2011 Movies
OSCARS Won/Nominated
13 Assassins
Dir: Takashi Miike This is certainly an entertaining martial arts movie. It is like a samurai version of Unforgiven. It is a period piece where a bunch of samurai (some old and some young) band together to assassinate the Shogun's brother, who is about to be elevated to an extremely powerful position. But the man is a monster, raping, killing, and mutilating everyone in his wake. What follows is an amazingly well filmed, choreographed, and most surprising, bloody/gory actioner. I am more of a fan of the ballet style martial arts of Zhang Yimou and Ang Lee...but there is room for things like this too. It feel authentic....but it also feels a bit familiar. B |
30 Minutes or Less
Dir: Ruben Fleischer Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Nick Swardson, Aziz Ansari I love all of these people, and Fleischer's previous effort, Zombieland was incredibly entertaining and felt unique. This movie, about a couple of inept criminals strapping a bomb to a loser's chest in order to force him to rob a bank...is so forgettable and mainstream. Sure...the direction is still solid and this cast certainly can provide a few laughs...but both the bumbling felons and scaredy-cats schticks get real old real quick. C+ |
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Actor
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50/50
Dir: Jonathan Levine Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Angelica Huston Every moment in this film feels real, and that is it's brilliance. This is based on a true story about how the real life screenwriter went through what JGL goes through and how Seth Rogen actually helped him. Getting a cancer diagnosis is a horrible, impoissible situation...but the trials and tribulations JGL's Adam goes through with himself, his girlfriend, his best friend, his rookie therapist, and his mother provide equal amounts of devastation and hilarity. It is such a delicate balance and this movie always avoids melodrama. It is so perfectly handled and constructed so that even though you will cry more than any movie in a long time, you will do it with inspiration and appreciation in your heart. A |
The Adjustment Bureau
Dir: George Nolfi Stars: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt It is amazing that such a promising movie can go so wrong. I like this idea, originally from Philip K. Dick, where "Fate" is personified by a group of men that are out to shape the world in a way they see fit. Enter an up an coming politician and the woman he has a chance encounter with, how these men want to prevent the courtship because it isn't part of their plan, and the politician's attempts to subvert them. All cool. It just DOESN"T work. It is almost intangible dislike here, because the effects, the performances, and the direction is all fine...but I got so bored and so disinterested in the gimmick. It is like the idiot brother of Dark City in certain ways and it really, really pales in comparison. D |
OSCARS
Best Original Score
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Animated Film
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The Adventures of Tin Tin
Dir: Steven Spielberg Voices: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Toby Jones I completely fell for this film hook, line, and sinker. It goes without saying, that Spielberg is one of the finest filmmakers of all time, and he has the ability to frame action in ways other directors can only dream of. When you take away the practical limitations of live-action filmmaking...the result is simply extraordinary. I would go as far as saying the excitement and creativity of this film rivals the Indiana Jones films, as it is certainly a spiritual cousin of those films. It has humor, action, swashbuckling, mystery....all of it. Time and time again I find myself filling in the blanks with the Spielberg movies I have missed...and I keep kicking myself for letting them go by the wayside. This is just masterful entertainment. A |
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Costume Design
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Anonymous
Dir: Roland Emmerich Voices: Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, David Thewlis, Rafe Spall, Jamie Campbell Bower, Joely Richardson I kind of love the idea that Roland "Disaster Blockbuster Connoisseur" Emmerich decided to make a costume drama surrounding the conspiracy theory that Shakespeare didn't write his own plays. Well...this is an incredibly well-crafted, astonishingly convoluted lark that was a pretty fun experience. There is so much going on here that the story is hard to keep straight, and the stakes really do get to a point where Shakespeare's plays almost become irrelevant to the story...so that was odd. But Emmerich did make a decent film way out of his comfort zone...So I have to give him a lot of credit. B |
Arthur
Dir: Jason Winer Stars: Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Greta Gerwig The choice to turn "Arthur" from a helpless, irresponsible drunk into a silly man-child was the wrong one. Russell Brand is a decent choice for the titular role, and I like the other women in the film, but the man-child thing gets old and uninteresting. The conceit that he must marry a famous business woman or lose his inheritance is just stupid. This film is effectively a sequel to Richie Rich and Brand is nowhere NEAR Dudley Moore. It is just all inconsequential. C |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Foreign Film
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The Artist
Dir: Michel Hazanavicius Stars: Jen Dujardin, Berenice Bejo 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die There is no denying that this entire venture is a gimmick...an attempt to make a silent film like the Hollywood of old. But it is a gimmick that completely works and is an exquisite piece of original art. This story, about a silent film actor and the dancer he falls in love with, and the advent of "talkies" and how it affects their respective careers in opposite ways, is the perfect premise for the film's goal. Dujardin is so likeable and entertaining that he makes the whole thing work. The movie doesn't cheat...it truly is a silent film...and the fact that it doesn't cheat that when sound IS used...it is shocking and emotional in ways you really don't expect. One of the most unique Best Picture winners ever. A- |
Bad Teacher
Dir: Jake Kasdan Stars: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake It seems that a running theme with 2011 comedies for me is schtick getting old. I have never been a huge fan of Cameron Diaz and at risk of sounding misogynist, I think she only has a career because of her looks. She isn't a good actress and she isn't NEARLY as funny as she thinks she is. So her schtick playing a disillusioned teacher who hates her job and hates her students gets stale pretty quick. Some of the gaffes are fun, Kasdan is good at directing comedy, and the supporting cast provides many more laughs then Diaz does...but it's just kind of unpleasant. C+ |
Battle: Los Angeles
