Family, Drama
3.5 stars
Cute film starring Matt Damon as a recent widower who moves his two kids to a rundown zoo for a fresh start of a new life. Scarlett Johansson co-stars as the head zookeeper and Thomas Haden Church is his usual lovable self as Damon’s brother. The adorably cute little girl (Maggie Elizabeth Jones (Footloose)) gets some of the best lines while her sullen older brother (Colin Ford of TV’s Supernatural) cheers up a bit around Elle Fanning, who is like a ray of sunshine. It’s a cute film with some tearful scenes (crying is just so darned messy!) and good movie for all.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Drama, Mystery
5 stars
Well done. A disgraced journalist (Daniel Craig) is hired by a retired corporate mogul (Christopher Plummer) to look into the 40 year old missing person’s case of his favorite niece. Rooney Mara plays the title character who is a freelance PI (and also a ward of the state) hired by the same mogul to investigate the journalist’s background and then decides to continue investigating on her own. Of course several of the details and clues from the book and the previous film have been changed to streamline the story. Some scenes include violent sexual abuse. Thankfully, the Hollywood version doesn’t shy away from certain scenes that I was sure they would tone down. Noomi Repace of the original Swedish version will always be my hero, but Rooney Mara is a pretty damn good replacement. Loved it.
5 stars
Well done. A disgraced journalist (Daniel Craig) is hired by a retired corporate mogul (Christopher Plummer) to look into the 40 year old missing person’s case of his favorite niece. Rooney Mara plays the title character who is a freelance PI (and also a ward of the state) hired by the same mogul to investigate the journalist’s background and then decides to continue investigating on her own. Of course several of the details and clues from the book and the previous film have been changed to streamline the story. Some scenes include violent sexual abuse. Thankfully, the Hollywood version doesn’t shy away from certain scenes that I was sure they would tone down. Noomi Repace of the original Swedish version will always be my hero, but Rooney Mara is a pretty damn good replacement. Loved it.
Mission Impossible
Action
4.5 stars
Loved it; in fact it may be better than the previous films in the series. Tom Cruise and his crew go rogue to try to exonerate themselves from a terrorist crime they did not commit as well go on a mission to prevent a nuclear war. Lots of chase scenes, fight scenes and even a girl fight. I have to say the part with Cruise hanging off the side of the building in Dubai is both nail biting and funny too. I don’t recall the previous films infusing a little humor into the action but it works very well here. Simon Pegg, Paula Patton and Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker) consist of Cruise’s team while Michael Nyqvist (from the Swedish Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series) play their antagonist. Fun movie.
4.5 stars
Loved it; in fact it may be better than the previous films in the series. Tom Cruise and his crew go rogue to try to exonerate themselves from a terrorist crime they did not commit as well go on a mission to prevent a nuclear war. Lots of chase scenes, fight scenes and even a girl fight. I have to say the part with Cruise hanging off the side of the building in Dubai is both nail biting and funny too. I don’t recall the previous films infusing a little humor into the action but it works very well here. Simon Pegg, Paula Patton and Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker) consist of Cruise’s team while Michael Nyqvist (from the Swedish Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series) play their antagonist. Fun movie.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Action, Comedy
4 stars
Fun film with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law reprising their roles as Sherlock and Dr. Watson. This time the evil Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) hits below the belt and they must thwart his sinister plans. Noomi Rapace (who absolutely rocked in the original Swedish version of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series) costars a mysterious gypsy. I loved Stephen Fry as a fun sidekick. Honestly, so much happened so fast it felt a bit overwhelming; not to mention trying to decipher the British accents that were spitting out witty one-liners faster than I could keep up. It was still a very enjoyable film.
4 stars
Fun film with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law reprising their roles as Sherlock and Dr. Watson. This time the evil Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) hits below the belt and they must thwart his sinister plans. Noomi Rapace (who absolutely rocked in the original Swedish version of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series) costars a mysterious gypsy. I loved Stephen Fry as a fun sidekick. Honestly, so much happened so fast it felt a bit overwhelming; not to mention trying to decipher the British accents that were spitting out witty one-liners faster than I could keep up. It was still a very enjoyable film.
