I watched this film last night and it was fairly enjoyable, though not nearly as good as I was expecting. The story involves Ren McCormack (newcomer Ken Wormald) from the city who arrives in the sad southern town of Bomont. Three years before, Bomont experienced a great tragedy, five young people were killed in a tragic car accident coming home from a dance. So underage dancing was banned in the town, along with many other activities that should already have been illegal, including underage drinking. Ren has arrived in Bomont because of his mother's untimely death from cancer. He is living with his kind car salesman uncle Wes, his sweet Aunt Lulu and his two young cousins. They all provide comic relief at various points throughout the film.
The film is also about Ariel Moore (Julianne Hough), the daughter of the town's pastor (Dennis Quaid) and his wife (Andie MacDowell, in a role that anyone could have done just as well) who is still mourning and recovering from her brother, Bobby's death in the accident three years before. She is currently dating this loser, Chuck who is a drunk race car driver. She has a low opinion of herself and the nasty Chuck takes full advantage of this. Everyone watching the film knows that Ariel and Ren will end up together, and they do, but the film is really about dancing, and finding yourself. Ren battles with the city council to make dancing legal again. Ariel fights to find herself and dump Chuck, which she does, in one of the most real scenes in the film, where Chuck beats her up. She fights to get her father to understand her again, which does happen, though it has much to do with his wife.
In the end, I feel that the leads might have done fairly well with their cookie cutter roles but it is the supporting characters that shine, namely Willard (Miles Teller), who can't even dance. But he still is great, with some of the funniest lines in the films. His girlfriend, Rusty, is also quite good. They are what makes the film worthwhile, because though the dancing may be good, the film is really nothing we haven't seen before, and leads are perhaps only slighty better than mediorce. At the same time, it is better and worse than Joyful Noise. Joyful Noise is much better acted (but then again, it had Queen Latifah in it) and the songs are more enjoyable, but Footloose is much funnier, but both are worth a second viewing. Grade: B
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Artist (2011)
I finally saw The Artist. And this time, it was worth the wait. The film is almost entirely silent, which is odd, though it works, and entirely in black and white, which may bother some people, but it doesn't bother me.
The film is basically Singin' in the Rain meets A Star is Born, and just like both of those films this one is also great. George Valentin (Jean Durjardin) is one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, and the audiences love him. He's the Douglas Fairbanks of his day, swashbuckling his way to stardom though he also has the ability to be a song and dance man. He's cool, an everyman, but then sound comes into play, and George can't believe it. He doesn't think that sound will catch on, but he's wrong, way wrong. Though he tries to fight sound, he loses, and falls into oblivion and bankruptcy. But when one star falls, another rises, in this case, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo, lighting up the screen whenever she is on), who, ironically enough gets her big start from none other than George. Peppy starts at as an extra, who can really dance, but she quickly climbs the ranks and becomes the superstar that George once was. Still, she has not forgotten him, in fact, she's his biggest fan, with a whole room of his memorabilia in her house. She also tries to safe George from his own self-loathing, but will he let himself be loved again? Will he grab the life vest Penny tossed him?
There are also other characters, including Clifton (James Cromwell), George's loyal butler, who refuses to leave George's side, but after George's fortune disappears, he must leave as George forces him to do just that, and so he does, only to be hired by Peppy. Then there is the studio head, who loves George, but then finds him a burden when sound begins, played well by John Goodman. Penelope Ann Miller is George's wife, who is icy and close-minded among other things and once his money dries up, so does her affection. But the best performances are from George and Peppy. Both received Golden Globe nominations, and Dujardin won, and deservingly so. Though the film is risky, it is also incredibly enjoyable, and a marvel. And it comes complete with a cute dog, Uggie, who basically steals the film. Overall, this is one of the best, if not the best, film of the year, and fortunately, the Oscars agreed. Grade: A
The film is basically Singin' in the Rain meets A Star is Born, and just like both of those films this one is also great. George Valentin (Jean Durjardin) is one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, and the audiences love him. He's the Douglas Fairbanks of his day, swashbuckling his way to stardom though he also has the ability to be a song and dance man. He's cool, an everyman, but then sound comes into play, and George can't believe it. He doesn't think that sound will catch on, but he's wrong, way wrong. Though he tries to fight sound, he loses, and falls into oblivion and bankruptcy. But when one star falls, another rises, in this case, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo, lighting up the screen whenever she is on), who, ironically enough gets her big start from none other than George. Peppy starts at as an extra, who can really dance, but she quickly climbs the ranks and becomes the superstar that George once was. Still, she has not forgotten him, in fact, she's his biggest fan, with a whole room of his memorabilia in her house. She also tries to safe George from his own self-loathing, but will he let himself be loved again? Will he grab the life vest Penny tossed him?
