The World's End

Movie: The World's End
Major Actors:  Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Rosamund Pike, Pierce Brosnan, Bill Nighy
Rating: R
Best Audience: Older teenagers and adults

Review

As a huge fan of "Hot Fuzz" and "Shaun of the Dead," I had high expectations for this movie.  I love Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as a comedic duo.  I truly am a fan...

...which is why I'm quite sorry to say I was highly disappointed in this movie. 

1.)  It was not that funny.

2.)  The plot was not interesting.  Five former high school friends reunite to attempt to have a pint at twelve different bars in one night...but soon realize something strange is happening in their former town.  It was like "Invasion of the Body-Snatchers," only parodied in the most boring way possible.  There was absolutely no subtlety.  There was no believability.  I know what fiction is, yes, but there still has to be believability within the fictional world, and there just wasn't. 

3.)  The "message" of the film was all over the place.  I feel like this movie was written within the span of a day.  At first, it seemed like an honest message about the struggles of alcoholism.  I thought I was going to like this movie when it seemed to be going in that direction.  THEN, they started throwing in other issues like environmentalism and human nature.  My goodness--they even brought up apartheid! I kept thinking, "Okay, this has turned into a PSA about everything." 

So to Simon Pegg and Nick Frost:

At least you got a good two out of three. 

Love,

A Huge Fan

We're the Millers

Movie: We're the Millers
Major Actors: Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, Emma Roberts, Will Poulter, Ed Helms, Nick Offerman, Kathryn Hahn
Rating: R
Best Audience: Older teenagers and adults

Review

"We're the Millers" follows a drug-dealer's attempt to carry a great deal of marijuana over the Mexican border while using people from his neighborhood to forge a fake family.  This movie had some pretty good laugh-out-loud moments.  However, as a whole, it is not one of the funniest movies I've ever seen (i.e. Tropic Thunder). 

Jason Sudeikis was perfect for the role as a drug-dealer turned head-of-household.  His look and demeanor could really pull off the duality of this character pretty well.  I love Jennifer Aniston...and thought she had a smoking hot body in "The Break-Up," but she is no stripper.  I say that solely for the complete lack of good "stripper moves."  Yes, she can move her hips in a circle, but beyond that, I was highly disappointed in her performance as a stripper.

Will Poulter, who plays the son in the film (Kenny), definitely carried some of the most hilarious moments of the film, and for that, his career will probably pick up a lot due to this movie.

See this film for a few laughs, but don't expect anything side-splitting.

Lovelace

Movie:   Lovelace
Major Actors: Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, Chris Noth, Hank Azaria, Adam Brody, James Franco, Wes Bentley
Rating: R
Best Audience: Adults only

Review

This film tells the backstory of one of the most famous porn stars of all time:  Linda Lovelace, the star of the 1972 adult film, Deep Throat.  It was already widely known before "Lovelace" came out that Linda was forced into porn by her abusive husband, Chuck Traynor.  However, unless you have read her book, you probably didn't realize how awful this story is.

This film was real--and quite grim.  It definitely does not leave you feeling good.  "Lovelace" is like a Lifetime movie on steroids.  I do believe it will help women who are in abusive situations to think about their options and seek help.  If you are interested in true stories, you would probably like this film. 

The casting is excellent.  My one issue with the casting is that it took many great actors and put them into fairly small roles (except the main two: Seyfried and Sarsgaard).  Peter Sarsgaard did a good job at portraying the abusive husband.  You know how I could tell he did a good job?  Because I hated him and thought he was a terrible, evil man!  In all seriousness, though, Sarsgaard is a brilliant actor who has no issue taking unusual roles, frequently playing unlikable characters. 

I honestly had no idea Sharon Stone was even in this movie until the ending credits.  She apparently played Linda Lovelace's mother.  The make-up crew must have done a great job because I did not recognize her.  Of course, the lead actress, Amanda Seyfried, did some great acting in this movie.  My only issue with her was her appearance.  She made her hair darker and bigger, but she did not remotely look a thing like Linda Lovelace. 

I will say the movie was well done with good writing and good acting, but it's not a movie I would see again. 

On DVD- Oblivion

Movie:   Oblivion
Major Actors: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Melissa Leo
Rating: PG-13
Best Audience: Teenagers and Adults

Review 

"Oblivion" takes place in a post-apocalyptic Earth in which war with an alien nation and nuclear weapons have left the planet uninhabitable.  Tom Cruise's character is responsible for maintenance of defense drones.  However, he starts questioning his whole assignment. 

