After Earth

My View:  After Earth  (2013)  PG-13   Due to some cataclysmic events, Earth was abandoned over 1000 years ago. Cypher Raige (Will Smith) leads a crew on a training mission, when he and his son, Kitai (Jaden Smith), are the sole survivors of a crash landing. The planet they land on is Earth, and now father and son must team up to survive a world populated by dangerous, wild animals.  Let me first say that the CGI (the computerized special effects) in this film are horrible.  I felt like I was back in the 1970’s watching the TV show, Land of the Lost.  Know going into this film that it’s Jaden Smith’s movie.  He does all the action work while Will is stuck in the crashed space ship.  Jaden has shown, in the past (The Karate Kid), that he can carry the film, but in this one, he doesn’t quite connect with the audience as his character does a lot of freaking out.  The storyline is weak, and there are plot holes that an asteroid could fly through.  Both father and son use weird accents in the film, and it takes about 10 minutes before you get comfortable and are able to understand what hey are saying.   The film is very predictable, and you can see the ending coming from a mile away.  The film was directed by M. Night Shyamalan, whose track record has not been very good lately (see The Last Airbender, on second thought don’t’), so it’s not a good thing when, at the end you say, “Well it’s not as bad as…”.    My Rating:  Cable   After Earth Website

My View:  Now You See Me  (2013)  PG-13    A team of illusionists, led by J. Daniel (Jesse Eisenberg) and Merritt (Woody Harrelson), are robbing banks while performing magic in front of audiences. Its up to an FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) and an Interpol detective (Melanie Laurent) to not only stop the team, but to find out what’s the team’s magic secret of robbery success?  This is another film where a great cast is let down by a lesser script.  The film starts off with a bang, as we see how the four magicians come to form a team.  The first heist they do is thrilling, but the big problem with the movie is that it peaks with that heist, and all the other heists aren’t as flashy or fun.  Eisenberg and Harrelson play off each other really well, but I never really saw the sparks between possible love interests Ruffalo and Laurent.  I was let down by the ending of the film which, much like a bad magic trick,  went out with a whimper instead of big finish.    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Now You See Me Website

Indiefest:  What Maisie Knew  (2012)  R   A young girl, Maisie (Onata Aprile), is caught in the middle of a custody batter between her parents, a rock singer (Julianne Moore) and an art dealer (Steve Coogan).  This movie is worth seeing because of the performances of the cast.   Alexander Skarsgard, who gives a multi-layered performance as the shy, slightly goofy bartender boyfriend of Moore’s character, is worth the price of admission.  But Onata Aprile, as Maisie, is exceptional in this film, giving everything she has to the role with a performance that is mature and deep.  This is a movie that you may not always like where it’s headed, but I think you will like where it ends up.    My Rating:  Full Price   What Maisie Knew Website

Indiefest:   Frances Ha  (2013)  R  To say that Frances (Greta Gerwig) is a free spirit would be an understatement. She lives in New York but doesn’t have an apartment, she’s a dancer but doesn’t get paid for it, and her best friend hasn’t spoken to her in weeks. Now, Frances decides that its time for a change. Hope New York City is ready for what Frances has in mind.  Greta Gerwig is cute and appealing as Frances, going through life not knowing exactly where she's headed and how she will get there. Mickey Sumner, who plays Sophie, Frances best friend, does a clever job of being the slightly saner of the two.  My biggest problem with this film is Frances, while cute, is annoying as hell.  She is one of those characters that you just want to shake and tell her to start making some smart decisions.  The film was shot in Black and White, as an homage to Woody Allen’s 1979 film, Manhattan, and you can hear in some of the film, some of those famous Allen style dialogue.  I wanted to love this film, and there are a few great scenes in the film including a wonderful run/dance through the streets of New York, but ultimately, I don’t love it…I just like it.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Francis Ha Website

