ACTION-PACKED

August proved to be an uncharacteristically hectic month (weren't we supposed to spend it lazing on the beach?) and our cinematic choices provedly to be similarly out of character. We took in two big action feasts over the last few weeks, in the form of V FOR VENDETTA and INSIDE MAN. Much to my surprise, I think I preferred V, even with all of its MATRIX-y comic book violence. Maybe because of the political angle (however far-fetched), maybe because Natalie P. surprised me with her chops, her bald head and her pretty consistent English accent, or maybe because Hugo Weaving is one of the greatest actors out there, even when you can't see his face!! Even though we watched it over a few nights rather than in one sitting, I found V to be great entertainment with a little bit of a brain behind it. Nicely done.

INSIDE MAN...well, it was a little disappointing. When it was out in the theater, I heard nothing but praise for the lead trio, and while Denzel is pretty much without parallel as far as pure charm, charisma and general bas-ass-ness, Jodie was woefully underused (not to mention the fact that I didn't really understand what the hell her character was supposed to DO for a living - maybe she was, as Mike put it, simply a "high-class ninja?") and the whole hostage plot was pretty non-sensical.  And Clive, well, he's Clive, but it's a shame his gorgeous face had to be obscured under that silly hood and sunglasses for much of the picture.

The film looked snazzy, and there were a couple of great shots nicely capturing post-9/11 NYC, but over-all I felt like Spike was a little out of his element. The film did, however, make me want to go back and check out some of his recent work which I have missed.

And without spoiling anything, there's a nice ironic twist with Christopher Plummer's character, if you think back to his defining role as the dashing hero in THE SOUND OF MUSIC.  That man is a legend, really.  It was great to see his elegantly craggy face again.