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16 Blocks Steve Gadd   Countryside Megaplex   11 March 2006 Servicable New York cop thriller. Bruce Willis breaks new ground as a divorced, burned-out, alcoholic, smartass detective who is also left-handed.

21 Grams Steve Gadd   Fairfax Towne Center   20 February 2004 Benicio del Toro gets his chance to try and outperform Sean Penn in this gritty film about mortality and revenge. The director takes liberties with chronology, perhaps hoping to make it more difficult, and therefore more serious, and the story gets pushed just a little too far, and the result is almost as captivating as Amores Perros.

25th Hour Steve Gadd   DVD   26 December 2003 Edward Norton makes this film work, a variety of "what would you do if you had only 24 hours to live." But what kept the 135 minute runtime from seeming too long was Philip Seymour Hoffman. He is so perfectly square, so jarringly and affectingly out of place, I think they had to splice him in with bluescreen special effects.

8 Mile Steve Gadd   Basic Cable   07 April 2005 I thought that one of VH1's "Movies That Rock" would provide a bit of music as I worked on the computer. Instead, there was hardly any music to be heard, probably so the viewer can better imagine a violin to accompany the sob story of Marshall Mathers' youth.

A Beautiful Mind Steve Gadd   DVD at home   22 August 2002 Now we know why Mr. Crowe was expecting that Oscar. Great portrayal of the life of a disturbed genius.

A History of Violence Steve Gadd   Countryside Megaplex   07 October 2005 Don't listen to an artsy director when he says he's sold out. True, this movie has the typical Hollywood fistfights and revenge killings, but without the one-liners to sanitize them. When a high school bully gets the drubbing he's due, the next conversation is about assault charges. And every time a baddie gets capped, the camera lolls over the gore as if to say "You want violence? Okay, sicko, here's a sticky mess of it!" No, as has been said before, we're just looking for cheap thrills in our thrillers, we don't want to be convinced that we're actually seeing people die.

A Very Long Engagement Steve Gadd   DVD   02 September 2005 A surprisingly demanding fairy tale about a lover lost, by all accounts, in the French trenches.

Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story Steve Gadd   E-Street Cinema   01 December 2006 This documentary about Japanese citizens kidnapped into North Korea has come a long way since we saw a rough cut in the directors' home last year.

About Schmidt Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   08 February 2003 Jack Nicholson (who has been on the Brando Diet, by the look of things) tries to deal with the world's lack of need for him after his retirement. Middle America co-stars, with big Nebraska skies, motor homes, and corny roadside attractions. Without Jack it could have been dull, but he turns in a great performance.

After the Wedding Steve Gadd   DVD   12 November 2009 Our first Netflick.

All About My Mother Steve Gadd   DVD   07 August 2005 We bailed out of "Clerks," the last recommendation I will trust from Yahoo, after 20 minutes. What's the matter with you internet people, rating this flimsy stuff so highly? Going from that affected, black-and-white, home video style non-acting to Almodóvar's wonderfully colorful scenes and characters was quite refreshing.

Amélie Steve Gadd   DVD   22 January 2005 A perfect little piece of moviemaking. C'est drôle, la vie.

American Gangster Steve Gadd   DVD   30 March 2008 Good cop, bad guy.

American History X Steve Gadd   DVD   02 February 2005 Edward Norton is an angry young man.

American Psycho Steve Gadd   DVD   24 January 2006 Christian Bale looked a lot healthier before his self-imposed starvation for "The Machinist." Here he plays a Wall Street big shot with an unfortunate taste for blood. We're not sure how much we got the old Unreliable Narrator treatment.

Analyze That Steve Gadd   DVD   15 May 2003 Lame followup leaves one thankful that there are no more demonstrative pronouns.

Analyze This Steve Gadd   DVD at home   27 August 2002 Well-written comedy about a gangster getting in touch with his sensitive side.

Anger Management Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   05 May 2003 Jack Nicholson brings some much needed Jack Nicholson into this Adam Sandler comedy. I do think Adam Sandler is funny, I just don't think his movies are much better than the condensed previews of them.

Ararat Steve Gadd   DVD   26 July 2005 A colorful, layered issue film, in some ways subtle and in some ways not subtle enough, which aims to draw attention to the Armenian Genocide. The bitter pill is delivered not with an onslaught of historical evidence, but by portraying a fictional director trying to make a Hollywood-style dramatization of the events. The film-within-the-film format allows the characters to question their own motivations and the liberties taken with their history.

Atonement Steve Gadd   Cinema Arts Theatre   14 December 2007

Be Cool Steve Gadd   Fairfax Town Center   04 March 2005 Elmore Leonard has become a black hole whose powers of attraction draw in all kinds of talent. There are a dozen "As Him/Herself" listings in the credits. The comedy is entertaining enough, though an encyclopedic knowledge of Hollywood and music lore would help with the industry in-jokes.

Big Trouble Steve Gadd   DVD at home   12 November 2002 Based on a Dave Barry book, the Elmore Leonard-style comedy has its moments. Probably the last time Johnny Knoxville and Martha Stewart will appear in a movie together.

Borat Steve Gadd   DVD   04 July 2007 Watched the whole thing.

Bridget Jones's Diary Steve Gadd   DVD   11 March 2005 A rom-com classic.

Bringing Down the House Steve Gadd   DVD   02 September 2003 Steve Martin is a master of physical comedy, but there was room in the script for more regular comedy.

