Argo

My View:  Argo (2012) Based on a true story, Ben Affleck directs this film and stars as a CIA agent who tries to save six Americans hiding at the Canadian ambassador’s home in Iran during the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979. His idea: Pose as a Canadian filmmaker and have the Americans escape by acting as his Canadian crew. Affleck keeps getting better as a director, and he gives this film a wonderful pace that builds toward an incredible ending. What I really liked about this film is that it isn’t all drama based; there are some very funny moments in this film, most of the time, supplied by Alan Arkin and John Goodman, who play two Hollywood filmmakers who help Affleck’s character set up the fake movie, including providing a script and publicity. This is a film that, at its conclusion, you just might feel the urge to clap. Be sure to stay through the first series of credits as the film shows you side-by-side with the actors and pictures of the real people the parts were based on.    My View: Full Price   Argo Website

Indiefest:  Seven Psychopaths (2012) A screenwriter, Marty (Colin Farrell), is struggling to come up with his next script. All he has is a title, “Seven Psychopaths.” His best friend, Billy (Sam Rockwell), makes a living by stealing dogs and returning them to their owners for a reward. But, Billy makes a big mistake – he has stolen the dog of a psychopathic mob boss (Woody Harrelson) who has vowed to find and kill the perpetrator who stole his beloved dog. Think of this film as if the director of Pulp Fiction (1994), Quentin Tarantino, and the writer of Swingers (1996), Jon Favreau, got together and had a film baby. This is a wild, hilarious film that is non-stop fun from the start, where one of the first scenes show two hit men arguing over whether shooting someone in the eye is hard to do. Colin Farrell is funny as the meek Marty, a guy who gets caught in some very dangerous situations with some very dangerous men. But, it’s Sam Rockwell as Marty’s unstable buddy and Christopher Walken, who plays Hans, Marty’s dog-stealing partner, who make this film go. Walken steals every scene he is in, and Rockwell plays off Farrell’s character so well, you almost think they are brothers in real life.    My View: I Would Pay to See it Again    Seven Psychopaths Website    Please note: This film is being releashed by CBS Films and I work for CBS, Inc.

Indiefest:  The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) Charlie (Logan Lerman) is a shy, introverted freshman just trying to survive in high school. He is taken under the wings of two seniors, the openly gay Patrick (Ezra Miller) and the beautiful girl that Charlie quickly falls secretly in love with, Sam (Emma Watson). Charlie’s two new friends soon discover that Charlie has had mental problems and is having trouble getting over the suicide of his best friend and the death of his Aunt. I absolutely loved this film and how it shows how strange, off beat people can find and support each other, even in the scary world of high school. This is an enjoyable film that has terrific dialogue and some excellent performances, especially Lerman, who gives heart to the role of Charlie. This is one of those films that young people will watch over and over again because it so realistically and lovingly shows what it’s like to be a teenager in high school.   My Rating: Full Price    The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The 50 (A Movie From My Best/Worst Films of All time)

#14 Worst Film

Showgirls (1995)  A young girl named Nomi(Saved by the Bell’s Elizabeth Berkley), hitches a ride to Las Vegas with aspirations of becoming a Vegas showgirl. Isn’t that what every little girl dreams about? But, life is hard in Vegas, and Nomi will have to sleep her way to the top, leaving her friends (other showgirls) and boyfriends (why are you in this movie Kyle MacLachlan?) behind. For a film that has tons of nudity, it’s one of the most un-erotic films I have ever seen. The sex scene between Berkley and MacLachlan in the pool is so bad, it’s almost scary. The dialogue is horrible.  It’s as if the writer (Joe Eszterhas) thought the opinions and plot of this film won’t matter because everyone will be staring at the nude girls.   Showgirls Info

Forgotten Film:  Heathers (1988) Veronica (Winona Ryder) is one of the popular girls in Westerburg High School. Her three best friends are all named Heather (Kim Walker, Shannen Doherty and Lisanne Falk), and, as a group, they rule the school with their looks, their attitude and their ability to put down anyone who attempts to stand up to them. Things change when Veronica becomes interested in a new student, J.D. (Christian Slater), who, to put it mildly, is a bit of a rebel. This is a black comedy filled with murder, revenge and very funny lines. Ryder is perfect as the smart, but in-over-her head Veronica, and Slater plays J.D. like a 40 year old psychopath in a teenager’s body.   My Rating: Full Price   Heathers Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  Prometheus (2012) Ridley Scott directed this “prequel” to his 1979 film, “Alien,” where a team of scientists are exploring space when they become stranded on an alien world; a world that has many hidden dangers. The cast includes Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron and Idris Elba. The DVD/Blu-ray contains not only alternate endings, but also alternate beginnings.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Prometheus Info

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers but Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012) Do you really care what the plot is or what the child of Bella and Edward looks like? Can I just look at the poster and say that I have seen the film, because I think the plot will be about as thin as the poster, itself.

Weird Credits: From the film Seven Psychopaths: Construction Medic

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Lincoln (2012) Steven Spielberg directs Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role, so, sign me up to see this film. The film that just got rave reviews at the New York Film Festival and has an almost perfect cast, including Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Hawkes and Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln.   Lincoln Info

Until Next Time!