Star Trek Into Darkness

My View:  Star Trek Into Darkness  (2013) PG-13   Captain Kirk (Chris Prine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and the rest of the Enterprise crew are sent on a mission to go behind enemy lines. Will Kirk risk his ship and crew to stop a man (Benedict Cumberbatch) that is hell-bent on death and destruction?  I am a huge Star Trek fan and I loved the first J.J. Abrams Star Trek (2009) film, that brought a fresh take to this iconic series.  But I only liked this film, I didn’t love it.  It felt that now that we know the characters and how they relate to one another, that Abrams, the director and the writers, didn’t really understand these characters or about what Star Trek is really about, that humanity can be good and that we can all live together in a world of hope and exploration.  I did like the special effects and it is worth seeing in 3-D as it adds quite a bit to the overall viewing experience.  I also like Benedict Cumberbatch as the main bad guy, as he gives the role the believability that he is a villain that could take on Capt. Kirk and his ship.  But the story has plot holes the size of the Enterprise itself and it tries too hard with the one-liners that Kirk and the rest of the gang seem to spit out at an alarming pace.  Overall, the film is a fun adventure that just doesn’t have a lot of heart to it.  It’s a  film that could have been so much more, but just never lived up to its pedigree.    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Star Trek Into Darkness Website

Indiefest:  At Any Price (2013)  R    Henry Whipple (Dennis Quaid) owns one of the area’s largest farms, along with also being the region’s number one seed salesman. But Henry’s son, Dean (Zac Efron) doesn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps and continue working in the family business. He wants to be a NASCAR driver and is just about willing to do anything to make it happen.  This is not your normal, happy “Disney Zac Efron film”, it’s a dark tale where there really isn’t a likable character in the whole film.  I thought Dennis Quaid was perfect in the role of Henry, whose drive to succeed means that he will do just about anything to stay on top.  Efron has grown as an actor and gives a multi-layered performance, as the equally driven Dean, who wants more than anything to become a stock car driver and get out of his small farming community.  But the film feels choppy, as if the director didn’t quite know how to fit all the pieces together and the film is so dark in its outlook that you are almost relieved when the film finishes.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   At Any Price Website

Indiefest:  Kon-Tiki  (2012) PG-13   Explorer Thor Heyerdal (Pal Sverre Hagen)sets out to prove that South Americans in pre-Columbian times settled Polynesia by doing what many in 1947 thought impossible – set out on a balsa raft from Peru and cross the Pacific, all 4,300 miles.  This is a fascinating film that follows the Heyerdal and his men on one of the most incredible journeys that man has ever traveled, a journey that inspired generations to become explorers.  Hagen absolutely nails the part of Heyerdal, who is so convinced that he can do this, and he won’t let anyone get in his way, so sure that he can accomplish his goal.  This is a rousing adventure film, filled with interesting action sequences and even though you know how the film is going to end, it still keeps you on the edge of your seat.   My Rating:  Full Price    Kon-Tiki Website

Indiefest:  The Reluctant Fundamentalist  (2013)  R  Changez (Riz Ahmed) is a young Muslim Pakistani man who moves to New York to work in the world of high finance. Changez’s life is going well with a successful job, beautiful girlfriend (Kate Hudson), until 9/11 happens and the World Trade Center comes crashing down. Changez is called back to his home country. Now, he may have to choose between the country, that he loves, America, and his homeland.  This is an intriguing film that shows how 9/11 affected not only people in the U.S. but around the world.  Ahmed is an engaging actor and does a gripping performance of a man who’s beliefs are challenged on almost a daily basis, but I felt that he was much better than the script, which at times seemed a little amateurish.  Kate Hudson does a fine job as Changez girlfriend in New York but the script makes her character seem unreal, like she is an amalgamation of a whole bunch of characters.  This is a film that is earnest in its approach but just doesn’t quite find a suitable way to show the depths of its subject matter.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   The Reluctant Fundamentalist Website