Dir: Jonathan Liebesman Stars: Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Michael Pena I really believe that and poor reviews or critical bashing for this film are completely unfair. If this movie focused on WWII, Desert Storm, or the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan...I am 100% positive that the reviews would have been different. However, because the enemy antagonists are extra-terrestrial, so many critics believe the whole idea is hokey and silly. Come on people...I defy you to REALLY find a difference between this movie and Black Hawk Down, besides one involving aliens and one involving Somalis. Battle: Los Angeles is not about an alien invasion at all...just as Black Hawk Down is not about the civil war in Somalia. It is about a group of Marines, who are put in harm's way to do what they do best. They don't really understand what is going on...they are just doing their duty and trying to survive. If you look at this film in THOSE terms, it is a rousing success. B+ |
The Big Year
Dir: David Frankel Stars: Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson When the stakes are this low, it is kind of hard to give the film a glowing recommendation. A "Big Year" is when you go an an adventure to spot as many different species of birds as you can. Who cares right? Jack Black is a loser with nothing else going on and pretending this is important doesn't really work. Steve Martin is a millionaire and doing this is frivolous. Owen Wilson is "famous" for a Big Year he did years ago...and is a villain? I Guess? It's harmless but to take it serious or even life-affirming as the movie attempts to make it, just comes across as silly. C+ |
OSCARS
Best Supporting Actress
Best Original Screenplay |
Bridesmaids
Dir: Paul Feig Stars: Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die The Hangover hit the scene with great fanfare and opened the floodgates for R-Rated comedy. The brilliance of Wiig and McCarthy make this film head-and-shoulders above it. To watch these women take complete and utter control of this comedy is refreshing and you just can't stop laughing. It is slapstick, black, crude, profane...all the types of comedy that stretches its R-rated muscle. Also, just as The Hangover gave us Zach Galfianakis...this gives us Melissa McCarthy and she KILLS it. I wish there were dozens of these movies every year...but catching lightning in a bottle that often is impossible. A- Bluray |
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star
Dir: Tom Brady Stars: Nick Swardson, Don Johnson, Christina Ricci When Nick Swardson shows up in Happy Madison films, I usually laugh...when he is in small doses. When he headlines his own movie like this...it is excruciating. The central premise here is that he is a weirdo, with a tiny penis, who enters porn because his orgasms are Old Faithful-like. Yeah...it's that bad. I feel embarrassed for everyone involved in this stupid thing. D- |
Burke & Hare
Dir: John Landis Stars: Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fisher, Tom Wilkinson The pedigree behind this ridiculous black comedy is top notch...but there doesn't seem to be the confidence behind it so it always feels reserved. A comedy about two Victorian Englishmen who steal cadavers to sell to the medical school really has to slam on the gas pedal to pull it all off. This film never seems to get out of second gear, as if they don't think it is actually working. It is a shame because I laughed a lot of the production design is perfect for what it is. Oh well...John Landis just doesn't have the directorial currency he once had. B- |
Captain America: The First Avenger
Dir: Joe Johnston Stars: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Sebastian Stan In recent years, Marvel has really come into its own and can hardly do any wrong. In Phase I, it was still finding its footing. Steve Rogers's origin story is well done, has exciting moments, has wonderful period design, and the rare excellent villain. But it feels a bit too long, a bit too reserved, and there doesn't seem to be enough Steve Rogers as Captain America BEING Captain America. Still...Chris Evens would prove he is as important and charismatic as RDJ and the other Avengers. B Bluray |
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Supporting Actor
|
Carnage
Dir: Roman Polanski Stars: Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, John C. Reilly This is not much more than an acting showcase...but it is a really good acting showcase. There was a fight in the playground and the kids' parents have gotten together to figure out what to do next. The discussion starts of cordial, segues to tense and awkward, and spirals into obnoxious and devastating. Every single one of these powerhouse actors get their chance to shine, and it was a lot of fun to watch the tension ratchet up and up and up until it all boils over. At a scant 80 minutes and it being nothing but 2 couples having a discussion, and intense as that discussion can get, it still feels a bit hollow...and some occurrences, reactions, and returns after trying to leave lack credulity. Still a fun cinematic experiment. B |
Cars 2
Dir: John Lasseter & Brad Lewis Voices: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy This is the worst Pixar movie to date...by far. I liked the original movie alot, even though it was essentially Doc Hollywood. This sequel adds nothing to character development, has little emotion, and is obvious only in existence to sell toys to kids. This is cars being cars. The first film was humans as cars acting human in a cars world. Still..the worst Pixar movie is still acceptable...for the filmmaking and visuals are still top notch. C+ |
Cedar Rapids
Dir: Miguel Arteta Stars: Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche I love black comedy...but I don't like unpleasant, victim-oriented comedy. This film's conceit is a milquetoast loser is sent to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to an insurance convention, and there are veteran convention goers that take him under their wings, and effectively destroy his life through hijinks. Laughing at other people's relatable misfortune is not fun for me, and the actors here seem to be trying SO hard to be edgy and offensive...and that is a guaranteed way to become boring and safe. Still...I laughed a handful of times so it barely gets a pass. C+ |
The Change-Up
Dir: David Dobkin Stars: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Olivia Wilde, Leslie Mann. They got this movie so wrong. Body-swap movies are a dime-a-dozen...and to make them work...the characters' actions have to be believable and relatable. Nothing Bateman or Reynolds does is anything like that. Family man Bateman is in Reynolds's body and there isn't even an inner conflict about sleeping with Olivia Wilde...doesn't even cross his mind...and thats dumb. Single Ladies Man Reynolds is in Bateman's body...Bateman being his best friend...and he can't wait to bang his wife. That's just creepy. There are always comic possibilities in these types of movies but this is a huge swing-and-a-miss. D+ |
Cowboys & Aliens
Dir: Jon Favreau Stars: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde I wanted to like this movie so much...and its ambition is probably the only thing that gets all of my positive vibes. I love the juxtaposition of the futuristic alien stuff in the western genre, and we all know Favreau can bring the fun action...but the 2 leads just bring nothing to the proceedings. Craig is one-dimesional and borderline boring. It is why he never worked as bond for me either. His only emotion always comes across as stoicism. Ford is terrible, coming across as an old mad who wandered onto the set and doesn't really get what is going on. Such a shame because there is a lot of talent and money on the screen but it never quite fits into place. C+ |
Crazy Stupid Love
