Michael Gondry is a filmmaker I've had my eye on for quite sometime. In 2001 he made an extremely offbeat comedy, Human Nature, that didn't totally work, but it had such outrageous ideas that it caught my attention. He started out as a commercial and music video director, making my all time favorite video in 2003, The Hardest Button to Button by The White Stripes. In 2004, from a script by the brilliantly-demented Charlie Kaufman, he directed one of the greatest romantic comedies ever, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. His next film, The Science of Sleep, was again a bit uneven, but presented a bunch of way out there moments, that made it definitely worth seeing.

When I heard about the plot for Be Kind Rewind I thought it would be the perfect vehicle for him to explore his tendency to incorporates different film aesthetics and animation styles into his films. Including stop-motion effects, which is a favorite of mine. What better way to get into all these different styles than to "remake" a bunch of Hollywood classics with Jack Black and Mos Def at the helm? And those scenes, especially the classic Ghostbusters remake, are the highlight of the film.

It's the rest of the film which takes place in the "real world", that lacks luster, isn't completely cohesive, and most disappointing of all, boring. I haven't been bored by a Gondry film yet, sure I've been put off by things that didn't work, but there was always something strange enough going on to keep it interesting. But the story about Danny Glover losing his video store to corporate developers wasn't fresh, there wasn't enough drama built to make me care. (And honestly it's not surprising he's losing the store, renting out VHS tapes, in a DVD/Netflix age.)

But there's enough of Jack Black messing around in front of the camera, playing everyone from Miss Daisy to Jackie Chan in Rush Hour 2, to keep the film interesting. Gondry's filmmaking styles flourish when he's focusing on the oddball aspects of the film, but when they're trying to wring some drama out of the been-there, seen-it-before plot, it's too tired to work. Danny Glover and Mia Farrow, who I've always respected, drag down every scene they're in. Sigorney Weaver, makes an appearance towards the end of the film, brings some life to the losing the store plot, but it's way too late. The amateur movie moments are fun, but they're not cohesive; jumping back and forth between inspired movie-making scenes to boring drama. Be Kind Rewind is too uneven to truly work as a film. - Grade: C+ (Seen on 7/4/08)

Honestly when I saw the first previews for this film, I thought I’d skip it all together. It didn’t look good, didn’t seem fresh in any way. But my son hadn’t seen a movie in theaters in a few months, so we we’re dying to take him to anything. Maybe it was my low expectations, but I found myself truly enjoying Kung Fu Panda from beginning to end and actually came away thinking the film was a minor animation classic. It’s as good as, or better than some of the lesser Pixar films, and way better made than the Shrek or Ice Age films.

The film quickly brings you into this completely unique world, where all animal species live together in relative harmony. Where a duck raises a panda and that panda, named Po, dreams of becoming a kung-fu master. The animal kingdom lends itself well to the kung-fu styles, making the tiger, crane, snake, praying-mantis and monkey characters masters of each style named after them. Together they are the Furious Five. It is them that Po looks up and has dreams of one day joining. His father’s profession as a noodle maker, has no appeal. During a ceremony naming who will become the Dragon Master, Po stumbles his way into the path of the master Tortoise Oogway and is named the one who will unite the group, even though his kung-fu skills are extremely limited. It’s up to their leader Shifu to train Po to become a kung-fu master. Making things even more precarious, is a ferocious Panther, Tai Lung, who has just escaped the ultimate prison and is on his way to claim the title Dragon Master.

The scene where Tai Lung escapes the prison makes the film worth seeing on its own, he is such an incredible bad-ass that he has a prison all to himself, buried miles under the ground, surrounded by thousands of armed rhinos. His fight to get out, is some of the most impressive kung-fu ever brought to screen. The film is chalk full of wonderful fight scenes, that will impress the most die-hard of kung-fu fans, yet are gentle enough for little ones to enjoy. Although they may come away punching and kicking the air. The world the filmmakers have built is extremely gorgeous, modeled after ancient China. The most satisfying thing about the film, is that it's completely its own world, there are no pop-culture references to bring you out of the story, it’s a story that will remain timeless.

The one thing that may be a deal breaker for some people is Jack Black, he voices Po, who is in 95% of the film, with his character and humor being very much Jack Black. I for one enjoy his comedy stylings, so I really liked the character, but others might not. The voice work of the other characters is very well done, I especially like Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu and Ian McShane as Tai Lung. The rest of the Furious Five are recognizable voices, including Angelina Jolie as Tigress, but none are distracting, falling easily into character. Kung Fu Panda is an extremely well put together film, for an animated family film or not, it’s got elements for everyone and at the same time doesn’t stoop to making tasteless jokes that only adults will get. The film has a nice message about finding and believing in yourself, while also kicking some serious butt. – Grade: A- (Seen on 6/21/08)

I absolutely adored Noah Baumbach's last film The Squid and the Whale; it perfectly and realistically captured the drama of going through a divorce through a child's perspective. His first film Kicking and Screaming is a 90's classic, and very well sums up what it was like to be a young adult during that moment in time. So I was hoping and expecting more from Margot at the Wedding; a strangely unfocused film, with some very intense performances from Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

This film is much more of an actor's piece (it could have easily been made into play), than any kind of film-maker's exercise. Baumbach almost unconsciously points his hand-held camera in the direction of the actors, as they tear into these meaty dialogues about family, friends, faith and everything in-between. Margot, played with ice in her veins by Nicole Kidman, is a mother and semi-successful author. She and her teenage son have come to her childhood home to attempt to heal her relationship with her long estranged sister, played with bravado by Jennifer Jason Leigh. She's getting married to a pretentious, louse of a man; Jack Black in his most realistic role. Caught in the middle are the two teenage children, who try to escape the verbal assaults without too much adolescent trauma.

It's often painful and sometimes funny to watch these sisters converse with one another. One minute they're completely in love, best friends; the next they're practically tearing each other's eyes out; and they're constantly berating the other behind their backs, to anyone who has the misfortune of being at this disgrace of a wedding weekend. Both the women put on quite a show; one minute you love and feel for them, but a quick tongued barb later, there's nothing but contempt. Both are insanely bright about the world, but at the same time completely clueless of how to treat their friends and family. Baumbach's camera makes you feel like a member of this highly dysfunctional and well bred family.

Margot at the Wedding drops you off at this cold beach house for a dramatic weekend with a seriously messed up family; there's a lot of fighting and screaming, some awkward moments, a few painful laughs, and a bit of personal growth. The performances by the three leads and two kids make it worth watching, everyone is at the top of their game. Not a whole of of story is developed, it's not as funny as I was expecting, and it's not anywhere near totally satisfying, but ultimately it's an interesting film. - Grade: C+

Normally a comedy starring Ben Stiller and Jack Black, directed by Barry Levinson would go right to the top of my rental list. But the trailers for this never really made me laugh. It got horrid reviews when it came out. I meant to check it out for myself when it did arrive on DVD, but it got lost in my mind somewhere along the way.

The opening credits are brilliant, the camera slowly swings around Jack and then Ben, contrasting the start of their day. Wonderfully inventive and beautifully pulled off. From there it went quickly downhill. It's not a terrible comedy, I don't think it deserves the hate it got. Mostly it's incredibly uneven. One scene is well done, very funny, then the following scene is insipid and badly executed. It's almost like there were two separate directors on set, taking turns, and their skill sets didn't match. More likely is that everyone got bored somewhere along the way and gave up on the film.

Jack does his thing. Ben does his. Walken turns in another wacky performance. If the script and directing been there, this could have been a top-notch comedy. A real waste of talent.