I actually adore Tom Cruise as an actor.  I've already said this to many people, but just like Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise is pretty crazy in real life but it doesn't make him any less of an awesome actor.

The plotline of "Oblivion" is at times hard to follow.  You start watching the movie thinking it will go a certain way--then the movie takes a huge turn and ends up not being what you thought it was AT ALL.   I actually liked the direction it took despite the fact I had to stop and take a moment to think about exactly what was happening.  Off the top of my head, I really felt like this film was channeling Blade Runner, The Fifth Element, and Total Recall.  If you enjoyed those type of futuristic sci-fi films, you would probably like this.

On DVD- Perks of Being a Wallflower

Movie:   Perks of Being a Wallflower
Major Actors: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Dylan McDermott, Kate Walsh, Ezra Miller, Paul Rudd
Rating: PG-13
Best Audience:  Teenagers and young adults

Review:

There are so many things I love about this movie.  First of all, it is an adaptation of one of my favorite books. (by the same title).  Second of all, the director of the film is the author of the book, Stephen Chbosky!  It is such a rare occurrence that an author would even have the skill set to direct a film, but in this case, it worked quite well.  The fact that the book's author directed it made it one of the closest film adaptations to the book I've ever seen.  Nothing was left out or added.  It was perfect.

Another great thing about this movie is the casting.  Paul Rudd made an excellent English professor.  The teenagers in the film were not cliché representations of what adults believe teenagers are...they were real.  They reminded me of real people I went to high school with, as opposed to the fake, overly trendy 29 year olds you see in TV and movies that pretend to be teenagers. 

Really, you won't need to read the book to enjoy the film.  It is inspiring, funny, dark, and real.  A lot of people compare it to a modern version of "The Breakfast Club."  I think it actually goes much deeper than "The Breakfast Club."  However, it does similarly focus on the angst associated with "coming of age." 

On DVD - Safe Haven

Movie:   Safe Haven
Major Actors: Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel, Cobie Smulders, David Lyons
Rating: PG-13
Best Audience: Teenagers to Adults (especially women and date nights)

Review:

Safe Haven is the latest movie adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks book.  As far as Nicholas Sparks goes...I agree the Notebook is a good movie, however I have not liked ANY of the other movies made from his books (i.e. "The Last Song," "Nights in Rodanthe," and "Dear John").  They are usually sappy and predictable.

Unlike Sparks' other film adaptations, I felt as though the "love story" pat of the movie was secondary. This movie focuses on Julianne Hough's character, "Katie," and her journey to find a new beginning and get away from her abusive husband.  As a police officer, her husband has access to the means to locate her.   While trying to start over in a small southern town, she meets a widower (played by Josh Duhamel) with children.

The one criticism I have of this film is that the climax wasn't long enough.  The whole movie builds up to this conflict...and then the conflict only lasts about two minutes.  I wanted to see more of a struggle during this time, but it was just over so quickly.  Overall, this movie was definitely not bad.  It would be a great date night movie or girls night movie. 

On DVD - Admission

Movie:  Admission
Major Actors: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Nat Wolff
Rating: PG-13
Best Audience: Teenagers to Adults

Review:

I would have actually classified Admission as more of a drama than a comedy.  It has very little comedy in it.  The story is very predictable.  I guessed the "big twist" long before it was revealed.  Tina Fey's character is a college admissions worker for Princeton University.  Paul Rudd's character, who runs a private school, introduces her to student that is not typically Princeton material.  After connecting with a student, she bends the rules to try to get him into Princeton. 

The one thing I do like about this film is that it portrays an accurate depiction of the politics of academia.  I like what the movie reveals about the administrative side of universities.

All in all, this movie was just alright.  It wasn't great.  It wasn't even that funny.  I'm glad I waited to see it on video because I would have felt cheated to have spent $8 at the theatre to see it.  Once again, my major issue with this movie is its predictability.  Tina Fey can do much better.  So can Paul Rudd.

On DVD- The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Movie:  The Incredibly Burt Wonderstone
Major Actors: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey, Olivia Wilde, James Gandolfini, Alan Arkin
Rating: PG-13
Best Audience: Teenagers, young adults

Review:

This movie was not great--it wasn't even that good.  You probably saw the funniest parts in the previews.  One of the saddest things is that this movie has an EXCELLENT cast.  A great cast in a bad movie.  I feel as though they were all misplaced. 