Indiefest: It’s a Disaster (2012)  R   Four couples get together for a weekly brunch at Emma (Erinn Hayes) and Pete’s (Blaise Miller) house. The other three couples who attend  are Buck (Kevin Brennan) and Lexi (Rachel Boston), a couple that like to push the boundaries, Shane (Jeff Grace) and Hedy (America Fererra), a couple seemly happy in their relationship, and Tracy (Julia Stiles) and Glenn (David Cross), a couple who has just recently started dating and are using this chance to introduce Glenn to Tracy’s group of friends. The brunch starts out normal but soon the power and phone lines go out, and a next door neighbor shows up in a hazmat suit, a sign that things are about to get weird and scary. This is a funny comedy that goes back and forth between a light couples comedy and a dark, twisted piece, and Director Todd Berger does an incredible job of making the transition between the two, sometimes at a moments notice and the script makes us care about each couple. The cast works well together with the chemistry between Cross and Stiles standing out as a couple that is in the early stages of their relationship and are trying to figure out if they are really do belong together. Have fun with this film and be sure to bring a covered dish.  You just might need it.   My Rating: Full Price  It's a Disaster Website

Forgotten Film:  The Enchanted Cottage (1945)  Oliver (Robert Young) was badly disfigured in the war and moves to a seaside New England cottage to get away from everybody, as Oliver is convinced that his appearance is too horrible for anyone to endure.  Laura (Dorothy McGuire) is a shy, plain girl who is hired to take care of the cottage while Oliver stays there.  Laura and Oliver, slowly fall in love with each other and decide to get married.  The longer that they live in the cottage, the more this magical place heals them, both physically and spiritually.  This is  an outstanding romantic drama where the two leads are absolutely perfect and the musical score does much to make the film feel as magic as the cottage is itself.  My Rating:  Full Price   The Enchanted Cottage Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  Cloud Atlas (2012) R A tale that takes place over hundreds of years where the action of one person affects the lives of many in the present and in the future. If someone commits a horrible act in one life, can that person be redeemed by committing acts of kindness in their future lives?  This a very beautiful look but  very long film (172 minutes) that I felt, that it just wasn’t the overwhelming experience that I thought it should have been.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Cloud Atlas Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Star Trek Into Darkness:  Electronic Prop Assistant

Coming Soon to A Theatre Near You:  Much Ado About Nothing (2012)   PG-13  Joss Whedon shot this in his home while planning The Avengers.  It’s a modern day telling of Shakespeare’s classic comedy. Much of the cast are from Whedon TV shows such as Buffy and Firefly.   Much Ado About Nothing Website

Until Next Time!

Flight

My View:  Flight (2012) Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) is an airline pilot whose quick thinking and brave flying saves a plane and its passengers from a fiery death. But when the authorities begin an investigation into the crash, questions arise and Whip comes under the microscope. This is Denzel’s movie, as he is on-screen almost the whole film and his performance is certainly Oscar quality. The crash sequence is absolutely the best one I have ever seen.  You really feel like you are a part of the flight. John Goodman makes a couple of brief appearances in the film as one of Whip’s buddies, and he takes over those scenes with humor that only Goodman can do. I do feel, though, that the script is a little lacking.  It’s too long, full of clichés that you generally anticipate and there is just too much of Denzel’s character brooding about in rooms. But the film is worth seeing because of Denzel and the crash scenes.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Flight Website

My View:  Cloud Atlas (2012) A tale that takes place over hundreds of years where the action of one person affects the lives of many in the present and in the future. If someone commits a horrible act in one life, can that person be redeemed by committing acts of kindness in their future lives? First off, pack a lunch because this movie is 172 minutes long. It’s a film that you have to pay close attention to because it does a lot of moving about from one time period to another, sometimes very abruptly. Each of the main actors play 5 to 6 characters in the film, and sometimes the makeup is so well done, you can’t tell which actor is portraying certain parts. It’s a gorgeous film, and there are quite a few action sequences to keep the film moving. While I did appreciate the film, and I really liked certain portions of the film, I found that it’s not a film that I want to ever experience again, because while I did enjoy the ending and how everything connected together, it just wasn’t that overwhelming of an experience that it should have been.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Cloud Atlas Website