There are also other characters, including Clifton (James Cromwell), George's loyal butler, who refuses to leave George's side, but after George's fortune disappears, he must leave as George forces him to do just that, and so he does, only to be hired by Peppy. Then there is the studio head, who loves George, but then finds him a burden when sound begins, played well by John Goodman. Penelope Ann Miller is George's wife, who is icy and close-minded among other things and once his money dries up, so does her affection. But the best performances are from George and Peppy. Both received Golden Globe nominations, and Dujardin won, and deservingly so. Though the film is risky, it is also incredibly enjoyable, and a marvel. And it comes complete with a cute dog, Uggie, who basically steals the film. Overall, this is one of the best, if not the best, film of the year, and fortunately, the Oscars agreed. Grade: A
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Joyful Noise
This was an interesting film, though the substance in it was fluffy, and in parts lame. Bernie (Kris Krissoferson) is the choral director, but he suddenly dies, in a weird way, he gets arm pains while conducting the choir at a competition. After his death, his widow GG (a perfect role, handwritten for Dolly Parton) wants and expects to take over the choir, but the council chooses Vi Rose Hill (Queen Latifah) instead. Tempers flare, and they flair even more when GG's wayward grandson, Randy (Jeremy Jordan) shows up. (On a side note, we never truly learn Randy's backstory, which causes some minor irration.) And Randy shows interest in Vi Rose's daughter, Olivia (Keke Palmer, finally back in movies), which angers Vi Rose greatly. But the hurdles of competition Gospel choir remain, and the guys lose in regionals, and thus the pastor (Courtney B. Vance) cuts the show choir, as the church simply can't afford it. After all, the country is in a recession. But somehow, they make it anyway (but I don't want to spoil the whole movie, so I won't reveal that part of the film).
Then there are relationships, namely Olivia and Randy. They get together, despite protests from Vi Rose, but then they break up, but inevitably, they get back together. And kiss in front of the whole choir, and Vi Rose's mouth drops open, only to be silenced by Olivia's line, "That's not the first time I kissed him." However, there relationship is rather odd, from the beginning. When they first, one on one, Randy's lines to her are riduculous, and would have most women running to the hills. And I can't understand how they managed to spend so much time together, seeing that Vi Rose was so against the relationship from the beginning.
More interesting, though horribly odd is Earla, another lady in the choir. She and this guy from the choir get together, have sex, and then he dies. (This was funny, cheesy and awful at the same time.) And she whines about that for the rest of the film.
And then there is Vi Rose, her husband, Marcus, left two years before the movie begins and rejoined the army, but he still writes his children letters (though we learn later that in reality that he is doing such thing, Vi Rose has been writing the letters). But Randy takes Olivia to visit him, and he has missed his children, but he feels that he has let them down, and worries that he failed his wife, and she won't take him back. But he's wrong. And everything works out in the end. Earla ends up married and Marcus returns home, to Olivia's and Vi Rose's open arms.
My opinion of the film. It is enjoyable, with good acting (especially from Queen Latifah and Keke Palmer) and great songs, but there are many weird things about the film. Why does Marcus truly love his children (in addition to Olivia, there is Walter who is musically talented but suffer's from Asperger's syndrome) but he never contacts them, ever? That was odd, as was Randy's bad story. We learn that he dropped out of school and his mother kicked him out of her house, but beyond that, nothing. And he seemed like too good of a kid for that to happen to him. Still, these issues aside, it was enjoyable and not a waste of time, and worth a second look. Grade: B
Then there are relationships, namely Olivia and Randy. They get together, despite protests from Vi Rose, but then they break up, but inevitably, they get back together. And kiss in front of the whole choir, and Vi Rose's mouth drops open, only to be silenced by Olivia's line, "That's not the first time I kissed him." However, there relationship is rather odd, from the beginning. When they first, one on one, Randy's lines to her are riduculous, and would have most women running to the hills. And I can't understand how they managed to spend so much time together, seeing that Vi Rose was so against the relationship from the beginning.
More interesting, though horribly odd is Earla, another lady in the choir. She and this guy from the choir get together, have sex, and then he dies. (This was funny, cheesy and awful at the same time.) And she whines about that for the rest of the film.
And then there is Vi Rose, her husband, Marcus, left two years before the movie begins and rejoined the army, but he still writes his children letters (though we learn later that in reality that he is doing such thing, Vi Rose has been writing the letters). But Randy takes Olivia to visit him, and he has missed his children, but he feels that he has let them down, and worries that he failed his wife, and she won't take him back. But he's wrong. And everything works out in the end. Earla ends up married and Marcus returns home, to Olivia's and Vi Rose's open arms.
