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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 27 November 2004

Earlier this week, I finished reading the best selling novel of 2004, Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.  National Treasure an obvious rip-off and it makes no attempt to disguise this fact.  If you look in the newspaper, you’ll see advertisements comparing the film to Brown’s novel.

The Da Vinci Code this ain’t but it’s a fun adventure in its own right.  Ben Gates (Cage) has carried a guarded message which has been passed from generation to generation – “the secret lies with Charlotte”.  It’s a clue to a bountiful treasure which was hidden by Freemasons and the Knights Templar hundreds of years ago.  After years of searching, Ben and partner Ian Howe (Bean) have finally found Charlotte - she’s a boat buried beneath the artic ice.  Instead of treasure though, they find yet another clue and the quest is set to continue…

It boils down to an ancient document.  Ben believes there’s a treasure map, written in invisible ink, on the back of the Declaration of Independence.  Unfortunately, this is one of the most guarded pieces of American history and getting a look at the original document is no easy task.  Greed will become the overriding factor though when Ian defects and tries to take the glory for himself.  It’s now a race to see who can get their hands on the document first, and solve an ancient riddle…

Clichés are everywhere but it’s the humour of National Treasure which makes it worth a look.  Ben has two friends (played by Diane Kruger and Justin Bartha) who help him on his journey who come up with several funny one-liners.  The trailer for the film left me highly sceptical but thankfully for us all, the jokes are better in the main show.

If you’re looking for a little more substance though, you perhaps should hold out for the cinematic adaptation for The Da Vinci Code which is already in the works.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 21 November 2004

As a Christmas movie, The Polar Express stands out.  For one thing, it isn’t a comedy.  It’s a mystical family film which embodies the spirit of Christmas.  Unfortunately for the creators, this isn’t a film the public wants to see.  Costing in excess of $150m, The Polar Express made a measly $23m in its opening weekend in the States.

Our leading character is a young boy who has a growing doubt over the existence of Santa Clause.  Lying in his bed on Christmas Eve, the walls start shaking and a giant train pulls up outside his front door.  It’s the Polar Express and it takes any doubting child directly to the North Pole to see first hand the magic Christmas.  An excited conductor ushers the boy aboard and the journey begins.

The children aboard the train are in for a bumpy journey as the train traverses high mountains and icy glaciers en route to its destination.  They will ultimately find their way to North Pole where they will be treated to sight few children ever see and they will gather an appreciation for the spirit of Christmas.

We have a different style of animation on display here – some characteristics make it look very real but other characteristics create an opposing feel.  The children look amazingly real and yet their faces are strange, almost creepy.  It’s a little off-putting.  I applaud the attempt at originality but not sure if it works in the film’s favour.

Another strange aspect to the film is the use of Tom Hanks.  Hanks voices the lead boy, his father, the conductor, a hobo, a scrooge and Santa Clause himself.  Again, I have qualms over whether this was the right decision.  A few of his characters sounded too similar and I felt more distracted than impressed.

On the whole though, I found enjoyment in the film and do have words of praise for director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Cast Away).  The colours and softness to the film’s textures are beautiful and the score from composer Alan Silvestri is delightfully uplifting.  The storyline may be a little dark, but I’d have no misgivings taking a child to see it.  All aboard!

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 26 November 2004

26-year-old Andrew Largeman (Braff) is an emotionless man with no direction.  Diagnosed with an anger management problem at an early age, Andrew has been on a mixture of strong medication ever since.  Living in Los Angeles and working as a small-time actor, Andrew’s world is “numb”.  He just does what he does.  Nothing provides any enjoyment.  Nothing provides any passion.

Lying in bed and staring blankly at the ceiling, Andrew receives a phone call from his father.  Growing up in New Jersey, Andrew’s relationship with his father was an uneasy one.  The two have seldom spoken since Andrew left home at the age of 16.  Having evading him for almost a decade, this is one phone call Andrew cannot leave unanswered…

Returning home for mother’s funeral, Andrew bumps into some childhood friends.  He decides to take a break from his medication (for better or worse) and agrees to stay in town for a few days to catch up and reminisce.  He also meets a talkative girl named Sam (Portman) after a humorous incident involving a randy dog in a doctor’s waiting room.  It may only be a brief visit but Andrew’s four days back in the Garden State will redefine his existence. 