Brokeback Mountain Steve Gadd   Countryside Megaplex   11 February 2006 Beautifully filmed, affecting, and more than just an arbitrarily unconventional romance.

Bruce Almighty Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   01 June 2003 Jim keeps the God gag rolling for an hour and a half.

Burn After Reading Steve Gadd   Regal Cinemas Ballston   24 October 2008 Typical Coen Bros. fare.

Caché Steve Gadd   DVD   21 October 2006 Much like "Lost Highway," but, being French, deprives the viewer of any satisfaction in the end.

Capote Steve Gadd   DVD   08 April 2006 Seymour does some good work, but I found the pace a touch slow.

Catch Me If You Can Steve Gadd   DVD   03 June 2003 What could be an interesting hourlong documentary becomes a bore in this slow-paced non-drama.

Central Station Steve Gadd   DVD   30 May 2005 An unloved retired teacher makes ends meet by writing letters for illiterate passers-by in Rio de Janeiro's train station. She connects with a bratty orphan, and the story of her trying to reconnect him to family is quite touching.

Changing Lanes Steve Gadd   DVD   04 July 2003 Not an action movie as expected, but a meandering story about two guys getting really angry at each other and then working it out. Second movie in two days to feature a grey Toyota Corolla.

Charlie Wilson's War Steve Gadd   DVD   03 March 2009

Chicago Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   24 January 2003 It's definitely a musical, but more watchable than that sensation from last year, even with Richard Gere.

Children of Men Steve Gadd   DVD   04 April 2007 An action flick that stood up pretty well to what I feared were exaggerated claims of "Blade Runner for this generation." I liked the intense action sequences (without action hero cliches), the dystopian futurism (without heavy-handed commentary), and layered story (without unduly cerebral connect-the-dots plot-twisting).

City of God Steve Gadd   Cinema Arts Theatre   14 March 2003 Captivating drama/documentary on the brutally violent streets of a Rio slum. The epic narrative follows a band of kids who inherit the rampant drug business. The amateur performances are compelling, the cinematography stunning.

Closer Steve Gadd   DVD   31 July 2005 This film is populated with movie characters, a species of creature so interesting that it can make major life-altering decisions based on another person's appearance, or having been told a lie, or pure whim. If you see one of these individuals, hang around. They are likely to buy you an expensive drink, or tip you with a diamond ring, or break down in tears and tell you a story.

Coach Carter Steve Gadd   DVD   30 July 2005 Brought back memories of "White Shadow," plus Samuel L. Jackson has the Jaime Escalante thing going on.

Cold Mountain Steve Gadd   DVD   03 April 2005 Strangely, I don't know if I would have enjoyed this movie more or less without having read the book. A lot of the appeal was in revisiting the scenes of Inman's long journey home, but I missed the rustic prose. At two and a half hours, it sometimes seemed slow and sometimes seemed like a rushed highlights reel, with major scenes boiled down to their basic elements.

Collateral Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   07 August 2004 Michael Mann plays to his strengths in this cool crime thriller. Count the trademarks: a steely, calculating bad guy (sprinting in a suit with gun in hand, but never breaking a sweat); cool blues and warm reds in handpicked art deco city scenes; a knack for setting the mood with music; great camera work. The story is little more than what you would expect from a good Miami Vice episode, but impressive star talent and the director's mature touch make this a masterpiece on the big screen.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Steve Gadd   DVD   17 September 2003 Not to be confused with "Dangerous Minds," this is an edgy blend of "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "Network." The cool camera work and saturated colors contrast with the dark theme: based on a possibly true story, a classic game show creator has a second life as a CIA hit man. Great performances all around.

Crash Steve Gadd   Regal Countryside   20 May 2005 Don't be put off by Sandra Bullock, she is just one of many mixed-up colorful characters whose stories cross one day in Los Angeles. Compare to "Dirty Pretty Things."

Die Hard Steve Gadd   DVD   11 March 2006 Maybe it was the make-up, but Bruce in "16 Blocks" looked about as old and worn out as Clint Eastwood. We had to restore our memory of his youthful vigor with this classic, in which a skullcrackin' David Addison whups multicultural terrorist butt.

Dirty Pretty Things Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   31 August 2003 Affecting story of London immigrants struggling to survive and solve the mystery of a stopped toilet.

Distant Steve Gadd   Landmark E Street Theatre   25 July 2004 The near-absense of dialogue, music, and events make for a long but rewarding movie experience. Snowy scenes of Istanbul made the perfect backdrop.

Donnie Darko Steve Gadd   DVD   15 January 2006 Sure, this was a good movie. It may have lost a point because of the Inflated Expectations factor. Also, whenever a movie has time travel, I have to demand a little more. Significantly, the full-length director's cut didn't seem overlong.

Eşkıya Steve Gadd   bittorrent cinema   31 January 2009 The best parts were the makings of a watchable film; can't quite make out how the rest got in.

Edward Scissorhands Steve Gadd   DVD at home   20 January 2009

Employee of the Month Steve Gadd   DVD   31 July 2005 These days, no film is complete without a late plot twist. Too bad not everyone has realized that just because a development is unexpected, it is also clever. Also, showing scenes that never happened, suggesting that they were just a character's fantasy, and later demonstrating that the character would not have had that fantasy, is just stupid.

Erin Brockovich Steve Gadd   network TV   25 November 2002 Came on after Seinfeld.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Steve Gadd   University Mall Theatre   16 June 2004 Two semi-compatible lovers hire Lacuna, Inc. to erase their memories of each other. "Blessed are the forgetful, for they get the better even of their blunders."

