Movie Reviews By Dave

Geekscape.net Merger

2012-03-04T09:07:00.002-08:00

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be writing for the website Geekscape. Geekscape offers a unique adventure into the world of modern entertainment. Filled with podcasts (which I'll be joining soon), news, and plenty of personality, Geekscape is the perfect place to entertain all of your nerdy needs.

Although my reviews will still be available here, most of my movie lists and other random articles will only be visible through Geekscape. Check out their website ASAP and enjoy the experience.

Another Muppets Movie and a Look at Only God Forgives

2012-03-02T08:38:00.009-08:00

After cleaning up $158 million worldwide, The Muppets will return with another installment in the near future. Jason Segel, who starred in and penned their 2011 film, will not be at the helm of the next feature. Although Segel hasn't ruled out starring in the next picture, he's relinquishing the writing duties to James Babin. Details are scarce as the film is in preliminary stages.

In addition to another Muppets movie, Ryan Gosling and his Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn will be combining forces once again in Only God Forgives. A more expanded synopsis has finally been released. The updated plot details are as follows (courtesy of Brad Brevet at Ropeofsilicon.com):

"Bangkok. Ten years ago Julian (Gosling) killed a cop and went on the run. Now he manages a Thai boxing club as a front for a drugs operation. Respected in the criminal underworld, deep inside, he feels empty.

When Julian's brother murders a prostitute the police call on retired cop Chang – the Angel of Vengeance. Chang allows the father to kill his daughter's murderer, then 'restores order' by chopping off the man's right hand.

Julian's mother Jenna – the head of a powerful criminal organization – arrives in Bangkok to collect her son's body. She dispatches Julian to find his killers and 'raise hell'.

Increasingly obsessed with the Angel of Vengeance, Julian challenges him to a boxing match, hoping that by defeating him he might find spiritual release.. but Chang triumphs. A furious Jenna plots revenge and the stage is set for a bloody journey through betrayal and vengeance towards a final confrontation and the possibility of redemption."

February Poll Recap

2012-03-02T04:40:00.004-08:00

Now matter how superb the Academy Award winner for Best Picture is, we're all a little tired of hearing about The Artist. No need to worry, this should be my last mention of the film for quite a while. On my February Poll asking, "Which nominated film should win Best Picture at the Oscars", the eventual winner, The Artist, outlasted the competition with 41% of the vote. As an overwhelming victor, The Artist won comfortably over the runner up Moneyball who finished with 17%.

Other films that received votes on February's Poll were The Help and The Tree of Life (11% each) and Stephen Daldry's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (5%). be sure to vote on March's Poll asking, "Which trilogy is your favorite".

WANDERLUST Trailer 2012 - Official [HD]

2012-02-29T15:52:00.000-08:00

Wanderlust

2012-02-29T15:27:00.023-08:00

Film: Wanderlust

Starring: Paul Rudd (Our Idiot Brother) and Jennifer Aniston (Horrible Bosses)

Director: David Wain (Role Models)

U.S. Release: February 24th, 2012 (Rated R)

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 98 minutes

Paul Rudd's once up and down career has blossomed into a solid body of work. Beginning his upswing in 2004 with the instant classic Anchorman, Rudd then followed suit with another excellent supporting role in the hysterical comedy The 40 Year Old Virgin. After a couple more years of successful secondary stints, his career finally took off when he starred in the 2009 smash hit Role Models. A mere three years later, Rudd finds himself once again teaming up with his Role Models director David Wain. But Wain and Rudd are no strangers to one another. The friends and colleagues have worked together on every film that Wain has directed, including his most recent work Wanderlust. Unfortunately though, Wanderlust is no Role Models.

Wanderlust follows a husband and wife named George (played by Rudd) and Linda (played by Aniston) who are struggling to get by in New York City. But when George unexpectedly loses his job and Linda's attempt at a documentary gets turned down by HBO, the couple can no longer afford their mortgage. While trekking to Atlanta to shack up with George's more successful and far more intolerable older brother Rick, the husband and wife discover Elysium. Elysium is a commune-like property filled with dozens of free-spirited members living under the direction of a divine leader named Seth. Although the experience seems far fetched, could Elysium be just the lifestyle that this couple needs?

Wanderlust is an overly simplistic and re-hatched attempt at R-rated humor. The film's story becomes lost behind the overly animated characters that exist on screen. As Wanderlust serves up its obvious plot twists, it becomes apparent how brutally shallow the movie really is. Rarely does a film cause its audience to give up on its leading characters so quickly. Pinpointing the problems in David Wain's Wanderlust becomes a daunting task, mostly because there is so much blame to go around.

In addition to its aimless plot, Wanderlust finds little solace in the performance given by its leading actress Jennifer Aniston. Even though her co-star Paul Rudd is far from spectacular himself, Aniston is simply woeful in the film. With remarkable ease, the actress elevates her already unlikable character to a whole new level. But despite the movie's spotty lead performances, Wanderlust does offer a wide variety of outlandishly comical side characters. With the aid of a few minor roles, there are a handful of laugh out loud moments which manage to keep the film mildly entertaining.

Unfortunately for fans of well written comedic genius, "shock comedy" has become the latest craze. Everything from the bathroom scene in Hall Pass to Maya Rudolph defecating on the street in Bridesmaids, the bigger the shock the better. Wanderlust rides this bandwagon and musters up plenty of frontal nudity (both male and female). But don't worry, I won't spoil the biggest shock of all.

Wanderlust is a drifting hour and a half adventure to nowhere. Centered around over the top side characters and containing very little substance, the film becomes a somewhat purposeless experience. As is the case with any comedy, Wanderlust has the occasional highlight. However, the distant gap between these rare moments is far too difficult to withstand. Heed my advice and stay clear of Wanderlust.

Stars: 1 and a half stars out of 4

Grade C-

NOTE: This review and others can be found at Movie Critic Dave's syndicated site Geekscape.

Safe House (2012) Trailer - HD Movie - Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds

2012-02-28T06:42:00.000-08:00

Safe House

2012-02-28T06:41:00.002-08:00

Film: Safe House

Starring: Denzel Washington (Unstoppable) and Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern)

Director: Daniel Espinosa

U.S. Release: February 10th, 2012 (Rated R)

Genre: Action

Runtime: 115 minutes

I spent a significant part of my childhood idolizing the work of mega-actor Denzel Washington. Although I've never been much of an action junky, there was just something about the 1991 filmRicochet that had me hooked. Pitting a young Denzel Washington against the revenge-seeking and villainous John Lithgow, it was pure magic. Fast forward more than 2 decades and Washington is still known for taking center stage in countless heart-pounding action movies. But Denzel's latest effort Safe House, in which he stars alongside heartthrob Ryan Reynolds, plays more like his early 2000's work Man on Fire and Out of Time ... it leaves much to be desired.

The film follows a young CIA agent named Matt Weston (played by Reynolds) who mans a safe house in Cape Town, South Africa. Desperate for a chance to prove himself to his superiors, Weston gets more than he can bargain for the moment the CIA's most wanted rogue agent, Tobin Frost (played by Washington), arrives at his location. And when his safe house isrecklessly attacked by mercenaries, Weston will go to no end to keep Frost detained.

Directing his first American film to date, Daniel Espinosa's Safe House is a meandering attempt at film making. Bogged down by an unforgivable script, Safe House is an obvious disappointment. Rather than spending the film's runtime developing its plot and characters, Espinosa trades depth for gun fire and fight scenes. What makes this scenario so unfortunate is the fact that, at its core, Safe House offers some interesting ideas. However, the movie never takes the appropriate steps needed to derive the story and, as a result, ends up feeling all too flat.

Despite its poor script and directorial execution, Safe House manages to remain somewhat bearable thanks, in large part, to its cast. Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds prove to be stellar once again in their respective roles. Yet, no matter how strong of an effort the talented pair of actors and their co-stars give, it seems as though all of the movie's characters are non-apologetically misused. To its discredit, instead of building off of its own premise and characters,Safe House takes the wrong approach by desperately attempting to measure up to big time action films such as The Bourne franchise.

With a runtime knocking on the door of two hours, Safe House's initial intrigue and natural flow quickly wear thin. The overabundance of gun fire and combat scenes leave the action film feeling surprisingly drawn out. All in all, there's far more potential than there is resolution, as Safe House clearly deserves a better fate. However, it's evident that even the feature's strong cast and crafty plot twists are completely mishandled. As you can guess, I suggest keeping a safe distance from all things Safe House.

Stars: 1 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: C-

2012 Oscars Recap

2012-02-27T11:28:00.006-08:00

As of 11:40pm last night, another awards season had come and gone. As expected, The Artist reigned supreme and took home 5 Oscar statues including Best Picture, Best Lead Actor (Jean Dujardin), and Best Director (Michael Hazanavicius). For any naysayer who is yet to see the film, The Artist is truly an astonishing masterpiece worthy of its Best Picture label. I was quite the skeptic prior to my initial viewing, but I walked out of the theatre reminded of all the reasons I love movies.

Tying The Artist with 5 Oscar victories was Martin Scorsese's Hugo. Another wondrous tale recognizing the earliest years of cinema, Hugo earned all of its wins in artistic and technical categories. As I read earlier on Indiewire.com (courtesy of Peter Knegt), it's interesting to note that Hugo's 5 Oscar wins are more than the combined total of Scorsese classics Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull.

In a rather predictable evening (I went 9 for 10 in my Oscar Predictions), the only major upset came at the hands of Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady). Streep's portrayal of Margaret Thatcher landed her a third Oscar in which she edged out Viola Davis (The Help). Also, a big kudos to Christopher Plummer who took home a Best Supporting Actor victory for his role in Beginners. At the nostalgic age of 82, Plummer represents the oldest person to ever win an Oscar. For a complete list of winners for last evening's Academy Awards, click here (courtesy of IMDB.com)

The Woman In Black - Official Trailer [HD]

2012-02-26T07:12:00.000-08:00

The Woman in Black

2012-02-26T07:08:00.007-08:00

Film: The Woman in Black

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe (the Harry Potter franchise)

Director: James Watkins (Eden Lake)

U.S. Release: February 3rd, 2012 (Rated PG-13)

Genre: Horror

Runtime: 95 minutes

I have a startling confession to make. In all of my years on this planet (which is only 29, so let's not get carried away with it), I am yet to see ANY Harry Potter movie. In fact, James Watkins sophomore horror tale The Woman in Black is my first Daniel Radliffe film. Radliffe and Watkins have the difficult task of making this one time Susan Hill novel turned critically acclaimed stage play turned television movie, into a United States success. Although the story has now crossed oceans and spanned decades, The Woman in Black is still as frightening as its ever been.

The film opens with a young widower lawyer named Arthur Kipps (played by Radcliffe) leaving his four year old son and nanny for a business venture to a remote village. Upon his unwanted arrival, Arthur discovers the vengeful and terrifying ghost of a woman who's spent years wreaking havoc on the locals.

The Woman in Black is a modern depiction of classic supernatural horror at its best. Combining a strong story with many other necessary ingredients, director James Watkins serves up a somewhat rehashed, but welcome, addition to the horror genre. Escaping the dull and ineffective characteristics used as the backbone of recent ghost-centered films such as the Paranormal Activity trilogy and countless exorcism movies of the past decade, The Woman in Black's most brilliant scares play off of its taut back story. Rather than using its scariest moments as a crutch, Watkins beautifully blends together the film's dramatic and horror-based elements. In doing so, the director builds a bond between the audience and the character of Arthur Kipps. As a result, every thrilling and intense scene becomes that much more powerful.

By relying a great deal on the character of Arthur Kipps, Daniel Radcliffe's performance becomes an enormous make or break aspect of the film. To the movie's benefit, Radcliffe never disappoints. His spot on portrayal of a moderately disconnected widower trying to unravel a small village's ghost story is nothing short of brilliant. Radcliffe effortlessly branches out from his Harry Potter label and demonstrates his ability to lead a successful acting career without wizardry. In addition to Radcliffe, the entire ensemble serves their purpose and helps propel The Woman in Black to forefront of modern horror.

Despite its fine acting and its wonderful direction, The Woman in Black lacks an unquestionable sense of originality. Following closely in the vein of the 2002 horror hit The Ring, Watkin's film succumbs to the occasional cliche. There are clearly moments of imperfection but, to the picture's credit, they are merely rough patches in an otherwise grand pasture.

James Watkin's The Woman in Black is a fantastic example of strong film making. Its subtle score and dark tone intensify every frightening scene, inevitably creating a thrilling viewing experience. The Woman in Black will not be in theatres for much longer, but any true fan of horror should go out of there way to see this excellent addition to the genre.

Stars: 3 stars out of 4

Grade: B

2012 Oscar Predictions: Know the Winners First!

2012-02-25T07:26:00.010-08:00

If you're a movie geek like this guy, you'll spend Sunday evening glued to the television watching the 84th Annual Academy Awards on ABC. One way to spice up the occasion is to have you and your co-watchers fill out an awards ballot and create some friendly competition out of the event. In last year's Oscar Prediction Blog, I chose 8 out of 10 categories correctly. This year, I plan to up my game ... a lot. All early indicators are pointing to a HUGE night for the rather unseen, yet wonderful, black and white silent film The Artist.

Best Picture: The Artist

For the final award of the evening, it would be an absolute shock to hear another film's name called. The Artist has been a steady and unmovable frontrunner for the past three months and counting. Ultimately, its closest competitors The Help, Hugo, and The Descendants aren't very close at all.

Best Director: Michael Hazanavicius (The Artist)

As the Academy so often does, Best Picture and Best Director go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly. That thought alone makes Michael Hazanavicius a safe bet for tomorrow evening. Couple it with a DGA win, and Hazanavicius is pretty much a sure thing. His stingiest opposition, Martin Scorsese (Hugo), is merely a crack in the sidewalk to step over.

Best Actor: Jean Dujardin (The Artist)

At this point, you should recognize a theme emerging. The Artist has proved to be a lovable movie, and its leading star, Jean Dujardin, is at the helm of its charm. Unlike the aforementioned races (or lack thereof), Dujardin faces stiff competition from George Clooney (The Descendants). Although hearing Clooney's name called wouldn't be a shock, I still believe that The Artist shows up big tomorrow tonight and Dujardin gets the nod.

Best Actress: Viola Davis (The Help)

As the big evening looms closer and closer, there's been a slight outcry from Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) supporters. Truth be told, Close and Oscar-regular Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) won't be able to steal the win from Viola Davis. Unlike the other two ladies, Davis actually starred in a film that most people enjoyed and that will definitely factor into the Academy's decision.

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer (Beginners)

Perhaps the most undisputed prediction for the evening, Christopher Plummer is the type of pick you bet the farm on. He's swept just about every major precursor award and his field of competition is rather mediocre. Without sounding too risque, Plummer also benefits from playing a homosexual role and the Academy is usually quick to honor such performances.

Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer (The Help)

With an extensive collection of precursor wins, Spencer has set herself up as the clear frontrunner in the Best Supporting Actress race. However, I am not as sold on this selection as most people are. Although I expect her to win, there is a not-so far fetched scenario where Spencer splits votes with her co-star Jessica Chastain (The Help) and the onslaught of support for The Artist propels Berenice Bejo to the forefront. I wouldn't count on such an outside chance, but keep it in the back of your mind.

Here are my predictions in four other categories:

Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)

Best Adapted Screenplay: Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne, and Jim Rash

(The Descendants)

Best Animated Film: Rango

Best Foreign Film: A Separation

2012 Oscar Update: The Votes are in

2012-02-21T11:50:00.000-08:00

With merely 5 days to go until the 84th annual Academy Awards, today marks a very important milestone along the road to the Oscars. Today is the deadline for all Academy members to have their votes sealed and postmarked. Therefore, the widespread campaigning for votes will finally seize (yeah, I'm talking to you Jean Dujardin). As a critic myself, the Academy Awards is my Super Bowl after the Super Bowl. Having been glued to movie screens since the start of 2011, here's my take on how the major Oscar races are shaping up down the stretch:

Best Picture

With Alexander Payne's The Descendants quickly falling out of contention, the Best Picture race is down to three. The odds on favorite to walk away the big winner at Sunday's ceremony is, without question, The Artist. The black and white silent film has been a freight train during the awards season. However, with the backing of a strong Screen Actors Guild showing, The Help has positioned itself as the prime culprit for an upset. In a distant third, the widely supported Hugo still has an inkling of life left. Outside of the big three, the rest of the Best Picture pool is filled with garnish.

Best Director

As the winner of the Directors Guild Award, The Artist's Michael Hazanavicius is the clear frontrunner. What is shaping up to be a HUGE night for Harvey Weinstein's prodigal baby, Hazanavicius does have some stiff competition from Oscar-regular Martin Scorsese. Scorsese illustrated his diversity with the beloved family film Hugo, and it wouldn't be a shocker to see him walk away victorious. The only other longshot with any chance of winning is Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life). However, Malick's polarizing film is sure to turn away a large portion of voters. As for Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris) and Alexander Payne (The Descendants), enjoy the free cocktails.

Best Actor

Clearly the Best Actor race is the closest of the bunch. Prior to the SAG awards, I would've bet the farm on George Clooney (The Descendants) outshining the competition. Yet, The Artist's own Jean Dujardin managed to steal a SAG win and has been the toast of the town lately. If there's as much love for The Artist among Academy members as I think there is, Clooney will go home empty handed. Dujardin, who hit the US campaigning circuit hard with his surprise appearance on SNL, has the slight edge. My condolences to fans of Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Brad Pitt (Moneyball), and Demian Bichir (A Better Life). The three of them are too far out to even consider.

Best Actress

Reminiscent of any old episode of Scooby Doo, Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) is nothing more than obvious bait to sway your attention from the clear favorite, Viola Davis (The Help). Even with Golden Globe and BAFTA wins to her credit, Streep's loss at the SAG awards is far too telling. Academy members truly appreciate the acting in Taylor Tate's The Help, and they'll make it known by giving the statue to Davis. I'm sure there will be a few sentimental members voting in favor of Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), who's never won before. Also, Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn) and Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) appear to be distant longshots at best.

Best Supporting Actor

Both supporting races look to be as locked up as Lindsay Lohan after another DUI. Christopher Plummer (Beginners) has been smooth sailing to the Oscars and I don't see any of his competitors stealing his thunder. If I had to claim a main opposition to Plummer, it would have to be Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn). However, I don't see Branagh, Max Von Sydow (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close), Nick Nolte (Warrior), or Jonah Hill (Moneyball) spoiling the evening for Plummer.

Best Supporting Actress

Similar to Christopher Plummer, it's been a one woman wrecking ball with Octavia Spencer (The Help) in the Best Supporting Actress race. Perhaps only a nuclear holocaust could prevent Spencer from claiming the victory on Sunday evening. A nuclear holocaust, or Berenice Bejo (The Artist). Unlike Plummer, Spencer faces the odd challenge of potentially splitting votes with her castmate Jessica Chastain (The Help). If enough votes are split, it could pave the way for a surprise winner in the form of Bejo. With As much love as The Artist has been receiving, clearly you can't ignore the film's biggest female star. In the back of the pack are Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) and Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs). Even though this would be the perfect category to recognize a character from a comedy film, I can't see McCarthy or anyone else from the field dethroning Spencer.

That about wraps up my Oscar update. Be sure to join in on the fun and vote for this month's poll concerning the Best Picture race. Also, for a chance at some fun prizes (including a Grand Prize trip to Los Angeles for a film premier) be sure to check out the Outguess Ebert contest. Stay tuned for my final Oscar predictions which will be announced on Saturday.