The purpose of this film was to make a statement about how magicians/magic shows have changed over the years.  The problem with that message is that nobody in real life cares about magic shows or magicians.  Even if you enjoy a good magic show every once in a while, it's a novelty that does not affect your everyday life.  Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi parodied Siegfried and Roy.  Jim Carrey's character was a parody of Criss Angel (Mindfreak).  They are basically saying that Criss Angel's brand of magic is nothing more than shock-value.  In my opinion, all magic shows are for entertainment or shock value anyways. 

Other than the pointless "message" of this film, the comedy wasn't that great either.  If you enjoy immature humor, you may like this movie. 

The Conjuring

Movie:  The Conjuring
Major Actors: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston
Rating: R
Best Audience: Adults who exhibit bladder control

Review:

There is a lot to say about this movie.  First things first, I did not expect to see it on opening weekend.  I was going to see RIPD with my Movie Buddy and someone got the time wrong (not pointing fingers...).  So I had thought about seeing the Conjuring eventually; plus it was the only thing playing at that time.  I had only seen some teaser trailers for it, so did not know what to expect.

Director James Wan has scared me to death in the past with Saw, Dead Silence, and Insidious.  His latest movie, "The Conjuring" is a clear attempt to bring to horror movie genre back its golden age:  the 70's.  This is not for the mere fact that the film is set in the 70's.  It is also the style and feel of the movie.

Ed and Lorraine Warren were paranormal investigators, best known for investigating the Amityville Horror.  This is how Wan is able to show off the coveted phrase "Based on a True Story."  This phrase is thrown around far too casually in horror movies.  I think it is because a horror movie will do a better job at scaring you if you believe it could actually happen.  The movie is based on a couple of the real-life cases of Ed and Lorraine Warren.  Ed Warren (played by Patrick Wilson, who was also in Insidious) was a demonologist, that looked at these paranormal cases with a Christian point of view.  Lorraine Warren (played by Vera Farmiga, who currently stars in Bates Motel) was a trance medium. 

I believe as a horror film, this movie does have a lot of originality.  Oh, I know....you have seen a lot of the plot before:  "A family moves into an old home and weird things start happening."  There is so much more to it than that.  First of all, the movie follows two families:  the family being tortured by the strange occurences, as well as the Warren family.  Second of all, the movie also contains a couple other of the Warren's cases.  I believe it is original, not because it presents something new...but because it combines so many elements.  This film has witches, ghosts, demons, and human killers.  Usually a horror movie only has one of those.  I mean, it even has an evil doll!

The fright is real.  It was exhausting, actually.  The thrills just come one after another.  I actually felt physically exhausted from the sheer terror I was experiencing.  Hands down, this was the scariest movie I've ever seen in my life.  People in the theatre weren't just screaming, they were shreiking. 

I kind of want to see it again because I had to cover my eyes on a lot of parts.  So now I want to see the parts I was too chicken to experience the first time.

Despicable Me 2

Movie:  Despicable Me 2
Major Actor: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Ken Jeong, Nasim Pedrad
Rating: PG
Best Audience: Children age 2 to adults.

Review:

This is really a movie you can enjoy along with your children.  It is very funny.  In the movie, Steve Carell returns as Gru, a former villain.  Kristen Wiig's character, Lucy, recruits Gru to go undercover to try to find a new notorious villain since Gru has experience with his own past as a brilliant villainous mastermind.

This movie has excellent casting.  Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig actually manage to have on-screen chemistry, despite the fact all their acting was done in a recording studio.  I was shocked that Russell Brand played Dr. Nefario.  I mean, Brand is British...but not that kind of British.  He changes his voice completely.  Wonderful acting.

My favorite parts of the movie involved Gru (Carell) trying to keep his daughter away from a smooth-talking Latino teenager.  Hilarity ensued. 

The Lone Ranger

Movie:  The Lone Ranger
Major Actor: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Tom Wilkinson, Helena Bonham Carter
Rating: PG13
Best Audience: Older children, teenagers, adults

Review:

This movie is getting some bad reviews and I can kind of see why.

I liked a lot of parts of this movie, but I agree that overall, it was not very good.

