2012 Movies
OSCARS Won/Nominated
IMDB Top 250
IMDB Top 250
21 Jump Street
Dir: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller Stars: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube Making a self-aware comedy is tough to do, and a lot of times it can fall flat...but this film works more often that it fails. The pairing of Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum is perfect and the filmmakers know that if you put enough money into it, it lends authenticity and makes the movie that much better. The action is solid, the laughs are there, and it has one of the greatest surprise cameos of all time. B Bluray |
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Dir: Timur Bekmambetov Stars: Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper The filmmakers didn't get this book at all. The fun part of the novel is not the Vampire Hunting, which is completely oversaturated here...it is learning about how Lincoln balanced getting the country through the toughest time in its history WITH Vampire Hunting. This movie is just a video game sequence of killing Vampires by a guy dressed as Lincoln...no fun. It is a shame because Bekmambetov has a great eye for action, as seen in Night Watch and Wanted. Imagine if Daniel Day Lewis had to kill a vampire in the middle of Spielberg's Lincoln. THAT's what this should have been. C- |
The Amazing Spider-Man
Dir: Marc Webb Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans Spider-Man is one of the greatest Marvel heroes ever, and Sony is trying to revitalize him...and they don't quite pull it off. Andrew Garfield is the wrong choice to play Peter Parker, even though he has great chemistry with Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy. He is just too old and mature. Peter Parker is supposed to be a clumsy, naive high-schooler. The villain was also an awful choice. Not Ifans' performance....but the pointlessness of The Lizard. but I guess it could be a lot worse. Sony still spares no expense for their most valuable property. B |
American Reunion
Dir: Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg Stars: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott They brought back the entire gang, who are all old enough so their problems are now kids and marriage. Jim & Michele still have a fun story and Stifler is still the lifeblood of the series. But there is a problem. Do any of us care? Not really. Oz & Heather's story? stupid. Kevin & Vicky? Whatever. Finch? They ran out of ideas for him. It's still nice to see them all again, but there is almost no reason for this film. C+ |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Picture
Best Director Best Actress Best Costume Design |
Anna Karenina
Dir: Joe Wright Stars: Keira Knightley, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Domnhall Gleeson, Matthew MacFayden What a glorious, jovial, exciting, heartbreaking, and surprising experience this film is. I am a huge fan of Joe Wright, giving "A" to his Pride and Prejudice, Atonement, and his The Darkest Hour, and here is his most ambitious and creative. He has made a whimsical hybrid of a stage play and a costume epic, which has characters walking through backstage to get to the next cinematic scene and staging scenes in a opulent Russian theater like ice skating and horse racing. It has to be seen to be believed...as I haven';t seen anything like it before...and it all worked miraculously. Not to mention the tale of duty, love, passion, and societal expectation is performed intricately perfect by all those involved. Reading about the movie makes it seem like just another stuffy costume drama. Watching the movie is like getting a cinematic adrenaline shot. It amazes me this unique approach has not been duplicated with some Shakespeare story. It worked so perfectly. A |
OSCARS
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Argo
Dir: Ben Affleck Stars: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Ben Affleck has really come into his own as a director and actor..but is this movie really Best Picture Oscar worthy? Not really. It is fun and exciting, with a lot of tension...but it never elevates to great cinema by any means. Cleverness and interest are the strongest parts of the story, about an outrageous idea about faking a sci-fi movie shoot as a way to smuggle captives out of Iran. Nothing exceptional beyond that. B |
OSCARS
Best Visual Effects
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The Avengers
Dir: Joss Whedon Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johannson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson This was 4-years in the making in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It lives up to most of the hype and most of the high expectations. It better have. They waited patiently for 5 origin-story films to come out before the team-up movie. The story is pretty pointless, but it does effectively get all of our heroes on screen at the same time believably. Riotous nonsense in the best way...and Hulk's reveal in New York is almost worth admission alone. Also...the use of Loki, the best villain the MCU has to offer, was perfect. B+ Bluray |
B4
Dir: Matthew Stedman This film is completely undercooked. I always enjoy multi-universe, mind-trippy films...and this one has some great stuff on the surface...but it doesn't have the detail to make it a satisfying experience. The acting and cinematic quality is just fine, and the premise of a group of people stuck in an infinite time/space loop in a parking garage is intriguing. But at 50 minutes, it doesn't even give itself a chance to flesh out the problems, and explain away the inconsistencies. It is a shame. another 30 minutes of padding and this may have been as good as "Coherence". As it is...not even close. C |