Rampart Trailer (HD)

2012-02-18T14:46:00.000-08:00

Rampart

2012-02-18T14:36:00.000-08:00

Film: Rampart

Starring: Woody Harrelson (The Messenger) and Sigourney Weaver (Avatar)

Director: Oren Moverman (The Messenger)

U.S. Release: February 10th, 2012 (Limited - Rated R)

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 108 Minutes

I'm sure if you ask Leonardo DiCaprio and the mastermind who's often filming him on the other side of the camera, Martin Scorsese, they'd tell you that they believe in destiny. The amazing duo have already collaborated on four films since 2002, demonstrating their somewhat cosmic connection. After a critically acclaimed directorial debut in which his supporting star Woody Harrelson received an Oscar nomination, Oren Moverman has finally made a follow up to his indie hit The Messenger. Taking a page out of the Scorsese handbook of directing, Moverman once again teams up with Harrelson for his crooked cop tale, Rampart. This time, the result is un-Scorsese-like.

Rampart is set in 1999 Los Angeles where a long time renegade cop named David Brown (played by Harrelson) sees himself pitted against a city of misfits. Refusing to give up his merciless tactics and methods of coercion, Brown ultimately ends up at the center of a videotaped police brutality scandal. With legal fees mounting and his financial state crumbling, the corrupt officer sees no boundary to the lengths he must go in order to survive the ordeal.

Rampart is a cluttered journey into the mind of an unstable police officer. Almost immediately, Moverman introduces the audience to the chaotic personal life of David Brown. With two children born to different mothers (that are also sisters), Brown's unusual home life sets the foundation for the muddled story line and assortment of ideas that is Rampart. Any sense of solace comes at the hands of the film's leading star, Woody Harrelson. Even with the aid of such a gifted actor, Harrelson still only manages to make this jumbled mess a moderately tolerable experience. Furthermore, David Brown's character has a sense of charisma that should have been utilized differently to impact the story. However, rather than attempting to humanize the corrupt officer, Oren Moverman creates a completely unlikable protagonist. In doing so, the director unsuccessfully sends the movie in a dark, downward spiral of unspeakable depths. Therefore, Rampart is a depressing tale that offers very little reward.

Despite the film's disarrangement of ideas and structure, Rampart does prove to be mildly entertaining. Harrelson's onscreen effectiveness unquestionably captivates the audience. And since his character knows no boundaries, this tiny little fact disallows the audience to sacrifice its attention. All eyes will stay peeled to the screen for the film's 108 minute duration, yet Rampart's final moments are perhaps the most dissatisfying. Hence, be warned. There's no light at the end of the tunnel here.

For me, Rampart was love at first theatrical trailer. As previews often do, Moverman's tale of corruption seemed too good to be true. And with the amazing success of his first collaboration with Harrelson, the possibilities were endless. However, Rampart is a below-average and clueless effort. If you're expecting an action-packed thrill ride revolving around a crooked cop (much like Training Day or The Departed), you're in the wrong stratosphere. Rampart loses its purpose early on and, unfortunately, it never finds its way back. In conclusion, make sure to avoid this one.

Stars: 1 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: D+

'This Means War' Trailer

2012-02-14T07:02:00.000-08:00

This Means War

2012-02-14T06:59:00.001-08:00

Film: This Means War

Starring: Reese Witherspoon (Water for Elephants), Tom Hardy (Warrior) , and Chris Pine (Unstoppable)

Director: McG (Terminator Salvation)

U.S. Release: February 17th, 2012 (Rated PG-13)

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 98 minutes

For couples, Valentine's Day offers a chance to relive the romantic foundation of a strong relationship. For Hollywood, February 14th means that a slew of hard to swallow romantic comedies will overtake movie screens all across the country. 2012's most notable rom-com to cash in on the Hallmark holiday is McG's This Means War. With a trailer and premise nothing short of vomit inducing, only cast mates Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, and rising star Tom Hardy could rescue this film from the Valentine's Day abyss.

This Means War follows a pair of CIA operatives named FDR (played by Pine) and Tuck (played by Hardy) whose relationship transcends co-workers and enters the realm of brother-like territory. But when the divorcee Tuck and the womanizer FDR both fall head over heels for Lauren (played by Witherspoon), the two men would rather dish out bullets than take one for each other. As the two men go to great lengths to sabotage one another's chances with Lauren, she struggles to decide over which guy is the right one for her.

With any movie, expectations play a large role in an individual's final judgment of a film. To be brutally honest, I expected very little (emphasis on very) from McG's latest work, This Means War. And to the film's credit, it surpassed my minuscule anticipation. The feature boasts a three-headed monster of lead characters, centered mostly around Reese Witherspoon as the trophy to be won. Although Witherspoon is delightful at times, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy are the true backbone of the film. Their on-screen male competitiveness is highlighted by their character's desire for grandeur. This Means War offers a sprinkle of laugh out loud moments throughout Hardy and Pine's little game of "anything you can do, I can do better". Another surprising focal point of the film resides in the minor character Trish (played by Chelsea Handler). Handler serves as an over-the-top, charismatic spokesperson for all single women trying to find the right guy. Her smattering of comedic one-liners undeniably keep the film afloat. Kudos must be given to director McG for selecting a versatile collection of actors and actresses.

Despite the movie's occasional laughs and its solid cast, This Means War is far from perfection. First and foremost is the weak and artificial CIA back story used in the film. It's creation only offers an almost pointless subplot and numerous out of place action sequences. Furthermore, McG's latest work delivers an obvious resolution that can be seen almost as soon as the opening credits role. With a poor script and a paper-thin foundation, ultimately, This Means War can only go as far as its cast can take it.

This Means War is an entertaining and sporadically comical film. It's easy to sit through and never too pseudo dramatic. However, as a whole, the movie is far too run of the mill to recommend to anyone. I suggest waiting for DVD or catching the feature while it's on television somewhere down the line.

Stars: 2 stars out of 4

Grade: C+

Re-makes Scheduled for ...

2012-02-14T05:49:00.000-08:00

If you're a fan of classic cinema and you intend to keep on reading, you may want to brace yourself first. Over the past week, two major studios have announced that they will be re-making the classic Alfred Hitchcock films Rebecca and Suspicion. Both films helped garner back to back Best Actress nominations for their star, Joan Fontaine. She ultimately took home the statue for her role in 1941's Suspicion.

Veena Sud, writer for the Danish version of the AMC hit television series The Killing, has been signed on to pen the script for the re-make of Suspicion. At this point it is uncertain whether or not the film be a virtual re-make, or if it will take its own direction. Either way, it has enormous shoes to fill. Hitchcock mastered the art of the thriller decades ago, and it will be difficult for any copycat to reach similar heights. Just ask Gus Van Sant, whose 1998 re-make of Hitchcock's Psycho left much to be desired. The only thing we can do is wait and see.

BAFTA Honors The Artist

2012-02-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) hardly factors into this year's 84th annual Academy Awards. But don't tell that to the Oscar frontrunner, The Artist. The black and white silent film has be an unstoppable force throughout the awards season, and the BAFTA's is no exception. Taking home 7 wins at the event, including Best Picture, Director, and Lead Actor, The Artist is the odds on favorite for Best Picture at the Oscars. Furthermore, the film's leading star, Jean Dujardin, has placed himself in a favorable position to steal the win from George Clooney (The Descendants). With Oscar ballots due one week from tomorrow, expect some more awards talk in the upcoming weeks. For a complete list of BAFTA winners, click here (courtesy of Peter Knegt at Indiewire.com).

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Official Trailer #1 - Steve Ca...

2012-02-12T06:24:00.000-08:00

'Perfect Sense' Trailer HD

2012-02-11T06:35:00.000-08:00

Perfect Sense

2012-02-11T06:27:00.000-08:00

Film: Perfect Sense

Starring: Ewan McGregor (Beginners) and Eva Green (The Golden Compass)

Director: David Mackenzie (Young Adam)

U.S. Release: February 3rd, 2012 (Limited - Rated R)

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 92 minutes

Between the Y2K scare in 2000 and the Mayan's 2012 doomsday prediction, there has been no shortage of apocalyptic-based films of late. Most of these pictures center around the notion of chaotic survival and tackle the frightening idea with a lack of beauty and grace. However, Scottish filmmaker David Mackenzie's latest feature, Perfect Sense, addresses the topic unlike any other movie to date. Virtually creating his own genre blend of Apocalyptic Romance, Mackenzie opens our eyes to the suppression of such fear through the power of love.

Set in present day Glasgow, Perfect Sense follows the budding romance of a chef named Michael (played by McGregor) and a scientist named Susan (played by Green). Initially, the suave chef and emotionally guarded scientist appear to be quite the mismatch. Yet, as it turns out, their irregular puzzle-piece temperaments fit together perfectly. While the pair recognize a strong connection and begin to open their hearts to one another, a mysterious global epidemic swoops across the world affecting the rich and poor alike. Somewhat spaced in its attack, the disease destroys human senses one at a time. Through all of this chaos and madness Michael and Susan realize one important discovery ... that love is the greatest sense of all.

Director David Mackenzie's Perfect Sense is a beautifully artistic approach to the overdone "end of days" genre. Original in its delivery and indescribably moving at its core, Perfect Sense is everything a romance movie should be. Mackenzie does an amazing job of using the backdrop of a global catastrophe as a source of conflict for the film's central characters. Furthermore, the script is excellent and the character development is top notch. Couple the feature's rock-solid foundation with its remarkably talented cast, and Perfect Sense has all the right ingredients for a successful indie flick.

Despite all of the film's highlights, there are a few insignificant imperfections. Although I was rather undisturbed by the fact, Perfect Sense occasionally uses a narrator to describe the affects of the disease and how humanity adjusts to losing a certain sense. Some viewers may feel insulted by the director's need to explain what's happening on screen, especially since you should be able to figure it out on your own. But outside of the director's use of a narrator and a debatable third act scene where Susan's character becomes unforgiving of Michael's disease-imposed moment of anger, Perfect Sense is a formidable film in every regard.

Having had the luxury of screening Perfect Sense in October at the Philadelphia Film Festival, I was utterly blown away by the movie. Perhaps its most powerful moments are those where the director shows the mysterious disease unbiasedly sweep across the globe. Affecting the rich, the poor, the young, and the old, it becomes shockingly clear that no one is exempt. Mackenzie uses this sense of fear to perfection and it helps heighten the movie to another level. In Perfect Sense, we're reminded that Ewan McGregor is one of Hollywood's great young actors and his co-star, Eva Green, has a bright future ahead of herself. And although the movie may not find a theatrical release in a city near you, it's available on Video on Demand for rental and I highly recommend going out of your way to catch Perfect Sense.

Stars: 3 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: A-

CHRONICLE Trailer 2012 - Official [HD]

2012-02-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

Chronicle

2012-02-04T07:42:00.001-08:00

Film: Chronicle

Starring: Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, and Michael B. Jordan (Red Tails)

Director: Josh Trank

U.S. Release: February 3rd, 2012 (Rated PG-13)

Genre: Drama/Action

Runtime: 83 minutes

Every now and again the unthinkable happens and a group of unknowns claw their way into the limelight. Traversing the small, yet crowded, gap between ordinary and heralded, the trio of young stars in Josh Trank's debut film, Chronicle, do just that. What began as a series of clips on the viral video haven Youtube, Chronicle is the latest sci-fi/action extravaganza to sweep across the nation. With the aid of its three leading actors, Chronicle is able to go beyond the norm and transcend the modern surplus of "found footage" films.

Chronicle follows the life of a verbally and physically tormented teenage outcast named Andrew Detmer (played be DeHaan). The troubled teen decides to invest what little money he has into a camera, and Andrew begins filming every dull aspect of his life. However, the moment Andrew's older and more popular cousin Matt Garetty (played by Russell) convinces him to come to a party and socialize, their lives change forever. Outside of the party the cousins, alongside class-president to be Steve Montgomery (played by Jordan), use Andrew's camera and light to investigate a strange hole in the ground. While down there, the boy's discovery gives each of them superhuman capabilities. But as we all know, with great power comes great responsibility.

Josh Trank's debut work, Chronicle, is a solid film propelled by its talented, yet unknown, cast. Each of these fine young actors demonstrates an amazing amount of skill throughout the duration of the movie. Any rare moment of on-screen insufficiency portrayed by DeHann, Garetty, or Jordan can be chalked up to poorly constructed dialogue. But, truth be told, such moments are few and far between. Each character unique and vital to the success of the story, these up-and-coming actors are truly the heart and soul of Chronicle.

Despite its unquestionably strong cast, Chronicle is a fantastic premise that becomes submersed by its abundant potential. The movie blends together a Hancock-like capacity with teenage instability and it creates an intriguing look at how people handle such a gift. The beauty of Chronicle rests in the convincing manner in which the film bypasses the mystery behind what these super powers are and, instead, tackles the notion of how they should be handled. Using a science fiction and supernatural backdrop to address the issue mortality seems so perfectly obvious, yet virtually unvisited. On the other hand, this clever approach is somewhat halted by a few minor flaws. Utilizing the "found footage" and real life camera theme feels a bit deficient. Instead of complementing the strong backbone of the film, such tactics end up weakening its credibility. Furthermore, Chronicle abruptly begins to go haywire in its third act. A more subtle lead up to this issue of power struggle and morality would have better serviced the feature.

With a rarely dull 83 minute runtime, Chronicle is an entertaining and creative journey into the supernatural. And although the film's potential far surpasses the final product, Chronicle does not disappoint. The movie is a dream come true for fans of intense visuals and special effects. If you enjoy such elements of film making, it's an immediate must see. Otherwise, Chronicle is worth checking out at your own pace.

Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: B-

The Grey Trailer Official 2012 [HD] - Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney

2012-02-02T07:19:00.000-08:00

The Grey

2012-02-02T06:11:00.000-08:00

Film: The Grey

Starring: Liam Neeson (Taken)

Director: Joe Carnahan (The A-Team)

U.S. Release: January 27th, 2012 (Rated R)

Genre: Drama/Action

Runtime: 117 minutes

Joe Carnahan's The Grey had me hooked the instant I caught a glimpse of its first theatrical trailer. As a big fan of Liam Neeson in any action role, and an even bigger fan of the idea of watching him pummel some flesh eating mountain wolves, The Grey seemed like a delicate blend of combative survival with a hint of redemption mixed in. After the film's first weekend in release, it topped box office sales with almost $20 million. Couple that with an abundance of glaring critical reviews, and it looked as though The Grey would be a dream come true. But the truth is, be careful what you wish for.

The Grey stars Liam Neeson as Ottway, a depressed man working among oil riggers in Alaska. When Ottway boards a plane to leave the site, he's unaware of the danger that is about to ensue. With only 7 individuals initially withstanding the horrific plane crash, Ottway attempts to lead the group to safety. Struggling to endure the frigid winter conditions and a pack of wolves who view these men as intruders, Ottway and company battle extreme odds in order to survive.

With a theatrical trailer promising massive thrills and countless action-packed sequences, The Grey is an occasional heart-pumping tale of survival. Director Joe Carnahan teams up with his leading star Liam Neeson once again (previously with The A-Team) to provide a similar result. Ultimately, The Grey is a drawn out fiasco that is highlighted by infrequent glimmers of hope. In between these 6 or 7 fiercely intense scenes, the film's poor script and dull pursuit of a dramatic tone becomes far too evident. Losing its sense of focus and appeal, The Grey proves to be nothing more than a disorganized and cluttered display of ideas.

In addition to its lackluster execution, another major downfall in the film is its character development. With hopes of creating an emotional connection, Carnahan tries to lure the audience in by addressing the back stories of certain central characters. However, The Grey's most memorable moments come at the hands of its survival story, not its dramatic elements. It's human nature to want to root for these men to outlive this ordeal. Therefore, Carnahan's inadequate attempt to humanize these characters illustrate the director's unstable sense of direction for which to carry out the film. Rather than incorporating more thrills and keeping the pace of the film moving, Carnahan tries to take The Grey to areas it never needed to venture.

The picture obviously has its fair share of flaws but when The Grey is hitting on all cylinders, it works very well. There are a decent amount of glaring moments that truly amaze, yet they end up serving as a bigger reminder of how good the film could have been. Furthermore, unlike many people who disliked the movie because of its controversial closing scene, I actually enjoyed the film's resolve. The movie's conclusion serves as a satisfying approach to ending the story.

Truth be told, The Grey is a middling attempt at an action-packed survival tale. In between the film's highest points, you'll grow tiresome of waiting for another impactful moment. Despite all of the praise it's received, I suggest waiting for DVD. There's no need to rush out to see The Grey.

Stars: 2 stars out of 4

Grade: C+

Jan 2012: Poll Question Recap

2012-02-01T12:39:00.000-08:00

As it turns out, having a breakout year sometimes does you no good during awards season. In my January 2012 poll question asking "Which actor or actress had the best collection of work in 2011", the top three finishers will most likely walk away from the Oscars empty handed. Winning the poll with 36% of the votes was the Academy Award nominee for Best Supporting Actress, Jessica Chastain (The Help). Yet, due to the overwhelming success of her co-star Octavia Spencer, it looks as though Chastain will be spending Sunday February 26th cheering on her friend.

Ryan Gosling (27%) and Michael Fassbender (18%) finished in second and third place among voters. Unlike Chastain, this pair of gifted actors missed out on Oscar nominations. Both, however, turned in strong performance after strong performance in each of their respective roles. Closing out the poll were Brad Pitt (2%), George Clooney (1%), and Emma Stone (1%). Be sure to also vote for February's poll, it asks "Which nominated film should win Best Picture at the Oscars?"

2012 SAG Awards Recap: Surprises Galore!

2012-01-30T08:28:00.001-08:00

At last evening's 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards we learned one thing and one thing only, almost no Oscar race is a safe bet. With 3 major wins at yesterday's ceremony, including a Best Female Actor (Viola Davis) and a Best Supporting Female Actor (Octavia Spencer), Tate Taylor's The Help has risen to the forefront. The summer blockbuster also managed to claim the highly regarded Best Ensemble category as well. Evident by its trio of victories, The Help proves to be a favorite among SAG members. Since the overlap of SAG and Academy members is large, The Help has clearly surpassed Alexander Payne's The Descendants as the main competitor for Best Picture frontrunner, The Artist.

Another notable surprise came in the Best Male Actor race. George Clooney (The Descendants) had been smooth sailing to February 26th's Academy Awards, but The Artist's Jean Dujardin spoiled the ride. Dujardin pulled off the major upset and it has left insiders uncertain of who will claim the Oscar. Furthermore, with consecutive precursor wins for Christopher Plummer (Beginners) and Octavia Spencer, the two Supporting stars seem like the only safe bets for the Academy Awards. For a full recap of last evening's events, click here (courtesy of Matt Goldberg at Collider.com)

DGA Winners and Tonight's SAG Awards

2012-01-29T06:45:00.001-08:00

Every year, the race to the Oscars is a grueling, yet tactful, process. Major precursors like the Critics Choice and Golden Globe Awards are intended to create interesting match-ups for the Academy Awards. Then, between the Golden Globe Awards and the Oscars, the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) announced their respective winners. The kicker being that these two groups have a more significant overlap of Academy members than any other voting bodies. Major Oscar races truly take shape with the DGA and SAG announcements. For example, very few insiders (emphasis on very) expected a Demian Bichir nomination for Best Actor. However, while watching tonight's SAG awards at 8PM on TBS and TNT, you'll notice Bichir was one of the 5 finalist in that very same category. Believe me, it's no coincidence.