My opinion of the film. It is enjoyable, with good acting (especially from Queen Latifah and Keke Palmer) and great songs, but there are many weird things about the film. Why does Marcus truly love his children (in addition to Olivia, there is Walter who is musically talented but suffer's from Asperger's syndrome) but he never contacts them, ever? That was odd, as was Randy's bad story. We learn that he dropped out of school and his mother kicked him out of her house, but beyond that, nothing. And he seemed like too good of a kid for that to happen to him. Still, these issues aside, it was enjoyable and not a waste of time, and worth a second look. Grade: B
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Glee: Yes/No
Glee is one of my favorite shows on television, and because the world has a vendetta against me watching Glee at its normal time, so last night was a special treat for me. And the episode did not disappoint. Now because it's Glee, there were multiple plot lines, and some were better than others.
Plot #1: The episode began with the girls and guys begging Mercedes and Sam for details about their brief summer romance, which led, inevitably into the Grease song "Summer Nights", which was well done. Though Mercedes kept insisting that she loves Shane, her current boyfriend, and Sam tries to figure out why she is no longer attracted to him, but deep down, Mercedes still harbors feelings for him, revealed in the form of another song, when she (and all the other girls in Glee have flashbacks to when they first met their boyfriends) thought of Sam. Sam, meanwhile, is determined to win Mercedes back, so he joins the only sports team he can, synchronized swimming. That led to a funny speech by the swimming coach, saying that Sam has the biggest lips of any white boys she'd ever seen, among other things.
Plot #2: This is the big one, and really is two plots combined into one. Will decides to propose to Emma, so he asks the Glee club to prepare a number that he can perform for Emma, and then it gets even weirder when he asks Finn (a great Cory Montieth) to be his best man, which is just the most awkward thing ever, after all, Will is the teacher and Finn is the student, but I'll get over that. It was when Will was picking out a ring for Emma when Finn told Will that he was talking to an army recruiter so he could be a hero just like his father. Will then decides to get the parents involved, and both Burt (Finn's stepdad and Kurt's father) and Carol (Finn's mother and Kurt's stepmother) tried to persuade him not to do that. And then Carol revealed the big, huge family secret. Finn's father didn't actually die while serving, instead he was dishonorably discharged and died of a nasty drug problem away from home, and Carol didn't want Finn to ruin his life the same way his dad had. And the kicker is she was waiting to tell Finn until he was ready, and Finn runs away claiming he's still not ready. It was certainly the best and most emotional scene in the episode. Now, back to Will's proposal, he asks the permission of Emma's parents, but they give him the answer of a firm, no, and continue to be mean about their daughter's condition, saying they can't believe anyone would want to marry her and that she won't be able to handle children or even herself. This gives Will second thoughts, and after a few tense moments, he decides to go ahead, and after another grand song in the pool, Will pops the question and Emma says yes, inevitable. But then Finn has a suprise of his own, after Rachel promises to be quiet, Finn says that she is the best thing in his life and of all the people in the world, he can't believe that she chose to love him, and so he proposes, but the camera cuts off before she can answer him. I feel the reason that Finn did this was because he was depressed over hearing the tragic news about his father, and after being turned down for the football scholarship, he felt that the army was the only way he was going to get out of this town, but now, he can't even do that, and he feels that Rachel is the only good thing in his life, which isn't necessarily true.
Plot #3: This was another minor one. Becky (with a lovely voice over by Helen Mirren, thanks to those who pointed that out to me) develops a crush on Artie, and Artie does like her too, and feels her pain about being an outsider, but he does not love her, he only wants to be good friends with her, but she wants more. Artie lets her down, and Becky is devastated by this news, feeling as though the only reason why he did that was because of her Down Syndrome, though I don't feel that that is the case, she simply was coming on too strong.
This episode is easily one of the best of the season, the songs were good, and included some newer ones, like Rihanna's "We Found Love" to older ones such as Grease's "Summer Nights" among others. There were some great one liners, and though some plots twists you could see coming (like Finn's proposal to Rachel, though it was still shocking), there were also some you couldn't see, like the big reveal about Finn's father, all in all, it was a great episode. Grade: A
Plot #1: The episode began with the girls and guys begging Mercedes and Sam for details about their brief summer romance, which led, inevitably into the Grease song "Summer Nights", which was well done. Though Mercedes kept insisting that she loves Shane, her current boyfriend, and Sam tries to figure out why she is no longer attracted to him, but deep down, Mercedes still harbors feelings for him, revealed in the form of another song, when she (and all the other girls in Glee have flashbacks to when they first met their boyfriends) thought of Sam. Sam, meanwhile, is determined to win Mercedes back, so he joins the only sports team he can, synchronized swimming. That led to a funny speech by the swimming coach, saying that Sam has the biggest lips of any white boys she'd ever seen, among other things.