Everyday People Steve Gadd   DVD   17 July 2005 This HBO feature shows a slice of life in New York as a neighborhood restaurant closes to make way for gentrification.

Facing Windows Steve Gadd   DVD   01 January 2006 I got a disturbing "Lifetime" vibe from this movie, in which all the straight male characters were louts. To be fair, it was quite watchable, with the melodious Italian and beauty of Rome plusses.

Fahrenheit 9/11 Steve Gadd   BitTorrent Cinema   18 July 2004 Hard to rate, but certainly entertaining. As propaganda it would be more effective if the director stuck to his strong points, took a consistent position, and gave up empty but amusing rhetorical tactics.

Genghis Blues Steve Gadd   DVD   20 November 2003 Very cool documentary on Paul Pena, a San Francisco bluesman who discovered Tuvan throat-singing on shortwave radio. He taught himself the art and joined an expedition to Tannu Tuva, where he competed in a throat-singing contest. Thanks Ray for the loan.

Get Shorty Steve Gadd   DVD   20 January 2005 Is this Dave Barry's favorite movie?

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Steve Gadd   DVD   16 June 2005 Dazzling, dreamlike animation steal the show in this episode, in which the main characters toy with Philip K. Dick ideas and toss out references to Milton, the Old Testament, and Descartes. I found myself watching the backgrounds most of the time. Beyond a moving car window you don't see a Warner Brothers loop but a rich cityscape passing by with true perspective and focus. Frequently there are short, quiet scenes of exquisite complexity and color which must have been wonderful in the theater.

Ghost Town Steve Gadd   DVD at home   31 December 2008

God is Great, and I'm Not Steve Gadd   DVD   21 February 2005 A weak comedy and cure for any residual affection for Audrey Tautou, who plays an annoying brat.

Happy Go Lucky Steve Gadd   DVD   28 March 2009

Head-on (Gegen die Wand) Steve Gadd   Avalon Theatre   26 February 2005 Two burned-out, miserable second-generation German Turks meet at the hospital after suicide attempts. They decide to get married, allowing Sibel to escape family pressure, and Cahit to possibly not see her slash her wrists again. The loveless marriage of convenience gives her the freedom she wants, him some decent cooking, and begins a gritty, touching love story.

Heat Steve Gadd   DVD at home   04 May 2003 Michael Mann delivers the goods in this L.A. crima saga. Even at three hours, it's hard to pull away for a bathroom break. When I saw it on the big screen, I was amazed by the eye-popping bank heist scene, in which the police shootout spills out into the downtown streets (later emulated by some real-life hoodlums). In the home viewing, I was more taken by the craft of the rest of the film, each scene creating a mood and developing the story. The April 2003 issue of Vanity Fair has a nice homage to the film. An unsympathetic but captivating review here: http://www.culturecourt.com/F/LR/reviews.htm

Heist Steve Gadd   DVD   25 February 2005 This movie is a festival of plot holes, wooden acting, and stilted dialogue -- the dialogue apparently director Mamet's trademark (he used a metronome to coach his actors in earlier movies). The opening scene was just fine, why couldn't the rest of the film keep up?

Hitch Steve Gadd   DVD   14 August 2005 This film would be so easy to pitch to a producer. The James Bond of matchmakers runs into Manhattan's most avowedly single tabloid gossip columnists, and sparks fly. The script goes on autopilot. While I'm not a fan of the genre, this kind of movie can be entertaining if the writing is sharp. Alas, the writing, and the movie, were dull.

Hotel Rwanda Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   15 January 2005 Paul Rusesabagina was the Schindler of Kigali during the Rwandan nightmare. Powerful and guilt-trippy, without any "I didn't do enough!" melodrama.

House of Flying Daggers Steve Gadd   Loews Georgetown 14   31 December 2004 A delicious piece of work that demands comparison to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and compares quite favorably.

House of Games Steve Gadd   DVD   27 November 2003 A psychiatrist gets caught up in a group of con artists who, with the goodwill con artists around the world are known for, agree to take her in and teach her the game. Good chance to see Ricky Jay in action.

House of Sand and Fog Steve Gadd   DVD   24 February 2005 I remember seeing the trailers and thinking that this looked like a bore: some house, the ocean, Gandhi, whatever. But the movie had me hooked halfway through, with its flawed, very human personalities brought together in a realistic scenario -- no gold ingots, car chases, or kidnappings. Great performances, of course. But the tragic twist seemed a bit contrived, a way to engineer the maximum emotional response from the viewer. It's sad all right, but it feels a bit manipulative.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Steve Gadd   DVD   21 July 2003 "A fabulously fresh and totally entertaining battle of the sexes." Or at least somewhat fresh and mildly entertaining.

Hustle and Flow Steve Gadd   Countryside Megaplex   12 August 2005 A very good movie, with another (after "Crash") great performance in the lead role. Avoid it if you have any hang-ups about subject-verb agreement or standard pronunciation.

I am Sam Steve Gadd   VHS at home   22 October 2002 Sean Penn redeems his reputation in my book with this sentimental Rain Man variant. Well over two hours, but it didn't seem that long. I did get a bit tired of the shakycam and blue filter techniques.

Identity Steve Gadd   DVD   24 November 2004 This movie gets an extra point for saving us from "The Transporter," which was great in concept but awful in execution. John "Bad Tipper" Cusack plays an ex-cop having a very bad day, a nightmare in fact. You don't have much chance at guessing who the killer is, but the result is satisfying.