With the DGA winners being announced last evening (for more coverage on the DGA awards click here) and the SAG awards happening tonight, this becomes a very telling weekend. Yesterday, the DGA's victor for Outstanding Directorial Achievement was given to The Artist's own Michael Hazanavicius. The win reaffirms that The Artist is the safe bet for Best Picture at the Oscars. With The Descendants steadily fading into the background and only a small amount of love still circling around The Help and Hugo, a SAG victory in the "Outstanding Performance by a Cast" category would all but solidify The Artist as this year's Best Picture winner. Therefore, be sure to tune in tonight for the 18th annual SAG awards to watch all the drama unfold live on stage.

The Hangover 3 Update

2012-01-26T07:12:00.000-08:00

Like most of you, I was extremely disappointed in this past summer's blockbuster sequel The Hangover 2. Being nothing more than a rehashed story with a new setting, I just about threw in the towel on the franchise. However, recent reports claim that director Todd Phillips has promised a second sequel to help close out the trilogy. The third installment, which may begin filming as early as September 2012, will branch out from the usual "night of forgotten debauchery" theme. Early rumors are speculating that The Hangover 3 will involve the old crew breaking Alan (played by Zach Galifianakis) out of a mental hospital. At this point, I'd take any storyline I haven't seen already.

Perhaps the biggest winners from The Hangover 3 announcement will be its trio of stars. Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, and Ed Helms have created a unified front and are asking the studio for $15 million each. After receiving $5 million a piece for the second film and under $1 million a piece for the The Hangover, it sounds like a major payday is in order for the stars of the franchise which has grossed over $500 million in box office sales. For more information on The Hangover 3, click here (courtesy of Adam Chitwood at Collider.com)

BRAKE - Official Trailer

2012-01-26T06:36:00.000-08:00

Man on a Ledge - Official Trailer [HD]

2012-01-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

Man on a Ledge

2012-01-25T08:12:00.000-08:00

Film: Man on a Ledge

Starring: Sam Worthington (Avatar), Elizabeth Banks (The Next Three Days), and Ed Harris (Gone Baby Gone)

Director: Asger Leth

U.S. Release: January 27th, 2012 (Rated PG-13)

Genre: Thriller

Runtime: 102 minutes

Director Asger Leth was given the keys to the vault for his first major motion picture release, Man on a Ledge. Being financed by Summit Entertainment, Leth was given every resource imaginable to deliver the best possible finished project. His debut action thriller, which stars A-List actors Sam Worthington and Ed harris, couples a talented cast with a sizable $38 million budget. The bar has been set, and all Leth can do is wait and see what happens.

Man on a Ledge follows a former police officer turned fugitive named Nick Cassidy (played by Worthington) as he climbs out onto a hotel ledge in the middle of New York City. When law enforcement responds to the situation, Cassidy refuses to talk to any officer other than Lydia Mercer (played by Elizabeth Banks). However, the longer Mercer spends trying to talk Cassidy off of the hotel ledge, the more she senses that he has an ulterior motive.

Asger Leth's directorial debut proves to be a remarkably mediocre affair. Much like the movie's name, Man on a Ledge proves to be a bland, over-the-top piece of film making. For starters, the feature's plot causes the viewer to ask more questions than the movie can answer. And as the film steadily progresses, the movie resolves in an incomprehensible fashion. Although Man on a Ledge manages to keep the story intriguing, its culmination is beyond believable. As a result, Man on a Ledge losses credibility as a plausible feature.

In addition to its inconceivable flow of events, the film offers a poor usage of one of its central characters. Sam Worthington and Elizabeth Banks do enough to keep the movie enticing, however, the pair of leads fail to carry the movie to another level. Also, Ed Harris co-stars as the film's primary antagonist, David Englander. Englander's character is completely under-utilized and far from impressionable. If properly used, a four time Academy Award nominee such as Ed Harris is capable of great things. Yet, Leth and Man on a Ledge's writer, Pablo Fenjves, miss out on the opportunity.

Notwithstanding each of the detectable flaws in Man on a Ledge, the film still serves as a suitable source of entertainment. This action-packed thrill ride contains its fair share of laughs and adrenaline-pumping scenes. With a runtime barely passing 100 minutes, Man on a Ledge begins and ends without a yawn.

As it turns out, mediocrity reigns supreme in Asger Leth's debut effort, Man on a Ledge. The film is sure to entertain, yet the movie relies too heavily on that bright spot. Otherwise, it's story is far from believable and all too unconvincing. Man on a Ledge has almost no depth and it offers little more than being an easy watch. I recommend waiting for the DVD.

Stars: 2 stars out of 4

Grade: C+

2012 Oscar Nominations: Snubs & Surprises

2012-01-24T05:57:00.000-08:00

It's finally arrived. At about 8:40 am (Eastern Time) 2011 Best Actress nominee Jennifer Lawrence took the stage alongside the president of the Academy and announced the 2012 Oscar nominees. As it happens every year, the Academy offered plenty of snubs and surprises with its nominations (click here for a full list of nominees, courtesy of Indiewire.com). Martin Scorsese's Hugo topped the field with 11 combined nominations and the Best Picture frontrunner, The Artist, tried to keep pace with 10 nominations of its own. Congratulations are in order for all of the nominees, but what everyone will be talking about is the snubs and surprises. Here are today's most notable shockers:

SNUB: Michael Fassbender (Best Actor) - Shame

After garnering a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor (although he missed out on a SAG), very few insiders expected Michael Fassbender to be left off of the list. Shame's NC-17 rating aside, Fassbender was extraordinary in his role as a sex addicted professional living in New York City. Also in the Best Actor category, longshot Michael Shannon gave a beyond worthy performance in the indie thriller Take Shelter. These two fine actors deserved a much better outcome than the one they received.

SURPRISE: Demian Bichir (Best Actor) - A Better Life

As an unfair world reminds us, one man's loss is another man's gain. In the Best Actor race, A Better Life's Demian Bichir is the surprise winner. The underdog, who did receive a SAG nomination over Fassbender, was one of this morning's most shocking nominees. But in all fairness to Bichir, I haven't watched the vastly under-seen film A Better Life (you can be sure it's moved to the top of my "must see" list).

SNUB: Albert Brooks (Best Supporting Actor) and the film Drive

It wasn't so long ago that the Best Supporting Actor category was Albert Brooks' race to lose. Brooks gave a spot on performance as the antagonist in Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive. Alongside Brooks and his entire cast and crew, Drive was the most snubbed film of the year. It's lone nomination came in the Best Sound Editing category, which is almost laughable.

SURPRISE: Max von Sydow (Best Supporting Actor) and the Best Picture nominee Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

At the expense of Albert Brooks, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close co-star Max von Sydow walked away with a Best Supporting Actor nomination. In similar fashion to this year's black and white silent film, The Artist, Max von Sydow garnered a nomination without even speaking a word. Even more surprising than his recognition was the Best Picture nomination handed out to his film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Steven Spielberg's War Horse and Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life were also other somewhat shocking inclusions to the Best Picture race.

SNUB: Tilda Swinton (Best Actress) - We Need to Talk About Kevin

Perhaps the most outrageous snub, in my opinion, was Tilda Swinton being overlooked in the Best Actress category. Her role in the psychological tailspin We Need to Talk About Kevin was explosive and, by all means, groundbreaking. Without taking anything away from the excellent on screen work of Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Glenn Close (although I have yet to see Albert Nobbs), Swinton and Best Actress nominee Viola Davis (The Help) were in a league of their own this year. It's a shame to see such an amazing piece of film like We Need to Talk About Kevin go completely unrecognized by the Academy.

What do you think were the biggest snubs and surprises with the 2012 Oscar nominations? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

CARNAGE Trailer 2011 - Official [HD]

2012-01-23T08:58:00.000-08:00

Carnage

2012-01-23T04:48:00.001-08:00

Film: Carnage

Starring: Kate Winslet (Contagion), Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds), John C. Reilly (Cedar Rapids) and Jodie Foster (The Beaver)

Director: Roman Polanski (The Ghost Writer)

U.S. Release: December 16th, 2011 (Limited - Rated R)

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 80 minutes

In the late 1960s and early 1970s director Roman Polanski walked taller than just about anyone. With award winning films such as Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown, Polanski was virtually untouchable. However, in 1977 everything changed for the acclaimed director. After being arrested for sexual abuse of a 13 year old girl and pleading guilty to unlawful sex with a minor, Polanski fled to London and eventually settled in France to avoid further sentencing. The director's career took an inevitable hit, and many believed Polanski would never reach such heights again. Yet, his 2002 masterpiece, The Pianist, took home 3 Oscar wins including a Best Director nod for Polanksi himself. Since his 2002 conquest, Polanski has managed to string together some well regarded films, including his latest work, Carnage.

Carnage is a comedy set against the backdrop of a school yard skirmish that ends with Zachary Cowan hitting Ethan Longstreet in the face with a tree limb. But when the parents of Zachary (played by Christoph Waltz and Kate Winslet) venture to the Longstreet's (played by John C. Reilly and Jodie Foster) home to try to resolve the issue in a civilized manner, all hell breaks loose.

Roman Polanski's Carnage is a riotous comedy that fluently satisfies from beginning to end. It's success hinges on the hilarious performances of its four leading actors and actresses. Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet, and Christoph Waltz deliver 80 minutes of laugh out loud footage that mirrors each of our own lives in many ways. In an effort to avoid singling out anyone individually, each actor and actress does a fantastic job in their respective role. As two couples trying to address a delicate (or not so delicate) issue, Carnage dives head first into this socially uncomfortable situation. As the ordeal progresses, Polanski swims further and further into the depths of irrationality. Each character offering a unique view point, Carnage does a wonderful job of tackling the issue of too much parent involvement.

Despite the film's abundance of comedic flare, Polanski's Carnage opens with a weak first act. However, to the its credit, the movie manages to pick up quickly and never look back. Furthermore, since it's a comedy, Carnage offers very little emotional connection to its main characters. Far from groundbreaking, Polanski's latest piece is more of an entertaining and outrageous journey into the minds of four crazed adults than anything else. Carnage is the type of film you'll hardly remember, but you'll certainly enjoy.

Carnage is an outlandishly original comedy that goes beyond the traditional laughs. The film is highly entertaining as its 80 minute runtime flows by effortlessly. The collection of these four gifted actors and actresses allow for amazing chemistry and an assortment of laugh out loud scenes. Unfortunately, Carnage won't be out in theatres much longer. Therefore, I suggest getting out to see it ASAP or taking a flyer on the movie and checking it out on DVD once it arrives.

Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4.

Grade: B

2012 Oscar Nominee Predictions

2012-01-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

After a boring weekend where Underworld 4 ruled the box office and with Oscar Nominations slated to be announced on Tuesday January 24th, now seemed like as good a time as any to offer up my predictions on the nominees. I'm going to keep this as short and sweet as possible and restrict my opinions to the 6 major motion picture categories.

Best Picture

Who's In: The Best Picture category can now have anywhere from 5 to 10 nominees depending on how member voting goes. The no-brainers are The Artist (who just picked up a valuable Producer's Guild Win yesterday), The Descendants, Hugo and The Help. I see the critically acclaimed films Midnight in Paris and Moneyball sneaking in as well, leaving 6 nominees this year.

Who's Out: Although I don't predict it happening, I wouldn't be shocked if The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or War Horse (or both) walked away with a nomination too. Sorry to fans of Bridesmaids, Drive, Ides of March, or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, I don't see any of those figuring into the mix.

Best Actor

Who's In: There's 4 "sure things" in the Best Acting category, George Clooney (The Descendants), Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Brad Pitt (Moneyball), and Michael Fassbender (Shame). Who will garner that final nomination? It's almost impossible to believe that Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) has never received a nomination before, and for that reason alone I'm giving him the 5th spot. I see the Academy looking over the oft-praised Leo and selecting Oldman, an aging actor who has an extensive history of unrecognized cinematic achievement.

Who's Out: As much as I've pushed for Boardwalk Empire's own Michael Shannon (Take Shelter), he and Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar) will end up as the odd men out in this race.

Best Actress

Who's In: The top 4 candidates are Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady), Viola Davis (The Help), Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn), and Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin). That final slot is a coin flip between Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) and Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), but I'll go with Close.

Who's Out: Even though The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has received more critical praise and the fact that it has a head of steam after its Directors Guild nomination, Rooney Mara won't be able to withstand Glenn Close. This also means no Charlize Theron (Young Adult) or Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) as well.

Best Supporting Actor

Who's In: You can lock up nominations for Christopher Plummer (Beginners) and Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn), but outside of them it's pretty murky. In a tight race with 5 suitors dueling for 3 remaining spots, I see Albert Brooks (Drive), Jonah Hill (Moneyball), and Nick Nolte (Warrior) rounding out the category.

Who's Out: By siding with the aforementioned, that means Patton Oswalt (Young Adult) and Armie Hammer (J. Edgar) will be left out. As a distant dark horse, Max Von Sydow (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) should also miss out on a nomination as well.

Best Supporting Actress

Who's In: I see 3 definitive nominees in the form of Berenice Bejo (The Artist), Octavia Spencer (The Help), and Jessica Chastain (The Help). I'll follow the Screen Actors Guild for my last two selections and choose Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) and Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids). Despite the lack of critical support for Albert Nobbs, I see McTeer and Close as a package deal and I'm banking on both.

Who's Out: The two most notable outcasts will be Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) and Carey Mulligan (Shame). Woodley could very well steal a nomination from McTeer if Mara ends up toppling Close in the Best Actress category too.

Best Director

Who's In: When in doubt, follow the Directors Guild nominees. I'll do just that and select the 4 big horses Martin Scorsese (Hugo), Alexander Payne (The Descendants), Michael Hazanavicius (The Artist), and Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris). I'll also choose the DGA's 5th nominee as well, David Fincher (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Fincher's film has been widely supported and its box office is approaching the century mark. There's also a hangover effect from Fincher's loss to Tom Hooper in last year's Best Director and Best Picture categories.

Who's Out: If Fincher's in, then Steven Spielberg (War Horse) and Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life) are out. Since War Horse has been on a steady free fall of late, I see Malick as the stronger competition for Fincher. As much as I hate to say it, there's almost no chance of Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive) having his name called either.

That concludes my predictions for Tuesday's 84th annual Academy Awards nominations. Let me know where I'm right and where I'm wrong. Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Jeff Who Lives at Home Trailer

2012-01-21T06:07:00.000-08:00

SILENT HOUSE | Trailer (2012) [HD]

2012-01-19T06:13:00.000-08:00

Rampart Trailer (HD)

2012-01-19T06:12:00.000-08:00

Haywire Official Trailer

2012-01-17T06:39:00.000-08:00

Haywire

2012-01-17T05:42:00.000-08:00

Film: Haywire

Starring: Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor (Beginners), and Channing Tatum (Dear John)

Director: Steven Soderbergh (Contagion)

U.S. Release: January 20th, 2012 (Rated R)

Genre: Action

Runtime: 93 minutes

January is the month of the year usually reserved for Oscar bait trying to make one last run at a gold statue. I guess the award winning director of the Ocean's Franchise, Steven Soderbergh, never got the memo. Soderbergh, who oftentimes has a unique way of doing things, will introduce his latest piece of action work, Haywire, to the general masses this upcoming weekend. While attempting to tackle the "covert ops revenge" genre with former female mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano, it's apparent that Soderbergh has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Haywire centers around Mallory Kane (played by Carano), a covert operative who's often hired out by Kenneth (played by McGregor) to handle various jobs for governments who can't openly be connected to a situation. Whether it be a rescue mission or an assassination, Mallory is the one you want. After returning from a job in Barcelona, Kenneth immediately dispatches Mallory to another mission in Dublin. But when her latest mission becomes botched and she discovers that she's been double crossed, Mallory returns to the U.S. to seek vengeance on those who betrayed her.

Years from now we may be thanking director Steven Soderbergh for introducing us to the action star Gina Carano. The former MMA fighter turned actress delivers a knock out performance in the high octane thriller Haywire. Carano's major motion picture debut is an obvious success and, given that she does all of her own stunts, even more credit must be sent her way. Without sounding too sexist, it can be difficult for a director to convince general audiences to buy into a tough girl lead character. However, Carano's on screen work should quiet all the naysayers as she delivers the role to perfection. In addition to Carano, Soderbergh once again offers a remarkably star-studded cast. Haywire see's a variety of roles from the likes of Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, and Channing Tatum. Perhaps the most surprising supporting role comes at the hands of Channing Tatum. Tatum, who has an extensive history of lackluster performances, gives his best work to date. Haywire's entire cast does a stellar job of allowing an overdone premise to resonate with audiences.

On the flip side, Haywire still has a handful of flaws. In conjunction with it's unoriginal back story, the film feels like a mashed up set of ideas. Built more for its action than it's plot, Haywire feels very one dimensional. It draws influence from other action hits such as the Bourne trilogy and Taken, but never quite reaches their heights. Even with the aid of Soderbergh's crafty camera skills and direction, Haywire still has a noticeable ceiling.

From its opening moments to the closing credits, Haywire is an action packed ride that's sure to entertain. You'll feel bombarded by its incredibly choreographed fight scenes, and the shock of Carano's character slugging it out with men twice her size never wears thin. It goes without question that you'll be glued to the screen throughout the film's rapid hour and a half duration. Although Haywire will never be more than an intense, fun-filled display of action, it still manages to claw past the realm of mediocrity. If you're an action junkie, take a chance with Haywire. If not, catch it on DVD sometime down the line.

Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: B-

2012 Golden Globe Awards Recap

2012-01-16T04:14:00.000-08:00

The match-up has been set. Last evening's airing of the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards confirmed the Oscar heavyweight bout between 2011's most recognized films, Alexander Payne's The Descendants and Michael Hazanavicius' The Artist. Both films took home Best Picture wins but, as pointed out by Seth Rogen last evening, the Hollywood Foreign Press really stretched the definition of "comedy" to allow proper acknowledgment to certain movies and actresses. The most noteworthy benefactors of this somewhat unfair tactic were Best Actress-Comedy winner Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn) and the entire team behind the black and white silent film The Artist . Both pictures should have been correctly slated as dramas, but the HFP knows how to maneuver the system. In doing so, the Golden Globe Awards has set up an interesting, but somewhat expected, Academy Awards showdown. Until all of the major guilds announce their selections, no frontrunner can be assumed.

Of my 10 Golden Globe predictions, I picked an abysmal score of 6 correctly. The good news is that many of these races are really starting to shape up, and I expect a much better showing with my Oscar predictions. Nonetheless, there were many upsets last evening and perhaps the biggest shock was Octavia Spencer's (The Help) Best Supporting Actress victory over her co-star Jessica Chastain. It was also a slight surprise to see Martin Scorsese (Hugo) pick up the win in the Best Director category over directors Payne and Hazanavicius, but way to go Marty! All in all it was fun event thanks, in large part, to host Ricky Gervais. His partially offensive humor reigned supreme as it sparked many celebrity backlashes, good for you Madonna. The entire evening was a booming success and I expect a smooth transition into next month's Academy Awards. For full coverage on the event and a complete list of winners, click here (courtesy of Peter Knegt at Indiewire.com).

