastian Shaw, played by Kevin Bacon, who had the mutant ability to harness energy.  Bacon didn’t fit the role, and despite his acting abilities, just wasn’t convincing as a mutant set on taking over the world.  Although the film is made up of many characters and storylines, it’s the meeting, the friendship, and the separation of Charles and Erik that the film stays focused on.  The film successfully sets up (in this case, tells the evolution of) many storylines that were prevalent in the X-Men films of the past years including intros to William Stryker, the machine known as Cerebro, how Mystic ends up in the company of Magneto, how the Beast got his look, and how Xavier ends up in a wheelchair, just to name a few. 

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

The Tourist (2010)

When it’s over, the film suffered from a lack of chemistry between Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp.  Jolie plays the beautiful mysterious woman who meets a tourist, played by Depp, on a train to Venice, Italy, and what follows is a series of mistaken identity with Interpol and the Russian Mafia hot on their heels.  Although Jolie and Depp played their parts adequately, they lacked that “something” that “spark” that would’ve made their romance more grand, more believable.  With all the beautiful scenery, elegant costumes, and extravagant decor, it’s a shame their relationship on screen couldn’t match the grandness of the production.   A reunion with Jolie and Clive Owen (they last starred together in Beyond Borders) would have been a better casting choice; as also, Depp and Kate Beckingsale or Depp and Charlize Theron. 

My rating: 2.5 out of 5

A Walk to Remember (2002)

When it's over, this romance/drama had me in tears.  Not balling, but enough to demand tissue nearby.  I think I started crying about two thirds into the film and having read the Nicholas Sparks novel and knowing the ending just made the sadness so unavoidable.  The story is about Landon and Jamie (played by Shane West and Mandy Moore) who are two teens with nothing in common, but joined together by fate.  They fall in love, but when a heart-breaking secret is revealed, their love and their relationship is put to the test.  Yes, this is definitely a sad and tragic film, but what separates this film from other "doom and gloom" tragedies is the uplifting tone of the story.  It wasn't filled with scenes of overcast skies, pouring rain, and people huddled in the cold.  Instead, the film had a palette of bright colors signifying life, new beginnings, and hope.  The story's message to me was that sometimes you have to suffer to know what blessings are and what you are blessed with.  The themes of faith, love, forgiveness, and courage are the veins that pump life into this love story, while at the same time mirrors the unfairness that life sometimes brings. 

My rating: 4 out of 5