Dir: Glen Ficarra & John Requa Stars: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon Simple story, where a middle-aged man's wife tells him she wants a divorce, and to get himself out of his emotional rut, he befriends a confident playboy who shows him how to effectively meet women. Look at that cast though. They really elevate what needed elevating. They are funny, touching, and pleasantly give us recognizable moments of affection and love. Also...there is a great twist that the movie handles with such care that your jaw will drop and you will sit at the edge of your seat waiting to see how it is all resolved. B |
A Dangerous Method
Dir: David Cronenberg Stars: Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen, Keira Knightley I was bored by this movie...which is weird because Keira Knightley is acting her ass off, almost too much, and the guys do a great job as well. I just feel like the story here is so simple and hollow that the performances don't match. Crazy becomes Carl Jung's patient, who follows Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis methods. Freud appreciates and wants Jung to carry on his legacy. Jung falls for Crazy. Hijinks ensue. I just felt like I wasn't given enough background. Knightley's transition from psycho to successful psychiatrist was too drastic. Why did Jung follow Freud? Why did Freud know Jung? It all felt so glossed over in favor of scenery chewing by talented people. I found myself incredibly bored by it after I saw past the performances. C |
The Dilemma
Dir: Ron Howard Stars: Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder Can you believe Ron Howard directed this turd? I can't stand movies whose entire existence hinge on its main characters not having a 30 second conversation that would immediately resolve every issue. Vaughn catches James's wife cheating on him. He doesn't want to tell him because it will break his heart. Oh for fuck's sake. That is dumb. All this sneaking around, secret holding, and goofy nonsense to keep people in the dark is so frustrating because every second feels unnecessary. Any actual person would have just talked with him. It's your BEST FRIEND idiot!!! C- |
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
Dir: Troy Nixey Stars: Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce This movie is all atmosphere, and that atmosphere is pretty decent for a haunted house movie. But the horror aspect of the film is essentially Critters. A bunch of tiny pixie/goblin-like creatures are hidden in the house and causing havoc. When they aren't on screen...the mood is entertaining. When they are...it devolves to silliness. C+ |
Fast Five
Dir: Justin Lin Stars: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Gal Gadot This is why I love my wife. On a random Friday night, when we both decide we want to watch something fun and stupid, SHE suggests continuing the Fast and the Furious franchise, so we rent Fast Five. Well, we got exactly what we wanted...fun and stupid. Gone are the ridiculous street racing scenes. Now the franchise is an Ocean's 11-style heist franchise. No characters have an arc, they are all one-dimensional (Gal Gadot's character doesn't even have a name), and I still don't really know what the hesit was. But, the energy in these movies is undeniable. That energy allows stuff like two cars dragging a tethered vault through the city exciting and not ridiculous. Well...it IS ridiculous but you know what I mean. On to #6 soon! B- |
Final Destination 5
Dir: Steven Quale Stars: Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell I am a huge fan of the Final Destination series. The 4th entry was a mess because they were so concerned with the 3D stuff. This entry has everything it needs. The opening scene...which lays the groundwork for every film, is exciting and creative. The deaths throughout the film are fun, surprising, and gory. The final reveal? THAT was awesome and I was in 100%. The grade isn't higher because these films, like the Saw films, are a specific species which are out to do one thing. Saw movies exist for their traps. Final Destination exists for the Rube Goldberg deaths. This one delivers. B- |
Friends With Benefits
Dir: Will Gluck Stars: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Patricia Clarkson, Woody Harrelson This is one of two romantic comedies of 2011 where friends decide to try to have sex. This is definitely the superior movie, and it is almost all chalked up to the chemistry of the leads. Kunis and Timberlake are incredibly charismatic and you buy their friendship, their sexual attraction, and their evolution. In Ivan Reitman's No Strings Attached, Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman have none of those things and it made the movie almost unwatchable. This one is fun, sexy, and hilarious. B Bluray |
Fright Night
Dir: Craig Gillespie Stars: Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, David Tennant I can't really explain why this movie didn't work for me. I like all 3 leads and they all play their roles well. Anton Yelchin as the young kid, Colin Farrell as the new neighbor who happens to be an ancient vampire, and David Tennant as a famous Vampire Hunter who might be a fraud. That's good stuff. But as I usually feel with failed dual genres, like this Horror/Comedy...The horror isn't scary enough and the comedy isn't funny enough. Without that decent balance...it all feels pretty blah. C+ |
OSCARS
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The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Dir: David Fincher Stars: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die The original Swedish film was wonderful and I loved it. So when I heard they were remaking it...I was skeptical. But, with David Fincher at the helm and these actors acting their hearts out...this may have improved on the original. This story is so great because it is multilayered. It is a mystery, a drama, and a grotesque horror, all rolled into one beautiful, delicate, exciting package. There are a lot of things in this film that are hard to watch, but I praise the studio for having the courage to put those things in the American film. You will want to take a shower and sit in front of a big fire when this film is done. You will feel dirty and cold...I guarantee it. A- |
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy
Dir: Alex Gregory & Peter Huyck Stars: Jason Sudeikis, Tyler Labine, Leslie Bibb, Lake Bell, Nick Kroll, Martin Starr, Will Forte So the idea behind this movie is that a group of 30-somethings always have a big, themed party at Jason Sudeikis's parents house in the Hamptons at the end of the summer. So guess what? The parents are selling the house and they can only throw one more party. They decide to have an orgy. It is that straightforward. The good thing is that funny and attractive people are peppered throughout this movie and it provides every awkward aspect one would expect. Some are exciting, some are appalled, some are looking forward to sparking romance, some are terrified. It is a fun, R-rated romp. B |
The Green Hornet
Dir: Michel Gondry Stars: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz Michel Gondry is an enigmatic, creative director, but even he can't inject enough life into this comic book adaptation because it is terribly miscast. Seth Rogen is NOT a comic-book hero and you don't buy him for a second. Both Waltz and Diaz just look bored and aren't written properly. That all being said...Jay Chou as Kato is to star of the film...both how he is portrayed and how he is filmed. The Kato-vision in the fight scenes is so creative and so fun. I wish the rest of the film was that exciting. C+ |