Movie Critic Dave's 2011 Awards

2012-01-15T08:05:00.001-08:00

With the Golden Globe Awards airing tonight on NBC and this being the stretch run to the Oscars, now is as good a time as any to announce my personal picks for the 2011 cinematic year. I postponed this announcement until I could see Meryl Streep's performance in The Iron Lady. I've seen around 100 films released in 2011 alone, and this gives me a strong basis to make my selections. Before I begin, let me preface by naming a few titles that I still haven't seen:

A Dangerous Method, Albert Nobbs, Rampart, A Better Life, and Coriolanus.

Otherwise, I've seen just about every other big name Oscar contender out there. So without wasting anymore time, here are my nominees and winners for the 6 major award categories.

Best Picture

And the nominees are:

1. 50/50

2. The Artist

3. The Ides of March

4. The Music Never Stopped

5. We Need to Talk About Kevin

And the winner is ...

50/50

This perfectly scripted look at a 27 year old's surprise diagnosis of a rare form of spinal cancer is a wonderful blend of comedy and drama. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen star as a pair of best friends that struggle through this unfortunate ordeal together. 50/50 is a truly powerful film that will undoubtedly hit home with most audiences, and it's my pick for Best Picture of 2011

Best Lead Actor

And the nominees are:

1. George Clooney - The Descendants

2. Dominic Cooper - The Devil's Double

3. Jean Dujardin - The Artist

4. Michael Fassbender - Shame

5. Michael Shannon - Take Shelter

And the winner is ...

Jean Dujardin - The Artist

I'm a pretty impatient person and for a black and white silent film to entertain me over the course of nearly 2 hours, the acting must be brilliant. There's no doubt about it, Jean Dujardin's fine work in this year's Oscar frontrunner, The Artist, is 2011's best lead performance. Dujardin molds together such a lovable character without ever uttering a word. It's a difficult task he's faced with, but Dujardin makes it look elementary and routine.

Best Lead Actress

And the nominees are:

1. Viola Davis - The Help

2. Rooney Mara - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

3. Tilda Swinton - We Need to Talk About Kevin

4. Charlize Theron - Young Adult

5. Michelle Williams - My Week with Marilyn

And the winner is ...

Viola Davis - The Help

One of 2011's most acclaimed blockbusters, The Help, succeeds at the hands of it's leading star, Viola Davis. Davis will make you laugh and cry in her role as Aibileen Clark, a strong-willed black woman facing segregation in 1960's Mississippi. She is magnificent in every sense of the word and her portrayal of a small town civil rights crusader is unforgettable.

Best Supporting Actor

And the nominees are:

1. Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn

2. Albert Brooks - Drive

3. Nick Nolte - Warrior

4. Patton Oswalt - Young Adult

5. Christopher Plummer - Beginners

And the winner is ...

Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn

Each actor in this field gives a great performance, but Branagh's proved most memorable. His portrayal of actor/director Sir Laurence Olivier was spot on and precise. The film is a biopic intended to show the on site disputes between Olivier and Marilyn Monroe while filming The Prince and the Showgirl. Although Michelle Williams will be My Week with Marilyn's most remembered star, Branagh goes toe to toe with the gifted actress in every scene.

Best Supporting Actress

And the nominees are:

1. Berenice Bejo - The Artist

2. Jessica Chastain - Take Shelter

3. Carey Mulligan - Shame

4. Octavia Spencer - The Help

5. Shailene Woodley - The Descendants

And the winner is ...

Jessica Chastain - Take Shelter

Most of Jessica Chastain's notoriety has come from her strong work in The Help, but I'll argue that the gifted actress' best performance of 2011 was in the independent thriller Take Shelter. Chastain's wonderful as a loving and nurturing mother but when her husband continues spiraling further into madness, her character adds another dimension. Michael Shannon is rightfully praised for his work in Take Shelter, but Chastain's the glue that holds it together.

Best Director

And the nominees are:

1. George Clooney - The Ides of March

2. David Fincher - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

3. Michael Hazanavicius - The Artist

4. Nicolas Winding Refn - Drive

5. Martin Scorsese - Hugo

And the winner is ...

Nicolas Winding Refn - Drive

When Drive was released, it caught many moviegoers off guard. Thanks to its visionary director, Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive's stylish edge and Grimm-like plot translates perfectly on screen. Couple all of its revenge-filled madness with an ear-deafening score, and you've got pure magic. Illustrated beautifully in Drive is Refn's rare gift for storytelling and bringing words to life

This concludes my awards for the year. Feel free to drop a comment and argue my selections. Better yet, leave a comment validating my picks. Either way, let's talk these 6 major categories and all of this awards season hype.

Odds and Ends: Golden Globes and More

2012-01-15T05:42:00.001-08:00

First, here's a reminder about tonight's airing of the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony on NBC (8PM ET/ 5PM PT). It should be a fun filled evening for fans of both movies and television shows. And who knows, host Ricky Gervais may even say something outrageous to stir the pot. If so, you won't want to miss that. There's plenty of ways to turn tonight's Golden Globe ceremony into a fun activity. You can start by printing out a copy of your own awards ballot at home, by clicking the link, and having your family or friends do the same. For any categories you're unsure about, you can refer to my Golden Globe predictions. If you're skeptical about tuning into the program, NextMovie.com offers 9 reasons worth watching the Golden Globe Awards tonight. Check them out by clicking here.

In addition to tonight's festivities, I watched two movies this week (one for a second time) that reminded me why I love film so much. First up is the Irish independent film, The Guard, which follows a hilarious, racist, out of the norm Irish police officer (played by Brendan Gleeson) who teams up with an FBI agent (played by Don Cheadle) to stop a trio of drug traffickers. Gleeson also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for tonight's ceremony. The Guard is available now on DVD, I highly recommend checking it out.

The other movie I watched, for a second time, is the British apocalyptic-style romance called Perfect Sense. Having first seen this film at the Philadelphia Film Festival in October, Ewan McGregor stars as a chef who meets and falls in love with a woman as an unknown plague sweeps across the entire world and eliminates the human senses one at a time. Perfect Sense, which is currently available to rent on Comcast on Demand (Movies - Same Day as Theatres - All Movies), is a beautifully artistic look into the power of love and romance.

That's all for now, enjoy the Golden Globe Awards tonight and stay tuned for my personal picks for 2011's 6 major awards (just like I did in 2010).

'The Iron Lady' Trailer 2 HD

2012-01-14T06:51:00.000-08:00

The Iron Lady

2012-01-14T05:24:00.000-08:00

Film: The Iron Lady

Starring: Meryl Streep (Doubt) and Jim Broadbent (Another Year)

Director: Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia!)

U.S. Release: December 30th, 2011 (limited - Rated PG-13)

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 105 minutes

If you're following all of this year's awards season hoop-la, like me, you may be confused why movies like The Artist and Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady qualify as 2011 releases. Chances are these film's didn't (or won't) hit a big screen near you until well into 2012. Well, the answer rests in the loophole known as "one week qualifying runs". These qualifying runs are a sneaky way for movie distributors to make their films eligible for the Academy Awards without forcing a nationwide release during the correct calendar year. You see, since the Oscars don't air on television until the end of February, many distributors use these qualifying runs to hold off wide scale releases until right before the Academy Awards. They hope that such a ploy will generate a larger buzz as Oscar voting gets under way. It's a flawed system, and completely unfair to the early year releases that become lost and forgotten (i.e. Win Win and Beginners) during the long road to the Oscars. As if Meryl Streep needs any advantage in the Best Actress competition.

Through the use of flashback, The Iron Lady tells the life story of the United Kingdom's only female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher (played by Streep). During her 11 year reign, Thatcher's no nonsense attitude helped end the Cold War and garner the nickname "The Iron Lady". Extremely controversial as well, Thatcher's hard nose conservative approach to politics made her quite the polarizing figure. The Iron Lady follows her unbelievable rise to power, and her inevitable downfall and resignation as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady is a maddening non-chronological journey through the life and mind of Margaret Thatcher. The film spends most of its time examining an elderly Thatcher as she experiences intense hallucinations and displays early signs of dementia. Lloyd attempts to use Thatcher's final moments as a mentally capable person as a platform of internal and psychological debate. As old age creeps upon each of us, which it surely will, thoughts of regret and reconciliation become imminent. The Iron Lady is Thatcher's chance to reflect on her groundbreaking ascension to power and the price she paid for it. Through her climb to the political forefront, Lloyd clearly paints a picture of division between Thatcher and her husband (played by Broadbent) and children. However, illustrating Thatcher's deep rooted regret through her senile recollection of past events seems all too nonsensical. Lloyd's roundabout approach leaves The Iron Lady feeling unfulfilled and unconvincing.

Although the film is far from perfect, its strength can be found in its cast. A once again award winning performance comes at the hands of the great Meryl Streep. She tackles this Oscar hungry role in a credible fashion. Streep's impersonation of Thatcher is spot on and the resemblance is uncanny. But if there's any downfall to the performance, it relies solely on the character of Thatcher that is created by the director. Streep is excellent at exemplifying the Margaret Thatcher Lloyd wants to portray, however, I question if it was the right decision by the director. In addition to Streep, Jim Broadbent is admirable as well as Margaret's loyal husband Denis. From top to bottom, the film is well acted and perfectly cast.

The Iron Lady is, by far, one of the strangest biopics I've ever seen. It's tiresome fascination with Thatcher's elderly psychological instability wears thin immediately. This unusual plan of attack gives the film a creepy and dark tone, which is far too peculiar for a biopic. With such an iconic figure in world history, you can't help but expect a better final product than what The Iron Lady offers. Streep's performance is undoubtedly exquisite, but it's not worth the rest of the muck you have to sort through. Unless you're dying to see Streep's award winning portrayal, I recommend shying away from this one.

Stars: 2 stars out of 4

Grade: C

2012 Golden Globe Predictions

2012-01-13T06:25:00.000-08:00

On Sunday evening, NBC will air the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards. With some of the closest races in recent memory, the ceremony should shape up to be an interesting affair. After my perfect 10 for 10 performance in predicting last year's Golden Globe winners, I'm much less confident in this year's picks. Either way, let's have some fun with this.

Best Picture - Drama

In the Best Picture - Drama category, I see a clear frontrunner in Alexander Payne's The Descendants. The Oscars race for Best Picture seems to be a two headed monster with The Descendants and The Artist. At the Globes, these two powerhouse films are splitting categories and splitting wins.

Best Picture - Comedy or Musical

It was quite the surprise to see The Artist squeezed into the Best Picture - Comedy or Musical category. The film's competition is far less superior to The Descendants' counterparts, however, both pictures should still walk away victorious.

Best Director

Michael Hazanavicius (The Artist) has built a head of steam during this year's precursor awards run, and I don't see anyone else dethroning him. This is a strong collection of directors, but Hazanavicius should reign supreme.

Best Actor - Drama

George Clooney should ride the wave of The Descendants' Best Picture - Drama win and walk away with the Best Actor - Drama crown. He has stiff competition with Moneyball's Brad Pitt, but Clooney will narrowly edge him out.

Best Actress - Drama

This was one of the toughest races to decide on. Meryl Streep is always a popular choice with the Hollywood Foreign Press, but I went with my gut and selected Viola Davis (The Help). Fresh off of her Critics Choice win (which will have no bearing on the Golden Globes), Davis gave a remarkable performance in the blockbuster hit The Help. She's far more deserving than Streep.

Best Actor - Comedy or Musical

In similar fashion, I expect Jean Dujardin (The Artist) to reap the benefits of his film's Best Picture - Comedy of Musical win. His competition is far more inferior than Clooney's, and that should make it an easy victory for Dujardin.

Best Actress - Musical or Comedy

Also somewhat forced into the Musical or Comedy classification was My Week with Marilyn. When you see a head scratching move like that, it should ring a bell. Perhaps the HFP wanted to recognize Michelle Williams' brilliant work portraying Marilyn Monroe and, therefore, they forced her into the category. She should have no trouble walking away with the title here.

Best Supporting Actor

The Best Supporting Actor race is another difficult one to predict. The choice is down to 2 frontrunners, Christopher Plummer (Beginners) and Albert Brooks (Drive). You could probably flip a coin, but I chose the latter. I predict a win for Albert Brooks solely because it's the Hollywood Foreign Press voting and Drive has been such a phenomena worldwide. This would be an appropriate way for the HFP to acknowledge the edgy, yet spectacular, film.

Best Supporting Actress

Jessica Chastain had one of the greatest years in the history of cinema. Chastain was excellent in 5 different pieces of work this year (The Help, The Tree of Life, Take Shelter, Coriolanus, and The Debt) and she deserves the recognition. I'm expecting her victory to coincide, in large part, with The Help's leading star, Viola Davis. The two actresses will manage to share voters and wins in their respective categories.

Best Animated Film

Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin is by far the best film in its category. I'd be surprised to see a much lesser piece of work such as Rango walk away with the crown. That's why I'm placing my bets on Spielberg's animated adventure to capture the win.

On Sunday the 15th at 8PM, be sure to catch the Golden Globes on NBC! If you disagree (or agree) with any of my selections, be sure to let me know in the comments section below.

Critics Choice Awards: All Hail The Artist and The Help

2012-01-13T05:34:00.000-08:00

The Broadcast Film Critics Association has managed to piece together a fun filled precursor awards ceremony that's available for everyone to see. The 250 member film group opens up the televised portion of awards season and, surprisingly enough, all eyes are on the Critics Choice winners. Last year, 18 out of 20 Critics Choice winners went on to win Oscars. That success rate is utterly astounding. If history just so happens to repeats itself, then 2 well known movies could be in for a huge Academy Awards celebration. At last evening's award ceremony, the big winners were the black and white silent film The Artist and the blockbuster hit The Help. The Artist took home wins in major categories such as Best Picture and Best Director (Michael Hazanavicius), while The Help reigned victorious in the Best Actress (Viola Davis), Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), and Best Acting Ensemble races. Other notable winners for the evening were George Clooney (Best Actor for The Descendants) and Christopher Plummer (Best Supporting Actor for Beginners). For a complete list of winners and other Critics Choice Award's coverage, click the link below (courtesy of Anne Thompson at Indiewire.com):

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/inside-the-critics-choice-awards

Awards Season Update

2012-01-12T06:16:00.000-08:00

The American Society of Cinematographers announced their nominees for the 26th annual awards and, once again, War Horse was dubbed the "biggest snub". The surprise picture to steal the nomination away from Steven Spielberg was the Cold War espionage thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. War Horse is on the steady decline and, even though you may not believe me, I've been preaching its downfall since the film's Christmas release. For more information on the ASC's awards for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography, click the link below (courtesy of Peter Knegt at Indiewire.com):

http://www.indiewire.com/article/american-society-of-cinematographers-announce-2011-asc-awards

In other news, Oscar nominations are a little over a week away, but we've got an exciting weekend lined up. Tonight (Thursday the 12th) at 8pm on VH1 you can catch the 17th annual Critics Choice Awards. Also, the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards will air on Sunday the 15th. Both of these highly touted ceremonies will offer some valuable insight into the many difficult to predict Oscar races, so stay tuned. Be sure to check back on Friday for my Golden Globe predictions, and click below to see a full list of nominees for both precursor awards ceremonies:

http://www.criticschoice.com/movie-awards/17th-annual-critics-choice-movie-awards-2012/

http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/

2012 Oscars Preview

2012-01-10T06:12:00.001-08:00

We're just two weeks away from the Academy's announcement of nominees for their 84th annual awards ceremony. Here's a quick glance into how I envision each of the major races taking shape:

Best Picture

Sure Things - The Academy's newest set of voting rules allows for anywhere from 5 to 10 films to be nominated. There are 4 films I see locked in for nominations: The Artist, The Descendants, Hugo, and The Help.

Probables - At this point, I personally think that 6 films will receive nominations. The last two movies I see making the cut are the critically acclaimed films Midnight in Paris and Moneyball.

Longshots - There are a few stragglers just outside of the top 6 who could sneak a nomination. Chances are slim but you can't write off the upward trending Ides of March, the free falling War Horse, and the precursor juggernaut The Tree of Life. I'm sorry for all you fans of Drive (myself included), but there's really no chance at all that it will land in the mix .

Best Director

Sure Things - It's a safe bet to assume that Michael Hazanavicius (The Artist) and Martin Scorsese (Hugo) are all but guaranteed a spot in the top 5. The rest of the field starts to get a little tricky.

Probables - After yesterday's DGA announcement, it looks as though Alexander Payne (The Descendants) and Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris) have solidified themselves into the second tier of nominees. Therefore, leaving one spot up for grabs.

Longshots - David Fincher (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) took home the 5th DGA nomination and he remains a solid longshot, but I'd put my money on either Steven Spielberg (War Horse) or Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life). Chances are very remote, but Taylor Tate (The Help) or George Clooney (Ides of March) could possibly sneak in that final spot as well.

Best Actor

Sure Things - The way I see it, there are 2 guaranteed nominations going to George Clooney (The Descendants) and Jean Dujardin (The Artist). They're untouchables at this point.

Probables - Rounding out the top 4 are Michael Fassbender (Shame) and Brad Pitt (Moneyball). Both of which seem like safe bets at this point, leaving one lone nomination for the taking.

Longshots - Unfortunately, Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar) has all the backing for the 5th and final spot. He received a nomination from both the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild. The more deserving, but less likely, Michael Shannon (Take Shelter) figures to be the only other serious contender. Anyone else outside of Demian Bichir (A Better Life) would be a huge surprise.

Best Actress

Sure Things - It's a safe bet to reserve two spots for Viola Davis (The Help) and the un-snub-able (and yes, I just made up a word) Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady).

Probables - It's looking like the field of 5 could be set with the likes of Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn), Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin), and a distant 5th in Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs). Close has a stronghold on the final spot as a nominee for both a Golden Globe and a SAG.

Longshots - Glenn Close could walk away empty handed, stranger things have happened. The only other female leads with a fighting chance of taking Close's nomination are Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Charlize Theron (Young Adult), both of which received Golden Globe nominations as well.

Best Supporting Actor

Sure Things - At this juncture, chalk up the freight train that is Albert Brooks (Drive) and Christopher Plummer (The Beginners) as guarantees. The two actors represent critically applauded films that most likely won't be recognized in any other categories. Therefore, they're safe bets.

Probables - Kenneth Branaugh (My Week with Marilyn) has all the makings of a solid nominee, and the surprising rise of Jonah Hill (Moneyball) make him a likely 4th contender. Hill received both a SAG and Golden Globes nomination.

Longshots - The final spot will mostly be a slugfest between Nick Nolte (Warrior) and Armie Hammer (J. Edgar). I give the slight edge to Nolte, but any Leo supporters (and there's plenty of them) will inevitably benefit Hammer. And although I think he's every bit deserving, the slightest of chances remain for Patton Oswalt (Young Adult) who was spectacular in his supporting role.

Best Supporting Actress

Sure Things - Lock up nominations for the trio of Jessica Chastain (The Help, although I prefer her work in Take Shelter), Octavia Spencer (The Help), and Berenice Bejo (The Artist).

Probables - The next tier belongs to Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs), and Janet McTeer alone. Her pair of Golden Globe and SAG nominations make her a likely candidate to be recognized. However, her spot could rest solely on the shoulders of her fellow cast member Glenn Close. I see Close and McTeer as a package deal. Either they both get in, or neither of them get the votes. We'll have to wait and see.