In July Steve Gadd   DVD   24 September 2005 Remember Manni, the hapless thug from Run Lola Run? Here he is a hapless physics teacher whose bedroom Einstein poster and planet models do nothing for his love life. He gets a break when a secret admirer invites him to a party, but he goes home with the wrong woman, then chases her on a road trip from Hamburg, through the Balkans, to Istanbul. Love conquers all, of course, and this film shows that nothing is as reliable as a classic formula. Also has lots of German swearing.

Inside Man Steve Gadd   DVD   29 September 2006 Men rob a new way in NYC, but the cop is hip to the MO by the end. Not bad, Mr. Lee.

Insomnia Steve Gadd   Sterling Cinema and Drafthouse   25 August 2002 From Christopher Nolan ('Memento'), a cool thriller set in the nightless and starkly beautiful landscape of Alaska. Al Pacino appears to have given up sleep entirely for this role.

Intolerable Cruelty Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   14 October 2003 The brothers Coen score again with a clever comedy, spiced with the usual offbeat scenes. George Clooney carries the entire movie, not as well as Jeff Bridges carried The Big Lebowski, but well enough.

Jarhead Steve Gadd   DVD   15 April 2006 You might be under the impression that this is a war movie. No, it's a movie about marines stuck in the desert fighting boredom, and the viewer is drawn right into the struggle. It didn't help that there were frequent reminders of movies like "Full Metal Jacket" and "Apocalypse Now" and "Baraka."

Journey to the Sun Steve Gadd   DVD   06 August 2005 The last half-hour of this film was the only watchable part. It shows the journey in the title; a man driving his friend's coffin to the friend's hometown in eastern Turkey. Starting on the Bosphorus Bridge, there are some dramatic views through the countryside. The rest had nothing to recommend it. On top of everything, the transfer (from Facets Video) was the worst I've ever seen, hardly better than VCD quality.

Kill Bill Volume 2 Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   16 April 2004 Uma didn't quite get around to dispatching with Bill in the first volume, but he gets his due in part two, along with a number of minions.

Kill Bill: Vol 1 Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   31 October 2003 Elaborate, choreographed fight sequences as seen in The Matrix, beautiful settings like those of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, with delightful, quirky scenes as seen in Tarantino's other work, and great gushing gouts of blood never before seen by man. Actually, imdb reveals that most of the movie is composed of homages to films that only a kung-fu-loving video store clerk would recognize.

King Kong Steve Gadd   Uptown Cinema   20 December 2005 This movie cost about as much to make as the Empire State Building.

Koyaanisqatsi Steve Gadd   DVD at home   23 November 2002 An arresting and unique combination of time-lapse, slow motion, and stock film with a Philip Glass soundtrack. In part a documentary on technology, in part a medatative experience. Thanks to Gareth for the gift.

La Femme Nikita Steve Gadd   DVD   02 August 2005 The music now seems a bit dated, like "Terminator," but it's still a classic thriller.

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels Steve Gadd   DVD   24 July 2005 This was the first test of Yahoo's recommendations tool, which suggests titles based on your ratings of movies you have seen. This Guy Richie movie was on page two of the recommended comedies list, down below "Clerks" and "Trainspotting," and was still pretty good. Like "Snatch," it had a big cast, several stories converging together, and accents thick enough to make subtitles helpful.

Lost in Translation Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   15 February 2004 Nicely done story, with great visuals and a terrific set in the Park Hyatt Tokyo.

Maria Full of Grace Steve Gadd   DVD   30 May 2005 Fed up with her job de-thorning roses, Maria decides to take a chance and smuggle 62 packets of cocaine in her stomach.

Matchstick Men Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   26 September 2003 Nicolas Cage is great as a nut, but the first hour was slow going. Does it really take that long to establish the character of a psycho con artist (lots of blinking) and an annoying daughter (lots of whining)? Things improved once the story got going.

Meet the Fockers Steve Gadd   DVD   29 May 2005 Just about what you would expect.

Michael Clayton Steve Gadd   Flexplay DVD   04 April 2009 Seven stars for the movie, which was nothing less or more than expected. And a 9.5 for the Flexplay DVD format. For the price of a rental, you get a pristine unscratched disc and two days to watch it, with nothing to return. The only downside is the barebones menu with no extras.

Million Dollar Baby Steve Gadd   DVD   19 August 2005 We expected more from this mega-hit, which could be edited down to a passable hourlong TV drama. The bad characters were just over the top, and the good ones were flawless and overly interesting: the scrappy boxer, the Yeats-reading trainer with a theology hobby and an unresolved missing daughter drama, and Morgan Freeman, the retired fighter, gym janitor, and source of goofy Zen boxing wisdom voiceovers.

Minority Report Steve Gadd   DVD at home   25 February 2003 Cool movie, great effects, good story. If there is any Philip K. Dick material out there that has not yet been converted to film, let's have it!

Monster Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   18 January 2004 Heavy, well-performed based-on-a-true story of a disturbed prostitute who goes from turning tricks to killing and robbing johns. It pays better, after all.

Monster's Ball Steve Gadd   DVD at home   19 November 2002 Small-town story about a halfhearted bigot cop who overcomes his prejudice following an encounter with a desperate and beautiful Halle Berry. There are some unremarkable plot twists and a seemingly unending sex scene, cut in theaters to get an R rating but restored to full glory for the DVD. Apparently the placement of odd liquor bottles and pieces of furniture to block your view of extremeties is supposed to be enough to convince you that this is not porn. The great acting does help to allay one's disappointment at the "lust conquers all" theme.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith Steve Gadd   Countryside Megaplex   22 July 2005 The only movie cliche missing was the one with the hero hanging over a chasm by a little root.