Green Lantern
Dir: Martin Campbell Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Saarsgard, Mark Strong This movie is kind of a disaster. Martin Campbell is a great director but I can't fathom why he thought animating Ryan Reynolds into his Green Lantern costume, as well as all the other Green Lanterns, instead of using practical costumes. It is horrible and it destroys the movie. I am not naive enough to think superhero movies shouldn't use CGI...but not EVERYWHERE...and especially where it is not needed. Add that to the fact that the villain is a big cloud...and this movie is infinitely forgettable. Ryan Reynolds is perfectly suited for comic-book movies, and he is a good Hal Jordan, but the filmmakers just did this wrong. C |
Hall Pass
Dir: Peter & Bobby Farrelly Stars: Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer, Christina Applegate The Farrelly brothers have fallen from grace. They used to make the funniest movies of that particular year. Now they have dumb premises with actors whose hearts don't seem to be in it. So we have marriages that are a bit stressed, because the husbands have wandering eyes, so the wives give them a week off of marriage. Now...there ARE some laughs to be had for sure. But the central conceit just doesn't work. If either of these men give into their temptations, permission or not, are schmucks. So are we supposed to cheer for them or against them. The atmosphere is just creepy and weird. C Bluray |
The Hangover Part II
Dir: Todd Phillips Stars: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galafianakis The Hangover is a modern classic and a star making turn for the cast. Strange that they just wanted to make the same movie again. It is almost literally the same movie again. Guys on vacation for a wedding wake up in a horrible situation and they can't remember what happened. The 3 stars are really fun so it still makes it watchable...and the setting is Southeast Asia now instead of Vegas...but it is the same movie. C+ |
OSCARS
Best Art Direction
Best Makeup Best Visual Effects |
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Dir: David Yates Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint So we have had over a decade of Harry Potter and is has all led up to this. The Harry Potter franchise has become one of the most successful franchises in history...so it can only disappoint. At a certain level it does. The final dual isn;t much more of two people with repelling wands. The denouement is confusing and unclear. The finality is depressing. But this is a series that we have all come to love, respect, and just become lost in...so I have huge affection for this film. The magical world of Harry Potter is unlike anything else in modern cinema and it will be sorely missed. B+ Bluray |
OSCARS
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The Help
Dir: Tate Taylor Stars: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Bryce Dallas Howard What a wonderful, whimsical movie. Period pieces about the Black/White dynamic and experience often has the problem of laying on WAY too much white guilt, and it makes it hard for the audience to universally enjoy it. This movie does not suffer the same fate. All the women are so exquisite with their performances...each having their chances to shine, and effectively bringing drama and comedy naturally into each scene. The POV of the African-Amerrican maids working for rich White people is a rich tapestry and this movie really pulls it off. A- |
Horrible Bosses
Dir: Seth Gordon Stars: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell It really is a testament to the three actors playing the 3 bosses, because it is up to them to carry this movie. The 3 schlubs that want to off their bosses are unlikable, bumbling idiots. The three bosses are outstanding. Spacey is a power-hungry elitist that fucks with his subordinates, Aniston is a sexual predator, and Farrell is a druggie incompetent. They are bad enough that you root for the characters you hate to triumph over them. That and Jamie Foxx's Motherfucker Jones make this comedy worth your while. B Bluray |
OSCARS
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Hugo
Dir: Martin Scorsese Stars: Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley, Michael Stahlbarg, Jude Law 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die This movie is gorgeous, plain and simple. Scorsese made a career on visceral realism so when we all heard he was going to make this fantastical film...we all thought he would botch it. Far from it. It is magical, beautiful, and the story is so rich and layered that I wouldn't have minded if it was twice as long. Scorsese gave us a 1930s Paris that feels like a dream you never want to wake up from, and the mystery of this child's father and an elaborate android contraption is so wonderfully realized. A- |
Immortals
Dir: Tarsem Singh Stars: Hanry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, John Hurt Tarsem Singh is a unique visionary. Add that to the fact that I seem to have a predilection toward these hyper-stylized sword-and-sandal epics. I love 300. I somehow enjoyed something as absurd as Gods of Egypt. This seems to fall inbetween those. The fight scenes, like 300, comes across as ballet and extra violent. I really enjoy that stuff. B |
Insidious
Dir: James Wan Stars: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins These are the new face of horror. These movies that take a ghost story, take it 100% seriously, not completely rely on jump scares and rely on atmosphere. The king of these movies are the Conjuring movies. Insidious is fine, about an evil in a house that threatens to drag a couple's child into a realm called the further. It is creepy, but it never really kicks into high gear like The Conjuring films do. There is one visual that is freakishly nightmarish...and it goes a long way. C+ |
In Time
Dir: Andrew Niccol Stars: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy These smaller budget, original sci-fi films get a bad wrap. It is as if the critics are primed to dislike this stuff. I love the premise, whereby we are in a future where people do not age and all currency is based on the time you have left to live, shown on an LED display in your forearm. This movie is exciting and clever and the actors do a fine job. Andrew Niccol knows how to handle this type of material and the movie is better than its reputation. B |
I Saw the Devil
Dir: Kim Jee-Woon Stars: Min-Sik Choi, Byung-Hun Lee Kim Jee-Woon is quickly becoming one of my very favorite directors. He was perfectly darkly comedic with The Quiet Family, had a great entry into Doomsday Book and constructed a Raiders of the Lost Ark masterpiece with The Good, the Bad, the Weird. Here, with I Saw the Devil, he has created a visceral nightmare on par with Oldboy It is a simple Cat & Mouse story where a horrible psychopath kills the wrong man's fiancee. That man is now tracking him, catching him in numerous, depraved, serial-killer acts, and continuously punishes him. It is terrifyingly cathartic in the most wonderful ways...even if a lot is hard to look at. Also...the ending shot is PERFECT and the only way a movie of such intensity should end. I am DEFINITELY visiting this man's entire catalog. A |
Just Go With It