Bachelorette
Dir: Leslye Headland Stars: Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, Rebel Wilson, Adam Scott, Hayes MacArthur, James Marsden, Kyle Bornheimer Look at that cast. How does a cast like that drop the ball so terribly? How hard is it to make a Bachelorette party comedy? Impossible if this movie is any gauge. First of all...there is no Bachelorette Party. Second of all...there is no indication that these idiot women are actually friends. Third of all...these are a bunch of terrible, horrible people that you aren't rooting for. So why are we bothering? We want them all to die horribly in the gutter at some point in their hijinks. That isn't a good thing for a movie like this. D |
Battleship
Dir: Peter Berg Stars: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn Decker, Liam Neeson, Rihanna Just like the effects in the Transformers movies are so good that you can't help but enjoy yourself at SOME level...same with this film. Its clunky and dumb, but when the shit hits the fan, the effects make it exciting. I just feel bad of Taylor Kitsch...the poor guy just can't break through and he is pretty decent in everything he has headlined. The premise of Battleship the game making its way into the screenplay is a bit corny...but it is decent, bombastic fun otherwise. B- |
Bernie
Dir: Richard Linklater Stars: Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey Bernie tells the true story of Bernie Tiede. He was a funeral director in Carthage, Texas, and was the most beloved man in the entire town. He was friendly, generous, philanthropic, and entirely altruistic. Eventually, he befriends and woos the nastiest woman in town that everyone hates. When her nastiness causes him to snap and murder her, the town refuses to accept this act and still love their Bernie. It is absurd, and formulated in an odd Mockumentary style, but Jack Black is exceptional balancing a goofy whimsy and soul-crushing penance. This film is a lot of fun and a completely stranger-than-fiction situation. B |
OSCARS
Best Animated Film
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Brave
Dir: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, Steve Purcell Voices: Kelly MacDonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson As expected, it is gorgeous...but there isn't that little something extra that makes Pixar movies stand out from all the other kiddie animated films every year. Feels like another attempt at the straightforward princess story with a bit of rebelliousness in it thjat we have seen dozens of times in recent years. The princess wanting the prince is old hat. The Princess defying societal expectations feels like every female led animated film. Nothing special but ok. B- |
Butter
Dir: Jim Field Smith Stars: Jennifer Garner, Ty Burrell, Olivia Wilde, Rob Corddry, Ashley Greene, Alicia Silverstone, Hugh Jackman This is an odd one...but I do like the attempt here. Competition films are a dime-a-dozen, and this time around...the subject is Butter Carving. Somehow there is an absurdly good cast, with Jennifer Garner, Ty Burrell, Hugh Jackman, Ashley Greene, Olivia Wilde, and Rob Corddry...but the tone is a bit uneven. Garner's character is so detestable that it is wholly unpleasant when the story focuses on her. I guess it was supposed to be funny...but it was just creepy. The Burrell/Greene/Wilde story is completely useless. Jackman is misused and unfunny. However, the story of Corddry, Alicia Silverstone, and the young black foster-child they have taken in and her desire to enter the butter carving contest is so sweet, so poignant, and so interesting...it basically elevates the entire movie to a point where you can forgive the other mishandled nonsense. B- |
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Original Screenplay
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The Cabin in the Woods
Dir: Drew Goddard Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Kristen Connolly 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die I love it when movies are just brilliantly clever. This turns every horror cliche on its head and actually changes the way I will watch every horror movie ever. I just fantasize, even if it is for a moment, that a new horror movie is just another "Cabin in the Woods" scenario and I love it. I also love how this movie's twist is revealed in the opening scenes...so watching the secret unfold is so much fun. B+ Bluray |
The Campaign
Dir: Jay Roach Stars: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis I find it scary that this movie is darkly funny because it is not that far from reality. The career politician vs. the beatnik newcomer is a lot of fun but oddly serious at times. You know you are going to get some chuckles with Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis facing off, but a lot of the dark humor is a bit unpleasant. B- |
Chronicle
Dir: Josh Trank Stars: Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan For every couple of failed found-footage concepts, there is one that works, and this one works. Watching these high-schoolers realize they have powers after encountering a meteorite, develop those powers, and decide what to do with them, feels real and authentic. Some people get powers and decide to do good. Some people don't. Exciting and scary at times...it was done just right. B |
Kevin's Pick
Best Cinematography
