Gamer — For a movie that requires a lot of urgency in both style and story, Gamer has absolutely none. It attempts some over the top social commentary that succeeds only at being tedious and unoriginal. The movie has a shockingly well known cast, bu tthat’s about it’s only strong point. If you ever wanted to see Gerard Butler vomit vodka into a gas tank and then relieve himself in said tank, then Gamer‘s the movie for you. If that’s not the case, then steer clear of this one. It’s not even worthy of being called a trainwreck, since it’s more like a really long, boring trainride that induces coma-like sleep.
Speaking of Bettany, Legion also stars him and, well… it’s just sort of middling. Bettany’s pretty wooden as the archangel Michael, and the story’s a snoozer. It’s entertaining for what it is, given that the supporting cast turn in performances that are watchable, but let’s face it – if you’re watching Legion, you’re probably watching it for angels with machine guns. Legion does deliver that. (And the popcorn at the movie theater was tastier than normal, so that was a win, too.)
Wimbledon – Paul Bettany has to be given some credit. Hugh Grant cornered the market on the charmingly befuddled, lanky Englishman type with few challengers to the throne (Colin Firth, I think, could potentially shank Grant one of these days and usurp the title). Bettany pulls a pretty boring and thankless role off with affable charm and sweetness. Kirsten Dunst is … okay, and Sam Neill as Dunst’s father is fantastic in his prickliness. it’s not one for the record books, but Wimbledon is a romantic comedy that I strangely didn’t mind, considering I have issues with so many of them.
1416 and Counting 