Valhalla Rising

This is probably the hardest movie I've ever had to critique. The director of Bronson goes in a wildly different direction with Valhalla Rising, making a movie that makes the surrealism of Bronson look normal. There's very little plot, even less dialogue, and long stretches of time where the only sound is the ambient music. It is maddeningly difficult to follow if you're not paying 100% attention to it, and even then you'll probably still be scratching your head for the majority of the flick. Despite this, however, you can't take your eyes off of it. The cinematography is absolutely amazing, and the acting is very captivating. Mads Mikkelsen, who I thoroughly enjoyed as the quiet but imposing antagonist in Casino Royale, never says a word, and yet you can't help but like his character. His enigma-like quality endears him to the audience when set against the other characters; his silence is his purity. I can't say I love this movie, but I can definitely say I strongly admire it. It's an incredibly bold piece of filmmaking that should be viewed by fans of cinema art.

Cashback

This is a frustrating movie because it has some beautiful moments and ideas, but it is dimmed by some weaknesses: it is uneven in its pacing, there isn't quite enough plot to sustain it, some of the story turns are predictable, some of the humor is a tad forced, and so on. Even the title and cover image are flawed: I passed over this movie at least a dozen times on Netflix Instant Watch because I assumed it was a booby flick aimed at teenage boys. But it actually has some insight and romance and character development, and is mostly well done. It just falls short of what it could have been. Worth a watch/rent.

Across The Universe

Wow! What a movie! I'm very picky with musicals, but I loved Across The Universe! It's so rich with life and originality that I scarcely know where to begin...

The concept is absolutely brilliant: tell a story with Beatles songs. And it works so well! The great thing, though, is that you can know nothing about the Beatles and still love it. The plot isn't Beatles-centric and the songs are re-imagined with enough originality that they feel new and fresh.

The one complaint I have with the movie is its reliance on the music. While the beginning of the movie had enough plot to carry the characters from one song to the next, the songs start to get closer together later in the movie, making less room for the story.

All in all, Across The Universe is a very entertaining experience. Definitely worth watching, if not purchasing.