dollar movie 10/18-10/22

NO MOVIE

There’s no movie today, but allow me to say that I am excited as heckfire for the new Sacha Baron Cohen movie, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazahkstan. You should be excited, too. November 3. Be there. Borat: I like!

Breaking News 8 10 12

This flick from Hong Kong director Johnnie To is an exercise in the cops-and-robbers genre featuring some clever commentary on our media-obsessed society. Some thieves hole themselves away in an apartment building, and both they and the police manipulate the media to their advantage. If you’re not sick of police procedurals, check it out.

Go: Some virtuoso action sequences. Opening seven-minute Steadicam shot alone is worth the price of admission.

No go: Just watch TV. Every show is about the police, or heists, or police heists anyway. Seriously. All of them.

The Break-Up 8 10 12

Jennifer Aniston is stuck with a goon (Vince Vaughn) in an apartment you’ll never be able to afford. Sounds a lot like the final seasons of Friends, and those stank about as much as this lame attempt at a romantic comedy. A few decent and honest jokes about relationships are sprinkled about, but the film is otherwise a disappointment.

Go: Pretty actors, if you think Vince Vaughn is pretty. I really hope you don’t.

No go: A Vince Vaughn-Jon Favreau Swingers reunion that doesn’t pan out. What a tease.

The Wild 8 10 12

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: Some animals escape from a zoo and head to Africa, where they find themselves in over their heads. It’s the exact same plot as Madagascar, but I’m just going to stop here and assume that since it’s computer animation and Pixar didn’t make it, it’s not worth your time unless you’re bringing the kiddies.

Go: Has some fun people like Eddie Izzard and William Shatner doing voices.

No go: Which marketing dude at Disney thought up “Shatner and Izzard… together at last!”?

Miller's Crossing 8 10 12

Irish and Italian mobsters clash in this flick set in the Prohibition era from the Coen brothers (Fargo, The Big Lebowski). Like almost all movies by the Coens, you can expect a love triangle, a few scenes of incongruous and random violence, some great acting, and John Turturro.

Go: Anything Coen brothers is generally reliable. Turturro made Mr. Deeds watchable, so you know he’s good. You’re not invited to my birthday party.

No go: The 22nd is my birthday, so you should be busy getting me a present.