Skyfall

My View:   Skyfall (2012)   James Bond (Daniel Craig) must get back to basics to save M (Judi Dench) from a former spy (Javier Bardem) who is out to kill her and destroy MI6. This is a down and dirty, no frills James Bond film, with the exception of the open chase sequence (which is spectacular). It’s a film that is more about characters than gadgets, and James is questioning whether he can continue to be 007, both physically and mentally.  Craig gives us a much more layered performance than in past Bond films, and Javier Bardem is amazing as the complex , former spy who is now out to destroy MI6. I loved this film, with one of the best Bond villains ever, and even if you aren’t a James Bond fan, you will like it.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Skyfall Website

Indiefest:  A Late Quartet (2012) A world-renowned string quartet is faced with a number of issues, including a possible life altering illness that may cause the group to break-up. Christopher Walken plays the leader of the quartet, the man who founded it some 25 years ago. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener play members of the quartet who are also married. And, Mark Ivanir plays the fourth member of the string group, a man who is as brash and confident in his life as he is in his playing . While the performances of the four are excellent, the standout actress in this film is Imogen Poots who plays an up-and-coming violinist whose parents are the Hoffman and Keeners characters. The acting makes this film worth seeing, but I feel the script let the actors down a little bit, going, too many times, for the easy cliché, which made the film somewhat predictable.    My Rating : Bargain Matinee    A Late Quartet Info

Indiefest:  Smashed (2012) Married couple Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Charlie (Aaron Paul), whose love is built on their drinking habits, are tested when Kate decides to get sober. This is one of those films that is very hard to watch, just because the characters go through so much pain. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is outstanding as Kate, who lies at a drop of a hat to cover up her drinking but realizes, after waking up too many times in strange places, that she must change her life. Aaron Paul doesn’t do a bad performance as her husband, but this is Winstead’s movie, and she runs with it. You truly hope that she can get her life together, but you also know that it’s going to take some major changes and sacrifices, including, probably, the sacrifice of her marriage.    My Rating: Full Price   Smashed Info

Forgotten Film: Charade (1963) Audrey Hepburn is Regina, a woman who is about to divorce her husband when he turns up murdered. She finds out that during World War II, her husband was in on a heist to steal $250,000 in gold. Now the men that were in on the heist want the money, and they think Regina has it. She meets a mysterious stranger, Peter (Cary Grant) who is either going to help her, or could be part of the gang that wants the money. This is a fast, funny film with a little suspense thrown in, that has some of the best banter between a couple (Hepburn and Grant) since the screwball comedies of the thirties.   My Rating: Full Price    Charade Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film just Released on DVD): The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) I enjoyed this retelling of the orgins of Spider-Man, with Andrew Garfield playing the Peter Parker role. But, it was Emma Stone who made this movie such a joy to watch. She is perfect in the role of Gwen Stacy, Peter’s first love. My biggest problem with the film was that it took too long to get going (it’s almost 20 minutes into the story before Peter is bitten by the radioactive spider), but Stone makes it all worthwhile.   My Rating: Full Price   The Amazing Spider-Man Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of Skyfall: Special effects teeth

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Anna Karenina (2012)  Keira Knightley and Jude Law doing a film written by playwright, Tom Stoppard, directed by Joe Wright, who has already shown that he can do a costume drama (Pride & Prejudice) - count me in.    Anna Karenina Website

Until Next Time!