Paul Eyre

"Paul" (d. Greg Motolla)

• Story follows two sci-fi geeks (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost), as they make a road trip across America only to find themselves greeted by a talking, fugitive alien (Seth Rogen).
  
• Gets off to a slow start with much of its humor revolving around pop culture references that only hardcore geeks will pick up on.
  
• Hilarious ensemble of great character actors, but the script rarely gives them anything to work with. While Bill Hader and Joe Lo Truglio milk laughs as two bumbling FBI agents, the usually hysterical Kristen Wiig just seems miscast as a fundamentalist Christian who falls for Simon Pegg's character. Other great character actors, like Jason Bateman and Sigourney Weaver, are wasted in smaller roles.
• The film musters up some momentum in its second act by amplifying its more zany qualities, only to lose that momentum once the film reaches its sappy, overlong resolution.
• While the film remains superior to most of the bland, commercial comedies that populate the multiplexes, it's disappointing that the final product was not more entertaining, especially considering the talent involved.

"Jane Eyre" (d. Cary Fukunaga)

• Impressively atmospheric adaption of the 19th century coming-of-age story by Charlotte Bronte.
• The film follows young orphan Jane Eyre (Mia Wasikowska) as she moves from a strict boarding school to the mansion of Edward Rochester (Michael Fassbender).
• Brilliantly illustrates Jane Eyre's struggle between independence and companionship as she confronts her affection for Mr. Rochester, as well as her want to break free from the bonds which society places her in, due to both her circumstances and her gender. Wasikowska subtly taps into Jane's psyche as she struggles with these two desires. Fassbender also shines as a man yearning for a deeper relationship, whilst also feeling trapped due to his circumstances.
• The film's dark cinematography wonderfully accentuates the film's mood and makes the audience more keenly aware of the feelings of confinement which plague the film's characters.
• Deliberately slow pace adds to the film's atmosphere, but perhaps makes the film harder to connect to on an emotional level. Still, a faster pace would have killed the chilling, almost eerie, mood which makes the film so unique.
• Overall, a fascinating, hauting coming-of-age story with top-notch performances and production values.

More Bullet Point Reviews

Here are a few bullet point reviews. One on a recent theater release ("Extract") and two others on films now available on DVD ("Adventureland" and "State of Play").

"Extract"

• Starts off funny, but quickly become repetitive. Jokes are run into the ground and others are just too broad. In particular, a drug sequence in the film's second act is dead on arrival. This sequence not only stalls the film's narrative but also crushes the comedic rhythm.
• Jason Bateman is great in the lead role. He really embodies the every man. Unfortunately, his relationship with his wife, played by Kirsten Wiig, makes no sense. This is problematic because their relationship is the crux of the film.
• Both Kirsten Wiig and Mila Kunis's characters feel underwritten. Their characters just feel like plot conveniences.
• J.K. Simmons needs a new agent. He keeps getting type cast in the same roles. That being said, this is one of his better performances in the recent years.
• Ben Affleck and Gene Simmons are shockingly good in their parts. They truly create the film's most memorable characters.
• The film's satire is uneven. It teeters between broad comedy, sharp digs and mean-spirited critiques too often for it to be truly successful. At the end, one is not entirely certain what director Mike Judge is trying to say.
• C+

"Adventureland"

• intimate coming of age story
• solid, if not spectacular, performances
• able to create a distinctive atmosphere that most films lack
• interesting, but not particularly engaging
• seems like it is trying to be introspective, but I did not feel compelled to think too much about it afterwards
• B

"State of Play"

• thriller injected with moral complications
• interesting study on the decline of newspapers and the rise of Internet blogging
• solid performance from Russell Crowe; middling performance from Ben Affleck
• Jason Bateman delivers a wonderfully realized supporting performance as a slimy corporate publicist.
• Rachel McAdams and Helen Mirren fare well in underwritten, and at times fairly annoying, supporting roles
• narrative is marred by a twist ending that feels convoluted and unnecessary
• manages to succeed thematically, despite its narrative pratfalls
• B+

Wow! I've been watching too many Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck films.

Be sure to leave your opinion in the comments below.