Mr. Deeds Steve Gadd   In-flight movie, Delta 73   01 December 2002 Adam Sandler at his unfunniest. Remember the commercial with the butler banging on his foot, and the guy driving the Corvette into a tree? Those were the funny bits.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding Steve Gadd   Reston Multiplex Cinemas   26 October 2002 As promised, charming and funny and impossible not to enjoy.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding Steve Gadd   DVD   10 July 2003 Still enjoyable on second viewing.

Mystic River Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   23 January 2004 Clint Eastwood directs a good story about three Boston kids whose lives cross again years later. Despite some unnecessary flourishes and plot problems, the story keeps your attention and the star performances are watchable.

Naqoyqatsi Steve Gadd   Cineplex Odeon Inner Circle 3   16 November 2002 The conclusion to Godfrey Reggio's 'Qatsi' trilogy. This installment had very little of the arresting timelapse imagery of natural beauty and industrial activity that made 'Koyaanisqatsi' such a brilliant niche film. The Phillip Glass score was just as trance-inducing, however. The opening montage of beautifully decayed architecture was cool, as were the scenes of athletes in slo-mo, nuclear blasts, and x-ray video. There may be a message in there somewhere, too.

National Treasure Steve Gadd   DVD   18 July 2005 Basically an inferior remake of "Raiders of the Lost Ark." While it doesn't commit the mortal sin of inflicting boredom, some of the entertainment comes in predicting the plot turns and criticizing the corniness. Some of the jargon was delicious: homing in on a shipwreck in the arctic wilds, they don't refer to the GPS, but a "directional needle."

Nine Queens (Nueve Reinas) Steve Gadd   DVD   10 October 2005 A small time con man teams up with a master to pull off a once-in-a-lifetime operation. Naturally, things get interesting you start to wonder who is scamming who. Filmed in Buenos Aires just before things got really bad there.

No Country For Old Men Steve Gadd   Fairfax Towne Center   30 November 2007

Nói Steve Gadd   DVD   11 March 2005 Nói is an underachieving genius trapped in an Icelandic fishing town. His attempts to escape are poignant, and the visuals are memorable, but there isn't quite enough story.

Office Space Steve Gadd   Basic cable   19 January 2004 Funny look at life in a software company cubicle farm. Not half as good as Microserfs, but good for a few laughs.

Only Human Steve Gadd   DVD   20 October 2006 Funny variation on "Big Fat Greek Wedding" in Spanish.

Phone Booth Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center Cinema   18 April 2003 You know the whole plot -- some jerk is held hostage in a Manhattan phone booth by a psycho sniper. It keeps your attention to the end, but you remember it more for the gimmick than anything else.

Pirates of the Caribbean Steve Gadd   DVD   12 May 2004 Entertaining as promised.

Primer Steve Gadd   DVD   05 June 2005 This movie, something of a vanity project for writer / director / actor / producer / editor / composer Shane Carruth, keeps you wondering what is going on from beginning to end. Unfortunately, the plot is so opaque that by the end you are helplessly lost. Thankfully, IMDB forum members have watched it six or seven times and wrote up handy plot guides to spell out the timeline. It's actually a very clever film and very well done on a low budget. It uses a hackneyed scifi plot element but expertly avoids the pseudo-technical mumbo jumbo that is usual in the genre.

Pulp Fiction Steve Gadd   Basic Cable   26 September 2004 I think this will be the last time I watch a movie on TV. Toward the end, the movie seemed to be interrupting the commercials. To make time, major scenes were deleted, seemingly at random. Oddly, the "Elvis or Beatles" videocamera interview between Mia and Vincent was retained despite being cut from the theatrical release. And of course, this film particularly suffers from dirty-word dubbing, though this adds some entertainment as well: "We' have to be talkin' 'bout one charmin' mighty-friendly pig."

Ray Steve Gadd   Cinema Arts Theatre   30 October 2004 We began the evening watching Vera Drake, which was like eating a stale scone without tea. After half an hour, we couldn't take any more, so we moved to the next screen. Just listening to the Ray Charles biography was fun, and Jaimie Foxx deserves all the praise he has gotten.

Red Eye Steve Gadd   Fairfax Town Center   26 August 2005 Three points for creating and maintaining a mood of tension, two more for providing plenty of post-viewing conversation on plot holes and feats of illogic.

Reservoir Dogs Steve Gadd   DVD   12 January 2005 Despite inflated expectations, this movie held up well. Story, storytelling, and dialog make it work.

Risky Business Steve Gadd   Basic cable   19 January 2004 Beats workin'.

Run Lola Run Steve Gadd   DVD   03 March 2005 Little more than an extended music video, this film has just the right color and tempo for a nice cinematic buzz.

Schultze Gets The Blues Steve Gadd   DVD   22 October 2005 Schultze, a recently retired polka accordionist, catches a bit of zydeko on the radio and transform his style, finally travelling to Louisiana. While there are a few nice touches, the slow pacing establishes the retirement mood all too well.

Secret Window Steve Gadd   DVD   25 March 2005 Stephen King wrote this story about an author and a psycho, violent reader who makes his life miserable. Another movie that blends reality and fantasy to provide an easy way out.