I did not like the bumbling action sequences.  The first train sequence in the movie was simply John Reid--The Lone Ranger (played by Armie Hammer) and Tonto (played by Johnny Depp) stumbling into these coincidental escapes from danger.  Their characters put forth minimal effort in trying to escape danger.  They just kept encountering easy-outs. 

Helena Bonham Carter's character was completely unnecessary to the whole movie.  I don't know why she was even in there. 

John Reid's love interest was his brother's widow.  I don't care if your late husband's brother is Armie Hammer....women do not move on THAT quickly after their husbands die!

I absolutely love Johnny Depp.  I'm a huge fan and always have been.  However, I did not like his character.  His character was a terrible depiction and ignorant stereotype of Native Americans.  And while we are on the subject, I DID feel this movie would be terribly offensive to Native Americans.  They actually used the term "Noble Savage" in the film!  The villains in the movie even paint their faces red to dress up like Natives.  How is that not like "black face?"   I know the original show "The Lone Ranger" was very offensive to Native communities.  Instead of correcting that in the modern adaptation, they would rather have Johnny Depp paint his face than cast an actual Native American.  They would rather portray Native Americans in a stereotypical fashion than actually learn how enduring Western tribes actually live. 

Historical inaccuracies always make me think less of any film.  In this one, the Lone Ranger asserts that he is with the Health Department making sure a building is up to "code" in one scene.  There had been some attempts at building codes by the time this film is set, but it was more in larger cities for industrial purposes and not very rampant...certainly not properly enforced. 

Good things about this film:  I loved the whole last 15 minutes.  The last train sequence was excellent in true Verbinski fashion.  I loved the casting of Armie Hammer as the Lone Ranger.  He did a great job, and because of this movie, I do want to see more of him as an actor.  I hope this role opens more doors for him and I look forward to any of his future work.  This movie did also have some funny moments (i.e. Tonto's reaction to John Reid's classic line "Hi-O Silver!"). 

Overall, not great. 

The Heat

Movie:  The Heat
Major Actors: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Marlon Wayans, Jane Curtin, Taran Killam, Michael McDonald
Rating: R
Best Audience: Adults only

Review:

The best thing about the Heat is the chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy.  Both are individually so talented.  Both have a history of comedic brilliance.  Together, they play off each other's strengths as actors and really make the funny lines and physical comedy feel natural. 

I also loved the fact that Marlon Wayans is playing it "straight" in this movie. He usually plays silly, comedic roles, and in this film, he is the "straight man." 

The only downside to this movie is that the "big twist" of who the real bad guy is ends up being quite predictable.  However, this is a comedy, so that doesn't matter much.  The main thing is that this movie is FUNNY.  I also love the fact that it has two women as the lead actors in movie roles that are usually played by men. 

This movie has a lot of strong language.  So be wary of that before you see it. 

World War Z

Movie:  World War Z
Major Actors: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Matthew Fox
Rating: PG 13
Best Audience: Older children, teenagers, adults

Review:

I liked a lot about World War Z.  As a zombie movie, I appreciated some originality.  At times, the zombies acted more like insects than drones or rabid animals, so that was different.  I also liked how they solved the zombie problem.  I won't give it away, but it is a solution that has not been used in any other zombie films.  I loved how they actually used the word "zombie."  Many zombie films shy away from using that word. 

I thought much of the film was unrealistic.  Here I will spoil a few minor things (that won't spoil the movie for you if you haven't seen it).  Israel built a huge wall around the city and were completely sealed off from any zombies at all.  The reason they built the wall was discussed, but I did not think it was a valid/realistic/plausible reason.  Also, Brad Pitt survives a horrendous plane crash.  That was not realistic at all.  I know it's a fictional movie, but even within the zombie-movie world, you have to make the major plot points believable!

We won't even talk about the fact that the movie is absolutely NOTHING like the book.  At. All.

I did not like the movie's pace.  Usually films are slow at the beginning and fast-paced at the end.  This film was the total opposite.  It started out going super fast up front and the last 30 minutes of the film were very slow.  That was unusual. 

The worst thing about this movie is that it was not very character driven.  The movie does not give you a reason to form a connection with any of the characters (not even the main character).  To me, that is the most basic element a good movie needs and that element was simply not there.