Forgotten Film:  Two Lane Blacktop (1971)  R   The Driver (James Taylor) and The Mechanic (Dennis Wilson) are two guys who travel across the country, racing anybody and anywhere, with their supped up 1955 Chevy.  Along the way they acquire a passenger, known simply as, The Girl (Laurie Bird).  They meet G.T.O. (Warren Oates) and, after an angry confrontation, The Driver and The Mechanic agree to race G.T.O across the country on Route 66.  The winner wins the other's car.  This is a fascinating film that starts out as a normal narrative but gets more and more abstract as the movie continues.  While a flawed film,  mostly because the two out of the three main leads aren’t actors, it’s still a film to watch, especially if you love racing and cars.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Two Lane Blacktop Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  The Last Stand (2013)   R  I didn’t care too much for this film that marked the starring comeback of Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Schwarzenegger plays a sheriff of a small border town, who, along with a very inexperienced group of deputies, has to stop a drug lord from escaping to Mexico.  The film never quite makes sense and just seem to be a way for Arnold to shoot some guns.  And yes, that is Johhny Knoxville in the movie poster, playing a wacky gun collector.    My Rating:  Cable    The Last Stand Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Now You Can See Me:  Parking Assistant

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:   Monsters University  (2013)  G  Pixar/Disney brings back Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) in this prequel to Monsters, Inc. (2001), where we get to see how their friendship began.   Monsters University Website

Until Next Time!

Fast & Furious 6

My View:  Fast & Furious 6  (2013)  PG-13  Agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) has decided that, if you can’t beat them, join them, so he enlists Dominic (Vin Diesel), Walker (Brian O’Conner), and the rest of the team to help him catch criminals who are led by a former Special Ops man named, Owen Shaw(Luke Evans).  This is a fun, noisy film where the director, Justin Lin, has decided to turn each of the characters into superheroes who are able to fly 30 feet, grab onto another person and drop onto a moving car and not get hurt.  There is an incredible fight sequence between Gina Carano, a former MMA fighter, and Michelle Rodriquez, who learned to fight for the film, Girlfight (2000), that is worth the price of admission.  The film does slow down quite a bit when the gang, especially Vin Diesel, is forced to do some acting, but overall any action fan is going to be very happy with this film.  The ending is totally unbelievable, but by the time you get there, you just about accept every impossible thing that happens anyway.  There is a tank in this film that can travel about 100 mph.  My question is, where do you go from here for the next Fast film…Space?  Race on Mars? There is a bonus scene right after the first set of credits.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Fast & Furious 6 Website

Family Faire:  Epic  (2013)  PG  M.K. (Amanda Seyfried) has moved to the country to live with her father, Professor Bomba (Jason Sudeikis), after the death of her mother. Her father believes that the woods are inhabited by some sort of little beings that move too fast for humans to see. To her utter amazement, M.K. discovers that her father is right.  There is a race of tiny warriors who defend the forest, and she must join the fight, teaming up with Nod (Josh Hutcherson) a brash warrior who’s not used to working with others.  I enjoyed this film, though it’s not quite up to the standards of the Pixar films.  M.K. is a good heroine, one that young women can get inspiration from.  I didn't like the 3-D aspect of the film and wanted to see the film in 2-D, as I felt the 3-D process washed out the colors of the animation.  Aziz Ansari and Chris O’Dowd steal the movie as the comic pair of a slug and a snail that join forces with M.K. to defeat the evil Mandrake (Christoph Waltz).  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Epic Website

Indiefest:  Love is All You Need (2013)   R   For Ida (Trine Dyrholm), life has not been going so well. She is just getting over a battle with cancer, her son is about to be shipped overseas with the military, and she finds out her husband of many years is having an affair with a younger woman. On top of this, she must travel to Italy to see her only daughter get married where she meets the father of the groom, Philip (Pierce Brosnan), a man who seems to be mad at everyone and everything. With romance in the air, will Ida find it in Italy?  Finally, we have a romantic drama for adults.  This is an entertaining film where you fall in love with Italy and Ida and Philip as they try and survive a wedding that seemingly could fall apart at any minute.  Brosnan does a good job as a man who, at first, we don’t like, but as the film progresses, we get to like more and more.  But it’s Dyrholm’s film, and she runs away with it.  She is fantastic in the part, and her performance makes us want to help her  find love and happiness.  There is a nice twist at the end of this film, a film that will make you want to move to Italy and fall in love.   My Rating:  Full Price    Love Is All You Need Website

Indiefest:  Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s  (2013)  PG-13   Ever wonder what it would be like to work at one of the world’s most exclusive clothing stores?  The film explores the world of high couture with interviews with just about every fashion designer who is living.  One of the fascinating features in this film is we get to see how Bergdorf’s designs their famous windows as we follow the team responsible for the execution, as they plan out the windows to the actual building of the displays for the 2011 Christmas season.  The film highlights workers in the store, some of which make in the hundreds of thousands of dollars on commission.   It’s a fascinating take on the fashion world and the strange, wonderful people who design and sell clothes.    My Rating:  Full Price   Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's Website