Indiefest: The Sessions (2012) Mark O’Brien (John Hawkes) contracted polio at age 7. It’s the mid-80’s in San Francisco. Mark is now 38 and spends most of his time in an iron lung with almost no muscle control in his body. Mark has tried to start relationships with women, but has never found anyone who is willing to take a chance on him. Mark decides that time is running out for him, and he wants to lose his virginity, so he enlists counsel of his priest (William H. Macy) and the help of a sex surrogate (Helen Hunt) to accomplish his goal. It’s a goal that will not only change Mark’s life but will change the lives of so many people who know him. This is one of the better films of the year with incredible performances by Hawkes and Hunt, with Hawkes giving his performance with just his voice and his eyes. The film is based on a true story and is about 80 percent accurate, with the poems in the film written by the real Mark O’Brien. I am warning you that there are lots of nudity, and you do see the sex acts between Hawkes and Hunt, but they are tastefully done, with the scenes between the two characters filled with humor and warmth.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again   The Sessions Website

Indiefest: The Details (2012) A family of raccoons has decided that Dr. Jeffrey Lang’s (Tobey Maguire) beloved backyard is the perfect feeding ground. Dr. Lang becomes obsessed with ridding his yard of the pests, by any means necessary. This war on the raccoons could destroy his yard…and his marriage. This is a dark comedy where Maguire’s character just gets caught up in more and more bad things, some are his fault, some the fault of others. Elizabeth Banks plays his wife, who seems to be the perfect wife until you see that their marriage is just about appearances, much like the yard that Maguire’s character obsesses about. Laura Linney is sensational in the role of the crazy neighbor, who becomes the key to all that happens to Maguire’s character. This isn’t a great film, but it does have some really creative scenes and a cast that is worth watching.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    The Details Info

Forgotten Film: Freaks (1932) This film, directed by Tod Browning (Dracula), is one of the scariest films I have ever seen. A beautiful trapeze artist, Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova), finds out that Hans, a little person working in the circus, is about to inherit a lot of money. She sets her sights on him and manipulates him into wedding proposal, all the while she is having an affair with the Circus strongman, Hercules (Henry Victor). Most of the cast is made of up of actual sideshow performers, such as Siamese Twins and Human Skeleton. When the sideshow performers find out that Cleopatra is just using Hans for his money, they set out for revenge. The ending of this film must be seen to be believed.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee Freaks Info 

Weird Credits: From the credits of Flight:   Addiction Consultant

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Life of Pi (2012) The story of an Indian boy name Pi, who, after a ship he was on is sunk in a storm, finds himself on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. I know it sounds weird, but it’s directed by Ang Lee, and the word is that this is a magical film.    Life of Pi Website

Until Next Time!

Trouble with the Curve

My View:  Trouble with the Curve (2012)  Baseball scout, Gus (Clint Eastwood) could lose his job if he doesn’t sign the latest hot prospect. His boss (John Goodman) is worried that he can’t do the job without help, so he talks Gus’s daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), into accompany him on his trip. The biggest problem isn’t Gus’s failing eye sight; it’s that he and his daughter don’t really get along.  I enjoyed this film, especially the chemistry between Adams and Timberlake.  Eastwood doesn’t disappoint as the gruff father of Adams who has guilt over leaving his daughter in the hands of someone else after his wife died.  This is a good date night movie.  It has baseball for the guys and  romance between Adams and Timberlake for the girls.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Trouble with the Curve Website

My View:  House at the End of the Street  (2012)  A mother (Elisabeth Shue) and daughter (Jennifer Lawrence) move to a new town. They find out that the house next door was the site of a gruesome murder  where a young daughter killed her parents. The surviving brother is still living in the house and things there are just not right.  Unfortunately, this is a suspense film with very little suspense, and Lawrence isn't asked to do much more that act pissed at her mother and go all mushy at her potential boyfriend.  This is a film that probably looked good on paper (hence getting Lawrence and Shue as cast members), but it needed a much better director to get the most out of the material.  There is one good thing that comes from this film - we found out that Jennifer Lawrence can sing.   My Rating:  Cable   House at the End of the Street Info

