Animated
5 stars
I always love the annual animated shorts, and this year has some good ones. They are equal parts bizarre, imaginative, funny and strange, and loved them all. This years’ nominees are all from USA, Canada & UK, my favorite one being UK’s “A Morning Stroll” which is best not knowing anything before watching. Other great ones are “The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore” (USA) and La Luna (USA). Canada’s “Dimanche/Sunday” is amusingly strange, but Canada’s “Wildlife” is just plain odd. There were a few more “notable” shorts included (not mentioned on the official website), the only one I recall is Australia’s “Nullabor” a wryly funny variation of 1971’s Duel (Spielberg). Duel is a great movie to rent, by the way. Unfortunately, these films aren’t shown in most theaters, but can be found through iTunes and other media: http://theoscarshorts.shorts.tv/
Monday, February 20, 2012
This Means War
Action, Romance
3.5 stars
Fun movie, most of it is already given away in the previews. Two super spies compete for the affections of Reese Witherspoon (Chris Pine & Tom Hardy). It’s a bit corny and the action scenes are a mixture of super close-ups and heavily edited clips where you can't really tell what's going on - you just know the good guys are going to win. I miss good old fashioned choreography! But it's good for a few laughs.
3.5 stars
Fun movie, most of it is already given away in the previews. Two super spies compete for the affections of Reese Witherspoon (Chris Pine & Tom Hardy). It’s a bit corny and the action scenes are a mixture of super close-ups and heavily edited clips where you can't really tell what's going on - you just know the good guys are going to win. I miss good old fashioned choreography! But it's good for a few laughs.
Safe House
Action, Drama 4 stars
Good movie. Denzel Washington stars a rogue spy suspected of treason who is under the protection of an inexperienced rookie, played by Ryan Reynolds. Great cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Vera Farmiga and Sam Shepherd. Very exciting and feels like a Steven Soderbergh film (Traffic, Haywire) but is instead directed by the somewhat unknown Daniel Espinosa, who shows a lot of promise. And surprisingly, Ryan Reynolds can actually act! Who knew? I thought it was really good.
Good movie. Denzel Washington stars a rogue spy suspected of treason who is under the protection of an inexperienced rookie, played by Ryan Reynolds. Great cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Vera Farmiga and Sam Shepherd. Very exciting and feels like a Steven Soderbergh film (Traffic, Haywire) but is instead directed by the somewhat unknown Daniel Espinosa, who shows a lot of promise. And surprisingly, Ryan Reynolds can actually act! Who knew? I thought it was really good.
The Vow
Chick Flick, Romance
3 stars
OK, nothing special. Rachel McAdams stars as a happily married woman who loses her memory and doesn’t remember ever meeting her husband, Channing Tatum. Tatum must now try to make her fall in love with him again. Tatum is handsome, but he’s a stiff actor. I’m a huge fan of chick flicks, but this one didn’t excite me either way. It’s OK, but a little bland.
3 stars
OK, nothing special. Rachel McAdams stars as a happily married woman who loses her memory and doesn’t remember ever meeting her husband, Channing Tatum. Tatum must now try to make her fall in love with him again. Tatum is handsome, but he’s a stiff actor. I’m a huge fan of chick flicks, but this one didn’t excite me either way. It’s OK, but a little bland.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Chronicle
Sci-fi, Teen
3.5 stars
Interesting premise. Three teens acquire supernatural powers. The film is viewed primarily through the lens of a camera (thankfully not a shaky one) as the teens film their experiences. Dane Dehaan plays the most troubled of the group with a terminally ill mother and an abusive father (Michael Kelly). Alex Russell and Michael B. Jordan play well-adjusted, popular kids who try to help out their friend. Some of their abilities are really cool, but the film gets a little dark as they deal with their powers and situations differently. Not bad for a teen flick.
3.5 stars
Interesting premise. Three teens acquire supernatural powers. The film is viewed primarily through the lens of a camera (thankfully not a shaky one) as the teens film their experiences. Dane Dehaan plays the most troubled of the group with a terminally ill mother and an abusive father (Michael Kelly). Alex Russell and Michael B. Jordan play well-adjusted, popular kids who try to help out their friend. Some of their abilities are really cool, but the film gets a little dark as they deal with their powers and situations differently. Not bad for a teen flick.
Big Miracle
Family, Drama
3.5 stars
Cute and sweet. Based on a true story. John Krasinski stars as small-time reporter in Alaska who, with the help of Greenpeace activist and ex-girlfriend Drew Barrymore, brings international attention to the plight of 3 gray whales separated from the ocean by a wall of ice. Kristen Bell co-stars as a reporter Krasinski has a crush on. There are some corny and goofy characters, but I still liked this film a lot for the warm & fuzzy feeling that the world came together to help save the whales.
3.5 stars
Cute and sweet. Based on a true story. John Krasinski stars as small-time reporter in Alaska who, with the help of Greenpeace activist and ex-girlfriend Drew Barrymore, brings international attention to the plight of 3 gray whales separated from the ocean by a wall of ice. Kristen Bell co-stars as a reporter Krasinski has a crush on. There are some corny and goofy characters, but I still liked this film a lot for the warm & fuzzy feeling that the world came together to help save the whales.
Man On a Ledge
Drama, Suspense
3.5 stars
Exciting but predictable. Sam Worthington stars as, as the title suggests, a guy standing on the ledge of a building as a distraction while others attempt to exonerate him by trying to locate the 40 carat diamond he is accused of stealing. It’s really a no-brainer how this turns out but the fun is in watching it unfold. Elizabeth Banks plays the cop trying to talk him into getting off the ledge, and Ed Harris is truly scary as the tycoon who claimed Worthington stole from him. Jamie Bell plays Worthington’s brother and Genesis Rodriguez as Bell’s way-too-pretty-for-him girlfriend (thanks to her, I now know how to say SOB in Spanish). Fun and exciting.
3.5 stars
Exciting but predictable. Sam Worthington stars as, as the title suggests, a guy standing on the ledge of a building as a distraction while others attempt to exonerate him by trying to locate the 40 carat diamond he is accused of stealing. It’s really a no-brainer how this turns out but the fun is in watching it unfold. Elizabeth Banks plays the cop trying to talk him into getting off the ledge, and Ed Harris is truly scary as the tycoon who claimed Worthington stole from him. Jamie Bell plays Worthington’s brother and Genesis Rodriguez as Bell’s way-too-pretty-for-him girlfriend (thanks to her, I now know how to say SOB in Spanish). Fun and exciting.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Albert Nobbs
Indie, Period
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
Very good, but a bit slow moving. Glenn Close truly earns her Best Actress Nomination as she plays a woman who lives as a man working in a small Dublin
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