Cast: Robert De Niro (Ben), Bruce Willis (Actor), Stanley Tucci (Scott Solomon), John Turturro (Dick Bell), Kristen Stewart (Zoe), Robin Wright Penn (Kelly), Sean Penn (Himself)
For complete info, see IMDb's What Just Happened page.
Considering the fact that great actors like Sean Penn & Robin Wright Penn played fairly minor roles in this movie, I was really surprised at how much What Just Happened disappointed me. Perhaps, I should have known it wouldn't be very good, since they chose not to put the question mark on the end and leave "What Just Happened" looking like a statement, rather than the question "What" makes the sentence.
I'd say skip this one, or at least put it low on your Netflix list. I watched the whole thing, but if I hadn't had other things to keep me busy, I probably wouldn't have bothered.
Grade: C-
Labels: 2008, Bruce Willis, comedy, drama, Kristen Stewart, movie, Robert DeNiro, Robin Wright Penn, Sean Penn, Stanley Tucci
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Kevin Bacon (Sean Nokes), Billy Crudup (Tommy Marcano), Robert De Niro (Father Bobby), Minnie Driver (Carol Martinez), Dustin Hoffman (Danny Snyder), Ron Eldard (John Reilly), Jason Patric (Lorenzo 'Shakes' Carcaterra), Brad Pitt (Michael Sullivan)
For complete info on this amazing cast, see IMDb's Sleepers page.
When a friend mentioned Sleepers to me, I was shocked that I'd never heard of it. I only listed the major characters above (and not even all of them) and look at that cast. How could I have possibly missed all information on this movie? Yes, it was just after I got out of college, I moved twice that year and got married, but that's no excuse for missing all information on Sleepers.
If you somehow managed to miss this movie, too, I highly recommend that you rent it. Definitely not an upbeat movie, but this story about boys who pull a prank that goes way too far, leading them to experience horrors in a detention center that scar them for life and the revenge they get 10 years later is very well done. The cast is beyond amazing. The story is gripping and heart wrenching. It's also never been proven either way, so it's possible the events in the movie actually happened. That possibility makes it much more horrific.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1996, Billy Crudup, Brad Pitt, crime, drama, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Patric, Kevin Bacon, Minnie Driver, movie, Robert DeNiro, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 9:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast:Matt Damon (Edward Wilson), Angelina Jolie (Clover/Margaret Russell), Alec Baldwin (Sam Murach), Tammy Blanchard (Laura), Billy Crudup (Arch Cummings), Robert De Niro (General Bill Sullivan, Director, Producer)
For complete information, see IMDb's The Good Shepherd site.
When you see people like Angelina Jolie take supporting roles in a movie, it's normally a good sign. The fact that Robert De Niro is producing, directing, and acting in a movie never hurts, either. The cast of The Good Shepherd is amazing. This story of how the CIA was formed is very well told. It's intriguing and kept me interested throughout the movie. Had it not been for the people who left (some to never come back), I wouldn't have noticed the length of this film.
I definitely recommend seeing The Good Shepherd in a movie theatre, even though it's definitely not a special effects laden movie.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2006, Alec Baldwin, Angelina Jolie, Billy Crudup, drama, Matt Damon, Robert DeNiro, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 3:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Robert De Niro (Jack Byrnes), Ben Stiller (Greg Focker), Dustin Hoffman (Bernie Focker), Barbra Streisand (Rozalin Focker), Blythe Danner (Dina Byrnes), Teri Polo (Pam Byrnes)
Since I wasn't a fan of Meet the Parents, the idea of Meet the Fockers didn't appeal to me at all - especially when I found out Barbara Streisand (who I try to avoid in all forms) was going to play Greg's mother. Just what I needed in a movie I didn't want to see in the first place. So, why did I see it in a theatre? Christmas movies are always done by a vote in our family and I didn't win.
Surprisingly, I ended up enjoying Meet the Fockers a lot more than I did Meet the Parents. It wasn't as belaboring and was much more entertaining. Barbara Streisand was even funny. Now that is a statement coming from me!
Still wouldn't rush out to a theatre to see it, but worth renting or watching on HBO.
Grade: B
Labels: 2004, comedy, Dustin Hoffman, movie, Robert DeNiro
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Dustin Hoffman (Stanley Motss), Robert De Niro (Conrad Brean), Anne Heche (Winifred Ames), Denis Leary (Fad King), Willie Nelson (Johnny Dean), Andrea Martin (Liz Butsky), Kirsten Dunst (Tracy Lime)
For complete info, see IMDb's Wag the Dog page.
This movie about a war that's faked in order to cover up a presidential sex scandal is really good. Wag the Dog really explores the way the government can spin reality to appear however they want to the American public. Of course, like all situations where big lies are told, the "war" gets out of hand. Although Wag the Dog goes over the top at times, I think that's still realistic. In a situation where you're creating an entire war for the public to believe, things would probably get pretty out of hand from time to time.
I definitely recommend renting this movie and watching it again!
Grade: B+
Labels: 1997, comedy, Dustin Hoffman, Kirsten Dunst, movie, Robert DeNiro
Reviewed by Kat at the 4:50 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Meryl Streep (Lee Lacker), Leonardo DiCaprio (Hank), Diane Keaton (Bessie Greenfield), Robert DeNiro (Dr. Wally), Hume Cronyn (Marvin), Gwen Verdon (Ruth)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Marvin's Room page.
I loved the play, so the movie interested me immediately. Perhaps I didn't properly describe the play to my family, since they all thought it was well done, but hated it, since it was so sad... What's funny is that there's probably more humor in the movie than the play.
I think that they did a great job with Marvin's Room on the big screen. They used the fact that they could film in various locations to take you to the places you couldn't really see in the play. The cast was wonderful. Leonardo DiCaprio, who normally doesn't impress me, did a great job, too.
I highly recommend Marvin's Room. Just be aware that it is not a happy movie and you'll love it.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1996, comedy, drama, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, movie, play, Robert DeNiro
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:10 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Robert De Niro (Gil Renard), Wesley Snipes (Bobby Rayburn), Ellen Barkin (Jewel Stern), John Leguizamo (Manny)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's The Fan page.
Considering how many instances of crazy fans have been documented, I think The Fan took a very interesting situation and documented it on film. In this movie, of course, the fan goes way too far, but that's the whole idea of the movie. The cast is amazing and the editing and sound track are wonderful, which helps the suspense. I'm sure you remember the scene from the ad where the baseball is flying right at you. I had some friends who jumped every time they saw the preview and the movie itself does that on a whole new level.
I haven't seen the original, so I can't say how it compares, but as an individual film, I really think The Fan is well worth watching!
Grade: B+
Labels: 1996, drama, movie, Robert DeNiro, sports, thriller, Wesley Snipes
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:50 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Robert De Niro (Leonard Lowe), Robin Williams (Dr. Malcolm Sayer), Julie Kavner (Eleanor Costello), Ruth Nelson (Mrs. Lowe), John Heard (Dr. Kaufman)
For complete cast, see IMDb's Awakenings page.
This wonderful movie, based on a true story about a doctor who makes a lot of progress fighting an illness that everyone else had given up on fighting, will move you. I can't imagine anyone not feeling for the patients in Awakenings. The fact that it is all based on a true story makes it that much more inspiring. I'm so glad that they managed to get this film made, since it's not the standard drama. This story is wonderful and the cast and director do a wonderful job getting the message across. I highly recommend Awakenings.
Grade: A-
Labels: drama, movie, Robert DeNiro, Robin Williams
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:40 PM show | 0 screams