Dir: Dennis Dugan Stars: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker What a stupid movie. Sure...Brooklyn Decker is insanely hot and most men would do anything to hook up with her. But you have Jennifer Aniston in your back pocket to pretend to be your soon to be ex-wife? Have you seen how hot Aniston is? The premise just doesn't work. Why wouldn't Sandler's plastic surgeon realize how hot his assistant is? It's just stupid. D+ |
Limitless
Dir: Neil Burger Stars: Bradley Cooper, Robert DeNiro So here is a movie about a magic pill that allows the consumer to access 100% of their brain. We have seen that a million times before. However, this movie is better than it has any business being. Most of what happens is cliched...but Cooper is full of charisma and DeNiro isn't phoning it in like he does so often these days. Also...the way things wrap up isn't a twist, but it is a reveal that is so obvious that you smirk at the fact you hadn't realized it. Perfectly serviceable. B- |
The Lincoln Lawyer
Dir: Brad Furman Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillipe A solid movie in most ways. The acting is believable, the direction is efficient, the writing is vibrant and exciting, and the story is fun and interesting. You know what is one horrible aspect about this film? The title. Making the title "The Lincoln Lawyer" makes us believe that the fact Matthew McConaughey rides around in a chauffeured classic Lincoln would be significant. It isn't. No one even points out that characteristic at any point in the movie. It is as logical to call the movie "The Lawyer in the Suit", because wearing suits is just something the main character does. The movie should be called something like Privilege or Confidentiality...that makes a lot more sense and gets to the heart of the film. B- |
The Mechanic
Dir: Simon West Stars: Jason Statham, Ben Foster This is a Jason Statham action movie about a guy who fixes peoples' problems in Jason Statham-y ways and is teaching an apprentice the trade played by Ben Foster. Look at the grade. That is everything you need to know. I love Statham vehicles...and this one doesn't work. The updated Mechanic: Resurrection was actually better. C- |
Melancholia
Dir: Lars Von Trier Stars: Kirsten Dunst, Alexander Skarsgard, Kiefer Sutherland This is an almost great movie because it is emotionally rich and difficult...but I am not a fan of Trier's style and it pulls an otherwise interesting film into boring territory. On one hand, there is the story of a severely depressed woman trying to put her best face forward on the eve of her wedding. On the other hand, there is a planet on a collision course with Earth. It is a great analogy for the feeling of impending doom and how depression and actual catastrophic disaster are equal in the mind of the depressed. Quite unique but the direction sucks a bit of life out of it. B |
OSCARS
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Midnight in Paris
Dir: Woody Allen Stars: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen I am a huge Woody Allen-phile, and I have been for many years. However, one thing he rarely brings to the table is the gift of fantasy. He has hints of it here and there, as seen in snippets of Annie Hall and The Purple Rose of Cairo but he mainly concentrates on straight clever comedies, pessimistic dramas, and a combination of the two. With Midnight in Paris, he gives a wonderful ADULT fantasy of the highest order. Most successful fantasy films appeal to the child in all of us. It is a cliché, but it is true. Allen’s latest venture appeals to the adult in us, and it gives us a fantasy in which only adults…and mostly literate adults…would dream about, understand, and wish upon...walking through 1920s Paris to rub elbows with great thinkers and artists. A- |
Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol
Dir: Brad Bird Stars: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton It took a while but Mission Impossible has finally done a sequel that lives up to Brian DePalma's original. Tom Cruise is made for this stuff...and his high octane stunts and presence really carry the film. The man has been an international box-office giant for decades for a reason. Each set piece here works. The infiltration and bombing of the Kremlin, the seduction of an Indian businessman, the attempt to subvert an arms deal...it takes your breath away, makes you laugh, and realize that it couldn't have been done better. BUT...that scene where Cruise is climbing the windows with electronic sticky gloves? It is flat out incredible. A- Bluray |
OSCARS
Best Picture
Best Actor Best Supporting Actor Best Adapted Screenplay Best Editing Best Sound Mixing |
Moneyball
Dir: Bennett Miller Stars: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Pratt I think this was just a losing proposition...because I think a B is the very best this movie could have done. It is a movie effectively about using advanced statistics to create a roster and win baseball games and how traditionalists will insist that that is the wrong approach. That's it. It is acted extremely well across the board and the writing is its strongest attribute with Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin behind it. Still...it is hard to get behind sports statistics emotionally. Sure...real people's jobs are on the line for what Billy Beane was trying to do with his Oakland Athletics...but we aren't given quite enough to really care. B |
OSCARS
Best Original Song
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The Muppets
Dir: James Bobin Stars: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper The Muppets are back and boy how I have missed them. The filmmakers knew what they had to do with this movie. They had to make it like the other Muppet movies, with songs, cameos, and the proper humor. But they also had to accept the fact that the Muppets have fallen out of the collective consciousness and has to reintroduce them to the modern cinema audience. They do an admiral job. The story is a great way to treat acknowledge their history and the cast it stellar for what they are trying to do...even if Amy Adams didn't seem to have her heart in it. This is simply what you hope the new Muppets would be. B+ Bluray |
Paranormal Activity 3
Dir: Henry Joost & Ariel Schulman The original was brilliant, the sequel was till spooky, and now it has officially worn out its welcome. This is a prequel, showing how this demon terrorized Katie when she was a child. There are still some scares and stuff...but it all feels like a rehash and that the franchise has NOTHING else to offer. C- |
Paul
Dir: Greg Mottola Stars: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig This is just a fun movie. Pegg and Frost are a great comedy duo so it is effortless to like them. Making them two British pop culture nerds heading around Area 51 as part of a sort of religious geekdom pilgrimage who run into an actual alien is cool. Voicing said alien with Seth Rogen just all worked. Most of the movie is predictable, but it is populated with funny characters and just enough danger to make the proceedings exciting. B Bluray |
The People Vs. George Lucas
Dir: Alexandre O. Philippe I am a HUGE fanboy...and especially when it comes to Lucasfilm stuff like Star Wars and Indiana Jones. I HATE how virulkent the George Lucas hate is and how people talk about how he destroyed their childhood once the Star Wars prequels came out. Get over yourself people. It is so annoying. This man owes nothing to anyone...and if you don't like his continuation of HIS saga...tough shit. Now we have a documentary that legitimizes this hate...and I can't stand it. You can dislike movies. I do every day. But to be out for blood because a filmmaker doesn't live up to your stupid standards is childish and stupid. D- |