Best Makeup |
Cloud Atlas
Dir: The Wachowskis & Tom Tykwer Stars: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Ben Whishaw, Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving I was fascinated and engrossed by the epically complicated Cloud Atlas. This is a mosaic following 6 characters across 6 main storylines, which takes place in 6 time periods from the 1800s to the 24th century. It is 3 hours long, but it could have been 12 and I wouldn't have cared. There is such richness to this film that I was almost slobbering over myself. Sure, some stories are stronger than others. Sure...the through-line can be as weak as "Every decision we make can affect the future"...but with something so infinitely watchable and well-made...It matters not. I GET how it polarizes people and can come across as indulgent...but I completely disagree A |
The Collection
Dir: Marcus Dunstan This is an anomaly. There was a rarely seen horror film called The Collector that was the spawn of the Saw franchise, with an antagonist setting up elaborate killing machines throughout a house. No one saw it and it wasn't very good. The filmmakers must have said "Screw That" and they upped the ante in every way and made a glorious gorefest. Now this killer has a booby-trapped warehouse full of young people ripe for disemboweling. Such fun ridiculousness. B |
Comic-Con Episdoe IV: A Fan's Hope
Dir: Morgan Spurlock These are my people, and Morgan Spurlock really exhibits what it is like to be a comic-con style nerd. He doesn't delve too deep...just what it is like having all these people in one place. But like I said, these are my people and that's enough. B- |
Contraband
Dir: Baltasar Kormakur Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster This guy was the best smuggler in the Biz...and then he went straight. Then the situation is that he has to come back for one last job. I feel like i've seen this movie dozens of times...and several of those also starred Mark Wahlberg. So tired and boring. Wahlberg is always entertaining and he saves this movie from being 100% generic...but not by much. C+ |
The Dark Knight Rises
Dir: Christopher Nolan Stars: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt IMDB #67 It is still a Christopher Nolan movie so you know it is of the highest quality, but I loved Batman Begins and The Dark Knight is a modern masterpiece. This film can only disappoint...and it does a bit...but watching the Caped Crusader under the control of Nolan was a lot of fun. It does seem that Nolan was done with this franchise by this film and ready to move onto other ventures. B |
Dark Shadows
Dir: Tim Burton Stars: Johnny Depp, Michele Pfeiffer, Eva Green, Chloe Grace Moretz, Helena Bonham Carter I have to admit that the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp in Makeup sctick is getting prettytired...but I still kind of dug this film. It's based on an old supernatural soap opera, and that is exactly how it plays. Its silly, its funny, and the visuals are great, and the acting is over-the-top. I always like Eva Green in her oddly sensual performances and she really steals the screen. B |
The Devil Inside
Dir: William Brent Bell It seems like there is a demonic horror movie released every January...and they are almost always terrible. This is no different. You can predict every beat, every scare, and every plot turn. Total waste of time. And it is a shame because I am a huge fan of religious horror...but when it is stupid...it angers me. D+ |
OSCARS
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Django Unchained
Dir: Quentin Tarantino Stars: Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die IMDB #61 Effortlessly enjoyable...and using slavery as the backdrob for bloodlust is almost as easy as Tarantino had with the Nazis in Inglourious Basterds. The man really knows how to make a movie that will be unlike any other movie that particular year. Bravo to Jamie Foxx and DiCaprio for their performances...but I'm not sure I agree with Waltz second supporting actor oscar. B+ |
Doomsday Book
Continuing my Korean cinema obsession, here we get an end-of-the-world anthology. So I will grade them individually. A Brave New World" Directed By Yim Pil-Sung This horror short follows how a single rotten apple sets off the zombie apocalypse. We've seen zombie movies before, but this solid story follows the decline of civilization. The fear, the danger, the hopelessness, the violence...everything. The natural progression felt so real, as if this is how people would really act. The best of the three. B+ The Heavenly Creature Directed by Kim Jee-Woon The idea behind this story is that an advanced robot has become sentient, and has reached Nirvana, and a group of monks worship it as the new Buddha. It is a pretty cool premise but this short is way too talkie and philospohical. The ideas are interesting as a PhD thesis, but not much of a cinematic experience. It flirts with injecting some interest but it fizzles out. C+ Happy Birthday Directed by Yim Pil-Sung A story worthy of Doctor Who and Douglas Adams, this follows a family of 4 as they, and the rest of society, wait out the countdown clock for a meteor to strike Earth. Usually this should be scary and dark, but the specifics of the story are HIGH fantasy and absurd...so when news anchors are fighting on air and cramping up on the bicycle generator make the lights go out, it is ok to laugh. B B |
Dredd