Plot #2: This is the big one, and really is two plots combined into one. Will decides to propose to Emma, so he asks the Glee club to prepare a number that he can perform for Emma, and then it gets even weirder when he asks Finn (a great Cory Montieth) to be his best man, which is just the most awkward thing ever, after all, Will is the teacher and Finn is the student, but I'll get over that. It was when Will was picking out a ring for Emma when Finn told Will that he was talking to an army recruiter so he could be a hero just like his father. Will then decides to get the parents involved, and both Burt (Finn's stepdad and Kurt's father) and Carol (Finn's mother and Kurt's stepmother) tried to persuade him not to do that. And then Carol revealed the big, huge family secret. Finn's father didn't actually die while serving, instead he was dishonorably discharged and died of a nasty drug problem away from home, and Carol didn't want Finn to ruin his life the same way his dad had. And the kicker is she was waiting to tell Finn until he was ready, and Finn runs away claiming he's still not ready. It was certainly the best and most emotional scene in the episode. Now, back to Will's proposal, he asks the permission of Emma's parents, but they give him the answer of a firm, no, and continue to be mean about their daughter's condition, saying they can't believe anyone would want to marry her and that she won't be able to handle children or even herself. This gives Will second thoughts, and after a few tense moments, he decides to go ahead, and after another grand song in the pool, Will pops the question and Emma says yes, inevitable. But then Finn has a suprise of his own, after Rachel promises to be quiet, Finn says that she is the best thing in his life and of all the people in the world, he can't believe that she chose to love him, and so he proposes, but the camera cuts off before she can answer him. I feel the reason that Finn did this was because he was depressed over hearing the tragic news about his father, and after being turned down for the football scholarship, he felt that the army was the only way he was going to get out of this town, but now, he can't even do that, and he feels that Rachel is the only good thing in his life, which isn't necessarily true.
Plot #3: This was another minor one. Becky (with a lovely voice over by Helen Mirren, thanks to those who pointed that out to me) develops a crush on Artie, and Artie does like her too, and feels her pain about being an outsider, but he does not love her, he only wants to be good friends with her, but she wants more. Artie lets her down, and Becky is devastated by this news, feeling as though the only reason why he did that was because of her Down Syndrome, though I don't feel that that is the case, she simply was coming on too strong.
This episode is easily one of the best of the season, the songs were good, and included some newer ones, like Rihanna's "We Found Love" to older ones such as Grease's "Summer Nights" among others. There were some great one liners, and though some plots twists you could see coming (like Finn's proposal to Rachel, though it was still shocking), there were also some you couldn't see, like the big reveal about Finn's father, all in all, it was a great episode. Grade: A
Monday, January 16, 2012
The Iron Lady
I've finally seen The Iron Lady, and unfortunately, it wasn't worth the wait.
Meryl Streep, once again, did a great job, complete with an uncanny likeness and accent as the first ever, and only, to date female Prime Minister Great Britain has ever seen, Margaret Thatcher. And though she was amazing, truly emersed in her role, every action put together with thought and consideration of how the real Margaret would have done, and probably deserved her Golden Globe win last evening, the rest of the film was a total disaster.
The screenplay began in current day, with Margaret as a bumbling old lady suffering from Alzheimer's disease and having hallucinations that her dead husband, Denis (another good performance from Jim Broadbent, though there really is little for him to do) is still alive. Then, through a constant series of flashbacks, none of which are very clear, we see Margaret's climb to power and her sudden, but not unexpected fall from it. For some reason, there are no dates ever put on the screen, instead, they rely on either the characters to state the date or have a newspaper headline with the date upon it, and unfortunately, that just didn't work. And instead of focusing on one important event in her life (and there are tons to pick from), they instead attempt to give an overview of her life, from her meeting Denis to the Falkland Wars and economic crises in Great Britain to her having to resign from the office, but everything is horribly confusing, even for someone who just wrote a paper about Thatcher for one of her college classes (aka me). Had they (the screenwriter) opted to focus on something specific, like say, Margaret's run for Prime Minister, the film would have been fantastic, and Meryl deserved something so much better, because then, she really would have deserved any single award she has been given, or has yet to receive. Grade: B-
Meryl Streep, once again, did a great job, complete with an uncanny likeness and accent as the first ever, and only, to date female Prime Minister Great Britain has ever seen, Margaret Thatcher. And though she was amazing, truly emersed in her role, every action put together with thought and consideration of how the real Margaret would have done, and probably deserved her Golden Globe win last evening, the rest of the film was a total disaster.
