Film Forum

Episode Recap

Episode 3

April 25, 2006

Films Reviewed: United 93 and American Dreamz

Commentary: The 2006 MTV Movie Award Nominations

Featurette: Behind the scenes of The Sentinel

Regarding United 93:

Matt: Either you are ready to see this enactment of what may have happened on the doomed flight that crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, or you are not.  (I was not.)  But the film is masterfully made and does not dishonor those that died on that terrible day in US history.  Three and a half stars.

Aron: This movie is well made by Paul Greengrass, but it really does depend on if you want to see a movie based on an incident that is still fresh in our minds.  This film can be seen as in indictment on the current policies of the administration or as a reinforcement of the concept that the religion of Islam is a terrorist organization.  Three and a half stars from me as well.

Average Rating: ***1/2 (out of ****)

Regarding American Dreamz:

Aron: I thought this would be a stale film.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that it really was a funny satire on our current POTUS and the hype that is “reality television”.  Mandy Moore is a lot of fun as the superstar wannabe and Dennis Quaid makes a good “president”.  Three stars.

Matt: I thought the satire was a bit forced and not all that funny.  Hugh Grant does not make a good Simon Cowell parody, but I loved the set where the TV show takes place.  Willem Dafoe was very good (and barely recognizable) as the White House Chief of Staff, however.  Two stars.

Average Rating: ** (out of ****)

Commentary:  The 2006 MTV Movie Award nominations were announced this week.  Aron and Matt took a look at some of the new categories and their nominees.  (Aron: Didn’t MTV used to air music videos?)

Featurette: Behind the scenes of The Sentinel