Sex, Lies, and Videotape Steve Gadd   DVD   10 August 2005 I forgot to add this title to the list after watching it, which should tell you something. If I understand correctly, Hollywood got stuck in a rut once they were allowed to show people in bed and use colorful language. In 1989 Steven Soderbergh kickstarted the "indie" movement with this picture, preparing the way for "Pulp Fiction." James Spader does make things interesting with his quirky expressions, but for most of the duration this was a movie that I wanted to enjoy more than I actually enjoyed.

Shark Tale Steve Gadd   DVD   06 June 2005 Without the voice talent, this movie would have been dead in the water.

Shrek Steve Gadd   DVD   11 May 2005 Cute. Not as technically accomplished as "The Incredibles," but with more double entendres and fart jokes.

Sicko Steve Gadd   BitTorrent Cinema   26 July 2007 Another entertaining bit of propaganda, making the (entirely one-sided) case that American healthcare is messed up, and Canadian, British, French, and Cuban healthcare is tip-top.

Sideways Steve Gadd   Fairfax Cinema De Lux   03 December 2004 Occasionally funny, slow-paced ridealong with mismatched friends through wine country. The depressive, wine snob author can't pull himself together enough to score, while his actor buddy can't help but to charm the ladies. The scenery is beautiful and the acting and dialog are perfect, but this kind of film is an acquired taste.

Sin City Steve Gadd   Fairfax Town Center   15 April 2005 Sin City takes the best elements of a comic book -- sorry, graphic novel -- and a movie to create an edgy, atmospheric, and totally engrossing experience, far cooler than the A-Ha music video of days gone by.

Sliding Doors Steve Gadd   DVD   12 February 2005 This was our first taste of a three-month all-you-can-rent promo from the video store. This movie takes the "Run Lola Run" concept to the romantic comedy format, with the alternate threads presented in parallel rather than sequentially.

Slumdog Millionaire Steve Gadd   Regal Countryside Cinema   16 January 2009

Spy Game Steve Gadd   DVD at home   28 August 2002 At least half of this movie takes place in a conference room, but it still manages to keep your interest. Some of the flashback scenes were a bit underdeveloped, but the complex storyline keeps you guessing.

Supersize Me Steve Gadd   DVD   11 August 2005 With its light touch and sharp editing, this exposé was more entertaining and less heavyhanded than expected. (Thanks, Tony, for the encouraging nudge.)

Talk to Her Steve Gadd   DVD   25 June 2003 Pedro Almodóvar makes the story work despite having the two female leads in a coma for most of the duration. Original, well-crafted, but not magnificent.

Terminal Steve Gadd   DVD   04 December 2004 Another one man show for Tom Hanks, this one with minor characters more interesting than a volleyball.

Thank You For Smoking Steve Gadd   Delta 73   24 September 2006 Pretty passable comedy, at least by the standards of inflight entertainment.

The Battle of Algiers Steve Gadd   DVD   21 February 2005 A celebrated documentaty shot on location, telling the story of the uprising leading to Algerian independence from France.

The Birdcage Steve Gadd   DVD   08 May 2005 Maybe not quite as funny the second time because of inflated memories of how funny it was the first time.

The Bourne Identity Steve Gadd   University Mall Theaters   02 September 2002 Nice adaptation of the Robert Ludlum series, even if it's not very faithful. The frenetic car chases through narrow European streets with tiny European cars was second only to those in "Ronin."

The Bourne Supremacy Steve Gadd   DVD   08 December 2004 A good follow-up, with good car chases and music. Not much resemblance to the books (Carlos?). And one glaring goof, from imdb: Errors in geography: When Bourne visits his ex-colleague in Berlin, the bird singing in the background is an American thrush, probably a Wood Thrush.

The Butterfly Effect Steve Gadd   DVD   27 July 2005 This was another Yahoo recommendation. The "go back in time to fix a problem and create more problems" idea is rich but not particularly original, and this movie handles it just well enough to be engaging.

The Crossing Guard Steve Gadd   DVD at home   20 October 2002 Jack Nicholson waits six years for his daughter's DWI killer to be released from jail so he can finally kill him. Unfortunately, he forgets to put bullets in his gun and blows his big chance. So he tells the guilt-ridden killer he will come back for him in three days. Implausible plot, unbelievable and undeveloped characters, and a corny finale broadcast in advance. Not even Jack can rescue this weak Sean Penn effort.

The Decalogue, parts 1-3 Steve Gadd   DVD   03 March 2005 Krzysztof Kieslowski, celebrated for his "Three Colors" trilogy, in 1989 created a ten-part series for Polish television based on the Ten Commandments. Each episode is an hourlong drama involving the residents of a rather dismal apartment building in Warsaw. The commandments themselves are never mentioned, but the very human stories have a Slavic sensibility reminiscent of the great Russian writers.

The Departed Steve Gadd   Fairfax Towne Center   08 December 2006 A festival of capping.

The Dreams of Sparrows Steve Gadd   DVD   25 July 2005 Apparently intending to show what life is really like there, a couple of Iraqis carried video cameras around Baghdad and Fallujah. Unfortunately, the result is a themeless, positionless collection of home videos. We see carefully diverse opinion pieces from taxi drivers, shopkeepers, the film crew, local artists, and (most embarassingly) inmates of an asylum. Some love Bush, some hate Bush, nothing more interesting or provocative than you can hear anywhere. From time to time we get a helicopter flyby or some car bomb aftermath, exactly the sort of TV news coverage the director decries at the outset. One of the producers was killed before the film was completed, this is the only war tragedy that registers with any feeling. Even the title is left unexplained. While it must be supremely difficult to film in Iraq, the famous advice of Robert Capa holds true: "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough."