Longshots - Since McTeer could conceivably not get in, there's an outside chance that both Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) and Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) could walk away with the final 2 spots. I'll give the slight edge to Woodley if McTeer does manage to make the cut.

Here's my latest up to date Oscar preview, be sure to check back next week (after the Golden Globe winners are announced) for my complete list of Oscar nomination predictions.

Directors Guild Announces Nominees

2012-01-10T05:42:00.000-08:00

The Directors Guild of America announced their five nominees for Best Director yesterday, and the "snub" conversations are in full swing. The expected crop of Michael Hazanavicius (The Artist), Martin Scorsese (Hugo), and Alexander Payne (The Descendants) all received their worthy nominations. In addition to the trio, Woody Allen returned to the center stage as a 4th nominee for his beloved film Midnight in Paris. Staking its claim as a serious Oscar contender, Midnight in Paris is the only motion picture that has now been nominated by every major guild (DGA, SAG, WGA, and PGA). In all fairness to The Artist, it was nominated in each guild except for the Writers Guild which it was deemed ineligible. The fifth and final nominee, David Fincher (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), proved to be most shocking. Fincher's nomination validates the lack of love for the Oscar hopeful War Horse and its now snubbed director, Steven Spielberg. Other notable snubs include Taylor Tate (The Help), Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life), and the longshot Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive).

The DGA's nominees are usually a very strong indicator of the Academy Awards nominees for Best Director. Over the past decade, the DGA has matched all 5 nominees twice and has matched 4 out of 5 nominees six times. Even more stunning is the fact that the DGA's winner has taken home a Best Director statue at the Oscars 57 times in its 63 year history. Wow! For more information concerning the DGA nominations, click the link below (courtesy of Peter Knegt at Indiewire.com):

http://www.indiewire.com/article/directors-guild-of-america-announcing-2011-dga-award-nominees-in-progress

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Trailer 2011 HD

2012-01-09T07:08:00.000-08:00

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

2012-01-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

Film: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Starring: Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks (Larry Crowne), and Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)

Director: Stephen Daldry (The Reader)

U.S. Release: January 20th, 2012 (Rated PG-13)

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 128 minutes

If dabbling in the stock market is your idea of a good time, then invest the farm on Kleenex tissues. Movies like Stephen Daldry's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which tackles the delicate issue of 9/11, may require the whole box ... so bring two. The film opened in a limited release on Christmas day, allowing it to qualify for February's Academy Awards. With Daldry's trio of Best Director nominations since 2001, all signs pointed to Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close as a serious Oscar contender. However, opening to mediocre reviews and a strong field of competition including The Artist, The Descendants, and Hugo, Daldry's latest work is becoming quite the long shot.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close follows a young boy named Oskar Schell (played by Horn). Sadly, Oskar loses his best friend and father Thomas Schell (played by Hanks) on what he frequently refers to as "the worst day" (the 9/11 attacks). Therefore, when Oskar finds a key in his father's untouched closet, he takes his only clue and ventures through the 5 boroughs of New York City in order to find its matching lock. Hoping for one last message from his deceased father, Oskar's journey teaches him more than he ever expected.

First and foremost, it's imperative to commend director Stephen Daldry on the respectful manner in which he addresses the tragic events of 9/11. Over a decade later, and the scars still feel as fresh as the wounds our nation felt on that sorrowful day. I must also warn that certain sound bites and occasional on screen imagery in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close are difficult to bear. Even if you're overly anxious to see the film, only do so if you're emotionally ready to stare this tragic event in the eyes.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a jumbled journey through the mind of a troubled boy. Thomas Horn is downright excellent in his first major motion picture release. The gifted young actor plays his character to perfection and it allows the audience to view one of our nation's greatest tragedies through the eyes of the innocent. However, something is certainly off with Oskar's character. Undiagnosed throughout the film, Oskar clearly has some form of inability to socialize. Loud noises and other various things frighten the boy beyond belief. However, through his adventures around the 5 boroughs of New York City, we see Oskar's transformation into a sociably fearless young man. In addition to Thomas Horn's breakout performance, veterans Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks sustain their unmatched talents. With their limited amount of face time on screen, both of these superstars make the most of every scene and provide the film with a stronger sense of credibility. Max von Sydow's performance included, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is brilliantly acted on all accounts.

Albeit it's strong cast, Daldry's latest effort struggles to resonate with audiences. The film's sentimental intent inevitably touches each member of the viewing audience, yet Oskar's character leaves much to be desired. Having nothing to do with Horn's acting ability, Oskar's character can be irritating, overblown, and irrational (like most 9 and 10 year old children). Centering a two hour long story around someone with such characteristics can be a difficult task, and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close fails at the attempt. The film begins well and ends wonderfully, however its second act wears thin rather quickly. In the midst of the boy's journey, the film becomes a jumbled mess and manages to lose sight of its purpose. But once the movie regains its focus and gets back on track, the resolve is rewarding, heartfelt, and certainly worth the wait.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a solid film but nowhere near the Oscar contender some imagined it would be. It's intriguing story and phenomenal cast thrust the film beyond the realm of mediocrity. Yet, the feature's sentimental approach wears out quickly and results in a very flawed and drawn out middle portion of the film. Ultimately, the ending wraps up in tear-jerking fashion and leaves a small sense of fulfillment. There's no harm in waiting for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close to be released on DVD, but if you're a fan of the book or eager to see it on the big screen, go right ahead.

Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4.

Grade: B

The Art of Movie Watching

2012-01-08T06:53:00.001-08:00

If you're like me and spend an abundant amount of time watching films, you start to become ritualistic in your approach. And believe it or not, there's an appropriate way to screen movies. Here are three simple rules that will enable you to get the most out of your viewing experience:

Rule #1: Make Your Standards Known

If you're preparing to watch a movie that you've been dying to see, my first recommendation is to go at it alone. Isolation is the first step to maximizing your movie experience. However, if you're heading to a local theatre or if your significant other insists on watching it with you, then there's no way around the issue. But if you decide to screen a film in the company of others, make sure to voice your expectations. Habitual talking or untimely laughter can ruin a perfectly good flick. Therefore, before you begin the movie, let everyone around you know that you'd prefer no talking or any other kind of interruptions. Make your standards known and if you come to find that certain people have different expectations from you, then you can remember to blacklist those individuals in the future.

Rule #2: Pick an Appropriate Setting

Now that everyone is one the same page, determine an adequate setting for your viewing experience. Comfort is key, but remember that you can always be TOO comfortable. I've heard countless stories from my friends that go something like this, "I was really enjoying the movie, but then I fell asleep". 9 out of 10 times people who fall asleep during a movie do so because they're too comfortable, and not because the film is bad. Make sure you're relaxed and cozy, all while sitting in some sort of upright position. Never lay horizontal on a bed or couch, it's the easiest way to start snoozing. Furthermore, you should also consider things like room temperature, lighting, and proximity to the screen before you begin the film. Always make sure that the mood is appropriate for the picture you choose.

Rule #3: No Distractions

Once the mood is set and everyone's ready to start the movie, do your best to eliminate all distractions. Turn off or put away things like laptop computers and cell phones. To get the most out of any movie, it will require your full attention. Filmmakers, cast, and crew pour their hearts and souls into the final product, give their work the utmost respect it deserves and remove any outside distractions. Text messages and Facebook can wait a few hours, I promise you that the world isn't going to end if you tune it out for a short amount of time. Also, remember little things that can help to avoid interruptions later on, such as using the bathroom beforehand and pouring chips or snacks into a bowl. Nothing is more irritating than the rustling of bags and wrappers during an intense moment on screen. Prepare as best you can to eliminate any possibility of noisy distractions.

These are my best suggestions for maximizing your movie watching experience. To get the most out of a feature, the responsibility ultimately falls on you. Follow these 3 simple rules and hopefully you'll notice the difference.

The Wettest County Release Date Pushed Back

2012-01-07T06:27:00.000-08:00

Apparently Harvey Weinstein and I have a lot in common ... well maybe not a lot. But either way, we both certainly agree on the fact that Tom Hardy is going to be a huge star. Just a few days after I posted on 2012's most anticipated films, The Weinstein Company announced that John Hillcoat's The Wettest County will have its release date pushed back to August 31st, Labor Day weekend. The buzzed about western, starring Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, and Jason Clarke as a trio of brothers who get immersed in the bootlegging business, was originally slated for an April 20th theatrical release. However, Weinstein made the change for two very intelligent, business related reasons. First, he wanted to ride the wave of the box office success from The Dark Knight Rises, which he expects to be a big boost for Tom Hardy's career. Also, The Wettest County will be premiering at the Venice Film Festival and the Labor Day weekend release aligns perfectly with the post-festival hype that's sure to ensue. For more information on the story, click the link below (courtesy of Kevin Jagernauth at Indiewire.com):

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/harvey-weinstein-says-wettest-county-will-go-to-venice-moved-to-capitalize-on-tom-hardys-post-dark-knight-rises-fame

2011's Most Overrated Films

2012-01-06T06:19:00.000-08:00

I decided to attack my list of 2011's most overrated movies by splitting them into two different categories. I'll start by listing my 3 most overrated Oscar hopefuls, and then I will follow it up with my 3 most overrated blockbusters. I also want to preface these lists by explaining my criteria for the often misused term "overrated". The films listed here are no where near the worst ones I saw this year. I classify them as overrated because I felt they weren't as good as critics and moviegoers made them out to be. Let the controversy begin!

OVERRATED OSCAR HOPEFULS

Moneyball

In 2011, Bennett Miller's Moneyball managed to gross an astounding $75 million in box office revenue and conjure up a rotten tomatoes approval rating of 95%. With a strong possibility of Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor (Brad Pitt), and Best Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill), Moneyball fell way short of my expectations. I graded the film out at a B- and 2.5 out of 4 stars, a far cry from its overwhelming critical praises. I felt that both Pitt and Hill gave strong performances, but certainly not top 5 in their respective categories. Even as a huge fan of baseball, I found Moneyball to be a rather dull look into the world of saber-metrics.

WAR HORSE

Since it's Christmas release, Steven Spielberg's epic tale War Horse has already topped the $40 million box office mark. It's critical acclaim and Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture help place the film in prime position for an Oscar nomination as well. Although I enjoyed the story of War Horse, the movie never lured me in and hooked me like it was intended. I thought the film was extremely drawn out and its ending never resonated. War Horse falls well short of my top ten films of the year (B- and 2.5 stars out of 4), and I hope the Academy agrees.

MELANCHOLIA

With the Academy's new voting process for its Best Picture category, many people fear the chance of more obscure titles topping each voter's list and creating an unexpected group of nominees. One film which could benefit from the new system is Lars von Trier's Melancholia. The world renowned director's latest feature dazzled audiences and critics all over Europe. However, I found Melancholia to be an endless journey with few redeeming qualities. The film's score is epic and its cinematography is wonderful, but that's about it. With a 78% rating on rotten tomatoes, my C- and 1.5 stars out of 4 seem far off from most other critics. Therefore, I find Melancholia to be overrated and unworthy of any Oscar praise.

Overrated Blockbusters

CONTAGION

While scouring through hundreds of people "Top Ten" lists of 2011, I was floored at the number of critics including Steven Soderbergh's Contagion. This run of the mill outbreak movie grossed north of $75 million at the box office and garnered an unfathomable 84% rating on rotten tomatoes. Contagion never manages to reach the terrifying and suspensgul peaks which were intended. It's massive number of subplots and storylines create a jumbled approach to an interesting subject matter. There were 15 to 20 minute stretches of Contagion where major storylines were ignored and, as a result, it became impossible to connect with central characters. I graded the film a C+ and 2 stars out of 4, pretty mediocre.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL

One of the most puzzling rotten tomatoes ratings of the year goes out to Tom Cruise's return in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. I was shocked upon seeing its rating of 93%, so I dashed to the theatre to see what I was missing. Truth be told, I wasn't missing much (C+, 2 stars out of 4). MI:4 has cleared $130 million in box office revenue all while remaining remarkably mediocre. Jeremy Renner's character was thrown into the story and the rationale to make him fit is too unconvincing. There's plenty of action and a surprise amount of laughs, but MI:4 is nothing spectacular. You'll be entertained (enough), but I was looking for more.

HORRIBLE BOSSES

I expect to be tarred and feathered for my inclusion of the comedy hit Horrible Bosses on this list. I caught this film at the tail end of its theatrical run, and perhaps that's the reason I didn't love it. Horrible Bosses raked in over $115 million at the box office last year and everyone was talking about the movie. When I watched the film I felt that Jamie Foxx's character was a hindrance and the moment Kevin Spacey's character pulled the trigger, the movie lost all sense of order. The film's third act was a major drop off and I find all 3 of its leads to be somewhat overrated themselves. I graded Horrible Bosses at a C+ and 2 stars out of 4, leaving it well below the expectations I had for it.

A few other honorable mentions to both lists are: Bradley Cooper's Limitless, the comedy Hall Pass, The family film Rango, and potential Oscar hopefuls Like Crazy and Shame.

What are your thoughts? Don't be shy and leave a comment!

2012 Movie Outlook

2012-01-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

Now that we've begun to embrace a new calendar year, it's imperative that we take a look at the films we expect to dazzle us over the next 12 months. Obviously, no movie has more anticipation than Christopher Nolan's conclusion to the Dark Knight trilogy. The Dark Knight Rises features the villains Bane (played by Tom Hardy) and Cat Woman (played by Anne Hathaway). The trailer has moviegoers all over the world asking, "Is it July yet". Nolan's work is far from the only sequel or remake we can expect in 2012. Other notable franchises with new editions are The Bourne Legacy which swaps out Matt Damon for Jeremy Renner (August release), Peter Jackson's The Hobbit (December), and Total Recall (Fall 2012) starring Colin Farrell in the remake.

2012 looks like it's shaping up to be a very star-studded cinematic year. There will be plenty of big releases making a splash, perhaps none bigger than Steven Spielberg's Lincoln. The film stars, for argument's sake, the greatest actor on the planet, Daniel Day-Lewis. Slated for a December release, the images that have surfaced of DDL as our nation's 16th president look absolutely unbelievable. Other notable titles to be on the lookout for include:

The Wettest County - A Western starring up and comer Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce, and Gary Oldman (April).

The Hunger Games - Based on the Best Selling novel by Suzanne Collins, the film stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson (March).

Gangster Squad - Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer tackles this 1940's era mob movie starring Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, and Josh Brolin. Mix in a little Emma Stone and you've got pure magic (October).

Only God Forgives - After the success of 2011's Drive, director Nicolas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling match wits again in this Bangkok set story (release unknown).

Similar to the past few years, December 2012 looks to be a busy month for Oscar contenders once again. The end of the world is going to have to wait, because Christmas plans to welcome some major hits to the big screen. Some notable December releases other than Spielberg's Lincoln include Django Unchained and The Great Gatsby. Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, and just about every other big name actor you could ever imagine. Needless to say, expectations are enormously high for Tarantino's latest work. Leonardo DiCaprio couldn't have planned his awards season any better as he also stars in Baz Lurhmann's take on The Great Gatsby. Also on board for the Oscar hopeful are Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, and Tobey Maguire.

2012 should be a fantastic year for Hollywood (cross your fingers), but I barely scratched the surface of all its anticipated releases. Feel free to click either link below (courtesy of Cinemablend.com and Indiewire.com) for over 100 movies that should hit theatres in the upcoming year.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/2012-Movie-Preview-All-Upcoming-Films-We-re-Most-Excited-28620.html

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-50-most-anticipated-films-of-2012

What movies are you eager to see? Don't hesitate to spark the discussion in the comments section.

Mission Impossible 4 - Ghost Protocol - Official Trailer

2012-01-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

2012-01-04T06:53:00.000-08:00

Film: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Starring: Tom Cruise (Valkyrie), Jeremy Renner (The Town), and Simon Pegg (Paul)

Director: Brad Bird (Ratatouille)

U.S. Release: December 21st, 2011 (Rated PG-13)

Genre: Action

Runtime: 133 minutes

Tom Cruise is one of my favorite actors of all time. He peaked during my adolescence in the 90's and I've been hooked ever since. Therefore, it kills me to say that Cruise's career has been on a steady decline since the turn of the millennium. It was 2010 when Cruise finally hit rock bottom with the Action-Romance picture Knight and Day, where the one time Academy Award Nominee teamed up with Cameron Diaz (enough said). But as a fan of the third Mission: Impossible installment, I became eager for the newest addition after its overwhelming reception by critics. I thought maybe this could be the film that finally catapults Cruise's career back to the forefront of Hollywood. Since I couldn't wait any longer, I headed to a local theatre and buckled up for the ride.

Misson: Impossible - Ghost Protocol begins in Budapest, where the IMF has a team in place to break Ethan Hunt (played by Cruise) out of a foreign prison. Once Hunt is back in IMF hands they present him with a new objective. Ethan Hunt's mission, if he chooses to accept it, is to break into a heavily guarded Russian building and retrieve vital information needed to stop Kurt Hendricks from launching Russia's nuclear weapons. When the mission is botched and the IMF is framed by Hendricks, the United States detaches itself and places the program under ghost protocol. No longer having government approval, Hunt and his team of agents decide to take matters into their own hands in order to stop Hendricks from causing a nuclear holocaust.

With a strong premise and enough action to satisfy any junkie, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol serves its purpose as a thrilling film. However, the movie's uncharacteristic director, Brad Bird, manages to offer very little more than an action packed experience. Bird, who is best known for directing family films like Ratatouille and The Incredibles, proves he can deliver on thrills and nothing more. MI: 4 attempts to bob and weave through the obvious but the twists and turns never feel genuine. The Swiss cheese plot is easy to follow, but flawed beyond repair. Also, there's no shortage of cliches and abysmal dialogue, thus, illustrating that Bird and company are slightly out of their element.

Despite MI: 4's lack of originality and cohesive cleverness, the film does manage to offer a new sense of style. With the welcome addition of Simon Pegg and Jeremy Renner (whose character feels way too forced into the script), the movie has an authentic comedic undertone. The film's subtle humor helps sidestep the audience around its blatant problems. Pegg and Renner are solid newcomers to the franchise and will hopefully stick around for an almost assured 5th installment. Furthermore, Cruise is serviceable in his leading role but nothing above and beyond the call of duty. On the contrary, Paula Patton is obviously the weakest link of the group and borderline intolerable as the female member of the team. Patton was excellent in her role in the Oscar nominated film Precious, however, she takes a step backwards with her performance here. But minus Patton, who they could do without, the acting in MI: 4 was adequate enough to carry the film along unscathed.

With this 4th edition of the franchise, there are an abundant amount of pros and cons alike. MI:4 lands face first in the realm of mediocrity. There's plenty of solid action in the film, but beyond that the script and dialogue are very flat. I disagree with most critics who have openly endorsed this latest addition, and recommend taking a pass or at least waiting until DVD for Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.

Stars: 2 stars out of 4

Grade: C+

Online Film Critics Honor The Tree of Life

2012-01-04T06:35:00.001-08:00

There's no doubt about it, Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life is a polarizing film. Some skeptics will argue that the movie is a jumbled collection of images and sound that become impossible to piece together to make a coherent story. On the other hand, the Online Film Critics Society will claim that Malick's The Tree of Life, the film group's selection for Best Picture, is a wonderful approach to film making that does exactly what any good piece of art should, it makes you think and feel for yourself.