The screenplay began in current day, with Margaret as a bumbling old lady suffering from Alzheimer's disease and having hallucinations that her dead husband, Denis (another good performance from Jim Broadbent, though there really is little for him to do) is still alive. Then, through a constant series of flashbacks, none of which are very clear, we see Margaret's climb to power and her sudden, but not unexpected fall from it. For some reason, there are no dates ever put on the screen, instead, they rely on either the characters to state the date or have a newspaper headline with the date upon it, and unfortunately, that just didn't work. And instead of focusing on one important event in her life (and there are tons to pick from), they instead attempt to give an overview of her life, from her meeting Denis to the Falkland Wars and economic crises in Great Britain to her having to resign from the office, but everything is horribly confusing, even for someone who just wrote a paper about Thatcher for one of her college classes (aka me). Had they (the screenwriter) opted to focus on something specific, like say, Margaret's run for Prime Minister, the film would have been fantastic, and Meryl deserved something so much better, because then, she really would have deserved any single award she has been given, or has yet to receive. Grade: B-
Golden Globes: My Opinion
To me, at least, the show was uninteresting with barely any chuckles. Ricky Gervais, hosting for his third time, limited his jokes to topics that were too easy to make fun of and boring, old news that had already blown over, or stuff that people just don't care about. One of his first jokes included to Johnny Depp, asking him if Depp had seen his film, The Tourist yet, and Johnny answered no, he had not, which probably explains a lot. The rest of the laughs didn't come from Ricky, but came instead from either the winners (Modern Family) or the presenters, including a great laugh from Seth Rogen.
The winners were fairly predictable, though some did come from out of the blue, including Woody Allen's one for Best Screenplay, I mean, over Moneyball, The Ides of March and The Descendants, seriously. And, on another note, I found it weird that Martin Scorsese won for Best Director for Hugo, but Hugo was not named Best Picture, Drama, instead that award went to The Descendants.
Speeches wise, there were some huge errors, namely Meryl Streep, who had to be bleeped out for some reason, causing her to lose some points with me, and I love her. You would also think that after more than thirty years of being in the film business, she would be able to pull off an inpromptu speech and pull it off flawlessly, but apparently not. Michelle Williams, on the other hand, delivered a beautiful speech without the use of a scrap of paper unlike some of the others, though I'll forgive those who speak English as a second language. All in all, I can't wait for the Oscars, they've got to be better than last year, and the Golden Globes need to find someone else to host them, like say maybe, Seth Rogen?
The winners were fairly predictable, though some did come from out of the blue, including Woody Allen's one for Best Screenplay, I mean, over Moneyball, The Ides of March and The Descendants, seriously. And, on another note, I found it weird that Martin Scorsese won for Best Director for Hugo, but Hugo was not named Best Picture, Drama, instead that award went to The Descendants.
Speeches wise, there were some huge errors, namely Meryl Streep, who had to be bleeped out for some reason, causing her to lose some points with me, and I love her. You would also think that after more than thirty years of being in the film business, she would be able to pull off an inpromptu speech and pull it off flawlessly, but apparently not. Michelle Williams, on the other hand, delivered a beautiful speech without the use of a scrap of paper unlike some of the others, though I'll forgive those who speak English as a second language. All in all, I can't wait for the Oscars, they've got to be better than last year, and the Golden Globes need to find someone else to host them, like say maybe, Seth Rogen?
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Golden Globes Winners
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer Beginners
Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy: Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn
Best Screenplay: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer The Help
Best Director: Martin Scorese, Hugo
Best Actor, Musical or Comedy: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Best Actress in a Drama: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Best Picture, Musical or Comedy: The Artist
Best Actor, Drama: George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Picture, Drama: The Descendants
Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy: Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn
Best Screenplay: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer The Help
Best Director: Martin Scorese, Hugo
Best Actor, Musical or Comedy: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Best Actress in a Drama: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Best Picture, Musical or Comedy: The Artist
Best Actor, Drama: George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Picture, Drama: The Descendants
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Golden Globe Predictions
Here is my take on Golden Globe Predictions:
It is very incomplete because I simply have not seen a number of the films.
Best Actor (Drama): George Clooney The Descendents, Leonardo DiCaprio J. Edgar, Michael Fassbender Shame, Ryan Gosling The Ides of March, Brad Pitt Moneyball
My Pick: Brad Pitt in Moneyball
Why: Though I'm not fond of Pitt as a person, he was great in this film, and it is one of my favorites of the year. I thought Ryan Gosling was also amazing in The Ides of March so if he wins (though that is horribly unlikely) I won't get mad. George Clooney is another of the favorites to win, and though he was great in The Descendents, I thought he was so much better in Up in the Air, and I have yet seen J. Edgar and Shame (and will probably never see Shame just because of its rating).
Best Actress (Drama): Glenn Close Albert Nobbs, Viola Davis The Help, Rooney Mara The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Meryl Streep Iron Lady, Tilda Swinton We Need to Talk About Kevin
My Pick: Viola Davis in The Help
Why: This is somewhat easy for me, as I have only seen one film, Viola Davis in The Help, and she was fantastic, don't get me wrong, but I can't help but feel that Emma Stone was also a huge part of the film, and yet Viola Davis is getting all of the nominations and they are not undeserved but Emma also heavily carried the film and was great.