New Year's Eve
Comedy
2.5 stars
Cute but predictable and logistically impossible. A large cast of characters get sidelined a bit on their way to New Year’s festivities in Manhattan. Michelle Pfeiffer plays a frumpy woman who enlists Zac Efron to help her with her bucket list; Ashton Kutcher gets stuck in an elevator with Lea Michele; Abigail Breslin sneaks out on Mom Sarah Jessica Parker; Robert DeNiro is dying and just wants to see the ball drop with his nurse Halle Berry; these are only a few of the many stories in this film. Sofia Vergara, Katherine Heigl, Jon Bon Jovi, Hillary Swank, Jessica Biel and Josh Duhamel are among the many other stars. Garry Marshall’s direction wasn’t terrible, but not nearly as good as his work on Valentine’s Day. So so.
2.5 stars
Cute but predictable and logistically impossible. A large cast of characters get sidelined a bit on their way to New Year’s festivities in Manhattan. Michelle Pfeiffer plays a frumpy woman who enlists Zac Efron to help her with her bucket list; Ashton Kutcher gets stuck in an elevator with Lea Michele; Abigail Breslin sneaks out on Mom Sarah Jessica Parker; Robert DeNiro is dying and just wants to see the ball drop with his nurse Halle Berry; these are only a few of the many stories in this film. Sofia Vergara, Katherine Heigl, Jon Bon Jovi, Hillary Swank, Jessica Biel and Josh Duhamel are among the many other stars. Garry Marshall’s direction wasn’t terrible, but not nearly as good as his work on Valentine’s Day. So so.
Young Adult
Drama, Dry Comedy
4 stars
Good movie starring Charlize Theron as an author of young adult books who never really grew up herself. Once she learns her old high school beau (Patrick Wilson) is married with a baby on the way, she decides to try to win him back (Elizabeth Reaser as Wilson’s wife). She is the only one oblivious to how insane her quest is. Though the results are predictable, it’s a good ride. Very good acting, especially by Patton Oswalt as the guy Theron confides in. A little dark, but good.
4 stars
Good movie starring Charlize Theron as an author of young adult books who never really grew up herself. Once she learns her old high school beau (Patrick Wilson) is married with a baby on the way, she decides to try to win him back (Elizabeth Reaser as Wilson’s wife). She is the only one oblivious to how insane her quest is. Though the results are predictable, it’s a good ride. Very good acting, especially by Patton Oswalt as the guy Theron confides in. A little dark, but good.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Hugo
Drama, Adventure
4 stars
Very good though hard to describe. Hugo is an orphaned boy living in a Paris train station who finds mystery and adventure with a girl he meets. Part of the mystery has to do with a shopkeeper at the station, played by Sir Ben Kingsley. Asa Butterfield (star of The Boy With The Striped Pajamas) stars as Hugo and Chloe Grace Moretz (Let Me In and (500) Days of Summer) costars as his cohort. I usually hate Sasha Baron Cohen, but he is perfect as the security guard at the station. It’s really best not to know anything going in. The first half of the film is visually stunning and incredibly cool. The second half slows down which may cause tots to get restless, but I loved how the film transitioned to the sweet interplay between the various employees at the train station as well as the exploration of early moving pictures. I can see how critics would have a problem with how Hugo’s pace changes midway through, but it all ties together at the end. There are a couple of scenes that may be too intense for young kids. I loved it, but it may not be for everybody. Art House fans should like it as well as older kids with big imaginations and a sense of adventure.