Forgotten Film:  A Touch of Class (1973)  PG  Steve (George Segal) is a married man living in London.  On a chance encounter, he meets Vicki (Glenda Jackson), a recent divorcee, and the sparks fly between them.  Steve entices Vicki to run away with him for a weekend to Marbella.  While they are there, just about everything under the sun happens, keeping them away from each other.  When they finally do get together, they realize that there just might be something to this relationship, and they decide to keep the affair going in London.  Things go well until life starts interfering and Steve realizes that he will have to choose between his family life and his life with Vicki.  This is a smart, adult romantic comedy that uses the comedic talents of the two leads.  Jackson, as the sexy, smart Vicki, was so brilliant in the role she won the Academy Award for .  Segal is perfect as the role of Steve,  a man who thinks he can have his cake and eat it too.    My Rating:  Full Price   A Touch of Class info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  Beautiful Creatures (2013)  PG-13  Another in a long line of films trying to replace the Twilight series. This films plot is stupid, and the cast acts as if they are in a high school production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.   My Rating:  Cable   Beautiful Creatures Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of Fast & Furious 6:  Personal Makeup Artist for Mr. Diesel

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Spectacular Now  (2013)   The best film I saw at the 2013 Atlanta Film Festival.  With incredible performances by Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller, this  film is being compared to Say Anything, and I think it just might be better.   The Spectacular Now Info

Until Next Time!

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!

The Great Gatsby

My View:  The Great Gatsby  (2013)  PG-13  Nick (Tobey Maquire) is a New York stockbroker at the height of the Roaring Twenties. Along with his cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan), he gets pulled into the mesmerizing world of Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), whose wealth and fame for staging elaborate parties are legendary. But, all that glitters is not gold and the more Nick finds out about Gatsby, the more puzzling the millionaire becomes.  Gatsby says a line that looks like the director, Baz Luhrmann, takes to heart: “You can’t repeat the past? Why, of course you can!”  When I was watching this film, it was like I was watching Luhrmann’s early film, Moulin Rouge! without all the singing.  This film feels like one long music video, which is fine for awhile, but after 143 minutes, it gets very tiring.  I wish that Luhrmann would have let this fine cast act instead of being a part of a very loud, very gimmicky film that can’t figure out its overall tone.  I enjoyed DiCaprio’s performance, though I did get tired of his use of the phrase, “Old Sport."  I thought Tobey Mcguire was agreeable as the writer/narrator of the story, but putting hip-hop music to a 1920’s setting just didn’t work.  It was as if Luhrmann wanted to make a film to accompany a modern soundtrack.  In fact, I think this film would have worked so much better if it had been set in the modern world as the storyline of wealth and deception is timeless. And, by the way, it’s not necessary to see this film in 3-D, even though it is very evident that many of the shots were done for that format.    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   The Great Gatsby Website

My View:  Peeples  (2013)  PG-13    Wade Walker (Craig Robinson) wants to marry Grace Peeples (Kerry Washington), but he knows that she is a “daddy’s girl” and must get permission from her father (David Allen Grier) to marry her. So, Wade decides to crash the Peeples family reunion to meet the parents, but Wade doesn’t get the warm reception he was expecting.  I liked Craig Robinson in the lead role, thought he should stay in the comedy world, his attempts to do some dramatic parts in this film didn't quite work.  Washington was very cute in her role and David Allen Grier was very funny as the stuck up father of the Peeples clan.  It's not a great film but it does have it's funny moments, mostly when Robinson is allowed to go off script.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Peeples Website

Forgotten Film:  Europa Europa  (1990) R This remarkable film is about a young German Jew who escapes Nazi Germany, only to end up in a Polish orphanage that is taken over by the invading German army.  He convinces the Nazis that he is German and becomes a translator for them.  He does so well that they reward him by accepting him into the Hitler Youth Movement.  What is amazing about this film is that it is based on a true story, even though, at times, you question if what the young man experiences could ever really happen.  Marco Hofschneider is amazing as Solly, the boy who thinks at, any moment, the truth will be revealed.  The film explores in a way that is both gripping and inspirational what people will do to survive.    My Rating:  Full Price    Europa Europa Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  Safe Haven  (2013) PG-13 While I didn’t hate this Nicolas Sparks love story starring Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel, I did find it very predictable, even the “so-called” plot twists throughout the film.  The film isn’t up to The Notebook standards, but it’s not as bad as some of the other Sparks films (I am pointing my finger at you Miley Cyrus).    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Safe Haven Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  Erased  (2012)  R  This film about an ex-CIA agent (Aaron Eckhart) and his estranged daughter (Liana Liberato) are on the run, has been sitting on the shelf for more than a year (never a good sign).  Quickly now, quickly - where have we seen this plot before?   Erased Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Great Gatsby:  Soft Furnishings