Dir: Pete Travis Stars: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey I knew it couldn't have been worse than Stallone's Judge Dredd, and it isn't. It is actually better than it has any right to be. The effects are solid, the production design is cool, and the concept is a lot of fun. But you know what the problem is? I have seen The Raid: Redemption, which has virtually the same concept of a cop fighting his way to the top floor of a drug lord's building, and it was done INFINITELY better in that movie. At least in that movie, there were elaborate, choreographed fight scenes. Here...people just get shot. C+ |
OSCARS
Best Actor
Best Original Screenplay |
Flight
Dir: Robert Zemeckis Stars: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, John Goodman Being directed by Robert Zemeckis got me into the theater...but Denzel Washington's performance is what makes this a stellar movie. Sure the action sequence early on is white-knuckle thrilling, but his tour-de-force acting is arguably the greatest of his fantastic career...rivaled only by The Hurricane. It really did drop the ball with what the final line of the film should have been though. It was right there. B+ |
Found in Time
Dir: Arthur Vincie This is a very low-budget sci-fi film...and it has interesting flair and the disjointed narrative has just enough intrigue to hold on to the audience, but ultimately, the psychic living his life out of order concept doesn't give the audience much to hold on to. It shows its amateur side when it is more like the scenes are shown out of order than the main protagonist LIVING it all out of order. It is a shame because there are some good things here but they never become cohesive. C- |
Friends With Kids
Dir: Jennifer Westfeldt Stars: Jennifer Westfeldt, Adam Scott, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Chris O'Dowd, Maya Rudolph This is one of those fun indie comedies that properly addresses emotional relationship themes for people my age. Some people have great marriages, some don't. Some want kids, some don't. And then there are some people who want kids, have no partner, and are running out of options. There is a lot to say with this stuff and this movie does a swell job with it all. B |
God Bless America
Dir: Bobcat Goldthwait Stars: Joel Murray Bobcat Goldthwait is a crazy person...but he can make some interesting films (like World's Greatest Dad). What he did here wasn't a movie....it was a soapbox violence-fest. It is kind of like Falling Down, where a guy is fed up with the world and how unkind and rude it is, and takes to the streets with various weapons and starts killing people. It reaches deep into the ID of many people and satiates their blood-lust. People talking during a movie? I thought someone standing up and shooting them would be funny and oddly satisfying. It wasn't. It was creepy. This movie is too preachy about how horrible our society has gotten and doesn't tell a story to exhibit those problems. It just Locks & Loads and heads out to rid the world of rudeness. C |
Goon
Dir: Michael Dowse Stars: Seann William Scott, Alison Pill, Liev Schreiber, Jay Baruchel I found it hard to deny...but this might be the best sports movie about TEAMWORK that I have ever seen. Most sports films focus on one players success and failure...or individual successes and failures. Sure, this movie focuses on Seann William Scott's Glatt (his best performance ever), but it is all about how he can make his team better, and it is the character's only concern. He knows his role perfectly and doesn't begrudge it...especially if it helps the team. I enjoyed every thrown punch, every dullard approach to social situations, and the "big game" stuff gave me chills. I adored this film. So much enthusiasm went into it. A- |
The Grey
Dir: Joe Carnahan Stars: Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts It is a simple premise, but that simple premise done very well. Group of miscreant Alaskan oil drillers are flying back to Anchorage, plane crashes, survivors learn they are in the middle of a wolf pack's territory...so they have to fend off killer timberwolves as they make their way through the frozen wilderness. It is INTENSE and frightening, with astonishing sound design. Every whisp of wind, every wolf howl, every snow-crunch underfoot, and every growl seems to burrow deep into your bones and perfectly paints the desperate picture of these men's situation. Also...there are only so many ways you can portray encroaching wolves in a film...and this movie uses all of them so well. For every jump scare, there is the eyes in the darkness, and the howling breath in the distance. On top of all that...Liam Neeson is doing exactly what he does best and is great. Don't want this movie if you are in the mood to relax. B+ |
The Guilt Trip
Dir: Anne Fletcher Stars: Seth Rogen, Barbara Streisand On paper, I'd rather kill myself than see a raod trip movie with Barbara Streisand as an annoying mother. Almost every time they employ an older actress as an insufferable in-law or mother...I can't stand it. I was a good husband and watched The Guilt Trip and was pleasantly surprised. The funny parts were genuinely funny and the sweet parts were really heartfelt. I think it was a fluke though...I'm still going to avoid this trope in the future. B |
Hit & Run
Dir: David Palmer & Dax Shepard Stars: Kristen Bell, Dax Shephard, Kristen Chenoweth, Tom Arnold, Bradley Cooper There is some fun action and laughs here and there...but I guarantee you will forget everything about this movie about an hour after you finish it. It's something about a former getaway driver getting out of the Witness Protection Program to help his girlfriend, or something...it doesn't matter. C |
OSCARS
Best Production Design
