Maleficent

I don't go to many Disney movies that don't come from Pixar, but this one intrigued me.  Maybe it's because, like many people, I'm a sucker for the gimmick of exploring different ways of retelling classic fairy tales.  Maybe it's because I love Angelina Jolie.  Whatever the reason, I checked out Maleficent the other night. 

Though it's not a great film, it is a good one, and I'm glad I went to see it.  Jolie's performance is wonderful, completely compelling despite the make-up and the weird lines it gave her already razor-sharp cheekbones.  Sharlto Copley chews the scenery with abandon and to generally good result.  Elle Fanning is exactly as the princess usually is, which is to say pretty and among the least interesting characters in the story.

I won't spoil any of the plot for you, because it does its best to surprise you, but if you don't see the ending "twist" coming, I'll be stunned. 

If you could go to only one of Chef or Maleficent, I'd of course recommend Chef, but if you've already seen that wonderful movie and are seeking an additional diversion, give Maleficent a chance. 

The Tourist

Never has a film wasted so much beauty as The Tourist. Angelina Jolie alternates between achingly beautiful and searingly hot. Johnny Depp delivers his bumbling everyman character with all of his customary charm and appeal. The brief moments in Paris made me ache to return, and Venice has never been lovelier. Even the room in the Hotel Danieli looked better than any lodging should.

Sadly, beauty was all the film had going for it. The lead actors were as disconnected from one another as if they had never met. The plot meandered along in entirely predictable steps, so that by the big surprise at the end all that was left for me to wonder was when they would finally, please, God, finally tell us the "surprise." To call The Tourist formulaic would be to praise it.

I am a hardcore Angelina fan, and I own the DVDs of every film of hers, but I don't plan to pick up this one. Spend your holiday entertainment money and time elsewhere.