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Before Midnight (2013) R  Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke reprise their roles as the star-crossed lovers from the earlier films Before Sunrise (1995) and Before Sunset (2004).  If director Richard Linklater wants to keep making these films, then I will gladly keep seeing them.   Before Midnight Info

Until Next Time!

Iron Man 3

My View:  Iron Man 3  (2013 )  PG-13  Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is obsessed with building more of his Iron Man suits, however they are causing him sleepless nights and are straining the relationship with his girlfriend, Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow). A new villain, named Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), is suddenly attacking the U.S. and is hell-bent on destroying everything Tony holds dear, including Pepper. Iron Man has done it before, but can he come back from the brink of destruction once more?  I enjoyed this film more than Iron Man 2, as I felt the action sequences were well done and exciting. The chemistry of Downey and Paltrow from the earlier films is still there and working.  What I didn’t like about the film is that all through the film, Tony Stark is making quips, and that constant need to utter a  punch line after punch line became old after a while. But, overall this is an entertaining film.  Ben Kingsley does his usual brilliance with the bad guy Mandarin, and it is worth seeing in 3-D for all the action sequences. Be sure and stay through all the credits as there is a bonus scene at the end of the film.    My Rating:  Full Price   Iron Man 3 Website

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

#6 Worst Film

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians  (1964)  The children of Mars are upset because Santa Claus doesn’t visit them at Christmas time.  So the Martians hatch a plan to kidnap Santa and bring Christmas to Mars.  The film is filled with horrible costumes, acting that gets on your nerves and incredibly poor special effects. Legendary bad actress Pia Zadora (The Lonely Lady) makes her big screen debut as an earth child who is kidnapped to Mars along with Santa. She sings the show stopping number, Hooray For Santy Claus, which, much like the rest of this film, will haunt you for years.    Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Info

Forgotten Film:  Jacob’s Ladder  (1990):   R  Part horror film, part psychological drama that stars Tim Robbins as Jacob Singer, a man, who at the start of the film is an American soldier in Vietnam under attack.  The next thing we know, Jacob wakes up in the New York Subway, dressed as a mailman, trying to figure out how he got there and what has happened to him for the last 4 years. The film is full of mystery and suspense, with director Adrian Lyne doing a masterful job taking us back and forth between the present and the past where Jacob relives the traumatic experiences of his life.  Robbins is brilliant as the tormented Jacob, a man who only wants to find out the truth, but may never get it.    My Rating:  Full Price   Jacob's Ladder Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  Gangster Squad (2013)  R  I didn’t like this film about an elite squad of  1950’s Los Angeles policemen who try to stop a mob boss (Sean Penn) from taking over the city.  I felt the film had an almost cartoon-like feel to it, as if they were remaking the 1990 Warren Beatty film, Dick Tracy.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Gangster Squad Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I’ve Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  After Earth (2013)  PG-13  I only have to tell you one thing about this film, and you can make up your mind on whether to see it or not:  It’s directed by M. Night Shyamalan, whose last three films were The Last Airbender (2010), The Happening (2008) and Lady in the Water (2006).    After Earth Website

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Iron Man 3:  Costumer to Mr. Cheadle

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You:  Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)  PG-13  I have always been more a fan of the Star Trek series than Star Wars.  I loved the first J.J. Abrams directed Star Trek (2009) film, which, I thought, was a fresh take on the series.  Can’t wait to see what kind of bad guy Benedict Cumberbatch will play in this one.    Star Trek Into Darkness Website

Until Next Time!