The Edge of Heaven Steve Gadd   DVD   15 December 2007 Not my favorite of Fatih Akin's work, but enjoyable enough.

The Firm Steve Gadd   DVD   24 June 2003 The abridgement and distortion may have been necessary to bring this novel to the screen, but it just doesn't create the same suspense. What made the viewing worthwhile was the weird deja vu feeling of seeing a Tom Cruise character lose all of his life's anchors, struggle to figure out what is going on and what to do while maintaining the appearance of normalcy -- a prefigurement of the role he would play six years later in Eyes Wide Shut.

The Game Steve Gadd   DVD   30 January 2005 There's nothing like watching this movie for the first time, and it's almost as much fun watching it with someone else who hasn't seen it.

The Good Girl Steve Gadd   DVD   03 July 2003 I haven't been able to put my finger on what I liked about this movie. It was a simple story with convincing characters and good pacing, I guess that was enough. A couple of glasses of wine probably didn't hurt either.

The Incredibles Steve Gadd   DVD   05 May 2005 Any qualms about watching a cartoon are quickly squashed by the brillliant realism of these ten-fingered characters. There's not a moment wasted in the fast-paced, original story about superheroes coming out of retirement, and little moralizing or "Lion King" heartstring tugging. Just good, Saturday-morning quality fun.

The International Steve Gadd   DVD   11 June 2009 The glossy international scenes and shootout at the Guggenheim fail to make up for the synthetic story and wooden performances.

The Island Steve Gadd   Delta #11   28 November 2005 Goes where Planet of the Apes and The Matrix have been, and does nothing more.

The Italian Job Steve Gadd   DVD   26 October 2003 Very entertaining execution of the career-ending-heist-spoiled-by-turncoat-partner-sweet-revenge formula. Includes a one-hour and fifty minute commercial for the Mini Cooper.

The Ladykillers Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   31 March 2004 You can hardly go wrong with the Brothers Coen. This comedy remake has all the elements: a great lead, an oddly amusing plot, and a great soundtrack. I didn't notice any fixation on round spinning objects, however.

The Last Samurai Steve Gadd   DVD   07 May 2005 This movie gave a visual perspective to the book I'm reading, with quite a few parallels. In James Clavell's Shogun, a western "barbarian" is protected by the Japanese warriors because of his knowledge of modern weaponry. He gradually assimilates and comes to appreciate their culture. The movie, however, suffers from an overwrought story, unconvincing characters, and battle scenes that seem artless after seeing "Crouching Tiger," "Flying Daggers," and "Kill Bill."

The Life of David Gale Steve Gadd   Herndon Worldgate Cinema   06 March 2003 Got home too late for 'The Pianist' and ended up with this poor substitute. In 'Dead Man Walking,' you feel pathos for a guilty man on death row, here you sit impassive at the fate of the innocent activist who wants to be a lethal-injection martyr. Contrived scenes and plot holes defuse any payoff from the requisite twist.

The Lives of Others Steve Gadd   Cinema Arts Theatre   20 April 2007

The Machinist Steve Gadd   DVD   01 August 2005 With its gloomy lighting, odd angles, moody music, and plausibly disturbing premise, this movie is more effective at creating tension than anything I've seen from David Lynch. There are lots of clever touches in the dialog, backgrounds, even the title, and a story that evokes Dostoyevsky and Hitchcock.

The Magdalene Sisters Steve Gadd   DVD   15 August 2005 The documentary value of this picture came mostly from the titles before the end credits. As a movie, it is a conventional prison-break story, appropriately but a bit unrelentingly sad. An extra point for the Gibson Girl looks and acerbic sarcasm of Nora-Jane Noone's character.

The Maltese Falcon Steve Gadd   DVD   08 June 2003 I just couldn't find much to justify all the attention this film gets -- maybe it is just noteworthy as the first noir. It is allegedly set in San Francisco (you might catch a glimpse of the Bay Bridge and a street sign if you watch closely).

The Manchurian Candidate Steve Gadd   DVD   07 January 2005 Take some shadowy government agents, corrupt politicians, a hero fighting for justice against the odds. Stir, bake, and title.

The Matrix Reloaded Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   15 June 2003 After the "burly brawl" punch-fest, how can you take any of the later fight scenes seriously? Just a bunch of blurry forearms. And by now the philosophical pretense has been sidelined by the mind-blowing special effects. I am in favor of the cool explosions, I just get a little bored waiting for them. The Gigeresque sets of the underworld were cool.

The Million Dollar Hotel Steve Gadd   DVD   17 February 2005 Wim Winders never saw a screenplay that he couldn't pad with an extra half hour of Art. This movie feels a bit long, and I turned on subtitles and the Wim/Bono commentary halfway through to stave off boredom. Loved the location and the bookended helicopter shots. The dysfunctional romance / murder mystery / art caper was something less than captivating.

The Prestige Steve Gadd   DVD   24 March 2007 Middling magic drama, overworked plot devices, Ricky Jay cameo.

The Quiet American Steve Gadd   DVD   14 September 2003 A love triangle slowly unravels in Saigon. Graham Greene's understated drama works well without being showy.