The Perfect Host
Dir: Nick Tomnay Stars: David Hyde Pierce This movie didn't know what it wanted to be. Set up is good...fugitive breaks into the wrong damn house. But what happens while in there isn't terrifying enough...it actually slips to silliness more times than not. I chalk this up to David Hyde Pierce not being up to the task of playing a psycho. And then the movie turns into a weird investigation, and hints about the reality of the fugitive...it's all over the place. My rating is generous because I have to admit that I was interested and excited to see where things were going. I have to give credit for keeping me intrigued...otherwise it was a let down. C- |
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Dir: Rob Marshall Stars: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Geoffrey Rush Of course Johnny Depp is the main attraction when it comes to these movies...but scrapping the story of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann is obviously a mistake. The effects, costumes, makeup are among the best of the year...and Depp is still in top form as Jack Sparrow...but no one cares about Blackbeard and the mermaid story. It is so peripheral and no one cares. Will & Elizabeth trying their courtship and adventure with Sparrow in the mix was the magic of the first 3 movies...here...we have an entertaining character in a beautiful movie that is completely irrelevant. C |
POM Wonderful Presents:
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Dir: Morgan Spurlock I like Morgan Spurlock. He has some clever, accessible ideas for a documentarian. His Super Size Me conceit was entertaining and informative. This time, he is talking about corporate sponsorship and he does it by selling off the documentary about corporate sponsorship, piece by piece, including $1 Million from POM Wonderful, to corporate sponsors. Again...it is entertaining and informative...but it isn't long before the gimmick wears thin and runs out of steam. B- |
Red Riding Hood
Dir: Catherine Hardwicke Stars: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman I usually like this kind of gothic horror, and Catherine Hardwicke is a decent enough director...but this attempt to tell the Red Riding Hood story in a Twilight-y way for tweens just doesn't work at all. It isn't romantic because the entire situation is dire with a werewolf out there. It isn't scary because it is rated PG-13. If some of these townsfolk were being disemboweled whilst these idiot kids are wooing each other...it may have peaked a little interest. D |
Red State
Dir: Kevin Smith Stars: Michael Parks, John Goodman, Melissa Leo Kevin Smith went totally off the deep end when he made this movie. Not in a bad way at all. He decided to make a horror/thriller and he decided to do it completely on his own and not use any studios to release it or market it. Props to him. Now...this movie is well outside his comfort zone of clever dialogue surrounding pop-culture and dick jokes...but the religious scares about a fundamentalist church obviously inspired by the Westboro Baptist Church, is effective. These are psychotics that prey on who they determine to be sinners, to horrific, terrorist levels. Smith shows some of his weakness behind the camera but his strengths on the page and the performances definitely work. B- |
Resurrect Dead:
The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles Dir: Jon Foy I have actually seen one of these tiles in the street in Manhattan. This documentary discusses the mystery surrounding hundreds of these odd, cryptic tiles scattered throughout North and South America. The fact that there is a mystery but hardly ANY idea what that mystery hurts the narrative. Explaining where the tiles are, how they are in a pattern, and what the language may point toward is fascinating. But since no one knows what they are or what they mean, we are left with pure speculation and boredom seeps in. B- |
OSCARS
Best Original Song
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Rio
Dir: Carlos Saldanha Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway I can't really say that this is a BAD movie...but it is so familiar and paint by numbers. Its colorful and the animation is worthy of Pixar-level prestige, but to watch the story of a pet bird, thrown into the wild, and falling in love...I've seen it a million times so it offers nothing original or worthwhile. C |
OSCARS
Best Visual Effects
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Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Dir: Rupert Wyatt Stars: James Franco, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto To launch a successful franchise, you always need the origin story...and that is hard to do REALLY well. This movie does fine, but it is a bit more of developing Caesar and his relationship with his human and the background of the genetic technology that gives "rise" to intelligent apes. It seems a bit small. But it is very entertaining and Andy Serkis again shows that he is the absolute king of motion-capture performance. B |
The Rite
Dir: Mikael Hafstrom Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Toby Jones, Ciaran Hinds I love myself some religious scares. The Exorcist continues to be my favorite scary movie of all time…so when new religious thrillers are released, I get excited about them. This looked promising. It has Sir Anthony Hopkins in it….almost always a plus. It is directed by Mikael Hafstrom, who did a pretty respectable job with Stephen King’s 1408. It has a good handful of supporting players. All seems to be a good idea….but this isn’t much of a movie. The story is so forced and only exists to serve a convoluted plot. That isn’t to say that it doesn’t have its creepy moments….and that Hopkins doesn’t give a hell of a performance…but it really just comes across as a reason to have exorcism scares on the screen….not to tell a scary exorcism story. C- |
Scream 4
Dir: Wes Craven Stars: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, Emma Roberts, Hayden Pannitierre, Anna Paquin Wes Craven gave us some of history's greatest horror films. But he also fell of a cliff in his final years. The biggest shame is that he went back to the Scream well that dried out somewhere halfway through the second film. I saw the poster for this movie and I guessed exactly who the killer was. It is just a boring exercise now. I wish he would have just tackled a new, original slasher film for his swan song. D |
Shark Night 3D
Dir: David R. Ellis Stars: Sara Paxton So here we have a bunch of gorgeous co-eds, heading to a lake house, getting into bikinis, and somehow cgi sharks show up and start picking them off. Its stupid and too concerned with the 3D aspect. Some of the attacks and surprises are pretty damn funny...but I am not entirely sure that was on purpose...and that is a problem D+ |
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Dir: Guy Ritchie Stars: Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Jared Hess, Rachel McAdams Guy Ritchie's first Sherlock Holmes movie was outstanding. It took perfect actors and injected Ritchie's style into gothic England and it totally worked. The sequel is still entertaining, of course because it has the same pedigree. However...it does feel a lot like more of the same. Sometimes you yearn for more of the same in a sequel, but you also need a little something to differentiate itself. These two movies could make a 4-hour movie and you wouldn't miss a beat. B |