If you go see this movie, you will be very entertained if you are not picky about its flaws.  If you are a picky movie-goer, you will not enjoy this.  If you go to movies for action, explosions, and guts, you will like this.

Man of Steel

Movie:  Man of Steel
Major Actors:
Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Russel Crowe, Kevin Costner
Rating: PG 13
Best Audience: Older children, teenagers, adults

Review:

This film delved more into the alien side of Superman than previous Superman films have done. The movie starts off with a pretty thorough backstory on Superman's beginnings.  The movie did jump back and forth in time at the beginning.  This jumping did not make it hard to follow, it just didn't feel like the transitions were very smooth.  I felt certain important details were left unexplained as the plot unfolded as well.  I don't want to say which, so as not to spoil anyone.  But I left the theatre with questions.  I will partially spoil this part though:  after Lois and Clark kiss at the end, Lois--played by Amy Adams--says the cheesiest line ever.  Just brace yourselves for that one. 

And why did Lois and Clark kiss?  Because they are supposed to!  I know.  However, I did not feel like the things that happened in the movie were leading them to be together romantically.  That is to say...I did not feel the film lent itself to the development of a romantic relationship between Lois and Clark--and yet it still happened.  Lois was thrust into the action as a "damsel in distress" type and Superman--played by sexy Henry Cavill--was constantly having to save her.  I understand why her character would fall for Superman in that situation, but I simply felt like their chemistry was gravely lacking.

Aside from their relationship and the jumpy transitions, I actually really enjoyed "Man of Steel."  It is by far the best Superman movie (and yes, I have seen a few of them). 

Monsters University

Movie:  Monsters University
Major Actors:
Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Nathan Fillion, Aubrey Plaza, Bobby Moynihan Rating: G
Best Audience: Children and Families

Review:
Monsters University is a great film for the kids.  It is the sequel to Monsters Inc. which came out in 2001.  Just to give you an idea of how long ago that was:  When Monsters Inc. came out, I was 14.  Now I'm 26.  Crazy.

Anyway, Monsters University goes back in time to when Mike and Sully were in college studying to become "Scarers," which is the ultimate career in the Monster world.  Along with the funny moments come lessons about teamwork, being yourself, and doing the right thing.  If you have children, or are a child at heart, you'd probably enjoy this movie.  I must admit, I forgot a lot about the original, so I may have to rewatch Monsters Inc. to brush up on some of the things I forgot.

My Top 10 Favorite Movies

This is not REMOTELY objective.  These are my PERSONAL favorite films of all time. 

My Top 10 (+)

10. Little Miss Sunshine
9. Silver Linings Playbook
8. I Heart Huckabees
7. Fight Club
6. The Dark Knight
5. Garden State
4. Jerry McGuire
3.5 The Royal Tennenbaums (This is an edit...I left this one out originally...forgot about it)
3. The Departed
2. Love Actually
1. Sleepy Hollow

 

I will talk about "Sleepy Hollow."  I've loved this movie since I was 13.  I love a good mystery, and this is a wonderful "whodunit." Johnny Depp was at his peak of comedic and dramatic brilliance.  The setting is beautiful, albeit in a dark and dreary 1799 New England town.  Tim Burton does not hesitate to throw as much blood at Johnny Depp at possible, so it is a bit gorey.  This is a liberal adaptation of the famous "Sleepy Hollow," story, but it is great.

Star Trek: Into Darkness

Movie:  Star Trek:  Into Darkness
Major Actors: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, Benedict Cumberbatch
Rating: PG 13
Best Audience: Older children, teenagers, adults

Review:
I will preface this review by saying this:  I am not a Star Trek fan.  My brother and father are, but I am not.  However, I was a huge fan of the 2009 Star Trek (this film's predecessor).  I am a big fan of most things JJ Abrams does.  He directed the 2009 film as well as this one.

As the "Dark Knight" is to "Batman Begins," so is "Star Trek: Into Darkness" to "Star Trek."  That is to say...this movie owns.  Everything about it was excellent.  It was unpredictable, well written, action-packed, and character driven.  Benedict Cumberbatch was a superb villain.  In my opinion, Cumberbatch made this movie.

You do not have to be a fan of Star Trek to enjoy "Star Trek:  Into Darkness."

