This is 40

My View:   This is 40 (2012)   Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) are dealing with the reality of marriage with children. Their life isn’t what they thought it was going to be, and now that Pete’s record label is having trouble, so is their marriage. I liked parts of this film, some of which are extremely funny, but the film, overall, feels really disjointed, as if Judd Apatow, who wrote and directed the film, decided to put skits together to make a film. I liked Leslie Mann’s performance, as she has the right mix of craziness and desperation for the role. As usual, Melissa McCarthy, in a very small role, comes in and steals the film from the rest of the cast. Be sure and stay for the first part of the end credits.  There are several outtakes where McCarthy just goes on a rant that had me crying it was so funny.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   This Is 40 Website

Family Faire:  Cirque du Soleil: World’s Away (2012) A young couple are separated and must travel through the wonderful and mystical world of “Cirque du Soleil,” determined to be reunited, all in the magic of 3-D. It’s basically the best bits of a bunch of the Cirque shows (they use eight different Cirque shows including Love and Ka) interwoven with a very thin story line.  It's a film, though, that is very beautiful and worth seeing in 3-D. It doesn’t quite have the impact that the live shows have, but the film come close, and some of the acts are astounding.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Cirque du Soleil: World's Away Website

The 50 (A Movie From My Best/Worst Film of All Time)

#11 Best Film

Napoleon  (1927)  This silent film is an absolute masterpiece of cinema. Abel Gance wrote, directed and edited this film about the rise and fall of Napoleon. Using camera and editing techniques that were years ahead of their time, the film is a stunning experience to watch. Gance sometimes used three cameras to convey a scene and the film, when properly shown, at times uses three projectors side by side, that fill up the screen, sometimes with one panoramic shot, and at other times the three cameras show different scenes. Gance also hand tinted some of the film, which make the scenes more dramatic. This is truly one of the great films of all time.   Napoleon Info

Forgotten Film:  When a Stranger Calls (1979) The film begins with a babysitter (Carol Kane) who gets threatening phone calls. She then discovers that a madman is in the home of the family that she is babysitting, and he has murdered the two kids.. She is attacked by the madman and is nearly killed, but is saved by the police. Years later, she is now a wife and mother, who, once again, is getting threatening phones calls. Could the madman be back? This is a suspenseful, scary film that horror movies today could learn from. Kane is splendid in the role and wonderfully conveys the emotions and horror of being targeted by a killer. And the film has one of the great horror movie lines of all time, “The calls are coming from inside the house.”    When a Stranger Calls Info

In Case You Missed it (A Film Just Released on DVD):  Pitch Perfect (2012) Of all the movies that I have seen in 2012, this film surprised me the most. Music is Becca’s (Anna Kendrick) life, so much so that she wants to move to Los Angeles to become a music producer. Her father, who is a professor, though, wants her to get an education first, so he makes a deal with Becca – stay at the university for one year and join at least one group activity. So, Becca joins “The Bellas,” an all-female A Cappella group as they work to reach the A Cappella national championship. The only problem is their main competition is an all-male group on their own campus called, “The Treblemakers.” Anna Kendrick is exceptional in this film. It’s fun, great music and the quality of the humor In this film is superior to any of the other comedies that have come out this year.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   Pitch Perfect Website

In Memory of Ed Woods (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  Parker (2013) Jason Statham plays a thief who is double-crossed and left for dead. He plans for revenge and asks Jennifer Lopez for help. Jason Statham plays the same role over and over and over.    Parker Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of Cirque du Soleil: World’s Away: Tricycle Operator

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Gangster Squad (2013) This film has a horrible title but a great cast that includes Emma Stone, Sean Peen, Ryan Gosling. It takes place in 1940’s L.A., where the cops are trying to keep the East Coast Mafia from taking over the city. Gangster Squad Website 

Until Next Time!