The Sitter
Dir: David Gordon Green Stars: Jonah Hill, Sam Rockwell Here we essentially have an R-rated Adventures in Babysitting. The problem is that Jonah Hill does NOT work being a profane vulgarian. It all feels so forced and unnatural. It is like a "look how nasty and controversial I can be" and sucks a lot of the comedy out of the proceedings. He tried again in 2016's War Dogs and he failed there miserably as well. He is just not a bad ass. C- |
Something Borrowed
Dir: Luke Greenfield Stars: Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, John Krasinski Two best friends. One is unlucky in love. One is a kind of a slut. Unlucky friend is in love with guy X. Guy X falls for slut. Unlucky girl is upset but it is not Slut's fault. Guy Y tries to convince unlucky that there are other guys, like him. Blah Blah Blah. This brings us NOTHING different. This is such a cookie-cutter romantic comedy that it is almost comical. The actors have charisma so it is not terrible...but it is all so pointless. C |
Source Code
Dir: Duncan Jones Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga, Michelle Monahan For any of you that have had the pleasure of seeing director Duncan Jones's rookie film, Moon... with the solid, adult approach to science fiction and the tour-de-force performance of Sam Rockwell...you should be excited for his second film, with a solid, adult approach to science fiction and a tour-de-force performance from Jake Gyllenhall. When a film decides to deal with time-travel (or appearance of time-travel), it has a slippery slope to handle. It either has to dumb down plot exposition and expect the audience to be ignorant or it has to assume the audience is as intelligent as the filmmakers. The second situation almost always provides a better film...and even though this film is riotously good fun and incredibly smart...it does start to fall apart when either smart people really think about it or less-smart people get lost. B+ |
Straw Dogs
Dir: Rod Lurie Voices: James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgard It is a losing premise when you try to remake a classic Sam Peckinpah/Dustin Hoffman thriller. The story is drastically simple, with a couple being taunted and harassed incessantly from the southern locals to the point of danger...and this cast is not quite up to the task. However, the premise is so primal and frightening that even the actors' shortcomings can't ruin the experience completely. C |
Super 8
Dir: JJ Abrams Stars: Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler At the risk of speaking in clichés, this JJ Abrams film is a combination of Cloverfield, The Goonies, and E.T. I know that sounds like a poorly thought-out analogy since Abrams is responsible for Cloverfield and Executive Producer Steven Spielberg is responsible for the other two iconic movies….but it is kind of a perfect analogy. It follows a group of young kids, all with different personality traits and chock full of the adventurous spirit that we all remember from when we are that age. It also has an alien presence that the kids approach with wonder and the oppressive government forces approach with fear and aggression. It also treats said alien with respect and mystery, only giving us glimpses here and there that builds tension and fright. It’s a wonderful package of summer entertainment. B+ |
Tabloid
Dir: Errol Morris Errol Morris is one of the more famous documentarians, but he doesn't do anything very cinematic for this story. It is just a 90-minute talking heads piece. That being said...the story here is fascinating and the way it unfolds is extremely clever so as to make you feel like you have seen 2 movies. On one end of the scale...it is a story about a beauty-queen who fell in love with a young, clean-cut Mormon, only to see that Mormon be brainwashed and whisked away...and that beauty-queen setting off on a mission to get him back. On the other end of the scale....the beauty-queen is a psychopath. The movie literally goes from one side of that scale to the other, in a direct line...and it becomes funnier, more incredible, and more ridiculous. B- |
Take Me Home Tonight
Dir: Michael Dowse Stars: Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Dan Fogler, Chris Pratt This should have been a laugh-a-minute nostalgia fest about a guy wanting to hook up with his high-school crush. It has some funny people, some great music, and some silly interactions. But the problem is that its central premise is just creepy. It even acknowledges its creepiness. This should have been about a college guy, meeting up with a high-school crush, and falling ass-backwards into a hook-up. Instead, it is played like an obsessed stalker fantasy that finally comes to fruition. C- |
Thor
Dir: Kenneth Branagh Stars: Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Dan Fogler, Chris Pratt Those of us unfamiliar with the world of Marvel Comics know Thor as the God of Thunder in Norse mythology. In Kenneth Branagh's new Marvel Superhero epic, he is an Asgardian...the universal, pan dimensional protectors of the universe. The heavenly city of Asgard stretches to the horizon with golden palaces and rainbow bridges. In lesser hands...this story could have been corny and saccharine. With a great thespian such as Branagh at the helm, it is a great romp that holds on to both gravitas and fun at all times. It has those insurmountable hurdles that it is an origin story and is necessary for the upcoming The Avengers, and therefore feels a bit shallow, abbreviated, with too small stakes, but it is riotous as well. B Bluray |
OSCARS
Best Actor
Best Adapted Screenplay Best Original Score |
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Dir: Tomas Alfredson Stars: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ciaran Hinds 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Look at that cast! It is one of the most extraordinary casts in years. But even that kind of acting muscle is not enough to inject enough interest in this story about a semi-retired espionage veteran trying to draw out a soviet spy from MI6. It really is a shame because of all the talent...but after sitting through this slow burn, deliberate, talkie spy movie...it all winds up...dare I say? Boring. B- |
Tower Heist
Dir: Brett Ratner Stars: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick Ocean's 11 sort of ruined this kind of movie because it was so good. Here is another movie where a bunch of working-class schmoes, wronged by the evil rich guy, out to rob him blind. This cast is not the Ocean's crew and Brett Ratner is no Steven Soderbergh. All the comedy seems poorly timed and especially Murphy...it looks like he walked in from a different set and is angry that he is participating. It's just not that good. C- |
OSCARS
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Mixing Best Visual Effects |
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Dir: Michael Bay Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie-Huntington Wheatley, Tyrese, Josh Duhamel This franchise is one of the most visually dazzling, bombastic, action-packed series ever made. The first movie was great fun. Revenge of the Fallen was misguided and unfocused...but still fun. The newest installment pretty much throws out all character development, storytelling, or real sense of danger and provides us with an even more over-the-top, relentless, robot-vs-robot throwdown that is seconds and decibels away from making your eyes and ears bleed. The effects are still astonishing and it is still technically marvelous. I was just sad to see that Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg have devolved into placating to the lowest common filmgoing denominator. Good action, hot women, loud noises, means good! I have a brain...and when I used it watching this film, I realized that the story makes no sense and ignores the canon that came before. B |