My View:  Dredd 3D  (2012)  Set in the future, the U.S. has become one big high-rise city, and the police can only respond to 6 percent of crimes. To expedite things, they have become judge, jury and possible executioners who try criminals on the spot. Now Dredd (Karl Urban) is teamed with a rookie on her first day, and they investigate a triple homicide at a high-rise called Peach Trees. It’s a place that they may never get out of alive.  This is a bloody, violent, high action film that uses the 3D effects to great result.  The action sequences are fast and furious, and Karl Urban pulls of the Dredd character with  bravado.  There is much less camp in this film that the 1995 Sylvester Stallone starring Judge Dredd.  This film takes its self far more serious.  I liked Olivia Thirlby as the rookie partner of Dredd and Lena Headey gives a fine performance as Ma-Ma, the head of the gang that wants to kill Dredd and his partner.  This film is not for everybody due to the violence, but if you are an action film fan, this film is for you and it is worth the extra money to see it in 3D.   My Rating:  Full Price    Dredd 3D Website

Indiefest:  The Master  (2012)  Freddie (Joaquin Phoenix), a troubled war vet, is taken in by “The Master” (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the leader of a mysterious faith-based organization named “The Cause.” Now, will Freddie become an invaluable member of the organization or its downfall?  The reason to see this film is for the performances of Hoffman and especially, Phoenix.  It is a fascinating character study by Phoenix, who really gets into the skin of the troubled and dangerous Freddie.  This is a film that you probably should see twice  because I am sure that I missed a great many of the more subtle nuances of the film with just one viewing.  My only drawback with this film is that it is really long (137 minutes) and some of the scenes are incredibly slow moving but it’s the performances of the actors that make this film a must see.     My Rating:  Full Price     The Master Website

Indiefest:  Sleepwalk with Me  (2012)  Matt (Mike Birbiglia) is a struggling stand-up comedian whose career has come to a standstill. To make things worse, his relationship with his girlfriend (Lauren Ambrose) is also is failing, and Matt has a nasty case of sleepwalking.   This is a funny, smart film based on writer/director/lead actor Mike Birbiglia’s own life.  Birbiglia shows how hard it is to break into the stand-up comic business, and once you get into the business, how hard the life is.  He does it with humor, and his dialogue is just so dead on, and captures a sort of sad sack type of humor.  Ambrose is excellent as the girlfriend who supports Matt at first but soon learns that their relationship will be tested by his profession, especially after he starts using his real life experiences for material.  This is one of the best films I have seen this year.    My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   Sleepwalk with Me

Indiefest:  Liberal Arts  (2012)  Jessie (Josh Radnor) returns to his alma mater for his favorite professor’s retirement ceremony. While on campus, he meets Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen), a 19 year old undergraduate. Now Jessie is torn between the age difference and his attraction for Zibby.   What I loved about this film was the great chemistry between Radnor and Olsen.  They just play off of each other really well.  Olsen has turned into one of the best young actresses out there, and she is perfect in the part of the “old soul” Libby.  Radnor does a marvelous job of taking a story that could have been a little creepy (with the whole age difference) and  making it into a fun and romantic film.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Liberal Arts Info

Forgotten Film:  Fandango  (1985):  Five college friends, part of a group called the Groovers, decide to make a cross-country trip after two of the members find out that they will to be drafted for the Army.  Kevin Costner (in one of his best roles) is Gardner, the leader of the group, filled out by Judd Nelson, Sam Robards, Chuck Bush and Brian Cesak.  This film does a great job blending comedy with really heartfelt drama.  It’s a coming of age film where the guys know this could be their last time together, and it should be savored, just like this film should be by the viewing public.   My Rating:  Full Price   Fandango Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Sleepwalk with Me:  GPS Voice

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Cloud Atlas  (2012)  This film starring Tom Hanks, Hugh Grant, Halle Berry and a host of others, is about how our lives can touch people over time.  This film takes place over a great period of time (hundreds and hundreds of years) and most of the cast members play numerous parts.  The film was one of most talked about movies at the Toronto International Film Festival.    Cloud Atlas Website

Until Next Time!