Reel Reviews -- G

Galaxy Quest (+) -- Even though I don't particularly like Tim Allen, this one was still enough fun to overcome that obstacle.

Gangs Of New York (+) -- Best Picture? No. But it certainly isn't bad. The production is lavish and first rate. And Daniel Day-Lewis is simply extraordinary as Bill the Butcher; the movie is worth watching just for his performance alone. Posted 2/28/04.

Gattica (+) -- An interesting take on the issue of genetic engineering, and the potential pitfalls of making "designer" human beings. Check it out.

The General (~) -- Director John Boorman's crime drama raises a bunch of questions. Most pertinent: Why should we care? What is it about the titular "General"--Irish ultra-thief Martin Cahill--that makes him compelling enough to deserve the celluloid treatment? Because he was clever? So are a lot of people who don't steal. Because he was a family man? SFW, as they say; lots of people have kids, including many of those from whom Cahill stole. Some half-baked socioeconomic ideology? That's a poor excuse, given that so many others from the same background stay on the other side of the law. This film is yet another example that crime is not in and of itself endlessly fascinating. It has its moments, but the subject ultimately fails to engage all but the most devoted fans of the genre. Posted 11/21/05.

Ghost World (+) -- Hits the nail on the head more often than a town full of Amish people building a barn. An awesomely true story with clever writing and a dead-on recognition of what's what in this world. The only possible quibble: in real life, girls that cute don't get that surly. Otherwise, it's perfect. A "Best of All" inductee. Posted 10/3/02.

Giant (~) -- Part of the ever-so-small James Dean catalog. It has its merits, if you're up to sitting through a very long movie.

The Gift (~) -- A run-of-the-mill mystery thriller, with a little horror thrown in. Not as good as A Simple Plan, the other Sam Raimi-Billy Bob Thornton collaboration (in this case, B.B. merely wrote the thing). It does reaffirm my position that I will never move to the "deep" South. Posted 8/26/02.

Girl, Interrupted (~) -- Not bad, but it didn't really seem to say all that much.

The Girl Next Door (+) -- A movie that's very entertaining, filled with hot chicks--especially the sizzling Elisha Cuthbert, whom the camera thoroughly ogles--plays it racy (in a good way), and doesn't ask too much. The only problem? Too many bends in the story. A simpler story arc might have served better. But that's not enough reason to complain. It won't change the world, but you'll probably like it. Posted 5/15/06.

Girl With A Pearl Earring (~) -- Competent, but hardly compelling. Such a languid film should bring some serious goods when it finally reaches its climax, but this one just doesn't come through. I'm still not sure what point the movie was trying to make; or maybe there was no point at all. And that begs the question: why bother? Posted 3/7/05.

Glengarry Glen Ross (+) -- If you have ever had to work with salespeople, this is an absolute must see. Alec Baldwin shows up early on and delivers a harangue that ranks as one of the best speeches in the history of cinema. A great cast, including Jack Lemmon, Alan Arkin, Al Pacino, Ed Harris and Kevin Spacey, pulls you along through David Mamet's compelling story.

Go (--) -- Horrible people living horrible lives. It might have worked if it had reached its sought-after Tarantino territory, but this is no Pulp Fiction; there isn't enough humor and wit to redeem it. At least Swingers (by the same director) was enjoyable. Posted 11/5/02.

Gods And Monsters (+) -- An entertaining look at Frankenstein director James Whale's last lusty gay days.

Godzilla 2000 (~) -- Why is it that Godzilla, despite constantly destroying half of Japan, always comes out as something of a hero in these movies? Why, for that matter, does he always show up in Japan (the recent Hollywood version notwithstanding)? And, most pertinently, why would a Godzilla movie released in 2000 still look so damn cheesy? They couldn't float for good special effects at this point in the series, on an almost guaranteed money-maker? By any objective standard, this is a bad movie--but it's still entertaining, with some nice visuals and the tried and true "monsters blowing shit up" formula. If you can dig the camp value, you'll like it; if not, skip it. Posted 7/20/03.

Goldeneye (+) -- Pierce Brosnan steps into 007's tuxedo, and acquits himself rather nicely. Basic fun--no more, no less.

Good Bye, Lenin! (+) -- A movie that starts sweet and charming, funny but not a riot, which then slowly builds into something surprisingly involving and emotional before the end. And if you're nostalgic for Cold War East Germany, hey, bonus points for you. A film that's ultimately more than the sum of its parts. Strongly recommended. Posted 4/7/09.

