Random Thoughts:

Highway - 5/10

I love road movies.  I love Seattle.  I love Jake Gyllenhaal.  I love Selma Blair.  Didn't really love this movie, though.  It started out as some derivative, post-90's, hyper-edited, punk indie knockoff.  Once the plot evaporated and the characters took over, it started getting good.  I have to admit it finished a lot better than it started.  Gyllenhaal - in spastic Bubble Boy mode sadly - and Jared Leto play Vegas friends in 1994 who get in way over their heads when Leto's character fucks a criminal's wife.  The two leave for Seattle and on the way pick up prostitute Blair, who I must say has never looked lovelier.   On the way there, the news breaks that Kurt Cobain is dead and thousands flock to the rainy city to mourn.  The film works best when simply allowing the characters to breathe instead of the plot to grow, but it is just not enough.  It paints an interesting portrait of three wanderers.  Thrown in to the mix is Scrubs John C. McGinley, who you really have to see to believe.  The film is directed by James Cox (Wonderland)

 

In Cold Blood - 8/10

This hugely acclaimed classic from the 60's is another road movie, this time a killers-on-the-road one.  Based on a true story, Robert Blake and Scott Wilson play small time criminals who screw up a robbery leading to the murder of a family in Kansas.  They flee to Mexico, but have to return when money runs out.  Portions of the film didn't work for me, but when it works it is quite explosive.  The whole final act had me suckered in and I could barely take my eyes away.  Oscar-nominated cinematography is courtesy of Conrad Hall and I loved the scene of Blake standing in front of the window as it is raining and it looks like tears are running down his face when it is only the rain outside.  I also liked the editing, though found the score a little annoying.  Scott Wilson, whom I've never heard of, is great in the film and I'm surprised wasn't nominated for playing the suave, extroverted part of the duo.  (Turns out I have seen him before: he was the last "john" Charlize Theron murdered in Monster.)  Blake is good, particularly in the scene mentioned above. 

 

King Arthur - 3/10

I know nothing about history or legends and what not, so I'm not going to pretend that I knew what exactly was happening of the film.  Though I don't think many people could follow the battle sequences due to editing that makes third rate porn look stellar.  Most of the film is a big, dull bore.  Dashing Clive Owen looks embarassed to be in this.  Keira Knightley has brief moments of fun with her Sex Fiend Guinevere.  Any touches of personality come from these actors, not from the script's characters.  The rest of the cast is filled out with what seems to be an actor from every prominent country so that way the film will carry box office clout all over the world.   Arthur fails worse than Troy did, though Arthur has the best sequence of the two:  a fight sequence set on ice.  This is the only part of the movie with any inspiration.

 

The Notebook - 7/10

This was a 9 for about 70% of its 120 minute run time, but the thing that blew it was the constant interuption in the great part by the present scenes with Gena Rowlands and James Garner.  Rowlands and Garner are almost perfect, but something about this part completely spoils the beauty of the 1940's flashback scenes with supertalents Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.  All four talents are right at home on-screen.  And its one of those The Bridges of Madison County-esque perfect love movies.  Yes, it is sugar-soaked cliches, but the heart makes you forget that.  If only somehow when Sparks wrote the story for which the film is based off of he could've present a much more original way to have the present meet the past.  And I have no clue as to why the film keeps it a secret that the older couple is the younger couple sixty years later until midway through the film.  But I'll be damned if Young Noah and Young Allie don't get into your heart.  Its a series of wonderfully tender moments that are taken down by what surrounds them.  The opening sequence is absolutely gorgeous, making it one of the only few things in the present to stand out.  To all this I add that if Rachel McAdams isn't the biggest star in the planet in five years cutting $20M paydays, there is no justice in the world.