Best Actor (Comedy or Musical): Jean Dujardin The Artist, Brendon Gleeson The Guard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt 50/50, Ryan Gosling Crazy, Stupid, Love, Owen Wilson Midnight in Paris
My Pick: either Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 50/50 or Ryan Gosling Crazy, Stupid, Love
Why: I have not seen The Artist yet (and I'm not happy about it) so I have yet to see the heavy favorite, and both Joseph and Ryan were great in their respective films. Owen Wilson was also quite good, but nowhere near as good as Joseph and Ryan were, so I'll be fine if either of them win.
Best Actress (Comedy or Musical): Jodie Foster Carnage, Charlize Theron Young Adult, Kristin Wiig Bridesmaids, Michelle Williams My Week with Marilyn, Kate Winslet Carnage
My Pick: Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn
Why: She disappears under Marilyn's skin. It is easily one of the best, if not the best, performance of the year, she also puts Kristin Wiig's performance to shame. Kristin was funny in Bridesmaids and was completely absorbed as Annie, but was nowhere near as great as Michelle was. I have not seen the other two movies involved.
Best Supporting Actor: Kenneth Branaugh My Week with Marilyn, Albert Brooks Drive, Jonah Hill Moneyball, Viggo Mortenson A Dangerous Method, Christopher Plummer Beginners
My Pick: Kenneth Branaugh in My Week with Marilyn
Why: I have not seen the favorite Christopher Plummer, so I can't judge him yet. I can barely remember Albert's performance in Drive, so he's also out, so that leaves Jonah's and Kenneth's performances, and they were both great, but I'll give the edge to Kenneth who has always been great.
Best Supporting Actress: Berenice Bojo The Artist, Jessica Chastain The Help, Janet McTeer Albert Nobbs, Octavia Spencer The Help, Shailene Woodley The Descendents
My Pick: Octavia Spencer in The Help
Why: Though Shailene was also quite good in The Descendents (and was probably the best thing about that film) and Jessica was also sensational in The Help, I give the edge to Octavia, though her role could have been expanded so much in the film as compared to the book but she was still great and gave the film the much needed comic relief while being dead serious at the same time.
Best Film (Drama): The Ides of March, Moneyball, Hugo, The Descendents, War Horse, The Help
My Pick: either The Ides of March or Moneyball
Why: These are both great movies so it's a toss up as to which one I'd prefer to win. The Help and The Descendents are also excellent, but The Ides of March and Moneyball were better.
Best Film (Comedy or Musical): The Artist, Bridesmaids, 50/50, My Week with Marilyn, Midnight in Paris
My Pick: film-wise it's My Week with Marilyn, but I don't consider that film either a musical or comedy, so as a result I choose 50/50
Why: This film was very good and was quite funny though it was still a bit too serious, it is still the better choose of Bridesmaids (much better) and Midnight in Paris, which was also great, but 50/50 was better.
It is very incomplete because I simply have not seen a number of the films.
Best Actor (Drama): George Clooney The Descendents, Leonardo DiCaprio J. Edgar, Michael Fassbender Shame, Ryan Gosling The Ides of March, Brad Pitt Moneyball
My Pick: Brad Pitt in Moneyball
Why: Though I'm not fond of Pitt as a person, he was great in this film, and it is one of my favorites of the year. I thought Ryan Gosling was also amazing in The Ides of March so if he wins (though that is horribly unlikely) I won't get mad. George Clooney is another of the favorites to win, and though he was great in The Descendents, I thought he was so much better in Up in the Air, and I have yet seen J. Edgar and Shame (and will probably never see Shame just because of its rating).
Best Actress (Drama): Glenn Close Albert Nobbs, Viola Davis The Help, Rooney Mara The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Meryl Streep Iron Lady, Tilda Swinton We Need to Talk About Kevin
My Pick: Viola Davis in The Help
Why: This is somewhat easy for me, as I have only seen one film, Viola Davis in The Help, and she was fantastic, don't get me wrong, but I can't help but feel that Emma Stone was also a huge part of the film, and yet Viola Davis is getting all of the nominations and they are not undeserved but Emma also heavily carried the film and was great.
Best Actor (Comedy or Musical): Jean Dujardin The Artist, Brendon Gleeson The Guard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt 50/50, Ryan Gosling Crazy, Stupid, Love, Owen Wilson Midnight in Paris
My Pick: either Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 50/50 or Ryan Gosling Crazy, Stupid, Love
Why: I have not seen The Artist yet (and I'm not happy about it) so I have yet to see the heavy favorite, and both Joseph and Ryan were great in their respective films. Owen Wilson was also quite good, but nowhere near as good as Joseph and Ryan were, so I'll be fine if either of them win.