Best Makeup & Hairstyling Best Visual Effects KEVIN'S PICK
Best Cinematography
Best Production Design Best Makeup & Hairstyling Best Sound Editing Best Sound Mixing Best Original Score Best Original Song |
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Dir: Peter Jackson Stars: Ian McKellan, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace The moment this film started, I felt the magic of Peter Jackson's Middle Earth that I fell in love with a decade before. As the movie progressed in true Jackson fashion, you realize that even though nearly every aspect is less than the previous Trilogy masterpiece, I was really exited for the new adventure. I enjoyed everything about it, but puzzled about how 10 years later, the effects could be worse. Middle Earth is a special cinematic place, and to be back there is something special. Also...Jackson is still excellent at casting. Freeman and Armitage are perfect as the leads. A- Bluray |
House at the End of the Street
Dir: Mark Tonderai Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Shue Jennifer Lawrence is one of our greatest actresses at this point. I guess every actress has to go do that shitty horror film for a good paycheck so they can afford to go off and do the indie gems that get them all the accolades. This one is dumb and predictable and entirely forgettable. D+ |
The Hunger Games
Dir: Gary Ross Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci Solid entertainment...but it feels a bit undercooked. Woody Harrelson's character wasn't fleshed out enough and making a film about teenagers killing eachother for sport absolutely lends itself to an R-rating. Softening the violence for the Young Adult demographic is a bit detrimental. No matter how well it is acted and how well the story is adapted...it never reaches the heights it could because it feels so sterilized. B Bluray |
Iron Sky
Dir: Timo Vourensola This movie has a cult following, and I kind of see it...but this movie fails because it doesn't know what it is. If it took itself more seriously, it would have slipped into intense satire a la Starship Troopers. If it took itself less seriously, it would have slipped into parody and spoof and would have been fun in that respect. Unfortunately, it sits right in between those two genres and doesn't quite work. Not serious enough to be clever, not funny enough to make you laugh. Oh well. There IS a lot of money up on the screen though. C- |
John Carter
Dir: Andrew Stanton Stars: Taylor Kitcsh, Lynn Collins, Willem DaFoe This movie has a horrible reputation that is unwarranted. It lost a boatload of money for Disney...but there really isn't much wrong with it. I will never understand why they dropped the "From Mars" from the title...effectively castrating any kind of sci-fi fan base. It is an outlandish bloated mess...but not in a devastating way. Taylor Kitsch is fun, the effects are spectacular, the action is breathtaking...I just don't get the anger toward it. Is this visually arresting feast that much worse than Avatar? I don't think so. Such a shame. Poor Taylor Kitsch just can't catch a break. B |
OSCARS
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Lincoln
Dir: Steven Spielberg Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, James Spader 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Historical epic with Spielberg and Daniel Day Lewis? You know you are going to get some great stuff. No real specific issues because it looks amazing and Lewis definitely earns his Oscar...but you really feel its length. At points, the movie is VERY slowwwwww. It is so noticeable that it really takes away from the movie's brilliance elsewhere. It is a spiritual cousin to Spielberg's Amistad. It is about the procedure and how the government works far more so than about the characters. This certainly makes it interesting, but not very engaging. B |
Looper
Dir: Rian Johnson Stars: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt Time-Travel films are tough. Their success usually hinges on their treatment of paradoxes and the clarity of the storyline. This film handles both pretty well. When it is brilliant, it really is. When it is dull...it is dull. The single most brilliant, original, and frightening concept in the film is the scarring a young version of a time-traveler to get a message to the elder version. Those scenes disturbed me in the greatest of ways. B |
Mansome
Dir: Morgan Spurlock Stars: Jason Bateman, Will Arnett Morgan Spurlock has some great ideas, but this documentary on how men groom themselves and take care of themselves is just a whole lot of nothing. They thought that getting Will Arnet and Jason Bateman in a bubble bath together would distract the viewer into thinking there was substance to this project. There really isn't. Where is the controversy? Where is the cleverness? Ugh. C- |
OSCARS
Best Actor
Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress KEVIN'S PICK
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress |
The Master
Dir: Paul Thomas Anderson Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams I love me some Paul Thomas Anderson, and the cast is absolutely A-list...but this is more of a collection of wonderful scenes than a coherent movie. Rumor has it that it was a criticism of Scientology at some level...it would have been better if they concentrated on that a bit more. It is difficult to really grasp what the narrative arc of the film is, even though it is never boring watching the 3 leads act their butts off. B- |
Men in Black 3