Pain & Gain

My View:   Pain & Gain (2013) R  Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) works as a personal trainer. He’s a fairly happy guy, but he wants the good life and he wants it now. So Daniel comes up with a sure fire plan to make all his dreams come true; just kidnap Victor (Tony Shalhoub), a wealthy client, and extort money from him. He enlists two of his bodybuilding friends (Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie) to help. So, what could go wrong? Uh, just about everything. I liked the first part of the film, which has a very stylized look, and Wahlberg can be very funny playing the earnest but somewhat dumb personal trainer.  Also, some of the scenes that set up why Lugo wants to do the kidnapping are funny. The scenes with Dwayne Johnson and Tony Shalhoub are well done and quite creative, but I hated the last third of the film where some very serious crimes are treated as though they are part of a cartoon plot. Michael Bay's (Transformers) over-the-top direction works for awhile in this film but after continually being blasted with the same images over and over, the film's style seems to get in the way of the storytelling.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Pain & Gain Website

My View:  Mud  (2013)  PG-13  Two teenage boys (Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland) encounter a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey) who persuades them to help him evade bounty hunters so he can get back his one true love (Reese Witherspoon). This was one of my favorite films of the 2013 Atlanta Film Festival, and Matthew McConaughey has another performance that will get him talked about for an Academy Award where he plays the slick-talking, likable Mud. But it's the performance of the two lead boys, Sheridan and Lofland that make this film so good. Sheridan has that presence on-screen that makes you think of the young performances of River Phoenix and Kevin Bacon as he has star quality and easy way that makes you want to follow his character anywhere he wants to go. Reese Witherspoon is somewhat wasted as the girl whom Mud wants so desperately to win back, though, her casting makes us instantly understand how she put such a spell on him. But it's Sheridan playing the troubled young man that you want to root for and hope that everything will turn out all right for him which makes Mud a film you should go see.     My Rating: Full Price    Mud Website

Indiefest:  The Company You Keep (2013)  R  Decades ago a radical student terrorist group named, “The Weather Underground,” set off bombs and robbed banks to try and force the American government to end the war in Vietnam. Some of the terrorists were caught, but others are still on the run. Now, a newspaper reporter (Shia LaBeouf) begins digging up the story after one of “The Weather Underground” members is caught. By the time the reporter is finished, a number of lives will have changed. I generally like Redford's films, but I felt almost as if the amount of stars in this film, such as Anna Kendrick, who plays an FBI agent, was a little like stunt casting, making it sort of a lets see how many stars want to work for Redford, and therefore prop up a script that has huge holes in it. The film moves along very slowly as if it doesn't want to reveal too much too soon. I enjoyed the scenes with Shia LaBeouf a little more than the scenes with Redford, as the LaBeouf scenes tended to have a lot more energy in them. But the film takes way too long to revel the real plot, and then the film creates a very unlikely ending which makes watching this film not the best of movie going experiences.    My Rating: Cable     The Company You Keep Website

Indiefest:  Arthur Newman (2013) R  Wallace Avery (Colin Firth) is not happy with his life. He’s lost a job he didn’t like, his ex-wife hates him, his son doesn’t want to do anything with him and his girlfriend (Anne Heche) isn’t crazy about him either. So, Wallace decides to go on a road trip to reinvent himself and start a new life as Arthur Newman. While on the road he meets Mike (Emily Blunt), who also wants to reinvent her life. It’s a trip that’s going to be a bumpy ride. I really enjoyed this film and loved the chemistry between Firth and Blunt, as we get to watch their friendship develop throughout the film. The films score really helps define the mood but doesn't go overboard in telling the audience just how they should feel. While this is a "road" picture, it's more about the people on the trip, not about where they are or where they are going. This is an enjoyable film and makes watching two actors worth the price of admission.    My Rating: Full Price   Arthur Newman Website

Forgotten Film:   Pumpkin (2002) R  Carolyn (Christina Ricci) is a vain, stuck up young woman who is obsessed with making sure that she and her sisters win Sorority of the Year. To impress the judges, she enlists her sorority to help train mentally and physically challenged athletes for the upcoming Challenged Games. Carolyn is teamed with Pumpkin (Hank Harris), a wheel chaired bound young man who may also be mentally challenged. Due to Pumpkin's compassion and humor, she finds herself falling for him, something that scares Carolyn, and she takes a long time to even contemplate a relationship with Pumpkin. Will she give up her family, friends and her sorority way of life to stay with him? The film has warmth and humor, and Ricci does a masterful job of at first being an unlikable character who changes into someone we can see has compassion and depth. While not a perfect film, this film's heart wins out in the end.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee     Pumpkin Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD):  The Impossible (2012)  PG-13  Based on a true story of a family who, while on vacation at a coastal resort in Thailand, are separated after a devastating Tsunami hits. Naomi Watts, in an Academy Award Nominated role, is breathtaking as the wife who risks everything to find her family under tragic circumstances. This film is heart breaking, at times, but is ultimately uplifting, as you see just how strong the human spirit is in times of unbelievable destruction.   My Rating: I Would Pay To See it Again    The Impossible Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of Mud: Boat Captain (by my count there were 12 boat captains listed)