Best Actress (Comedy or Musical): Jodie Foster Carnage, Charlize Theron Young Adult, Kristin Wiig Bridesmaids, Michelle Williams My Week with Marilyn, Kate Winslet Carnage
My Pick: Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn
Why: She disappears under Marilyn's skin. It is easily one of the best, if not the best, performance of the year, she also puts Kristin Wiig's performance to shame. Kristin was funny in Bridesmaids and was completely absorbed as Annie, but was nowhere near as great as Michelle was. I have not seen the other two movies involved.
Best Supporting Actor: Kenneth Branaugh My Week with Marilyn, Albert Brooks Drive, Jonah Hill Moneyball, Viggo Mortenson A Dangerous Method, Christopher Plummer Beginners
My Pick: Kenneth Branaugh in My Week with Marilyn
Why: I have not seen the favorite Christopher Plummer, so I can't judge him yet. I can barely remember Albert's performance in Drive, so he's also out, so that leaves Jonah's and Kenneth's performances, and they were both great, but I'll give the edge to Kenneth who has always been great.
Best Supporting Actress: Berenice Bojo The Artist, Jessica Chastain The Help, Janet McTeer Albert Nobbs, Octavia Spencer The Help, Shailene Woodley The Descendents
My Pick: Octavia Spencer in The Help
Why: Though Shailene was also quite good in The Descendents (and was probably the best thing about that film) and Jessica was also sensational in The Help, I give the edge to Octavia, though her role could have been expanded so much in the film as compared to the book but she was still great and gave the film the much needed comic relief while being dead serious at the same time.
Best Film (Drama): The Ides of March, Moneyball, Hugo, The Descendents, War Horse, The Help
My Pick: either The Ides of March or Moneyball
Why: These are both great movies so it's a toss up as to which one I'd prefer to win. The Help and The Descendents are also excellent, but The Ides of March and Moneyball were better.
Best Film (Comedy or Musical): The Artist, Bridesmaids, 50/50, My Week with Marilyn, Midnight in Paris
My Pick: film-wise it's My Week with Marilyn, but I don't consider that film either a musical or comedy, so as a result I choose 50/50
Why: This film was very good and was quite funny though it was still a bit too serious, it is still the better choose of Bridesmaids (much better) and Midnight in Paris, which was also great, but 50/50 was better.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Drive
This is a film that the critics loved, while I hated the film. Now, to be fair, I was mad going into it, because of the ticket price, (apparently, at some theater's the matinee prices end at 3:00 in the afternoon, but that's a whole other story). Ryan Gosling gives a serious, but one-note performance as the main character who is never named. He is a stunt driver by day, and at night, he is the getaway car while unknown and most likely illegal actions are occurring. He is not on anyone's side, he merely drives. Then there is his sweet, waitress neighbor, Irene (a good Carey Mulligan, though the role gives her little to do). Then there is Albert Brooks who plays the villian, but, honestly I forget most of his performance, which is never a good sign.
The dialogue is at times, painful and nothing can save this film, not the interesting music or beautiful cinematography, and Ryan Gosling doesn't even take his shirt off, which would have slightly redeemed the film for me. And last part of the film is horribly bloody, too bloody, and once again, I felt as though I had wasted my time, and had nothing to show for it, which I hate. Still I find I can't give the film any longer than a C.
The dialogue is at times, painful and nothing can save this film, not the interesting music or beautiful cinematography, and Ryan Gosling doesn't even take his shirt off, which would have slightly redeemed the film for me. And last part of the film is horribly bloody, too bloody, and once again, I felt as though I had wasted my time, and had nothing to show for it, which I hate. Still I find I can't give the film any longer than a C.
Our Idiot Brother
Ned, the lovely, sweet stoner who tries to always see the good in people is a good role for Paul Rudd and he disappears into his skin, if only the dialogue and plot gave him more to do. But he's just so clueless, you wonder how anyone can function. He believes his bizarre brother-in-law Dylan (Steve Coogan) when Dylan tells him that he is also naked when he films his subjects (he's a documentary filmmaker) naked so they can feel comfortable. But he opts not to tell his sister (Emily Mortimor) about her husband's actions. Instead, he eventually tells another one of his sister's Miranda, the tightly woven business woman, desperate for her first big break, and too blind to see that her neighbor is in love with her. (Elizabeth Banks plays the sister, Adam Scott the neighbor.) Then there is Ned's youngest sister, Natalie, a struggling lesbian stand-up comedian (a decent Zooey Deschanel), who also models for the attractive Hugh Dancy, who is deeply in love with her, and there one night stand leads to unexpected complications. The mother of all these children (Shirley Knight) deals with this by drinking tons of red wine.
However, the most important person in Ned's life is none of these people, instead it is his lovely golden lab, Willie Nelson, but his nasty ex-girlfriend, a burned out hippie with dreadlocks (Kathryn Hahn) does not let Ned back into the house, business and though it is Ned's dog, she is not letting him get him back, and Ned is just devastated by this.