The story behind Garden State makes it all the more interesting to watch.  Those that watch the entertainingly sarcastic television series Scrubs will recognise Zach Braff.  Not only does the 29-year-old Braff star in Garden State, he is also the man holding the script and the man behind the camera.  Drawing from his own experiences, Braff has broken through as a filmmaker.  On a budget of just $2.5m, his film created a big-time buzz at last year’s Sundance Film Festival.  Competing studios fought hard for the distribution rights with Fox Searchlight finally the knock-out bid.

Unlike many recent Hollywood efforts, this story features two leading characters who aren’t one-dimensional.  You always have a sense that Andrew and Sam are keeping certain parts of themselves from each other.  What we see on the surface isn’t always what lies beneath.  Such rich characters are a dream for any actor and I can understand why Natalie Portman was drawn to the project.  She delivers the film’s standout performance and after favouring more dramatic roles of late, it’s a pleasure to see her playing the fun-loving, effervescent Sam.

Whilst I have praise for him as an actor, Zach Braff isn’t as strong in the director’s chair.  I sensed the film was trying to be too cool with an array of slow-mo and fast-mo scenes.  Other parts were backed by a very loud soundtrack and felt more like a music video.  The best scenes are those where Braff lets the characters do the talking rather than the camera.

In a very weak year for big-budget Hollywood films, Garden State is the perfect refreshment to wipe that clichéd taste from your mouth.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 16 November 2004

Good luck trying to find a laugh in this pitiful excuse for a motion picture.  Queen Latifah is a delivery driver named Belle who has finally gotten her New York City taxi licence.  Jimmy Fallon is a police detective named Washburn who has had his licence revoked because he’s the worst driver on earth.

When a bank is robbed and Washburn is the nearest to the vicinity, he hops in Belle’s cab and the adventures begin.  The cab gets damaged, Belle’s boyfriend is fuming, Jimmy gets kicked off the force, and yet…  Pfffft, we all know what happens in the end.  They capture the robbers in a crazy car chase and redeem themselves.

How stupid is this plot?  How can a leading police officer not be able to drive?  How can the other police officers be so mind-numbingly stupid?  How can a group of women pull off these daring heists with such nonchalance?  I know this is supposed to be a comedy but I don’t find humour in any of this.  It may pass for a second grade skit on Saturday Night Live but not on a big screen and not costing me $8.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 21 November 2004

There’s a legend that when someone dies in the grip of a powerful rage, they leave behind a curse.  This is the flimsy premise behind The Grudge, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.  Those going to see Miss Gellar display her “talent” will be sorely disappointed.  She utters few words and looks rather disinterested (if you ask me).  Still, the film debuted at number one at the U.S. leaving many of the belief that Gellar is the new box-office draw.  I can only laugh.

Set in Japan, Gellar plays care worker Karen Davis.  Her latest assignment is to care for an elderly woman is a near comatose state.  On arriving at the house, an immediate shiver runs down Karen’s spine.  She hears strange sounds from within the walls and something just isn’t right.  Adding to the mystery is the fact that the previous care worker to visit the house has disappeared.

Looking upstairs, Karen makes a horrifying discovery.  When the police arrive to investigate, she learns there’s a history behind this particular residence.  Others have fallen victim and yet it cannot be logically explained.  A shaken Karen wants to know more but her life is now in increasing danger…

Based on a Japanese film of the same title, The Grudge is pathetically weak.  There’s a creaking noise which is supposed to be scary but I could only cringe at how often it was used and how unconvincing it sounded.  Director Takashi Shimizu tries to mess with us by using shadows, surprises and scary music but when you boil it down, this film is about nothing.  The only scary element was watching how many people paid to see it.