The Tree of Life has been holding strong over this marathon stretch to the Academy Awards. Malick's work has received 6 precursor Best Picture wins, the total is second only to The Artist (9 victories). The Online Film Critics Society also awarded Malick himself in their Best Director category. That bring Malick's precursor total to 5 Best Director wins, this places him tied with Martin Scorsese (Hugo) and behind only Drive's Nicolas Winding Refn (6 victories) and The Artist's Michael Hazanavicius (7 victories). For a complete list of Online Film Critics Society winners as well as the recently announced Detroit Critics Awards, click the links below (courtesy of Peter Knegt at Indiewire.com):

http://www.indiewire.com/article/the-tree-of-life-leads-online-film-critics-society-award-nominations

http://www.indiewire.com/article/take-shelter-leads-detroit-film-critics-noms

The Music Industry is Taking Over Hollywood

2012-01-03T06:13:00.000-08:00

Elton John headlines a trio of three monumental musicians who may have their lives turned into a film. John has officially spoken out and confirmed that there is a project in the works, but what actor might play the legendary piano-vocalist? John has openly endorsed Justin Timberlake to play him in the upcoming film. Quite a shocking resemblance ... I think? For more info on the Elton John film click below (courtesy of Matthew Taylor at Guardian.co.uk):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/jan/02/elton-john-confirms-film-project

Also being discussed are films about music legends Miles Davis and Frank Sinatra. Don Cheadle headlines the team trying to put together the film based on the life of Davis. Cheadle plans to direct and star as the Jazz great and hopes to craft the biopic into a gangster movie. For more news concerning Cheadle's project which is in the works, click below (courtesy of David Wharton at Cinemablend.com):

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Don-Cheadle-Says-His-Miles-Davis-Biopic-Gangster-Pic-28596.html

Thanks to the success of 2011's critically acclaimed film Hugo, director Martin Scorsese has fallen in love with 3D. The historic director has some intention of filming his next project Silence (which is set to star Daniel Day Lewis) and a future project based on the life of Frank Sinatra both in 3D. Although the Sinatra film is in the earliest of stages, rumors are beginning to swirl that Scorsese may team up with Leonardo DiCaprio once again ... shocking. For more information concerning Scorsese's upcoming projects, click below (courtesy of Kevin Jagernauth at Indiewire.com):

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/martin-scorsese-says-hes-considering-making-silence-frank-sinatra-biopic-in-3d

Most Underrated Performances of 2011

2012-01-02T07:13:00.000-08:00

With every second-hand tick, 2011 is becoming more and more of an afterthought. I, on the other hand, love to dwell in the past and decided to create another list concerning the previous cinematic year. January has always been known for its Oscar talk. As everyone eagerly awaits for the Academy to announce their nominations, plenty of names get thrown around the ring. I've compiled my list of the 10 best performances of 2011 that won't be mentioned at the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26th. Here are my most underrated performances of 2011:

#10: Rhys Ifans - Anonymous

Ifans was surprisingly convincing as the Duke of Oxford in Roland Emmerich's period piece, Anonymous. In an interesting tale that refutes Shakespeare as the actual author of our world's greatest plays, Ifans delivers a stellar lead performance and allows the audience to consider such a crazed notion.

#9: Brit Marling - Another Earth

Director Mike Cahill's crafty sci-fi drama Another Earth succeeds because of its leading actress Brit Marling. The newcomer gives a heartfelt performance as a young woman searching for forgiveness from the husband/father of a wife and child she tragically killed. Marling has already begun landing some new roles and I'd be prepared to start seeing much more of her.

#8: Joseph Gordon-Levitt - Hesher

Gordon-Levitt will undoubtedly be most remembered for his work in my favorite film of 2011, 50/50. However, JGL's title character in Hesher proves to be most memorable. As a menacing homeless pyromaniac, Gordon-Levitt unexpectedly captured our hearts with his twisted metaphors and over the top analogies.

#7: John C. Reilly - Cedar Rapids

No matter how you felt about the film Cedar Rapids or Ed Helms' lead character, it's impossible to refute the brilliant comedic performance by supporting actor John C. Reilly. If you've watched the movie a couple dozen times like I have, then you'll pick up on EVERY incredible one-liner he delivers. The "Deansy" is one of 2011's funniest characters, hands down.

#6: Paul Giamatti - Win Win

Thomas McCarthy's Win Win premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to outstanding reviews. Despite all of its critical acclaim, the movie has become somewhat forgotten in the Oscar discussion. At the center of Win Win is Paul Giamatti's character Mike Flaherty. And although Giamatti seems to attempt similar roles on a regular basis, the gifted actor manages to reinvent the comedy-drama genre every time he tackles it.

#5: Seth Rogen - 50/50

Many fans of the indie hit 50/50 will rave about the work of its leading star Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I thought JGL was great in the film as well, however, I most appreciated the phenomenal work of his supporting star Seth Rogen. Rogen, who actually lived through his own character's perspective in real life, delivered an onslaught of laugh out loud scenes and single handedly balanced out the movie. The actor's exceptional performance kept 50/50 from being a sappy overdone drama that we've seen time and time again, and propelled the film to stardom.

#4: Ezra Miller - We Need to Talk About Kevin

Lynne Ramsay's We Need to Talk About Kevin landed in the number three spot on my top ten films of 2011 for a reason. In large part, that reason was its leading actress Tilda Swinton. On the other hand, Ezra Miller's bone shattering role of the cold blooded killer Kevin resonates almost equally. Although his amount of screen time is somewhat limited, Miller commands your full attention with every second he gets. He's a multi-talented young actor with a brilliant future ahead.

#3: J.K. Simmons - The Music Never Stopped

For anyone who has seen HBO's Oz or Jason Reitman's Juno, you know how excellent J.K. Simmons is. In the sentimental independent film The Music Never Stopped, Simmons is finally given the leading role he deserves. He makes the most of the opportunity and gives a defining performance as Henry Sawyer, a father desperate to reconnect with his memory impaired son. If you haven't seen this movie, I recommend checking it out ASAP.

#2: Patton Oswalt - Young Adult

Patton Oswalt may have the best opportunity of anyone on this list to receive a nomination from the Academy, but I wouldn't expect one. Most people will commend Young Adult's leading star Charlize Theron for her commendable role, which it is. However, Patton Oswalt steals the film and has his "Oscar" scene to latch on to. Oswalt's unforgettable as a handicapped drinking buddy to the one time prom queen, Mavis Gary, who's back in town to home-wreck her high school sweetheart.

#1: Dominic Cooper - The Devil's Double

The diverse actor Dominic Cooper is finally making a name for himself, and it's about time. Cooper is nothing short of magnificent in his dual role for the action packed film The Devil's Double. Cooper plays both Uday Hussein (the son of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein) and Iraqi civilian Latif Yahia. One day Latif is taken from his home by his country's army and receives an ultimatum (or not) from the saddistic son of Dictator Saddam Hussein. Latif can either be killed (along with his entire family) or accept a lifestyle as the "double" of Uday. Thanks to the superb performances given by Cooper, this intense action-thriller is one of 2011's must see movies.

Are there any underrated performances that I missed? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

A Happy New Year & an Oscar's Watch

2012-01-01T07:10:00.000-08:00

Move over 2011, and welcome to the main stage 2012. Hopefully everyone had a joyous and safe New Year's celebration. Once the calendar turns from December to January, I always get antsy for some awards season discussion. There's no better source of awards season coverage than two of my all time favorite websites. First, for a complete list of all precursor awards nominations and winners, visit the link below (courtesy of Peter Knegt at Indiewire.com):

http://www.indiewire.com/article/a-complete-guide-to-2011-12-awards-season

Peter and everyone else at Indiewire do a spectacular job of updating the race to the Academy Awards. Start getting into the discussion by checking out their website. Finally, my second major reference for anything and everything Oscars comes courtesy of Clayton Davis and his team of writers at Awardscircuit.com. Clayton offers his well regarded opinion on all of the major races. To visit their website, click the link below:

http://www.awardscircuit.com/

Once again, I want to wish a Happy New Year to everyone! Also, feel free to post a comment and spark some discussion on what films, directors, actors, and actresses you think are deserving of Oscar consideration.

The Artist - Official Trailer [HD]

2011-12-30T09:28:00.000-08:00

The Artist

2011-12-30T08:16:00.001-08:00

Film: The Artist

Starring: Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo

Director: Michael Hazanavicius

U.S. Release: November 23rd, 2011 (Limited - Rated PG-13)

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 100 minutes

What is the purpose of film? For some, it's solely to be entertained. For others, it's to be whisked away into a story that is both enchanting and transcending of everyday reality. No matter what your personal purpose is for cinema, Michael Hazanavicius' The Artist will satisfy the objective. Every now and again a movie comes along and receives an overwhelming amount of critical acclaim, so much so that it leaves you scratching your head. The Artist is not an example of such a film. Each carefully calculated compliment given to this instant masterpiece is warranted and well deserved. Alongside Alexander Payne's The Descendants and Martin Scorsese's Hugo, The Artist is one of three frontrunners for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. And by choosing The Artist, it would mean the Academy got it right.

Set in 1920's Hollywood, The Artist follows the rise and fall of silent film star George Valentin (played by Dujardin). As the king of silent film, Valentin is living on top of a world where nothing can bring him down. That is, until "talkies" (the term used for the sound-on disc system of film making) become the biggest craze. In a new age of Hollywood, Valentin quickly becomes lost and struggles to find his purpose. But with the aid of a rising "talkies" star named Peppy Miller (played by Bejo), perhaps Valentin can return to the heights he once attained.

With The Artist, writer and Director Michael Hazanavicius delivers an unforgettable journey into the ever changing world of cinema. The (mostly) silent black and white film is a gratifying experience that succeeds because of its leading actor Jean Dujardin. A shoe-in for a Best Actor nomination, Dujardin manages to take this risky premise and transform it into a must see piece of work. His performance is magical and, by all means, the backbone of the film. Dujardin, a French born actor, is a truly gifted star with unmatched talent. Hopefully with all of the recognition he's sure to receive, Dujardin will begin to dazzle in American cinema. In addition to the lead star, Berenice Bejo is simply wonderful as the up and comer Peppy Miller. Because of her fabulous performance on screen, Bejo should be a mortal lock for an Oscar nomination as well. Thanks in large part to its brilliant cast, The Artist is one of 2011's must see films.

There are many other aspects of the movie that propel it to elite status. Ludovic Bource composes an excellent score that assists the film in so many ways. Like I previously mentioned, attempting to sell a black and white silent film to modern audiences is a difficult task. However, Hazanavicius molds together a marvelous cast with an exceptional score. These aspects interweave together perfectly to make the majestic film that is The Artist.

There are very few negatives to the movie. The second act becomes a little warn out, but the script's continuous jokes help pull you through any dull moments. Since the movie has such a lengthy second leg, the ending feels slightly abrupt. But all in all, these tiny criticisms go rather unnoticed and must be sought out. Therefore, The Artist is a charming and delightful piece of film making that is worthy of all its praise.

The Artist is due for a wide scale release sometime in January. But for all of my friends in the Philadelphia area (and a few other select cities around the world), The Artist is now available and waiting to be seen. Don't waste any more time and make an effort to catch one of 2011's finest films, The Artist.

Stars: 3 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: A-

Austin Critics Make a Case for Drive/Take Shelter

2011-12-29T07:21:00.001-08:00

On Tuesday December 26th Oscar Nomination Ballots were mailed out to each and every member of the Academy, and they have until the middle of January to make their selections. Therefore, when the Austin Film Critics Association announced their annual winners yesterday, I hope everyone listened closely.

Being from the Philadelphia area, I thought the only thing I had in common with someone from Texas was our mutual hatred of our beloved football teams (the Cowboys, not the Texans). However, I managed to put our gridiron disputes aside and applaud Austin's selections for the cinematic year. For starters, Hugo out muscled the competition and walked away victorious in the Best Picture category, garnering the highest honor. Like I've mentioned before, the Best Picture race is down to three films (Hugo, The Artist, and The Descendants).

Looking at individual work, I was thrilled to see the success of two films that the Academy may ignore. Drive and Take Shelter (number 7 and 8 on the top 10 list for the year) took home wins for Best Director (Nicolas Winding Refn - Drive), Best Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks - Drive), Best Actor (Michael Shannon - Take Shelter), and Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain - Take Shelter). With all of these precursor awards, Drive has received steady support from all around the globe and it stands a much larger chance at receiving a Best Picture nomination than Take Shelter.

For complete coverage and a full list of winners, click the link below (courtesy of Peter Knegt at Indiewire.com):

http://www.indiewire.com/article/austin-critics-go-for-hugo-shannon-swinton

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo HD Trailer - David Fincher Version

2011-12-27T08:17:00.000-08:00

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

2011-12-27T06:58:00.001-08:00

Film: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Starring: Daniel Craig (Defiance) and Rooney Mara (The Social Network)

Director: David Fincher (The Social Network)

U.S. Release: December 20th, 2011 (Rated R)

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 158 minutes

Director David Fincher alienated tons of people when he announced his plans to remake the 2009 Swedish hit The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo which was based on the Millennium trilogy authored by Stieg Larsson. Nowadays, the Hollywood remake has become taboo and fodder for criticism, almost to the point where they can't be taken seriously. Enter David Fincher's 2011 attempt to recreate an instant classic. Many complained that the acclaimed director would "Americanize" the film and, therefore, destroy the story. Objectively speaking, Fincher stays relatively true to the book (minus a few small changes that must be made to such a long novel) and delivers a captivating movie experience.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows the journalist Mikael Blomkvist (played by Craig). After being sued for libel, Blomkvist is summoned by a wealthy Swedish Patriarch to investigate a 40 year old missing person's case. With the aid of Lisbeth Salander (played by Rooney), an emotionally traumatized computer hacker, Blomkvist enters into a dark and sinister world he never imagined possible.

Highly engaging and entertaining to the core, David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a thrill ride unlike any other. Straddling the boundaries of the R rating, the movie is a gut wrenching and brutally honest depiction of Stieg Larsson's praised work. Topped off with a graphic rape scene that's hard to stomach, Fincher refuses to sugar coat anything. Even through all of these unfathomable scenes, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo still manages to work. Fincher creates a viewing experience that makes it more difficult to look away from the screen than it is to just accept what transpires.

In addition to the film's uptempo pace and excellent storytelling, actress Rooney Mara dominates every second of screen time she's given. Prior to viewing the movie, you could chalk me up on the list of skeptics. Mara has never effectively "wowed" me with any of her earlier work, and I felt that Fincher was taking a big risk. Yet the director and young actress have proved me wrong. Mara molds together a character with remarkable depth and her performance is spot on. If the Academy chooses to go that route, she is well deserving of a Best Actress nod. Her co-star Daniel Craig is as good as we've come to expect from him, and the pair do a fabulous job of keeping the film enticing. Despite my previous concerns, Fincher does an excellent job with casting and it helps propel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to the next level.

Although the movie is unquestionably stellar, one major downfall resides in its extra long third act. The conclusion of the mystery by no means translates to the conclusion of the film. Fincher beefs up his runtime and pushes it past the two and a half hour mark by further developing Mara's character and tying together all loose ends. In doing so, the director successfully wraps up the film, but he also manages to test his audience's patience. And if Fincher chooses to continue on with the trilogy, the extended ending will serve as a smooth transition to the next installment

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is far from a typical Christmas release. The dark tale is a heart pounding ride that is brilliantly scored by last year's Academy Award winner Trent Reznor. Even with all of its shocking scenes, the film is still an easy watch. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo captivates from start to finish and its lengthy runtime flies by effortlessly. Fincher convinces us all that a winning remake is possible and, therefore, I highly recommend the film to anyone who can stomach it.

Stars: 3 stars out of 4

Grade: B+

The Top 10 Films of 2011

2011-12-25T06:50:00.001-08:00

There's always something nostalgic about Christmas. Perhaps it's the dire need to keep with heralded tradition, or maybe it's the fact that a new year is peaking its head around the corner. Either way, I've decided to begin my Christmas 2011 by dwelling over the countless films I've encountered these past 12 months. The year in cinema started out slow, as it always does, but it inevitably picked up steam. Chugging along through the fall months and into December, many of the Oscar hopefuls are finally reaching the big screen. And although 2011 was a somewhat weak year for Hollywood, there's always something out there worth appreciating. So Merry Christmas everyone, and enjoy (or refute) my list of the 10 best films of 2011.

Before I can get the official countdown under way, here's a list of strong films that just missed out on my top ten. Honorable Mention:

The Guard, Win Win, Hugo, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Source Code, The Adjustment Bureau, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Cedar Rapids.

#10: Warrior

On the surface, Warrior resembles a stereotypical and rehashed sports film. But when you manage to look deeper into the story, it's a tale of redemption and forgiveness. Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, and potential Oscar nominee Nick Nolte do a fantastic job of luring you into the the history of the Conlin family. Each character remarkably unique and emotionally brittle, they're a family full of warriors. Therefore, when you reach the final fight between these two estranged brothers, you watch years of anger and blame pour out with each punch. Warrior is a wonderful sports film that deserves a lot more recognition than it's received.

#9: My Week with Marilyn

Michelle Williams proves time and time again how brilliant of an actress she is. This year is no exception as she stars as Marilyn Monroe, one of the greatest icons of the 20th century. My Week with Marilyn is a charming picture that dives deep into the human mind. Williams offers a stunning look at the emotional roller coaster that was Marilyn Monroe. And with one of the year's best ensembles, the movie shows the inner workings of film making and how the ego's of celebrities can clash.

#8: Take Shelter

The best way to sum up the fabulous independent film Take Shelter is with one word, intense. Witnessing this movie is like sitting in a room with a bomb and watching the timer count down second by second. From the opening scene, Take Shelter is a beautifully timed stroll into insanity. Michael Shannon stars as Curtis, a man unable to escape severe apocalyptic visions. Shannon and his co-star Jessica Chastain both give award winning performances and the result is an unbreakable connection between the audience and their characters. Although I sense Shannon may be the odd man out in the Best Actor category at the Oscars, he is every bit deserving of the award.

#7: Drive

Thanks to director Nicolas Winding Refn for bringing us Drive, 2011's most stylish film. It plays out like a Grimm's fairytale. Ryan Gosling stars as the unnamed stunt driver by day and getaway driver by night. But when he falls for his married neighbor whose life may be in grave danger, the story takes a dark turn. Gosling commands every bit of your attention and the violent revenge-filled 3rd act is something you won't want to miss.

#6: The Help

Big Blockbusters are never the "sexy" pick for a top ten list. Therefore, I'm sure my inclusion of The Help will baffle some. Despite the movie's somewhat lack of originality and its overly animated characters, The Help is an entertaining and heartfelt film. It's never unsatisfying witnessing the good will and kind nature that humans can demonstrate. The Help succeeds, in large part, because of its leading actress Viola Davis who shines in the spotlight. There have been an endless amount of civil rights movies, but The Help manages to stand out on its own.

#5: The Music Never Stopped

Capturing the true essence of the father/son bond, The Music Never Stopped is a wonderful journey. After spending 20 years out of touch with his now memory impaired son, Henry Sawyer will do whatever it takes to reconcile. J.K. Simmons and Lou Taylor Pucci have a chemistry on screen that can't be matched. Their convincing performances are a backbone to this emotional tearjerker. The Music Never Stopped will give off vibes of a made for television movie, but it packs an enormous amount of heart.