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Great Gatsby (2013)  PG-13  Based on one of my favorite books, I was incredibly let down by the 1974 Robert Redford, Mia Farrow film. Let's see what director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!) can do. The great cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Isla Fisher, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire certainly is worth the price of admission.    The Great Gatsby Website

Until Next Time!

Oblivion

My View:  Oblivion (2013) PG-13  After decades of war with an Alien race, most of Earth has been destroyed. Jack (Tom Cruise) is one of the last few humans stationed on the planet. His job is to repair drones on the surface, kill any aliens still remaining and extract Earth’s few remaining resources. But Jack finds a crashed spaceship, a spaceship that will change his life. This is a big mess of a film that seems to steal ideas from other movies, even other Tom Cruise movies, and the film has plot holes the size of Tom Cruise’s ego. While I did think the film looked amazing, he special effects were outstanding and created a future Earth that was almost unrecognizable, but they don't make up for the lousy script that had an ending that I absolutely hated.   My Rating: Cable   Oblivion Website

Indiefest:   Disconnect (2013) R  This film explores the interconnected world of the internet and its far reaching perils. A husband and wife (Alexander Skarsgard, Paula Patton) have their identities stolen, a widowed father (Frank Grillo) has no idea what his son is doing on-line, a reporter (Andrea Riseborough) is trying to do a story on the exploitation of young men on the internet and a married couple (Jason Bateman, Hope Davis) can’t connect with their son whose whole world is wrapped up with music and the internet. This is a very stylish film with some excellent performances, especially Skarsgard and Patton, who are trying to keep their marriage from falling apart. This is an interesting film to watch, and while not all of its stories are resolved, you do get an idea where most of the characters will end up.   My Rating: Full Price   Disconnect Website

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

#7 Best Film

Casablanca (1942) What can you say about one of the most Iconic films of all time? This film about a cast of characters all meeting up at a nightclub has intrigue, romance, humor, and just about any other plot device you can think of. And it all comes together beautifully with marveous dialogue and gorgeous black and white cinematography. You can’t get any better than Humphrey Bogart in the role of Rick, the owner of the nightclub and Ingrid Bergman as his love interest and who has never been more beautiful. What makes this such a classic film is the outstanding supporting cast with Paul Henried, Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre, just to name a few.   Casablanca Infor

Forgotten Film:  The Americanization of Emily (1964) In England for the build-up to D-Day, Charlie Madison (James Garner) is a carefree American naval officer who, despite his best intentions, falls for a British widower (Julie Andrews). This film has a brilliant script written by Paddy Chayefsky that was way ahead of its time with the anti-war slant to the storyline. Garner is perfect as the suave military man who works at avoiding the war, only to be sucked into it. Julie Andrews, in one of her first starring roles, is beyond compare as the young woman who falls in love with Garner and changes his life.   My Rating: Full Price    The Americanization of Emily Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD)  Django Unchained (2012) R  Set in the South in 1858, Django (Jamie Foxx), a former slave who has turned bounty hunter, with the help of his partner, Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), look for Django’s long lost wife, Hildy (Kerry Washington). They find her on Calvin Candie's (Leonardo DiCaprio) plantation, where the main sport is slaves fighting to the death. I liked this film but wish it was about 20 minutes shorter. The script by Quentin Tarantino is worthy of the Oscar that he won as it is smart and witty. I loved the first 30 minutes of this film but felt that it slowed down a bit once Leonardo DiCaprio’s character entered the picture.   My Rating: Full Price    Django Unchained Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of Disconnect: Driving double

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Big Wedding (2013) R  I am not sure exactly what the plot of this film is but does it matter? Just look at the cast, which includes Robert De Niro, Amanda Seyfried, Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon, Diane Keaton.  Tell me this doesn’t look like a fun film to watch.   The Big Wedding Website

Until Next Time!