Movie #345 - The Kingdom

The Kingdom
2007 - Rated R - 1 hr 50 min
Director: Peter Berg
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Jeremy Piven, Richard Jenkins, Kyle Chandler, Danny Huston, Kelly AuCoin, Minka Kelly

This movie's disturbing and a kinda depressing, but really good.  It starts in Riyadh, where a family compound for an oil company is suicide bombed and obliterated, killy hundreds of men, women, and children.  It sets off an international incident, forcing Jamie Foxx and friends to get over there and get involved.  The Saudi government isn't happy that there are Americans there to investigate the incident, and tempers flare.  Some serious $h*t goes down and lots of bullets fly.  Good stuff.

Most surprising thing about this? Jennifer Garner isn't so bad at action flicks.  Creepiest thing about this movie? The Saudi kid's last line.  Argh.

Movie #285 - How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
2008 - Rated R - 1 hr 50 min
Director: Robert B. Weide
Starring: Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox, Gillian Anderson, Thandie Newton, Jeff Bridges, Danny Huston

Oh, Simon Pegg.  Even when he's being a total jerk, he's so charming.  As a British writer struggling to get it together and climb to the top in New York City, Pegg's easily blinded by celebrity glitz and glamour. For example, Megan Fox.  But as Kirsten Dunst unexpectedly creeps up on his radar screen, things might have to change while his priorities shift.

This movie's nothing amazing, but the ensemble has good chemistry.  I'd never put Pegg and Dunst together, personally, but here they make sense. Weirdly.  Anyway, it's a cute movie, with lots of great Pegg moments, and I think most would enjoy it.

Movie #280 - Edge of Darkness

Edge of Darkness
2010 - Rated R - 1 hr 57 min
Director: Martin Campbell
Starring: Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, Bojana Novakovic

So Mel's Boston accent isn't exactly up to par, but it was nice to see him working again after all the crap he was stirring up not too long ago.  He may be crazy, but he's pretty good in this crime thriller as an investigator who's daughter winds up dead, all because of a secret she was trying to expose.

His hunt for the truth gets him into some messy situations, not the least of which involves a poor unsuspecting friend of his daughter's.  Let's just say that car scene still makes me jump, even though I know it's going to happen. Yikes.

All around a good mystery/crime drama but nothing really sets it apart.