Pearl Harbor: a paradox

Rating: Null/10 (22 June 2001)

"Pearl Harbor" baffles me. Some of the performances were very good, while others were bordering on simply bad. The film itself was beautiful, yet the lines were hard to stomach, to say the least. But this is the most baffling part of all: given all its faults, "Pearl Harbor" is addictive. I've seen it twice and I want to again.
Here's a brief synopsis of the great performances: Josh Harnett, Ben Affleck, Tom Sizemore, Kate Beckinsale, and Ewen Bremmer. Josh was not only adorable, but he good enough to not let the lines drag down his performance, with the exception of "I think World War Two just started". Ben Affleck was good because he wasn't made out to be perfect. The scene where he busts his nose twice in one day was a very well played out scene. Tom Sizemore actually has a hand up in this category because I consider him the definitive actor when it comes to war movies, especially WWII. Kate Beckinsale was so beautiful and so poingnant that she it could arguably be said that she's a candidate for the new leading lady of Hollywood. Finally, Ewwn Bremmer. Honestly, I had not seen him before this movie, but he was just so charming. The scene where he's struggling to say "The Japs are here" was so painfully ironic that I gotta give him props.

I'm too nice to mention names, but if you're smart you'll realize that those who didn't make the great list weren't so great, and that includes some big names.
Basically, if you pay attention to statistics, this movie is not so good. However, if you listen to a big skeptical crtitic like me, ironically you will like this movie.