The Trip
Dir: Michael Winterbottom Stars: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon A metric that Roger Ebert always used when trying to decide on how good a movie is is that he would say to himself, "Would I enjoy watching these actors having dinner together more than this movie?" Well...this movie shows that it isn't always true that watching good actors have dinner could be entertaining. This is more of a travelogue than a movie, where these two brits visit a bunch of places and have good food and wax poetic about life. A few interactions are fun...but its just not much of anything. C |
Trollhunter
Dir: Andre Ovredal This is a Swedish, found-footage, Blair-Witch-crossed-with-Cloverfield mashup that is astonishingly effective...considering the objects of terror in this film are cgi Trolls that look a BIT ridiculous. The movie starts off a bit slow as a college film crew is trying to confront a man they think is poaching bears...only to find out that he is in the government employ to control Trolls. I was completely hooked from the original encounter. The use of Troll folklore, the danger, and the existence are all taken 100% seriously and the absence of that absurdity makes the film so great. The sound design is used amazingly well because the grunts, roars, thumps, and crunches that we hear as Trolls roam the area make your imagination run WILD...and when we get our surprisingly good looks at the creatures...it is thoroughly satisfying. A- |
Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil
Dir: Eli Craig Stars: Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden The greatest strength of this movie is how clever it is. It takes the cliche of the spooky cabin in the woods and the murderous hillbillies and turns it completely on its head. The hillbillies are good natured guys just out to fix-up their summer cottage, but the college kids see them as nefarious killers, and wind up killing themselves while trying to defend themselves and each other from the mistaken guys. It is very funny, appropriately gory, and just up to the brim with cleverness. B Bluray |
Unknown
Dir: Jaume Collet-Serra Stars: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones Liam Neeson has carved a nice little niche out for himself with these serious action-dramas. Here is a competent enough thriller, but has some glaring problems with it. Neeson is solid as usual, but the film suffers from two distinct problems. One…when your main character is suffering from what may turn out to be amnesia, and the audience is in the dark as much as he is, it takes some serious skill to keep the audience’s attention and interest. Think the Jason Bourne films, and you will know how to do this idea correctly. Two…when all is said and done and we finally understand what is going on, I found myself confused as to how I should be feeling about the characters and the activities carried out during the climax. C |
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
Dir: Todd Strauss-Schulson Stars: John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris The stoner pair is back. Harold is grown up, successful, and trying to have a baby. Kumar is still a mess and always screws things up for Harold. This third outing is no different. Their escapades are to replace Harold's father-in-law's special christmas tree before they get back from midnight mass. Whatever. There are laughs...its that simple. The film was released originally in 3D, and you can see where they absurdly leaned into the technology...and I laughed every time. Sure...the idiocy at which they paint Kumar is a bit stupid...but I promise you will laugh. And it has some riotous holiday spirit. Works for me! B |
OSCARS
Best Picture
Best Cinematography Best Art Direction Best Sound Editing Best Sound Mixing Best Original Score Kevin's Pick
Best Picture
Best Director Best Cinematography Best Editing Best Sound Editing Best Sound Mixing |
War Horse
Dir: Steven Spielberg Stars: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Marsan 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die What an ASTONISHINGLY perfect film. As I sat through this story of a Horse, being brought up on a struggling farm, only to be sold to the military and then how he moved through WWI Europe, changing owners, and touching people on both sides of the conflict...I was in utter awe. This may be the best looking Spielberg movie of all time, with a warm palette that emotes old Westerns. He even brings us battle scenes in "No Man's Land" that rivals all his Saving Private Ryan perfection. But...behind all this perfection, is the story of this horse...and it always stays the story of the horse. Spielberg brilliantly never anthropomorphizes the horse to give him more human characteristics, which would have made it all Disney-fied and corny. As it sits...this is purely one of the most magical films I have ever seen. The climax is predetermined early on, and I was giddy with anticipation to see it happen, and when it does...the adrenaline, the tears, the chills, and the inspiration flowed to the surface and I knew I saw something incredibly special. A+ Bluray |
What's Your Number
Dir: Mark Mylod Stars: Anna Faris, Chris Evans I am going to wave my feminist flag a bit with this one. So a woman has had 19 sexual partners and the movie would have us believe that 20 and you are done. So she is worried she let "the one" get away so she is going back to revisit her men. Ugh...it is just unpleasant. If the lead was a guy...20 sexual partners would make him a stud. Having someone as funny and gorgeous as Anna Faris traipse around with enormous guilt about her sexual escapades just feels icky. And...Chris Evans is so bored with this film. C- |
X-Men: First Class
Dir: Matthew Vaughn Stars: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Bacon It is very impressive that Matthew Vaughn was able to pull this off. To make a new generation of the X-Men we have all come to love, replacing Stewart, McKellan, & Romijn with McAvoy, Fassbender, and Lawrence, is a dangerous proposition. What he pulled off was the best X-Men movie since X2. It is exciting, the diversity of mutants is fun, but our new main pair of Professor X and Magneto are really, really good and carry the show. B+ Bluray |
Young Adult
Dir: Jason Reitman Stars: Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Patton Oswalt No matter how good your actors are, and here they are extraordinarily on point, if the story is creepy and unpleasant while also being played for laughs...it all comes across as uneven. To see Theron stalk amorally after her ex who is now married with children, it is just odd. The tone is too real to be funny. But...the movie is worth Theron and Oswalt...who are just fantastic. B- |
Your Highness
Dir: David Gordon Green Stars: Danny McBride, James Franco, Natalie Portman I know I am in the minority as a fan of this film. It is stupid, ridiculous, and has a lot of stoner humor in it. But I love McBride & Franco, Portman is a good sport and plays it straight, and the jokes land more often than not. If you like McBride as the asshole...you will like this movie. It almost completely hinges on that. B |