Iron Man 3

Movie:  Iron Man 3
Major Actors:
Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Jon Favreau, Paul BettanyRating: PG13
Best Audience: Older children, teenagers, adults

Review:
I had seen Iron Man 1 & 2 by the time this movie came out, but I must confess...I was actually one of the few people that did not see The Avengers.  So I decided that since The Avengers looked more like it should have been called "Iron Man and the Avengers," I wanted to see it first.  I'm glad I did.  Iron Man's experience with The Avengers was definitely a big part of the third Iron Man. 

Of course, Iron Man 3 was very action-packed and humorous, just like the previous films.  I still maintain that Don Cheadle steals the show, which is difficult to do from Robert Downey Jr.  Even if you haven't seen the Iron Man 1 & 2 or The Avengers, you would still enjoy this film for sheer entertainment purposes...you just may be a little confused.  I hate to tell people to do homework before they see a movie, but this film is best enjoyed when you know what happened in the previous films.

Oscar Predictions 2013

Oscar Night is like the Superbowl to me.  This night is definitely one of my favorites of the year.  I love the evening gowns, the accolades, and most importantly:  the movies!  Here are my predictions for the Oscars of 2013 in the top categories:

Best Picture:  This is a very tough prediction for this year.  If it were up to me, I would say Silver Linings Playbook  but based on the reception at other award shows, I'd say  Argo 

Best Actor:  Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln

Best Actress:  Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook 

Best Supporting Actor:  Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln 

Best Supporting Actress:  Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables 

Best Director:  Stephen Spielburg for Lincoln 

Have a great night at the Oscars everyone!

Silver Linings Playbook

Movie:  Silver Linings Playbook
Major Actors: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker
Rating: R
Best Audience: Adults

Review:

I see movies all the time, but I rarely add a new favorite to my list.  This movie is absolutely a new favorite.  Not only did I love "Silver Linings Playbook," but I think it's one of the best films I've seen.  It has everything.  It is very relatable.  The characters are like people you know in real life.  The acting is amazing.  There is dancing, romance, comedy, sports, melodrama.  This movie has an actor nominated for an Oscar in each actor category and they all deserve it.  I can't say enough good things about the superb acting that Jennifer Lawrence does.  However, a few surprises for me were the preformances of Bradley Cooper and Chris Tucker.  Cooper did an excellent job as an emotionally strung out, desperate man.  Chris Tucker deviated from his normal type of role by being in this movie, but he still brought the comic relief to it that you would expect from Chris Tucker.  I highly recommend this film!

Golden Globe Predictions

"Award Season" is here and I absolutely love award shows!  Tonight, NBC will be showing the Golden Globes.  So, for the Golden Globes of 2013, I have made the following predictions:

Best Motion Picture - Drama -  Lincoln

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy -  Les Miserables

Best Actor- Musical or Comedy -  Hugh Jackman Les Miserables

Best Actress - Drama -  Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty

Best Actor- Drama -  Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln

Best Actress- Musical or Comedy -  Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook"
 
Best Supporting Actor-  Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln

Best Supporting Actress-  Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables

Zero Dark Thirty

Movie:  Zero Dark Thirty
Major Actors: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Harole Perrineau, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt
Rating: PG-13
Best Audience: Adults

Review:

Zero Dark Thirty chronicles the ten year hunt for Osama Bin Laden.  It mostly focuses the story of a real-life CIA agent who makes a discovery early on about a courrier for Bin Laden that may lead them to his location and tries to follow this lead to Bin Laden through the years.  Jessica Chastain plays this CIA agent, who now works undercover.  The movie is interesting.  For those that wondered how the finding of Bin Laden finally occured, it answers a lot of questions.

 

Les Miserables

Movie:  Les Miserables
Major Actors: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russel Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne
Rating: PG-13
Best Audience: Teens and adults....and people who don't mind musicals.

Review:

Most people who did not like Les Miserables cited the fact that the entire movie was sung.  Yes, they sing throughout the whole movie.  That is a true musical.  So as long as you can get past that aspect of the movie, you'll enjoy it.  It was very emotional.  The thing that struck me the most was the close-up shots during the very emotional songs.  I thought that added to the feeling of the scenes.  The story is obviously one of the most popular novels of all time.  The musical itself is also known around the world.  The movie is very sad, but also has a lot of happy moments.  I loved it and would recommend it to anyone (as long as they enjoy musicals).  If you don't enjoy musicals, read the book (which is one of the longest novels ever written).