The Spanish Apartment Steve Gadd   DVD   16 February 2005 An uptight French student spends a year in Barcelona, staying in an apartment packed with other students from around Europe. Various tragicomic and coming-of-age related activities ensue. Audrey Tautou had a minor role, and the other characters were merely interesting, but the diverse accents and languages and the beautiful city made the movie worth watching.

The Station Agent Steve Gadd   DVD   24 March 2005 More evidence that you can make a good movie with the basic ingredients: a few interesting characters, a little bit of story, and some originality.

The Straight Story Steve Gadd   DVD   03 May 2005 David Lynch and Disney team up to present -- that's right, David Lynch and Disney -- to present the story of Alvin Straight, who at age 73 decided to reconcile with his ailing brother. Without a driver's license and stubbornly independent, he rode his John Deere lawnmower for five weeks to make the trip. Lynch's musical collaborator Angelo Badalamenti adapts to the easygoing pace nicely, adding a folksy score with few hints of spookiness.

The Sum of All Fears Steve Gadd   DVD   14 September 2003 Strange how the main plot of extremists sparking a war of nuclear powers is so convincing, but the details are so unrealistic. The director of the CIA can't be reached by his top lieutenant because he can't hear his cell phone at a football game. A bit later, after a nuclear explosion, the hero has no problem making cell phone calls from ground zero, though it's no use to the director, who dies abandoned in a dark corner of a hospital while doctors do "whatever they can" for hopelessly injured victims.

The Visitor Steve Gadd   DVD   29 March 2009

The Way of the Gun Steve Gadd   DVD   17 September 2005 With a screenplay by the guy who wrote "The Usual Suspects," this movie has a large cast of shady characters with shifting loyalties. But this story of a kidnapping gone wrong wasn't as cool or surprising.

The Woodsman Steve Gadd   DVD   14 July 2005 You have to respect a director for taking on a toxic subject. The result is a must-see for fans of Kevin Bacon, whose spectral presence is underplayed to perfection. The movie also inspired me to reread the second half of Chapter 41 of Cryptonomicon, Tom Howard's dissertation on black stockings.

The Wrestler Steve Gadd   Fairfax Regal Cinemas   13 March 2009 Nothing really bad about the movie, but not all that much going for it either.

There Will Be Blood Steve Gadd   Fairfax Towne Center   26 January 2008 Part of our annual rite of watching Oscar-nominated films. This one gets my vote for whatever it's nominated for.

Vanilla Sky Steve Gadd   DVD   23 February 2005 The "what is dream and what is reality" has been done before (see Cronenberg) but this remake has nice production values, and I really like the finale.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona Steve Gadd   Regal Countryside Cinema   12 September 2008 A love-tetrahedron that is anything but Platonic. For my date, the most dramatic moment in the movie occurred early on, when the director's name appeared onscreen. I thought she was going to break down in tears. I was more optimistic -- after seeing "Match Point" I held out hope for another European story with Woody Allen behind the camera. We were both pleased in the end.

War of the Worlds Steve Gadd   Countryside Megaplex   15 July 2005 A passable summer blockbuster, with all the requisite elements: brilliant, thrilling effects; a boring Act 2 in which the characters become slightly less flat; and the need to suspend more disbelief than you have since "Independence Day." Voiceover excerpts from H. G. Wells give a note of dignity to the opening and closing moments, but with disappointingly few nods to the 1953 version this is just an interplanetary "Jurassic Park."

We Don't Live Here Anymore Steve Gadd   DVD   02 May 2005 Two academics, bored with their home lives, try to spice things up with a bit of adultry, but do a pretty poor job at it. With good direction and mood music, this psychodrama is neither boring nor particularly enjoyable.

Wedding Crashers Steve Gadd   Reston Town Center   29 July 2005 Pairing the indomitable cuteness of Owen Wilson with blustering, crass Vince Vaughn was inspired, but there just aren't enough jokes to make the comedy work, and not much else to go on. Christopher Walken is always fun to watch, of course.

What Happened Was... Steve Gadd   Video   03 August 2003 Jackie and Michael, two maladjusted New Yorkers, share an awful first date. Set entirely in her apartment, with almost no music, it's a struggle against boredom as they outdo each other revealing their insecurities and complexes. It is a very convincing portrayal that may have worked well on stage, but on screen it is too much like watching a car crash in very slow motion.

Winged Migration Steve Gadd   Visions Cinema   28 November 2003 I got stuck on my way out of Hollywood Video when I noticed this film playing on the monitors. Despite the comparisons to Baraka and similar films, I had my doubts about paying cinema prices to see a movie entirely about migratory birds. But this documentary is done extraordinarily well. The recurrent image never wears thin: a flock of birds, the nearest one seemingly inches away from the camera, soaring above beautiful backgrounds from nature and cities around the world. Every few minutes there is a shot so perfect it must have taken weeks to capture. And you can't beat those penguins for goofy charm.

Without a Trace (Sin Dejar Huella) Steve Gadd   DVD   03 June 2005 Aurelia and Ana, each fleeing their own troubles, hook up on a road trip from Ciudad Juarez to Cancun. A drug dealing ex-boyfriend and corrupt federales on their tail keep the pressure on, but the movie frequently loiters over achingly beautiful scenes along Mexico's eastern coast.

Zoolander Steve Gadd   DVD   28 February 2005 I did it for science, after a conversation about what makes a good movie good, and whether taste is arbitrary or if there is some objective way to quantify quality. This kind of movie has the advantage that it's not likely to disappoint, as it delivers just the kind of insipid humor you are expecting.