#4: The Artist

I haven't given a lengthy review yet for Michael Hazanavicius' masterpiece The Artist because I wanted to wait for its wide-scale release. This black and white silent film is as every bit majestic as it's made out to be. All of the critical acclaim given to the director and his leading star, Jean Dujardin, is absolutely warranted. Littered with elegance and charisma, The Artist is justifiably shaping up to be the frontrunner for the Academy Awards.

#3: We Need to Talk About Kevin

Rarely is there a film that captures my mind as much as the British thriller We Need to Talk About Kevin. Tilda Swinton offers her best work to date as the mother of a teenage sociopath who's responsible for a school massacre. The film examines her deep rooted guilt for the tragedy and her inability to cope with the aftermath. Kevin grows up before our eyes and we're able to see his transformation into a cold blooded killer. This leads to the film's main question, who's to blame? We Need to Talk About Kevin is a psychological journey that will stay with you long after viewing the film.

#2: The Ides of March

Director/actor George Clooney's The Ides of March is an eye opening look into the deceitful world of United States politics. Clooney reminds us of the genuine intentions of newcomers in the political scene, and how easy it is to fall victim to corruption. There's no room for morals in the game of politics, and Ryan Gosling brilliantly reveals the inner struggle of a once ethical campaign staffer. Immensely entertaining and perfectly paced, The Ides of March takes you on a thrilling ride on the campaign trail.

#1: 50/50

2011 was undoubtedly a down year for cinema. Everyone was desperately looking for a film to cling on to. For me, that film was 50/50. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is excellent as a 27 year old who's diagnosed with cancer. After learning that his odds for survival are 50/50, the main character struggles to come to terms with the severity of his illness. 50/50 offers a perfect combination of drama and laughter. Never too serious or too light, the film hammers home the importance of friendship, family, and human interaction. Every once in a while a movie like 50/50 comes along and reminds us that we have the gift of life, and it should never be taken for granted.

What did you agree with and what did I miss? Tell me your thoughts on the best films that 2011 had to offer.

Drive Loses a Chance at Another Nomination

2011-12-24T06:53:00.000-08:00

Despite its strong showing at many of the precursor awards, the 2011 hit Drive never seemed like much of a contender for the Oscars. Albert Brooks is atop the list of Best Supporting Actors, but outside of him only Nicolas Winding Refn (Best Director), Ryan Gosling (Best Actor) and Cliff Martinez (Best Original Score) stand any chance of receiving a nomination. Yesterday, the stylish revenge film took a big hit in its quest for some hardware. The Academy released its list of 97 eligible scores and Cliff Martinez was among those not listed. Although the rationale for excluding Drive's score was not addressed individually, it's widely believed that it was deemed ineligible because of its overuse of tracked themes. Since the category is Best Original Score, the Academy most likely viewed Cliff Martinez's work as unoriginal. For a complete list of all eligible scores, click the link below (courtesy of Adam Chitwood at Collider.com):

http://collider.com/original-score-oscars-2012/133972/

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Official Trailer 2 [HD]

2011-12-23T08:35:00.000-08:00

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

2011-12-23T07:10:00.000-08:00

Film: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Starring: Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight), Colin Firth (The King's Speech), and Tom Hardy (Warrior)

Director: Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In)

U.S. Release: December 9th, 2011 (Limited - Rated R)

Genre: Thriller

Runtime: 127 minutes

It happens every year. For whatever reason, the stars seem to align perfectly and the delicate balance of giving just enough and not giving too much helps create quite a stir in the movie community. In 2011 Tomas Alfredson's espionage thriller, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, has become "that movie". In a year of film that hasn't been overwhelming by any stretch of the imagination, Alfredson's early trailer managed to generate some serious buzz. I mean, what could be more exciting than a Cold War era, who's the mole, spy film starring the vastly under appreciated Gary Oldman? Therefore, on December 9th when Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy began its limited release in the United States, my eager self waited patiently for the British hit and Oscar hopeful to finally make its way to Philadelphia. But as of today (December 23), the wait is officially over.

Set in 1970's England during the Cold War, the circus (a code name for the British Intelligence Agency) is believed to have a Russian mole somewhere at the top of the chain. The control (the head of the agency) has narrowed his search down to 4 main suspects but after a botched operation in Hungary, the control is forced to resign from his position. A leading government figure passes on the task of discovering the mole to George Smiley (played by Oldham), a retired member of the agency. In order to identify the mole and restore faith in the circus, Smiley must piece together what few facts he has and correctly decide who can be trusted and who can't.

Being sold to audiences as a thriller, Tomas Alfredson's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy offers very few thrills. The director has every intention of building a suspenseful game of cat and mouse between Smiley and his 4 suspects, yet the attempt falls flat. Unfortunately, the picture develops at a crawling pace and never amounts to the potential it carries. Due in large part to its unfamiliar lingo and lack of proper explanation, at times, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy can be a difficult film to piece together.

A large saving grace for the movie is its star-studded cast. Lead by the always wonderful Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy offers superb acting from each and every first billed member of its cast. And although Oldman is undoubtedly fantastic in his role, Benedict Cumberbatch delivers the most memorable performance in the film. Individually speaking, it's a long shot for Cumberbatch or any other supporting cast member to receive recognition from the Academy, but Oldman definitely stands a chance at a Best Leading Actor nomination. Personally though, I can name (at least) 5 lead performances that are far more deserving of a nomination.

Another major advantage to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is the film's strong third act. George Smiley and company's approach to trapping the mole is abrupt but clever. In its closing moments, Alfredson does an extraordinary job of tying together all loose ends with a brief collection of truly powerful scenes. Despite occasional speed bumps along the way, the film's taut resolution makes for a satisfying conclusion.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is far from the masterpiece that many had anticipated. The movie lacks intensity and numerous other entertaining qualities, but the picture does offer a creative story with a fulfilling resolve. This film is by no means a casual watch. Hence, if you're willing to be patient and put forth some effort, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy can be enjoyed. If not, move along.

Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: B-

Goon Official Trailer #1 - Seann William Scott Movie (2012) HD

2011-12-22T07:13:00.000-08:00

Goon Update

2011-12-22T07:10:00.000-08:00

While at the 20th annual Philadelphia Film Festival this past October, one of the most memorable movies I encountered was a hockey comedy called Goon. Seann William Scott stars as Doug Glatt, a bouncer turned semi-pro hockey goon. The film, which is set for an Spring 2012 release, was entertaining on many different levels. As a sports movie, Goon offers a well crafted underdog story centered around the oddest form of team unity imaginable. As a comedy, Scott (most known for his role as Stifler in American Pie) provides an onslaught of laughter that reigns supreme until the final puck drops. Most surprising though is how effectively Goon resonates on a dramatic level. Scott's character Doug Glatt is a lovable buffoon just trying to find his place in the world. Check out the trailer for Goon (posted above) and keep it in mind for when Spring rolls around.

War Horse Trailer

2011-12-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

War Horse

2011-12-21T12:07:00.000-08:00

Film: War Horse

Starring: Jeremy Irvine and Emily Watson (Red Dragon)

Director: Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan)

U.S. Release: December 25th, 2011 (Rated PG-13)

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 146 minutes

Steven Spielberg is a director who needs no introduction. With his latest features The Adventures of Tintin and War Horse, the two time Academy Award winner (Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List) is using the final month of 2011 to make a last minute push for another statue. Clearly the frontrunner of the pair, War Horse has done fairly well (but not well enough) in the early stages of the awards season. Come February, we'll know for sure if 2011 is the year of Spielberg.

War Horse is set against the backdrop of World War I. Albert Narracott (played by Irvine) is a teenage boy whose family owns Joey, an unquestionably amazing horse. After Joey defies all odds and successfully plows their field in time for the harvest, Albert and Joey form an unbreakable bond. But when a disastrous rain storm floods all of their crops, Albert's father is forced to sell Joey to the English Army. Shortly after, Albert enlists in the army and travels to France in order to find his amazing horse, Joey.

With the Christmas release War Horse, Spielberg does the expected and layers on the schmaltz. As it develops, the film's exaggerated sentimentalism proves to be too much to bear. And although no one can argue against Spielberg's uncanny storytelling ability, War Horse manages to fall well short of its lofty Oscar winning goals.

Despite it's failure to reach expectations, War Horse is still a film that can be enjoyed on many levels. Joey experiences a magnificent journey through the horrors of World War I. Traveling across various sides of the war (England, France, and Germany), the movie delivers an eye opening adventure through a historically significant event. Furthermore, as Joey's course continues we are introduced to many different characters. Thanks in large part to Spielberg's storytelling, each of these characters offer a purpose that is unique and impressionable. All in all, War Horse is an entertaining adventure and an interesting story.

War Horse is a slightly above average film, that will eventually fall into the realm of the forgotten. Be advised, this is a movie about a horse. The Black Beauty-esque story follows Joey's journey and leaves you wanting more from the perspective of Albert, its main character. Newcomer Jeremy Irvine does a fine job in his leading role, however his character is regrettably misused. I was expecting a back and forth adventure between a man and his horse but, to a fault, this is not Spielberg's intention.

There are plenty of pros and cons when discussing War Horse. It's a mostly entertaining feature that claws at the door of being an epic tale, but never quiet makes it through. With a runtime nearing 2 and a half hours, the movie tends to lose its flare and leaves much to be desired. If you have little interest in the film, then I recommend staying away from it. But if you are eager to see War Horse, then I urge you to take the chance on Spielberg's latest effort. Just remember to temper those expectations, because there's no Oscar winner here.

Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: B-

THE HOBBIT Trailer HD

2011-12-21T07:03:00.000-08:00

We Bought A Zoo - Official Trailer [HD]

2011-12-20T14:39:00.000-08:00

We Bought a Zoo

2011-12-20T14:37:00.001-08:00

Film: We Bought a Zoo

Starring: Matt Damon (The Adjustment Bureau) and Scarlett Johansson (The Prestige)

Director: Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous)

U.S. Release: December 23rd, 2011 (Rated PG)

Genre: Family/Drama

Runtime: 124 minutes

Nothing says "Christmas" like some quality family time. Therefore, it's no big shocker that one of 2011's most anticipated family films will hit theatres just days before the holiday. Cameron Crowe's latest effort, We Bought a Zoo, couples the renowned director with leading actor Matt Damon. With his first picture in roughly six years, Crowe is hoping to duplicate the success of his 2005 cinematic masterpiece Almost Famous. Yet with only a PG rating, We Bought a Zoo will have to attempt it with a few less 4 letter words.

Adventures are nothing new to the world traveled journalist Benjamin Mee (played by Damon). However, months after Benjamin loses his wife, he also loses control of his teenage son Dylan. The boy's inevitable expulsion from school lands Benjamin scouring the housing market. But when the journalist and his daughter Rosie encounter the perfect home, needless to say, the purchase comes with some baggage. Their real estate agent explains that in order to buy the property, they'd have to take on the responsibility of the Zoo that comes with it. Thus, with the aid of zookeeper Kelly Foster (played by Johansson), Benjamin and his family embark on their greatest adventure ever.

With We Bought a Zoo, director Cameron Crowe undoubtedly delivers an enjoyable family film. Wholesome, funny, and often cliched, the movie appropriately does its job of entertaining audiences of all ages. The concept of owning a Zoo makes for a clever story line and Crowe combines the natural humor of the animals with a family desperate for some laughs. Furthermore, set against the backdrop of being recently widowed, the script does a nice job of utilizing the dramatic scenes involving Benjamin and his family to complement the comedic parts centered around the zoo animals. All in all, We Bought a Zoo is a pleasant viewing experience for the entire family.

In addition to the film's solid script and direction, Matt Damon headlines a wonderful cast that helps bring We Bought a Zoo to life. With each character so vital to the success of the movie, the onscreen chemistry of the entire cast becomes remarkably evident. Furthermore, each member of the Mee family is convincing in their respective roles. Mostly stealing the movie is Thomas Hayden Church as Duncan Mee, the over-the-top accountant brother of Benjamin. Church delivers laugh after laugh and he manages to keep the film light and never too overbearing. In her large supporting role, Scarlett Johansson does enough to avoid detracting from the film but never elevates her character to the heights she's intended to have. Yet as a whole, the cast does a stellar job of keeping the movie down to earth and believable.

As always, with a family film comes some deserving criticisms. At times, We Bought a Zoo incorporates its fair share of cliche dialogue and rehashed subplots. In doing so, the movie loses a sense of originality and authenticity. Despite its many strengths, there are still plenty of "been there, done that" moments in the film. All of these mundane aspects hinder We Bought a Zoo from standing out amongst its genre.

Over the holidays, a trip to the movies can make for a great family tradition and We Bought a Zoo wouldn't be a bad choice. Despite its limited ceiling and its lack originality, the movie will certainly entertain you. And if you're looking for a wholesome family film, then look no further. Otherwise, maybe you should set your sights elsewhere.

Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: B-

The Dark Knight Rises - Official Teaser Trailer #2

2011-12-20T06:36:00.000-08:00

Drive cleans up at 2011 Satellite Awards

2011-12-19T07:28:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure how many heads it will turn, but The International Press Academy announced its 2011 Satellite Award winners last night. Director Alexander Payne's The Descendants took home the top prize for Best Picture, and the win manages to reiterate the film's chances at this winter's Academy Awards. Although The Descendants won the battle, it was the movie Drive that won the war. Taking home four wins yesterday evening, Drive claimed victories for Best Actor (Ryan Gosling), Best Director (Nicolas Winding Refn), Best Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks), and Best Sound. As the races are starting to take shape, Brooks is the only representative of the film who figures to stand a significant chance at an Oscar's win. For a complete list of winners at the Satellite Awards, click the link below (courtesy of aceshowbiz.com):

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00046255.html

Golden Globe Nominations: Biggest Snubs

2011-12-15T11:02:00.000-08:00

Earlier today the 69th Golden Globe Nominations were officially announced. As always, this opens up the conversation for "who got snubbed". After comparing the list of nominees with my current personal picks, I believe the Golden Globes got it (mostly) right.

Leading all films with 6 total nominations, The Artist is shaping up as this year's front-runner. The black and white silent film was followed closely by Alexander Payne's The Descendants and the blockbuster hit The Help (5 nominations each). Surprisingly, some upcoming big name releases like Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy each delivered a goose egg. However, at last year's Golden Globes the Cohen brothers picture True Grit received zero nominations and it ended up being represented quite well at the Oscars. For a complete list of nominees, click the link below (courtesy of Peter Knegt at Indiewire.com):

http://www.indiewire.com/article/2012-golden-globe-nominations-in-progress

On the "snub" front, I noticed three big ones in particular. Here they go:

Michael Shannon gives an award winning Best Lead Actor performance in this year's festival darling Take Shelter. He's more deserving of a nomination than the two recipients Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar) and Brad Pitt (Moneyball). Shannon takes complete command of the screen, and I hope that the Oscars will get this one right.

In addition to Michael Shannon, Carey Mulligan was snubbed for her Best Supporting Actress role in the Steve McQueen film Shame. This is Mulligan like you've never seen before, and she does a fantastic job showing off her versatility. Although I haven't seen Albert Nobbs, I still believe that Mulligan is more deserving than the recipients Janet McTeer and Shailene Woodley (The Descendants)

Finally, another noticeable snub goes out to the film Drive. Certainly worthy of a Best Picture: Drama nomination, Drive is far superior to its counterparts War Horse and Moneyball. Also, an argument can be made for its director Nicolas Winding Refn. With a flooded Best Director category, Refn is all too deserving but difficult to clearly place above his competition. However, hopefully the Oscars will find more than just Albert Brooks to recognize for this excellent piece of work.

What snubs did I miss? Be sure to let me know what you think!

Critics' Choice Nominations Announced

2011-12-13T10:29:00.000-08:00

With today's announcement of The Broadcast Film Critics Association's nominations, it seems as though the Oscars race is beginning to take shape. It's looking like the Best Picture category could be a 3 horse race with no horses allowed (my condolences to War Horse). For quite some time now, widely regarded films like The Artist and The Descendants have been front-runners for the award. However, with 11 Critics' Choice nominations (tied for the most with The Artist), Martin Scorsese's Hugo seems to have entered in the mix. For complete coverage and a full list of the nominees, click the link below (courtesy of Peter Knegt at Indiewire.com):

http://www.indiewire.com/article/the-artist-and-hugo-top-critics-choice-award-nominations

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) Trailer

2011-12-12T08:18:00.000-08:00

We Need to Talk About Kevin

2011-12-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

Film: We Need to Talk About Kevin

Starring: Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton), John C. Reilly (Cedar Rapids), and Ezra Miller (City Island)

Director: Lynne Ramsay (Morvern Callar)

U.S. Release: December 9th, 2011 (Limited - Rated R)

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Runtime: 112 minutes

Ironically, since its debut at the Cannes Festival in France, We Need to Talk About Kevin has been the film everyone's talking about. In retrospect, director Lynne Ramsay's 9 year hiatus seems perfectly calculated, much like the actions of the movie's title character Kevin. The film, which is based on a 2003 novel of the same name, has officially been in the works since 2005. Sometimes, good things are worth the wait.

We Need to Talk About Kevin follows Eva (played by Swinton), the mother of a teenage boy who executes a brutal massacre at his high school. From a very early age, Eva senses something distinctly off with her first born child Kevin (played by Miller). As the years pass, Kevin's actions become more and more destructive. Eva tries to confide in her husband Franklin (played by Reilly), yet he wants no part of it. "He's a sweet boy" replies Franklin. Therefore, from the moment Kevin orchestrates a killing spree at his school, Eva spends her life bearing responsibility for the tragedy. She lives with the guilt of knowing she never did enough to stop the ordeal from happening.

Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton leads a phenomenal cast in one of 2011's most explosive films. The actress is spot on in her role as an emotionally drained mother coping with a tremendous amount of grief and regret. The beauty behind We Need to Talk About Kevin rests in the psychology of its lead character Eva. As Swinton demonstrates perfectly, Eva's guilt stems from two different places. First, she feels responsible for not stopping the monster she has known existed since Kevin was a child. Also, Eva sees far too much of herself in her son. All of her darkest qualities are brought out by Kevin and, as a result, she welcomes the abuse delivered by her community after the tragic events transpire. Such a brutally honest portrayal should land Swinton a Best Actress nod at the Oscars, anything less is unwarranted. In addition to Swinton, Ezra Miller gives a fantastic performance as Kevin. Miller is remarkable in his role as a cold and cynical teenager. He takes command of every scene and it culminates in a spine chilling experience. We Need to Talk About Kevin succeeds, in large part, because of its amazing cast.

Lynne Ramsay does a spectacular job of masterminding an intense psychological thriller. The film creates an obsession for the audience, a desperate desire to know why Kevin has done what he's done. All of this intrigue makes for a thought provoking movie experience. In a clever fashion, Ramsay gives enough scattered pieces of the puzzle to allow the viewer to put it all together. We Need to Talk About Kevin is wonderfully crafted and brilliantly executed. Therefore, it's hands down one of the best films of the year.

As always, there will be a few naysayers and skeptics. Many will argue that the actions exemplified in Kevin's early years are unrealistic and unbelievable. The young boy illustrates a stunning amount of understanding throughout his childhood. To me, however, this only strengthens the story and solidifies its authenticity. You should never take for granted the intelligence of children. And although the film progresses slowly, We Need to Talk About Kevin constantly builds in intensity and you'll never want to peel your eyes from the screen.