 

This is Forty

Movie:  This is Forty
Major Actors: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Megan Fox, John Lithgow, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd
Rating: R
Best Audience: Adults only

Review:

I am starting to get sick of all the fighting in Judd Apatow films (Apatow is the director).  This movie is supposed to be based on Apatow's life.  The wife and two kids in the film are Apatow's actual wife and two kids.  In an interview, Apatow said he loves fighting.  That is very apparent.  It makes me wildly uncomfortable.  I know it is real.  He sought to portray a real marriage and marriage has fighting.  However, you don't go to the movies to see a "comedy" because you want to see something "real."  You go to be entertained.  If you wanted something that feels real, you'd go to see Flight or Zero Dark Thirty.  The more I see the movie Knocked Up (to which this movie is supposed to be the sequel), the more I don't like it.  This movie is a lot like Knocked Up in that there are many funny moments, but they are dispersed between very uncomfortable moments of a lot of fighting.  I'm sure a lot of people admire that aspect of the two movies, but personally, I just don't care for it. 

Unusually enough, the funniest part of this movie occured during the credits!  Melissa McCarthy, who is in every other movie lately, was hilarious as an angry mother at odds with Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann).  She had a scene where she was yelling at them in the principal's office, and during the credits, it showed the outakes.  McCarthy did not break character at all as she yelled at them while they could not stop laughing. 

The Hobbit

Movie:  The Hobbit
Major Actors: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Kate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch
Rating: PG-13
Best Audience: All audiences (perhaps above 8 years old)

Review:
I am a huge, huge Lord of the Rings fan.  I had previoiusly posted about The Hobbit here when I found out the book would be divided into three films.  I absolutely loved this film.  However, as a fan of the books, I must say there were some glaring, unnecessary additions.  The #1 thing Peter Jackson (the director) just completely made up was the "Pale Orc," Azog's character.  Azog existed in Tolkein, but his character died long before the Hobbit is set.  I'm assuming Jackson felt he needed a stronger villain for the first film.  This is one of the perils of dividing the films:  the main villains don't come into the story until later.  Although we met Smaug and the Necromancer, Jackson probably felt they didn't have a big enough role in the first part of the story and needed someone stronger.  This addition certainly would not have happened if he hadn't divided the book into three films.  Also, as my brother Daniel pointed out to me, for a movie called "The Hobbit," it sure focused mostly on the dwarves.  However, despite the additions and division, I absolutely loved the Hobbit.  It's exciting and fun.

 

Lincoln

Movie:  Lincoln
Major Actors: Daniel Day Lewis, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones
Rating: PG-13
Best Audience:  Adults

Review:

Before you see this movie, you'd think it was an biographical movie about Lincoln.  In actuality, this movie is about the battle for the passage of the thirteenth amendment to outlaw slavery.  It focuses a lot on the arguments between parties in congress at the time.  The movie does not shy away from showing the negative sides to Lincoln, as he uses controversial methods to "buy" votes.  Daniel Day Lewis is uncanny as Lincoln.  He melts into the role amazingly.  The movie also does a good job at sympathizing with Mary Todd Lincoln (Sally Field).  Many have said she was crazy, but the movie suggests her mental illness stemmed from the loss of her children.  Overall, I think that both the negative and positive sides of Lincoln were shown.  History buffs or other interested persons will enjoy this film.

 

 

Argo

Movie:  Argo
Major Actors: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman
Rating: R
Best Audience:  Adults

Review:

Argo is a captivating and interesting film.  Ben Affleck does a great job as director and star of the movie, which is set during the Iranian hostage crisis.  Every moment of the film gives you the feeling of urgency and intensity.  Historically, the details are embellished (especially the airport scene at the end).  However, it is an exciting movie.  Whether or not you lived during the Iranian hostage crisis, or have studied it at all, you should enjoy this film.

Flight

Movie: Flight
Major Actors: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Melissa Leo, Bruce Greenwood, Kelly Reilly, and John Goodman
Rating: R
Best Audience: Adults only

Review: Flight is one of those films that "makes you think." There are some funny moments, but overall, this movie is raw and real. The main character of the movie is NOT a likeable character; he is a trainwreck. However, Denzel does an excellent job portraying an alcoholic, drug addicted, careless man. John Goodman brings humor to the film, as always. I would recommend Flight to adults. However, it's not a "date night" movie or a movie teens or kids would like (or should see).