Dir: Barry Sonnenfeld Voices: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Michael Stahlbarg, Jemaine Clement Will Smith is just phoning it in. It is so obvious that he is in this just for the paycheck. Tommy Lee Jones is pretty much a cameo. And the entire enterprise retcons the series to a near insult to the fans. BUT...there is still fun to be had. Jemaine Clement is a great villain and Michael Stuhlbarg's omniscient character is innocently fun. Uneven but actually MAY be better than the 2nd film. B |
OSCARS
Best Original Screenplay
|
Moonrise Kingdom
Dir: Wes Anderson Stars: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman Wes Anderson continues to be a unique, talented filmmaker...making movies unlike any other in tone and craftsmanship. However...this story about a couple of kids running away to be together, all confined onto a small island...never gets quirky enough, interesting enough, or funny enough to be worthy of what we know Anderson can be. Ultimately...even though it has some charm...I was left disappointed more than almost any other Wes Anderson film. C+ |
The Night Never Sleeps
Dir: Fred Carpenter Stars: Armand Assante, Eric Roberts This is a terrible movie...that simple. It is movies like this that convince me that given the chance, I can make a decent movie. I only saw it because a friend had a small role, which she was actually great in...but the rest of everything is just amateur hour. F |
Paranormal Activity 4
Dir: Henry Joost & Ariel Schulman Ugh...this franchise has nothing else to say. It is such a shame when they take a great concept and completely drive it face-first into the ground. The social media approach to this just never works. Just terrible. There are almost no scares to be had anymore. D- |
Piranha 3DD
Dir: John Gulager Stars: Danielle Panabaker, Ving Rhames, David Koechner Piranha 3D was fun, escapist nonsense. It embraced its absurdity and made a good gory comedy. This movie took it too far. It is SO absurd and SO low budget that it goes well past self-parody to just a trashy, incoherent mess. See that poster on the left? That's all you need to know. It only wants to show boobs...not even piranha. D- |
Pitch Perfect
Dir: Jason Moore Stars: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp I'm so embarrassed. I like this movie. It capitalizes on the Glee atmosphere and tells an incredibly simple and cliched story....but I can't deny it. It is fun. Probably because I like Kendrick, Snow, and Camp...and their chemistry is pretty sweet. Also...the comedy that comes out of the people who take their accapella singing way too seriously is great. B Bluray |
The Possession
Dir: Ole Bornedal Stars: Kyra Sedgwick, Jeffrey Dean Morgan As generic as an exorcism movie can be. Totally forgettable, totally unoriginal...but it knows why this is a genre. Exorcism and demons are intrinsically scary. There are easy ways to get a few genuine scares out of movies like this...and there are a couple. C+ |
OSCARS
Best Visual Effects
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Visual Effects
|
Prometheus
Dir: Ridley Scott Stars: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender I really think most of the detractors of this film are mad it wasn't more of an OBVIOUS Alien prequel. If you ignore the prequel-ness and just enjoy it as a sci-fi thriller with no connection to any other movie, it is a gorgeous, exciting, scary, thrilling film full of great ideas, wonderful effects, and imagination. Don't listen to the nay-sayers. It may not fill that Alien void in your soul...but it does just fine otherwise. A- |
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Documentary
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The Queen of Versailles
Dir: Lauren Greenfield Solid documentary. There is a perverse enjoyment watching a rich bitch, with more money than god, planning on building an estate to rival Citizen Kane's Xanadu, crash and burn and try to find a way to live like us Normies. Huge "serves her right" sensability. You mean you might have to WORK? The horror!!!! B |
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Foreign Film
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The Raid: Redemption
Dir: Gareth Evans Stars: Iko Uwais FANTASTIC action extravaganza. There is virutally no story to this...it is just a cop fighting his way, floor-by-floor , to the top floor of a building full of a drug dealer's army. This it. Green Light...GO. Take deep breaths when it is done and try to relax. You will see some of the greatest choreographed fight scenes that you will ever see. B Bluray |
Rock of Ages
Dir: Adam Shankman Stars: Julianne Hough, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Akerman, Paul Giamatti I saw this on Broadway and it was great and surprisingly raunchy. The film neuters the story for PG-13 reasons and it actually takes a lot away from the story. The no name male lead is boring. Hough is corny. The rest of the cast is well done but the real masterstroke is Tom Cruise. He is perfect. Even with him, though, it just feels like a stagey, undercooked mess. Not enough grit that made the show work so well. C |
Safety Not Guaranteed
Dir: Colin Trevorrow Stars: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson I really liked the idea of this film, but I just didn't think it was executed well. The idea of someone posting a classified add looking for a time-traveling companion is intriguing, but it plays out in a weird, unpleasant way. Mark Duplass is such an off-putting actor and this role required heaps of sympathy, no matter whether or not this guy is for real. I also hated Jake Johnson's tangential story line that really did not have to be there. On top of that...the final scene is just too corny for words. C |
