Uncharted

Indiana Jones was a scholar, an archeologist, and a professor. And, above all, he was a likable guy. These people? Not so much. It’s hard to get into a movie, no matter how well done are the action sequences, or even if there’s a decent story (or back story), if you just don’t have much reason to like the characters. Clearly, Tom Holland’s supposed likability was expected to carry a lot of weight here, but that never particularly worked for me in this film. (Personally, I find him a bit too lightweight in whatever context.) It probably also doesn’t help that this outing is based on a video game; that’s always a kiss of death for any movie. On the plus side, the action is very well done, and the movie overall has good pace, and the settings throughout are interesting and eye-catching. All in all, not a bad effort for a check-your-brain-at-the-door action flick; it just never really catches fire. If you want to go on a cinematic treasure hunt, you won’t find gold here. Finally, I note for the record that I named a fictional cat character Mr. Whiskers over two decades before this film was made, proving there truly is nothing new under the sun.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

At turns amusing, bemusing, exciting, and heartwarming, this film ultimately earns the simple and perhaps most important characterization a film can receive: entertaining. The clever conception of the movie’s recursive plot and structure makes it something of a puzzle to be put together by the viewer, though not one that ever reaches the status of too difficult or overly frustrating. The greatest wonder here may be Nicolas Cage's self-deprecating self-awareness; he not afraid to make himself look foolish while celebrating himself at the same time. One curious aspect of this work is the fact that it relies upon—with no small amount of justification—the idea that pretty much everyone understands the mechanics of Hollywood filmmaking; we’re all immediately in on the joke. Unique and enjoyable, this flick can hardly be called unbearable, whatever level of talent it may truly display.

Unknown

That PURR is tentative; it could have slipped into MEOW territory if there had been one more thing wrong with this movie. Because there do seem to be a lot of holes in the plot; and we've seen this sort of international intrigue play many times before. But what pulls it through is the work of Liam Neeson, who really shines in this sort of role: a mystery man who needs to fight against desperate odds in order to ultimately come out on top. As with the underrated Taken, Neeson's performance makes this thing go, though this time he gets help from a very good supporting cast. It may not be a necessary movie, but you won't regret watching it either.

The Upside of Anger

Alert! There's been a Kevin Costner sighting. Good work, too. Too bad it's in a bad movie. The story is simply not engaging, too weighed down by Joan Allen's flawed central character to make much headway with the viewer. (We're told at the beginning how good she is/was, but we see no evidence of that fact within the story. Kinda hard to generate much sympathy that way...) You can easily see why the movie failed with viewers.

U2: Rattle And Hum

What can you say? It's a feature showing one of the all-time great rock bands at the top of its game. Just make sure you watch this one in a room with a great sound system.

Under The Tuscan Sun

I suspect this movie did not get much love upon its release because it does not stick to comedy or drama but blends the two freely. (Most folks like their stories to color only within the lines these days.) That wasn't a problem for me. And there are other pluses: beautiful locations, good story (and sub-stories) and a real commitment to the heart. Top all that off with one of our favorite actresses, Diane Lane, and you've got a winner. (Lane being oh-so-easy on the eyes has been well documented, but she's really a fine actress; watch her here in the opening scenes, where she's conveying the pain of her character's break-up and divorce.) All in all, definitely worth a look.

Unfaithful

As we all know, Diane Lane is a freak--she's actually getting better looking as she gets older. That's not merely a lascivious observation; it's integral to making this movie work. You would hardly believe the story if Lane, despite her (and her character's) age, was not the hottie she is. As for the acting, the real props go to Richard Gere, who plays so skillfully against type, laying on the nebbishness, that you can actually get past his own handsomeness. Plus there's some handsome and artful direction from Adrian Lyne. Put it all together and...well, it's OK, not great. It's probably better than I'm willing to say, but it still felt unsatisfying to me. I'm all over the place on this flick; you may just have to judge it for yourself.

U-571

Mostly, it's your standard WWII submarine flick (they are legion) until the story takes a turn for the interesting, and the movie really grabs your attention, until by the end it's finally...your standard WWII submarine flick. Got that? Nevertheless, I must admit that the action/battle sequences are top notch, and Matthew McConaughey gives a first rate performance as the would-be leader of men. If you can't get your hands on Das Boot, this will do.

Underworld

Mostly, I liked it. I'm not going to give it any awards, but it stayed watchable all the way through, and as long as you don't start poking around looking for logic in the back story, you'll do all right. It might have been better with someone other than Kate Beckinsale--don't get me wrong, a fine actress--in the lead role; maybe some gal with a little more action heft. Plus, you have to admire the cheek of the producers, setting up a sequel when there really is no reason to believe there will be one. (ETA: boy was I wrong there!)

Unbreakable

Something of a stealth movie--its quality sneaks up on you, and you realize how good it is when thinking about it later, after you've finished watching it. And I really dig director Shyamalan's willingness to hold a shot; it's a refreshing change from today's dominant 'quick-edit' style.

Ulee's Gold

A tale that moves at a measured pace--to put it mildly--but still a pretty good movie. Peter Fonda's performance really makes it worth it--his Ulee practically defines world-weary (in this case, that's good).

The Usual Suspects

A movie that set the tone for a generation of crime flicks to come. Cool, funny, smart, and steeped in good performances. You hardly need any advice from me on this one, just a reminder that you're not hip if you haven't seen this film.