Reel Reviews -- E

Easy A (+) -- I didn't want to like this movie. Early returns showed a flick that was way too clever and full of itself; the all-too-pretty setting and characters screamed "Disney movie," and all that entails; and the device of a webcast narration looked a little too self-consciously modern and present-day. But it all turned out for the best, paying off with a very sharp, funny and ultimately charming work. This one earns its good grade. Posted 1/5/12.


Easy Rider (+) -- Actually not as good as the obscuring haze of time makes it out to be. But definitely worth a look as one of the defining works of its time. And more movies should have characters discussing the nature of life and society in them, as Jack Nicholson so memorably does here.

Edward Scissorhands (+) -- And now you know my secret shame: it took me this long to get around to watching one of Tim Burton's best movies. What's to be said? It's like looking back at the moment when Johnny Depp really became a star, when Winona Ryder was still the next great thing. Mostly, it's just a wonderful movie, a modest fable about an outcast and how he stays that way, despite a brief interlude of acceptance. Whether you want hope or despair, you can find equal doses here, and you'll enjoy what you get to the fullest. Posted 4/25/05.

Elizabeth (+) -- One of those cool costume period pieces. Good work by Cate Blanchett as the titular monarch; exceptionally good work by Geoffrey Rush as her cagey counselor.

Ella Enchanted (~) -- In a nutshell, uneven. Anne Hathaway acquits herself nicely, even showing a strong singing voice, and the movie remains solid when it focuses on her Ella and the girl's unusual magical condition. But there's too much straying into bland low-romantic plot, and the warmed over 'Shrek' shenanigans don't add much to the proceedings. Worth it, if you really dig fantasy for kids. Posted 12/28/05.

Elysium (+) -- Solid sci-fi action movie. This one bears some familial resemblance to District 9 (by the same director), in that it depicts a circumstance of massive inequality, but this time we’re the underprivileged aliens; I guess the lessons of the last few years really have hit home. I’m not sure there’s anything profound here--it’s just a good action flick with a decent story that keeps moving along, keeps the viewer engaged, and comes to a satisfying conclusion. (And no set up for a sequel, something that’s rare with today’s sci-fi films. Perhaps that approach leads to better results? Hollywood take note…) Posted 4/27/14.

Ender’s Game (~) -- I guess some folks thought this was going to be really big. For that to happen, it would have had to have been really good--and it’s not. Which isn’t to say it’s bad; the movie works on its own level, it’s entertaining and well-paced, most of what you see is visually impressive. There’s just something missing, a deficit that keeps this flick from making that jump into the stratosphere of big-time sci-fi hit. Perhaps it's too intellectual at its core; that might work in a book--this film is famously based upon a book--but a blockbuster action movie needs a little more "duh" in it. Maybe. You can still get a couple of decent hours out of watching it; it's just not "all that." Posted 8/20/14.

Enemy At The Gates (+) -- Good cast, pretty good story, and you could hardly find a more dramatic setting than the battle of Stalingrad in 1942. Effective work by Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, the ever-reliable Joseph Finnes, and--with particularly stalwart distinction--Ed Harris. And by the way, if you've got a thing for seeing folks getting shot in the eye, this is your flick. Posted 8/3/02.

Enemy Of The State (+) -- Surprisingly good. Lots of fun, and perhaps the first movie where Will Smith really made a case for himself as a true movie star.

Enigma (+) -- You start off watching this flick, and you think you may have made a mistake. The lead-in is flat, there's a little too much Britishness...and then, amazingly enough, it kicks in, and "engrossing" is the word that springs to mind. Ultimately you get a tight, entertaining drama for your two hours. One distracting note: Dougray Scott spends the entire movie looking like he's been mugged by pipe-wielding bikers; hardly classic leading man material. Posted 11/26/03.

Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room (+) -- A film about monsters, plain and simple, one that will make you angry all over again. The filmmakers provide a comprehensive review of the crime of the early century, the scumbags who perpetrated it, and the damage it did. Watch this documentary, then remember it the next time some asshole starts telling tales about the "miracle of the marketplace." Posted 5/17/07.

Erin Brockovich (+) -- The better of director Soderbergh's two award-nominated movies from 2000. Julia Roberts is compelling as Brockovich, and Albert Finney is a hoot as her boss. And if the movie's accusations against PG&E are even close to true, then the bastards should stay bankrupt forever.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (+) -- More mind-bending fun from the word processor of writer Charlie Kaufman. This one is not as heavy on the goofy humor as, say, Being John Malkovich; Eternal Sunshine is moodier, more contemplative, more interested in delving into the feelings of the leads (expertly played by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet). You laugh, but you get to experience other emotions as well. If you enjoyed Kaufman's other trips inside various heads, you'll like this one too. Posted 5/31/04.

Europa, Europa (+) -- A film about a Polish Jewish kid who escapes the camps by posing as a non-Jew during World War II. A bit long, but it holds the attention most of the way through.

Evelyn (+) -- I saw a broken family, lots of drinking, and occasional fighting. And I thought, "Yep...they're Irish." Beyond that, it's becoming painfully clear that the whole 007 thing is getting in the way of Pierce Brosnan having a fine movie career. This is better than any of his Bond movies, and more significant, given its topic (a father fights for custody of his children in 1950s Ireland). There are a few weak points--some telegraphed storytelling, and some predictable and shameless suspense-making--but you find it forgiveable. Posted 3/9/04.

Ever After (+) -- A nice revision of Cinderella. Still probably Drew Barrymore's best movie.

Evil Dead 2 (~) -- As a straightforward horror flick, this would just be another bad movie. But the genius stroke of remaking the original (a low key success in its own right) as a horror-comedy--with wry, almost peverse humor and a gleeful use of gore--elevates these proceedings considerably. Posted 9/18/07.

The Expendables (~) -- Sure, it's stupid. Borderline retarded in many places. Long stretches of the film sound as though someone spent many hours taping random conversations in bars at 1:30 in the morning, then transcribed the recordings into a script. And there are plenty of "what the fuck is going on?" moments throughout. So why no outright pan? Because it delivers what it promises--plenty of satisfying "blow shit up" moments, and there are just a few touches of decent direction here and there. Stallone does know how to make a movie; he just doesn't always put that knowledge to good use. In this case, as long as you don't pay for it, he probably did just enough. Posted 4/25/11.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (~) -- What an odd, uneven, sometimes downright off-putting film. Given the story’s context (September 11 and its aftermath), it would be hard not to touch a few emotional cores with such a tale; however, that advantage is generally squandered in this movie. The difficulty comes from trying to root for a kid who not only seems to have had severe mental problems even before tragedy struck, but is also something of a consistent jerk. Given that the kid’s the center of the story, that flawed character may very well prove fatal to this film’s chances with the viewer. It’s a competently made movie, at least, so I can’t see a reason to completely condemn it--but I see little reason to recommend it, either. Posted 6/28/13.