Savages
Dir: Oliver Stone Stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, John Travolta, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek Wow. This movie is INTENSE. Oliver Stone is back to form with this one. Drugs, sex, kidnapping...it has it all. The way these two guys turn the tables on the VERY powerful people who stole their girlfriend is frightening and ingenious, and it pulls you right to the edge of your seat. Taylor Kitch and Aaron-Taylor Johnson really carry the film . And man-oh-man...Blake Lively is SEXY!! A- Bluray |
Seeking a Friend For the End of the World
Dir: Lorene Scafaria Stars: Steve Carell, Keira Knightley There is an asteroid heading for Earth and it is going to hit in 3 weeks. This movie takes this scenario and doesn't gloss it over. It is scary, it is sad, and many people react to the prospect of the end of the world in different ways. This movie effectively runs the gambit of these emotions and Steve Carrell and Keira Knightley perfectly embody their characters. SOME of the scenes are a bit broad in comedy...some are rushed...but it almost all worth it for Knightley's phone call to her family. It shows just how good an actress she is. Solid film...even though it is a depressing venture tonally. B |
Seven Psychopaths
Dir: Martin McDonagh Stars: Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken The story and script are a bit confusing and uneven, but the actors are all this movie needs. When you populate your film with Farrell, Rockwell, Walken and a bunch of others who play crazy well, it provides a lot of fun. Not nearly as solid as Martin McDonough's previous film, In Bruges, as that film is much more mature in its storytelling and comedy...but still enjoyable. B- |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Actor
Best Adapted Screenplay |
Silver Linings Playbook
Dir: David O. Russell Stars: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro This movie really showed how wonderful Jennifer Lawrence can be. She is funny, tragic, sexy, and every other quality in between. But don't overlook how good Bradley Cooper is as well. He plays broken, suicidal, and yearning to perfection. Such a joyous movie...even if the contest climax is a little cliched. When that entire clamx is going on...it feels like it was implanted from a much lesser movie...but at least by then you love these characters so much that it actually works. B+ |
OSCARS
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Skyfall
Dir: Sam Mendes Stars: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Naomi Harris, Judi Dench 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die I think I have to say it every time I see one...I just don't get Bond movies. Sure it is competently directed with good action sequences...but I never care about any of it. Bond is such a shell of a character and it makes it so hard to care for him or feel bad for him. It also degrades into Home Alone toward the finale and it actually made me angry. I just don't understand the universal praide this film got. C+ |
Taken 2
Dir: Olivier Megaton Stars: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace This is a horrible example of basically taking an unexpected hit and making the same movie over again. The acting, the action, the tone, and even the story beats feel exactly the same as the original. So why would anyone ever watch this film? The first film is the same and was original when it came out. C |
Take This Waltz
Dir: Sarah Polley Stars: Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Sarah Silverman This movie is actually well-acted...but I hated almost every second of it. Wonderful couple...happy life...wife hates her life for no reason, with no explanation. I know people will say things like "Depression is hard to understand" and things...but it makes for an incredibly unpleasant film. How could you enjoy a movie, even in a sad way, when you so despise the actions of its main character...with no proper explanation. Is she depressed and that is why she is destroying her own life? Fine...that has to be explained or exhibited in some way, even if it is in the abstract. D |
OSCARS
Best Original Song
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Ted
Dir: Seth MacFarlane Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Giovanni Ribisi, Seth MacFarlane Seth MacFarlane is talented and funny. He is one of the only people that could make an R-Rated comedy about a talking teddy bear and make it work. Effortlessly enjoyable, crude, and with a surprising amount of heart. But its best moments involve throwaway lines and interactions that made his Family Guy such a ridiculous success. B Bluray |
That's My Boy
Dir: Sean Anders Stars: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Leighton Meester, Milo Ventimiglia I really think Adam Sandler gets a bad rap. Sure, he does make some garbage...but I feel like even his decent stuff doesn't get its due credit. We all need a clown...and he is certainly the reigning cinematic clown. This movie is very funny, not annoying, sort of original, and full of fun. Andy Samberg and Adam Sandler as father and son is a masterstroke and the movie works. Simply doesn't deserve the vitriol. B Bluray |
This is 40
Dir: Judd Apatow Stars: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Megan Fox Judd Apatow is getting worse and worse. Somehow...he thought this movie was a comedy. I sat through this mess and it was full of boredom, sadness, and devastation. What is funny about a married couple having simultaneous mid-life crises to the point where they basically hate each other and their lives together? Nothing. It's just terrible. D+ |
