Hoffa (1992, Danny DeVito)

Rating: 7 out of 10 (enjoyable)

Jack Nicholson is especially convincing as Jimmy Hoffa and fuels every scene. Hoffa is not afraid to get his hands dirty or his head busted (or worse) for the sake of the union.

Chaos runs amok during awful riot scenes, and it looks great. I don't think there is a bad shot in this whole film, and the flashback transitions are done smoothly. The profanity, guns, and general behavior of Hoffa had me feeling like the second half was a mob flick, reminding me of how the opening scene of the movie carried a charismatic charm to it along those lines.

When Hoffa wins after a bitter strike with a company, I was happy for him. DeVito, who directed and stars in the film as an amalgamation of Hoffa's associates over the years, does a terrific job of showing why Hoffa was so loved by the workers he fought for. The camaraderie, though fictional, between Hoffa and DeVito, softens the film. I found myself smiling at their rise to power and the friendship they've made together.

Upon the film's periodical return to the ominous roadhouse that Hoffa last visited before vanishing without a trace, I found myself feeling excited as a new scene from the past began to play, wholly fascinated by the conflict as Hoffa tussled with Attorney General Robert Kennedy. I wasn't born yet to experience the events of the movie, but the drama and action were a pleasant distraction from my ignorance. This is a cozy trip back in time, despite the film not really explaining what is going on outside of the action. This could be seen as a problem, given the film's lengthy run-time.

The film offers a theory as to what happened to Hoffa, and it comes as a twist that I thought was wonderfully written, reminding me of the tragic end of Talk Radio, made by Oliver Stone, who could've also done well at the helm of this story, but I cannot fault DeVito's efforts. He couldn't help his friend (without a gun because he'd given it to Hoffa for his own protection) after Hoffa helped him.

Robin Hood (2010, Ridley Scott)

Rating: 6 out of 10 (worth watching)

I'm not familiar with the Robin Hood story, aside from knowing that he has a bow and robs people to give to the poor. This movie focuses on monarchies, king this and peasants that, which is neat. I enjoy looking at the costumes and battles.

But Cate Blanchett, who I liked in Elizabeth and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, sadly reverts to her dull side that unintentionally worked as Galadriel among the dispassionate elves in The Lord of the Rings. She doesn't have that spark as an actress, so Lady Marion was less interesting than her blind father in-law.

Crowe was good in this, but he had a strange accent. What is Robin supposed to be? British, or something else? It seemed like Crowe was trying to sound British, but there was another voice under it that made it a bit odd for me. Unfortunately, Robin doesn't do much robbing in this movie which gives Crowe less to work with. His change from "looking out for myself" to "caring for others and never giving up" isn't as strong or exciting as it should have been.

Elsewhere, there are cruel characters that are just plain unlikeable. Yes, they are villains, but I didn't care for the selfish King John or Mark Strong in another one-dimensional villain role. I actually missed the climax of the final fight, so I assume his character died. Again, I wouldn't have cared. He couldn't even convincingly kill a blind man, and watching him torment innocent villagers made this overlong movie all the more tiresome.

Overall, this movie started out well and had potential to be a new twist on the classic story. But there is just not much going on and it really bogs things down. The romance between Blanchett's widow and Robin felt forced as there were simply not enough scenes to develop their relationship. I probably would not watch it again, despite liking the first half. It rises above Scott's dull Gladiator, but not by much.

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)

Rating: 7 out of 10 (enjoyable)

I love those old detective stories, and this homage/spoof offers a perfect balance of intrigue and humor by using the classic elements that made the genre so appealing.

The music is delightful and several gags are hilarious, especially the subtle jokes, on-screen elements and sexual innuendo. There are the gorgeous yet dangerous women, the exciting narration, rainstorms, telephone conversations, racy dialogue, smoking, and a nice black-and-white filter.

Meanwhile, secrets abound and Steve Martin never falters in the lead role balancing deadpan humor in his narration whilst being the bold and vulnerable detective. I also loved the inclusion of clips from old movies with Bogart and whatnot. You also ought to know that I got shot in the arm while writing this.

A Look at "The Black Dahlia" (2006, Brian De Palma)

Fire, Ice, Murder...and Love for Sale

Rating: 8 out of 10 (Above Average)

I saw it back on HBO years ago and liked it for the most part. Upon closer inspection, the story is has a third act that feels rushed and rough around the edges. The murder is awful, but Mia Kirshner (The Crow: City of Angels, Exotica, 24) I've always found darkly gorgeous and she presents the tragic Elizabeth Short in a sympathetic light.

It is a good-looking picture with a neo-noir vibe, but is definitely a period piece of historical fiction. I generally enjoy Josh Hartnett & Aaron Eckhart and the whole cast is solid.

It has evocative qualities such as the old Hollywood era and distinct pieces like the scar on Scarlett Johansson (who is dreamy in this, would love to have her to come home to, as well as Hilary Swank in an unusual dark role), the smoking (in a world that is beginning to frown upon smoking), and the narration that speaks to me from a time period I was not part of.

It is not a great film, but it has the same surreal and atmospheric quality as the rest of De Palma's films I've seen (Carlito's Way, The Untouchables, Dressed to Kill, Mission: Impossible, Scarface) that I can enjoy as part of my movie collection.

Snow White & the Huntsman (2013)

 Rating: 7 out of 10 (Enjoyable)

With such a popular and used story, a new take on it really has to break out and do something special to avoid being another rehash. This version is satisfactory enough. It starts out well and has good moments every now and then, including creepy ones, cute ones, and a sad song that plays as the Dwarfs grieve, giving the film a "Lord of the Rings" vibe.

Ultimately, Snow White & the Huntsman doesn't escape being a rehash due to a weak third act that doesn't merit the dramatic premise. The huntsman's character was left hanging and given no real resolution, which is odd considering he is part of the title. Snow White became the new Queen, and the Huntsman...? Maybe I missed it?

I see why it underperformed. This was the extended version, by the way.