4 stars
Very good though hard to describe. Hugo is an orphaned boy living in a Paris train station who finds mystery and adventure with a girl he meets. Part of the mystery has to do with a shopkeeper at the station, played by Sir Ben Kingsley. Asa Butterfield (star of The Boy With The Striped Pajamas) stars as Hugo and Chloe Grace Moretz (Let Me In and (500) Days of Summer) costars as his cohort. I usually hate Sasha Baron Cohen, but he is perfect as the security guard at the station. It’s really best not to know anything going in. The first half of the film is visually stunning and incredibly cool. The second half slows down which may cause tots to get restless, but I loved how the film transitioned to the sweet interplay between the various employees at the train station as well as the exploration of early moving pictures. I can see how critics would have a problem with how Hugo’s pace changes midway through, but it all ties together at the end. There are a couple of scenes that may be too intense for young kids. I loved it, but it may not be for everybody. Art House fans should like it as well as older kids with big imaginations and a sense of adventure.
Friday, December 2, 2011
My Week With Marilyn
Indie, True Story
4.5 stars
Excellent acting. Based on the diary of Colin Clark, this film captures the tragic beauty of Marilyn Monroe while filming in England with Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) as she simultaneously captivates and infuriates the entire cast and crew. Michelle Williams is a superb actress whom I have great respect for, and she captured Monroe’s facial expressions and body language flawlessly. Eddie Redmayne (Savage Grace and The Other Boleyn Girl) stars as Colin Clarke, the low-level director’s assistant whom Marilyn entranced, seduced and confided in. Of course this is not the most flattering portrait of Monroe, who’s need for love and acceptance was surpassed by her ability to recognize how much she hurts those around her. Costars include Dougray Scott as Arthur Miller, Dominic Cooper as the director of the film and Judy Dench. Very well done.
4.5 stars
Excellent acting. Based on the diary of Colin Clark, this film captures the tragic beauty of Marilyn Monroe while filming in England with Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) as she simultaneously captivates and infuriates the entire cast and crew. Michelle Williams is a superb actress whom I have great respect for, and she captured Monroe’s facial expressions and body language flawlessly. Eddie Redmayne (Savage Grace and The Other Boleyn Girl) stars as Colin Clarke, the low-level director’s assistant whom Marilyn entranced, seduced and confided in. Of course this is not the most flattering portrait of Monroe, who’s need for love and acceptance was surpassed by her ability to recognize how much she hurts those around her. Costars include Dougray Scott as Arthur Miller, Dominic Cooper as the director of the film and Judy Dench. Very well done.
Arthur Christmas
Family, Animated
3.5 stars
Cute futuristic take on North Pole organization. Santa’s eldest son Steve (Hugh Laurie) runs the North Pole with high-tech efficiency but when one gift is left undelivered, Steve’s enthusiastic little brother Arthur (James McAvoy) turns to the old school approach to get the job done. I love the animated artistry of the characters, and the Grandpa Santa (Bill Nighy) had all the best lines, but I personally wasn’t happy that the only character in the movie with any Christmas spirit was Arthur, and everyone else had a jaded attitude. Even Santa was portrayed as a big dummy (Jim Broadbent). This is the same reason I didn’t like Jim Carrey’s version of the Grinch. So if you don’t mind all the jaded attitudes from that film, then you’ll probably like this film. I didn’t hate, I just wish at least a couple more characters had portrayed that sweet innocence and Christmas cheer. Cute, but not one of my favorites.
3.5 stars
Cute futuristic take on North Pole organization. Santa’s eldest son Steve (Hugh Laurie) runs the North Pole with high-tech efficiency but when one gift is left undelivered, Steve’s enthusiastic little brother Arthur (James McAvoy) turns to the old school approach to get the job done. I love the animated artistry of the characters, and the Grandpa Santa (Bill Nighy) had all the best lines, but I personally wasn’t happy that the only character in the movie with any Christmas spirit was Arthur, and everyone else had a jaded attitude. Even Santa was portrayed as a big dummy (Jim Broadbent). This is the same reason I didn’t like Jim Carrey’s version of the Grinch. So if you don’t mind all the jaded attitudes from that film, then you’ll probably like this film. I didn’t hate, I just wish at least a couple more characters had portrayed that sweet innocence and Christmas cheer. Cute, but not one of my favorites.
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