Not due for a wide release in the United States until the end of January, We Need to Talk About Kevin can be seen in Los Angeles and New York City this week only. But once the film hits theatres all across the nation, it's a must see. And even though the movie revolves around a high school massacre, much of the violence is left to the imagination. Therefore, no excuse is good enough to miss this film.

Stars: 3 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: A-

The Descendants Wins Again!

2011-12-11T15:33:00.000-08:00

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association announced their annual award winners for 2011's best of cinema. In a (not so) surprising finish, The Descendants walked away victorious in the Best Picture category. This marks the third straight Alexander Payne film to win the film group's Best Picture award (also About Schmidt and Sideways).

Furthermore, Shame's Michael Fassbender claimed the Best Actor title and Jessica Chastain kept up the momentum with her Best Supporting Actress victory. Shockingly enough, The Artist walked away empty handed by not claiming a single prize (no wins or runner up finishes). For complete coverage and a list of all of the winners, click the link below (courtesy of Peter Knegt at Indiewire.com):

http://www.indiewire.com/article/la-film-critics-association-announcing-award-winners-in-progress

Brad Pitt: Boston Film Critic's Best Actor

2011-12-11T13:25:00.000-08:00

With awards season officially under way, many people expect the film Moneyball and it's leading man Brad Pitt to take home their fair share of victories. On Sunday, Pitt claimed the Best Actor award with the Boston Society of Film Critics and the win will undoubtedly help him build steam during the stretch run to the Oscars.

Other notable winners were The Artist for Best Picture and Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn) for Best Actress. For a complete list of winners, click the link below (courtesy of Peter Knegt at Indiewire.com):

http://www.indiewire.com/article/boston-society-of-film-critics-announcing-award-winners-in-progress

YOUNG ADULT Trailer 2011 Official [HD]

2011-12-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

Young Adult

2011-12-08T09:20:00.001-08:00

Film: Young Adult

Starring: Charlize Theron (Hancock) and Patton Oswalt (Big Fan)

Director: Jason Reitman (Up in the Air)

U.S. Release: December 16th, 2011 (Rated R)

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 94 minutes

Although Jason Reitman is just a pup, the talented young director has begun his career in a remarkable fashion. He may only have 3 major releases under his belt, but the director has already received two Best Director nominations from the Academy Awards. Needless to say, the anticipation for Reitman's latest work, Young Adult, has been astronomical. In the film, the director matches his talents with the always wonderful Charlize Theron. But the question still remains, can these two stars live up to expectations?

Young Adult follows a struggling fiction writer named Mavis Gary (played by Theron). The recently divorced ex-prom queen returns to her small town home in Minnesota with aspirations of winning back Buddy Slade, her high school sweetheart. No matter how much her new drinking buddy Matt Freehauf (played by Oswalt) tries to coax her out of the bad idea, Mavis believes that she can convince Buddy to leave his wife and newborn child.

With Young Adult, Reitman offers an overly cynical comedy that will ultimately result in a polarizing piece of work. Many viewers will cringe at the idea of such an unlikable lead character. And since the film is a comedy, Mavis Gary's despicable persona is extremely animated. Furthermore, without spoiling the movie's resolve, audiences will find themselves split over the director's choice of action. Hence, Young Adult is a difficult film to dissect.

Despite its polarizing characteristics, Young Adult delivers excellent performances by its main cast. For starters, Charlize Theron returns in award winning fashion. Her ability to portray a washed up and delusional middle aged woman is phenomenal. Mavis is a character meant to make the audience shake its head in disbelief, and Theron certainly succeeds in doing so. Just as effective as Theron is her supporting co-star Patton Oswalt. Mostly known for his work on the television show The King of Queens, Oswalt's performance is sure to place him on the map. In fact, in a year where the Best Supporting Actor category is flooded with options, Oswalt's work still manages to stand out.

Furthermore, Reitman's Young Adult is almost an "evil twin" to his earlier praised work, Juno. The two films are equally sarcastic and equally hilarious. The only major difference between the movies are how their leading female characters are portrayed. In Juno, the pregnant teen which the film centers around is likable and, therefore, it's easy to feel sympathetic towards her. On the other hand, Mavis Gary's constant lack of good judgment and her despicable actions make it difficult for the audience to empathize with the character. Otherwise, I find Reitman's two pictures to be quite comparable in tone.

Personally, I really enjoyed Young Adult. I found the film to be a brutally honest depiction of how certain people are unable to let go of their pasts. Mavis is just another example of such people. To Young Adult's advantage, Reitman does a fantastic job of balancing the comedic aspects of the film with the more dramatic moments. If you're able to keep an open mind about such an unlikable lead character, then it's worth checking out Young Adult.

Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: B

Hugo - Official Trailer [HD]

2011-12-05T08:49:00.000-08:00

Hugo (2011)

2011-12-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

Film: Hugo (2011)

Starring: Ben Kingsley (Shutter Island), Asa Butterfield (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas), and Chloe Grace Moretz (Let Me In)

Director: Martin Scorsese (The Departed)

U.S. Release: November 23rd, 2011 (Rated PG)

Genre: Drama/Adventure

Runtime: 127 minutes

Martin Scorsese is performing a complete 180 on the phrase "family film". The acclaimed director, who typically spends his time making movies based on mob families, has set his sights on mastering the true essence of the PG rating. Scorsese begins a new chapter of his legacy with his latest work, Hugo. Truly a film suitable for the entire family, Scorsese delves outside of his comfort zone and into the hearts and minds of his viewers.

Set in 1930's Paris, Hugo follows an orphan child living inside the walls of the city's train station. After the passing of his father, young Hugo (played by Butterfield) allows Isabelle (played by Moretz) to assist him on an adventure to discover the mystery behind a broken machine which he possesses.

In an attempt to give as little away as possible, Scorsese's Hugo is a wondrous throwback to the origins of film. The director offers a delightfully crafted story that, on the surface, satisfies a younger audience. However, on a deeper level, Scorsese's work is intelligent and profound enough to captivate its adult viewers. What proves to be a perfect yet delicate balance, Hugo is a thrilling adventure and an exciting journey.

Once again, Scorsese does an excellent job of casting. One of Hugo's biggest strengths is the film's immensely talented cast. Who can argue the legendary career of the gifted Ben Kingsley? However, the performances of youngsters Asa Butterfield and Chloe Grace Moretz prove to be most memorable. They are an extraordinary pair of skillful actors and will continue to entertain for many years to come. Furthermore, Sacha Baron Cohen demonstrates he's more than just an off the wall actor. The Borat star is sensational as the Station Inspector, a complex character straddling a thin line between stern and compassionate. All in all, Hugo's success is, in large part, due to its fine collection of actors and actresses.

Although the film's cast and script are wonderful, Hugo still has one small downside. With a runtime north of two hours, the movie contains a noticeable drag. Hugo's second act is drawn out and difficult to sit through at times, yet uncovering the story's mystery manages to help the audience push forward. And to its benefit, the film's resolution is well worth the wait.

I highly recommend Hugo to anyone looking for an enjoyable movie capable of entertaining the entire family. In addition, the picture is also a must see for any avid fans of cinema. Hugo offers a perfectly fitting score and exceptional cinematography. Scorsese and company recently were awarded Best Director and Best Picture by the NBR for their efforts in Hugo. The win is by no means shocking. For a delightful viewing experience, be sure to check out Hugo.

Stars: 3 stars out of 4

Grade: B

2011's Most Underrated Films

2011-12-04T05:37:00.000-08:00

With 27 more days to go, perhaps I'm a little early with this post. However, since December manages to be the poster child for Oscar contender releases, we can agree that most movies hitting theatres this month won't be flying under the radar. Through careful thought and selection, I've compiled my list of 2011's Best of the Unseen. Counting down to the most underrated film of the year, here are 5 "must see" movies that may have quietly tip-toed by you over the past twelve months.

ANOTHER EARTH

#5) Another Earth is less a sci-fi piece and more so a psychological drama. Set against the backdrop of discovering a planet identical to ours in the solar system, a young woman seeks redemption for the unspeakable tragedy she caused a few years prior. This little independent piece carries a strong performance from its leading lady Brit Marling, and Another Earth's ending will send your head spinning for days.

THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE

#4) Dominic Cooper finally receives a well deserved leading role in the action packed film The Devil's Double. Remarkably intense and never taking its foot off the gas, The Devil's Double is a thrilling true story that examines the life of Uday Hussein (the son of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein). When a young Iraqi man named Latif is kidnapped by his country's government, Uday forces the man to be his "double". Fearful of his life, Latif relinquishes any sense of freedom he has and becomes a slave to the crazed and sadistic son of Saddam.

CEDAR RAPIDS

#3) Stars John C. Reilly and Ed Helms deliver laugh after laugh in one of 2011's best comedies, Cedar Rapids. Helms plays a small town insurance salesman who's in over his head when he's sent by his company to Cedar Rapids, Iowa in order to compete for an award at an insurance convention. This heartfelt comedy will draw you in and, even more importantly, keep you laughing.

WIN WIN

#2) Win Win premiered at Sundance this year to what can only be described as rave reviews. Critics alike spoke highly of this family drama. Paul Giamatti stars as Mike Flaherty, a struggling suburban lawyer whose life takes an unexpected turn when he agrees to be the legal guardian for an elderly and mentally incapacitated client. When the client's runaway grandson shows up in town, Mike takes the boy (named Kyle) into his home. Together Mike and Kyle teach one another about the game of life. Win Win is filled with honest portrayals by its entire cast, and its gentle blend of comedy and drama allow the film to stand out as one of the year's best pictures.

THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED

#1) Perhaps J.K. Simmons is most remembered for his work as the father of a pregnant teen daughter in 2007's Juno. However, it goes without question that Simmons delivers his best work in 2011's most underrated film, The Music Never Stopped. Simmons stars as Henry Sawyer, a father who lost touch with his son for 20 years after the boy (Gabriel) ran away from home. But when Henry and his wife receive word that Gabriel is in the hospital recovering from massive brain surgery, they rush to the aid of their son. Incapable of generating new memories due to the surgery, Gabriel only comes to life by connecting old memories with the music of his teenage years. Therefore, in order to reconcile with his son, Henry must bond with Gabriel over the same music that ruined their relationship 20 years prior. Sometimes criticized as "Lifetime Movie-esque", The Music Never Stopped is undoubtedly heartfelt and moving. It's a wonderful true story that's brilliantly acted on all accounts. All of which make it the most underrated film of 2011.

Did I miss out on some other underrated movies? Leave a comment letting me know which films you would have included on this list.

Hugo claims Best Picture with NBR

2011-12-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

The National Board of Review officially announced Hugo as its choice for Best Picture of 2011. The film and its acclaimed director, Martin Scorsese, both took home wins in their respective categories. The organization's selections for other major categories included Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin) for Best Actress and a pair of stars from The Descendants, George Clooney (Best Actor) and Shailene Woodley (Best Supporting Actress). Christopher Plummer also took home the Best Supporting Actor award for his excellent work in the under-appreciated independent film The Beginners. Including a wide range of film enthusiasts, the NBR's influence on the Academy Awards carries a small amount of significance. For a complete list of winners and other additional information, click the link below (courtesy of Matt Goldberg @ Collider.com).

http://collider.com/hugo-national-board-of-review-nbr-winner/129802/

The NY Film Critics Circle Choose The Artist

2011-11-29T15:55:00.000-08:00

In hopes of gaining some influence, the New York Film Critics Circle became the first major film group to announce their winners for Best Picture and the best performances of the year. Moving their selections up from mid-December to late November, the group has officially kicked off the run to the Oscars.

The black and white silent film The Artist walked away victorious in the Best Picture category. The film has generated some early buzz prior to its nationwide release, and critics alike are raving about the movie. The backbone of The Artist, Michael Hazanavicius, also took home the film group's award for Best Director.

Some other notable winners were Meryl Streep for Best Actress of the year (for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady) and Brad Pitt for Best Actor. Pitt's recognition came for his pair of roles in Terrence Malick's Tree of Life and Bennett Miller's Moneyball. The Best Supporting Actor winner went to a familiar face. Albert Brooks took home the win for his villainous work in Drive. Also, Jessica Chastain claimed the victory for Best Supporting Actress of the year for a body of work including the blockbuster hit The Help, Tree of Life, and Take Shelter. Despite all of these excellent performances and films, we're still a long ways from the Academy Awards.

And They're Off ...

2011-11-29T10:47:00.000-08:00

This year's movie awards season has officially kicked off. The 2012 Independent Spirit Awards released their nominations via stars Kate Beckinsale and Anthony Mackie. Recognizing the best independent films of the year, Take Shelter and The Artist topped the competition with 5 nominations each. For a complete list of nominees you can click the link below (courtesy of Buzzsugar.com).

http://www.buzzsugar.com/2012-Independent-Spirit-Awards-Nominations-Full-List-20621259

The Muppets (2011) Official Trailer [HD]

2011-11-25T07:50:00.000-08:00

The Muppets (2011)

2011-11-25T06:16:00.001-08:00

Film: The Muppets (2011)

Starring: Jason Segel (I Love You, Man), Amy Adams (The Fighter), and Chris Cooper (The Town)

Director: James Bobin

U.S. Release: November 23rd, 2011 (Rated PG)

Genre: Comedy/Family

Runtime: 98 Minutes

To understand how the rebirth of The Muppets came about, you need to travel back in time to 2008. The seed was planted when Jason Segel's character in the comedy hit Forgetting Sarah Marshall decides to make a puppet rock opera about Dracula. Shortly after the film's release, Segel began pitching the idea around Hollywood and so began the reincarnation of Kermit, Fozzy, Miss Piggy, and the rest of the gang. It's been a long awaited 12 years since a theatrical release (1999's Muppets from Space), and Segel wanted desperately to reintroduce a big part of his childhood to a new generation of children. Without question, the comeback is a success.

The Muppets follows a pair of siblings named Gary (played by Segel) and Walter. Along with Gary's girlfriend Mary (played by Adams), the trio sets out on a trip to Muppet Studios. When they arrive at the run down building, Walter overhears Tex Richman's (played by Cooper) plan to tear down the studio and drill for oil. Desperate to stop Richman's evil intentions, the three fans find Kermit the Frog and convince him to round up the old gang in order to save Muppet Studios from destruction.

After waiting over a decade for their triumphant return, Kermit and company once again hit the big screen in a winning fashion. In The Muppets, these lovable characters from our childhood ease their way back into our hearts as if time stood still. The film serves as a refreshing reminder to the youthful love we had for the entire gang. Each muppet offering a unique vision and distinct personality, the collection of characters effortlessly recapture your heart. Jason Segel perfectly aids the comeback, and his little brother Walter (a new muppet character) makes for a welcome addition to the gang.

The film succeeds as a whole because of its convincing storyline and its genuine tone. The Muppets is a simple movie with a lot of heart, and as generic as that may sound, it's a recipe for success. Keeping true to its predecessors, the latest installment generally uses its musical numbers very well. With 6 new songs and reusing 3 original numbers (including "The Muppet Show Theme", "Rainbow Connection", and "Mah Na Mah Na"), The Muppets dial up another winning effort. Hence, the film is undeniably a welcome addition to the franchise.

Despite the film's wonderful sense of nostalgia, there are a few detracting factors. For starters, Mary's character (played by Amy Adams) is necessary to the story, but poorly utilized. Even her song "Me Party" (along with Miss Piggy) is a low point of the movie. On the other hand, Chris Cooper's character, Tex Richman, is a satisfying villain. Yet his main song "Let's Talk About Me" fails to fit in with the rest of the film. The feature tends to flow very well, but these obvious flaws cannot go unrecognized.

The latest installment of The Muppets proves to be a fun film that's suitable for audiences of all ages. The whole gang appropriately returns to form and the laughs are never ending. Whether it's to bring children of your own or to just see for yourself, you can't go wrong here. Due in large part to the efforts of its star Jason Segel, The Muppets will undoubtedly make you feel like a kid again. And for that Mr. Segel, we thank you.

Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4

Grade B

My Week With Marilyn - Official Trailer [HD]

2011-11-23T06:48:00.000-08:00

My Week with Marilyn

2011-11-23T05:17:00.000-08:00

Film: My Week with Marilyn

Starring: Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine), Eddie Redmayne (The Other Boleyn Girl), and Kenneth Branagh (Pirate Radio)

Director: Simon Curtis

U.S. Release: November 23rd, 2011 (Rated R)

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 99 Minutes

The Weinstein Company has spent most of 2011 on cloud 9. To open the new year, the production company's 2010 release The King's Speech left the 83rd annual Academy Awards as the undisputed winner. Fast forward a few months and The Weinstein Company used the early parts of Fall to test screen a new Oscar hopeful to select audiences. Much to their surprise, the results for My Week with Marilyn were through the roof. The production company quickly pushed back the film's release date, hoping to once again steal another abundance of golden statues. As for me, I had the distinct pleasure of viewing the piece during my venture to the Philadelphia Film Festival in late October. And without question, My Week with Marilyn was one of the best pictures there.

Colin Clark (played by Redmayne) is a young man desperate to break into the world of film making. When he goes against family tradition and travels to London to interview for a position with famed director Laurence Olivier (played by Branagh), Colin's persistence lands him a job as an assistant director on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl. As the star of the film, Marilyn Monroe (played by Williams) arrives in town to begin production on the movie. Colin could never have imagined the unforgettable moments he'd end up sharing with one of the biggest stars the world has ever known.

My Week with Marilyn is the first major motion picture release for its director Simon Curtis. Maybe it's beginners luck, or perhaps Curtis is just that talented behind the scenes. Either way, the result is a fantastic film that offers a unique blend of charm and wit. The script is excellent and the dialogue acts beautifully as the glue to the film. It effortlessly connects the characters together in such a way that you feel as if you're living the experience yourself. This is by and large the most remarkable aspect of the film, its natural ability to capture the attention of the audience with ease.

In addition to its wonderful direction, perhaps the biggest strength of the film resides in its cast. In what can only be described as one of the year's best ensembles, My Week with Marilyn is saturated with brilliant performances. First and foremost is Michelle Williams. No actress in Hollywood is better suited to play Marilyn Monroe, therefore it's no surprise that her portrayal is masterful. It goes without question that Williams will be finalist for Best Actress at the Oscars this winter, and deservedly so. Although Williams is a shoe in for some awards season recognition, she won't be the only member of this cast garnering attention. Kenneth Branagh returns to form and delivers the role of a lifetime as the actor/director Laurence Olivier. Simply stated, Branagh is unforgettable in one the year's best supporting roles. It's also worth noting the onscreen work of newcomer Eddie Redmayne, the often overlooked Dominic Cooper, and the always wonderful Judi Dench. All of which make for an enjoyable viewing experience.

Despite its praiseworthy cast and script, there is one glaring hole in My Week with Marilyn. The film offers no real sense of conflict. Of course there is obvious tension between Olivier and Monroe's characters, but nothing ever really feels like it's at stake. In doing so, the audience becomes incapable of a deep emotional connection to the story. It's a big flaw, and perhaps the only thing keeping the film from reaching the heights of a movie such as The King's Speech.

My Week with Marilyn is a fantastic biopic and a captivating look at the inner workings of Hollywood and its biggest stars. Its acting brings the characters to life and its perfectly timed laughs make it an easy watch. There will be no yawning or glancing at the clock here. I highly recommend spending part of your holiday weekend seated in a theater checking out one of the year's finest films.

Stars: 3 stars out of 4

Grade: B+

The Descendants Movie Trailer Official (HD)

2011-11-16T13:27:00.000-08:00