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!

Chasing Mavericks

My View:  Chasing Mavericks (2012) Based on a true story, a high school student, Jay (Jonny Weston), lives for surfing, and he discovers that a legendary wave formation, “The Mavericks” is just down the road from where he lives. He becomes determined to ride one of the biggest waves on Earth, but he needs the help of a legendary surfer, Frosty (Gerald Butler), to train for this death defying ride. The best part of the film is the spectacular, vivid surfing footage, and the sound track that features some of the better rock songs of the late 80’s (the time period when the film takes place). But, I found that the storyline was very cliché from the best friend getting jealous when Jay gets a girlfriend to the alcoholic mother (Elizabeth Shue) whom Jay takes care of. There is good chemistry between Butler and Weston, as slowly but surely, Frosty becomes the father whom Jay never had, but that sincerity gets wasted with dialogue that just doesn’t work.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Chasing Mavericks Webpage

Indiefest:  Pusher  (2012)  Frank (Richard Coyle) is a drug pusher working the streets of London. He has a sometime girlfriend, Flo (Agyness Deyn) and a partner in crime, Tony (Bronson Webb). Things start going bad when Frank’s drug mule, Danka (Daisy Lewis), goes missing and Milo (Zlatko Buric), a local mob boss, wants his money back – money that Frank borrowed to make the drug deal.  Richard Coyle is the reason to see this film, as he gives a powerful performance.  This is a remake of the Danish 1996 film of the same name.  If you haven't seen the original (there were also two sequels), then it is worth seeing this movie.  If you have seen the original, there are very few changes in plot other than setting the film in London instead of Copenhagen.  The supporting cast is good, especially Agyness Deyn, as the stripper/girlfriend who is ready to leave the drug way of life.  This film isn't bad, it's just been done before.    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Pusher Info

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

#13 Worst Film

Baby Geniuses (1999)  Two evil scientists (Kathleen Turner and Christopher Lloyd) have discovered a way to tap into a baby's mind before it turns two and becomes a normal kid.  Already confused?  Yeah, so were audiences back in 1999.  There is a very slim plot where twin babies are separated at birth. One goes to a normal family, and the other is sent to the mad scientist's lab.  The baby with the normal family finds out his twin is being held hostage and decides to break him out.  The film is full of bad jokes, mostly told by the babies, and some of which are inappropriate for kids (good going studio).  It's sad to see Kathleen Turner, who at one time was one of the biggest box office draws, be forced to make this bad of a movie.  Skip this movie unless you want to see something that is as smelly as the baby geniuses diapers.    Baby Geniuses Info

Forgotten Film:  Can't Buy Me Love  (1987)  Ronald (Patrick Dempsey) is a nerd who mows people's lawns so that he can save money to buy a high power telescope.  Cindy Mancini (Amanda Peterson) is the most popular girl in school.  When Cindy borrows her mother's suede outfit and ruins it at a party, she is desperate to replace it.  In walks Ronald, who is tired of being unpopular and picked on at school.  Ronald finds out that Cindy needs money to buy the outfit, so he makes a deal with her.  If she will make him popular, he will give his lawn money to buy her mom a replacement outfit. And so, Cindy takes Ronald under her wing, transforming him from nerd to big man on campus.  This film has a little more heart than most of the high school comedies that came out of the 80's, as the relationship between Cindy and Ronald is allowed to slowly build.  Cindy learns that people can't be taken for granted, and Ronald learns that it's more important to have friends than to be popular.     My Rating:  Bargain Matinee     Can't Buy Me Love Info

In Case You Missed it (A Film Just Released on DVD):  Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) I liked this film about an asteroid that is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth and will destroy life on the planet.  Steve Carell plays Dodge, who, after his wife leaves him, decides to find an old high school sweetheart.  He gives a ride to the next door neighbor, played by Keira Knightley and they go off on a road trip, literally to end all road trips.  Carell does a masterful job as the sad sack man who is desperate to find love and just might find it in an unexpected place.  This is a film that is surprisingly uplifting, a film where love becomes more important than any asteroid.   My Rating:  Full Price    Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  The ABC's of Death (2012)  I can't find much about this film, but it has a million cast members and just like your ABC's, it has 26 parts…and that may be 25 too many.   The ABC's of Death Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of Least Among Saints:  Atmosphere Casting

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  A Late Quartet  (2012)  Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener and Mark Ivanir are members of a long standing, popular and critically successful string quartet.  But the quartet may not survive the coming changes that are on the horizon.  The cast, alone, makes this a film to go see.    A Late Quartet Info

Until Next Time!