Good Night, And Good Luck (+) -- Certainly the best movie I've seen this year. Along with the compelling story and excellent acting, George Clooney has fashioned a beautiful film: lovely use of black and white cinematography, compelling shots of light and shadow that echo the polarized story elements. And David Strathairn's professional, restrained performance as Edward R. Murrow is worthy of many awards. You must see this film. Posted 10/30/05.

Goodfellas (+) -- A qualified approval. The movie is entertaining enough, but it's not as good as everyone says it is. I personally don't find criminals all that appealing.

Gormenghast (~) -- They sure laid the British eccentricity on thick with this one. On the plus side, it's visually interesting, has a few great lines, and generally holds the interest. On the minus side, it's overly long, loaded with the aforementioned eccentricity--some folks just won't "get it"--and the climax is too flat and something of a letdown. Add it all up, and you get the so-so squiggle. If you really dig fantasy, I'd recommend it. Otherwise, you have leave to skip it. (Note: this is actually a short miniseries produced by the BBC, though it is compact enough to stand as a very long movie.) Posted 8/17/04..

The Graduate (~) -- Back in the day (1967), contemporary audiences would have "gotten it" right away. But now, if you don't have a thorough knowledge of the times--and most viewers today don't--the interactions between the characters will seem very odd. That cross-decade dissonance contributes to a sense of slow pace and flat, hit-or-miss humor. This really is a good movie, and I suspect discerning viewers will appreciate it, but I have reservations about recommending such a dated film. Posted 6/10/06.

Grand Illusion (~) -- Others must see what I don't. Jean Renoir's supposed classic has a reputation as a great indictment of war. But the film does not make a strong show of the deep cost of war in death and destruction. At most, we see the burden placed upon the individual in war, but the ultimate tragedy here is (again) an individual misfortune--not the colossal tragedy of nations that WWI truly was. The story includes some interesting ruminations on the folly of class consciousness, but nothing that speaks directly to the modern viewer. Perhaps something gets lost in the translation. You're on your own here. Posted 1/20/06.

Gravity (+) -- The Infinite Improbability Drive is alive and well; Douglas Adams would be proud. Everything accomplished in this movie by Sandra Bullock’s space hitchhiker is either a testament to human ingenuity and will, or total bullshit. I’ll leave you to be the judge. Regardless, this film is definitely worth a look; emphasis on LOOK, as the visuals here are quite amazing and a major reason why Cuaron won the Best Director award. I think that overall, you’ll enjoy this film, unless you decide to go full Neil deGrasse Tyson on it and nitpick all the science (I don’t recommend that, not even to NdT). Posted 8/20/14.

The Great Gatsby (~) -- Something’s missing. I can’t quite put my finger on why this film doesn’t work nearly as well as it should, but the fact of it is there for all to see (or not see, given this one met with a disappointing reception in theaters). Too many unsympathetic characters? Perhaps. Fitzgerald wasn’t enamored with humanity when he turned out this story, that’s for sure; I guess folks aren’t that thrilled to be told that their species sucks, especially those members of it who live high on the hog. You can’t blame the cast, all of whom acquit themselves quite well. Maybe this story is just too difficult for most people to get into--and, for that matter, to be made into a really good film. Posted 1/31/14.

Greedy (+) -- A bunch of laughs here, mostly down in the delightfully crass level. The only major problem with this movie? It's not mean enough. But it is a hoot to see so much bad behavior celebrated on screen. Find it and enjoy. Posted 3/29/05.

The Grey (--) -- Holy shit this movie is stupid. Anyone who has ever seen one episode of Survivorman will instantly know that everything these guys do, short of building a fire, is dead wrong and bound to get you killed. I know that suspension of disbelief is crucial to any movie, let alone an adventure movie, but this just goes way beyond anything that makes sense. Certainly, there are a few good moments here, some nice work by Liam Neeson, and a somewhat provocative ending, but it’s just not enough to make this film worthwhile. This one really should be thrown to the wolves. Posted 6/20/13.

The Grifters (~) -- With a title like that, you expect a movie chock full of entertaining flim-flam action. Not so here, to the film's detriment. I found myself bored by the interpersonal angst between the cast of cheap hustlers. The story never gives us enough reasons to care about these people. A disappointment. Posted 12/7/05.

Grosse Pointe Blank (+) -- A hit man goes home--what could be funnier? A lot of things, actually, but this flick still finds plenty of laughs. Nice work by the consistently underrated John Cusack.

Gunga Din (+) -- Not quite the rollicking ride that a modern viewer expects from an action adventure flick. And there's a little too much plot getting in the way of the story (mostly romantic subplot stuff--utterly unnecessary). But then again, there are some great scenes in here, including some iconic moments that served as a springboard for any number of following filmmakers. Those scenes by themselves make it worth a look. Posted 5/30/05.