This Means War
Dir: McG Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy I like Chris Pine and Tim Hardy...but I don't really buy the extremes they go to for Reese Withspoon in this film at all. She isn't as fetching as these professional agents would need to distract them from their duties. It is one of those romances that at its core is kind of cute...but the scenarios are so outlandish that I get pulled right out of the movie. C+ |
A Thousand Words
Dir: Brian Robbins Stars: Eddie Murphy, Cliff Curtis, Kerry Washington I actually really like the concept of this movie...giving a talkative man only 1000 words left to speak before he dies. Unfortunately, the concept was given to some untalented hands and Eddie Murphy wasn't up to par to handle it. That is strange because Murphy is perfectly cast for the idea. Ultimately disappointing. C- |
The Three Stooges
Dir: The Farrelly Brothers Stars: Chris Diamantopoulos, Will Sasso, Sean Hayes, Craig Bierko, Sophia Vergara This movie is so dumb, so idiotic, so jeuvenile...and thats the point. The slapstick absurdity is embraced so thoroughly that the enjoyment is infectious. I miss the Farrelley's orginal stuff...but this movie is impossibly fun. B Bluray |
Trouble With the Curve
Dir: Robert Lorenz Stars: Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake This movie's story is pretty bland...so enjoyment hinges solely on the strength of the actors. Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, and Justin Timberlake fit the bill and make the film somewhat charming and fun. Good thing the actors were on their game, because the story of a baseball scout losing his edge is a huge bowl of meh. B- |
Underworld: Awakening
Dir: Mans Marlind & Bjorn Stein Stars: Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea The Underworld franchise was always almost all style above substance...but with the newest entry, things have fallen off the cliff. No stakes, no fun...just a lot of bullets and running through the motions. It is a shame because Beckinsale did come back...but she is given virtually nothing to do but look great. D |
V/H/S
Dir: Various Stars: Various Not a bad horror anthology. The story is a group of people find a creepy house with a bunch of VHS tapes strewn around. Why not watch? Amateur Night: Probably the best of the bunch so the film hits its peak early. The girl in this attempted amateur porn short will haunt your nightmares. Second Honeymoon: There is an ultimate surprise but this is a pretty bland entry. Tuesday the 17th: Kind of a neat, forest, Blair Witch-y vibe...but ultimately too strange to be scary. The Sick thing That Happened to Emily When She Was Younger: I really liked this story about a panicking girl and her boyfriend over zoom...but I felt it needed a bit more fleshing out...get it?? 10/31/98: Friends arrive at a house for a party but only to find a haunted house and an exorcism being performed. Fine B- |
Wanderlust
Dir: David Wain Stars: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Anison, Justin Theroux I love myself some David Wain/Paul Rudd comedy...but this one seems like the actors are a bit bored with the subject, and Jennifer Aniston seems like she wants to be anywhere but on set. There are enough laughs scattered throughout however to make it passable...mosty because of the usual Wain troupe like Joe Lo Truglio and Ken Marino. B- |
The Woman in Black
Dir: James Watkins Stars: Daniel Radcliffe Very generic spookfest. Daniel Radcliff hasn't quite matured enough from Harry Potter to be a decent protagonist. Still...there are a few scares here and there that kind of make it worth your while. The entire venture is something you have seen before though. Myths about ghosts, unbelievers turned believers...you know, that old chestnut. C |
Wrath of the Titans
Dir: Jonathan Liebesman Stars: Sam Worthington, Rosamund Pike, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes All of the charm and fun that was behind Clash of the Titans is all but sucked dry in the sequel. There was a lot of bombastic fun and humor in the first movie. Sam Worthington has no charm, and the gods just come across as even cornier then they did before. I didn't even think that would have been possible. D |
OSCARS
Best Animated Film
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Animated Film
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Wreck-It Ralph
Dir: Rich Moore Voices: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch An incredibly clever, saccharine film that isn't quite as deep as the better Disney movies. Tangled, Zootopia, Pixar films...they all have very poignant themes buried below the kiddie friendly story. This one is just kid-friendly fun without a whole lot of thematic charisma. B |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Editing
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Zero Dark Thirty
Dir: Kathryn Bigelow Stars: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt, Jason Clarke Very Exciting, informative, and full of insane amounts of tension. The search for Bin Laden and the war on terror was chock full of morality issues and Kathryn Bigelow's film really approaches them expertly. Each and every character seems to have a purpose and wade the viewer into another moral quandary. It makes the straightforward mission of taking out a terrorist a perfectly fleshed out movie. A- |