Though the plot is thin and incredibly weak, the film is saved by the great performances from some tried and true comic actors, but still, the laughs the film provided are horribly weak, and overall, nothing much is learned from the film. Grade: C+
However, the most important person in Ned's life is none of these people, instead it is his lovely golden lab, Willie Nelson, but his nasty ex-girlfriend, a burned out hippie with dreadlocks (Kathryn Hahn) does not let Ned back into the house, business and though it is Ned's dog, she is not letting him get him back, and Ned is just devastated by this.
Though the plot is thin and incredibly weak, the film is saved by the great performances from some tried and true comic actors, but still, the laughs the film provided are horribly weak, and overall, nothing much is learned from the film. Grade: C+
New Year's Eve
This movie wasn't the worst way to spend the evening, but it contained no depth whatsoever. And there are so many plot lines, some are good, but most are stupid. One involves Paul (Zac Efron) trying to make all of Ingrid's (Michelle Pfeiffer's) dreams come true just so he can get these exclusive tickets she has. Then there is Jessica Biel and Seth Meyers trying to become the first couple to have a baby in the new year, and they lose (or did they just lie to be good people?). And then there is Jon Bon Jovi trying to win back Katherine Heigl because he realizes that he was a loser. Then there is Sarah Jessica Parker who won't let her daughter, Abigail Breslin go into the city to watch the ball drop. And there is a dying Robert De Niro begging his nurse Halle Berry to let him watch the ball drop one last time, because he has refused all the treatments and is now living only on borrowed time. You also have to throw Josh Duchamal, Hilary Swank, Sofia Vegara and Hector Elizondo into the mix, and there you have the movie. There are some funny moments, most of them come from Sofia Vegara, and it is hugely predictable, though there are interesting plot twists which made the movie at least slightly enjoyable. Still, it is far from the worst way to spend the evening, but Valentine's Day was considerably better. Grade: C+
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The Adjustment Bureau
This film causes the viewer to think. In this film, a fledging politician and a promising young contemporary dancer meet, and then are tragically taken away from each other, and the scary part is someone is behind it all. David Norris (Matt Damon) is the politician while Elise (Emily Blunt) is the dancer. They meet cute in a men's room of all places and then David delivers a great speech despite losing the election, and then they don't meet again for another three years. But they were never supposed to meet again. In this world, every action is controlled, because everyone has a path and the path that David and Elise are on, where they will both excel at their careers and change the world (David with his alternative energy plan) but if they end up together, none of that will happen (Elise will end up teaching dance to five year-olds, for example). And for awhile David leaves Elise alone until he decides that he can't live without her. And the constant, non-stop action begin.
The film was pretty good, though I was expecting it to be another Inception and clearly, I was wrong, though it did cause me to think and wonder what would happen if every move I made was controlled by an outside force. Unfortunately, we'll never know, and honestly, that's a good thing. What ultimately saved the film for me was the great performances from Matt Damon and Emily Blunt who I hope will work together again in a film more worthy of their talents. Grade: B-
The film was pretty good, though I was expecting it to be another Inception and clearly, I was wrong, though it did cause me to think and wonder what would happen if every move I made was controlled by an outside force. Unfortunately, we'll never know, and honestly, that's a good thing. What ultimately saved the film for me was the great performances from Matt Damon and Emily Blunt who I hope will work together again in a film more worthy of their talents. Grade: B-
Friends with Benefits
This is a film for a girls' night in or a date movie, but certainly cannot be taken seriously. It's supposed to be a comedy, and there are some funny moments, but there are also many serious ones, too many for a film like this. The film involves Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis) and their relationship of trying to remain friends while having sex. You and I both know where this is headed, it's been done before, and already this year with the Portman-Kutcher comedy No Strings Attached. Fortunately, this one is better than that one, though not by as much as someone would think.
In Friends with Benefits, Jamie is a corporate head hunter who recruits Dylan to migrate from Los Angeles to the great and powerful city of New York, and she knows that she must sell the city to him, not the job, which is what she does and it works. Dylan takes the offer, and a friendship forms between the two of them. However, both come with great emotional baggage. Dylan's father suffers from, as Roger Ebert put it in his review, movie Alzheimer's while Jamie's mother isn't sure of who fathered her only child. Both parents, Richard Jenkins is Dylan's father while Patricia Clarkson is Jamie's mother, playing basically the same character in Will Gluck's much better film, Easy A.
After some time together, both Dylan and Jamie get hungry for sex, and both being single, they cannot get it elsewhere, so they turn to each other for sex. And they start having sex, and can't seem to be able to stop, until emotions get in the way. Jamie does have another brief relationship with a doctor, but the moment they have sex, he leaves her, but Dylan stays. However, over an extended weekend visiting Dylan's family, Jamie overhears some words that Dylan does not mean, and is merely saying them to get his sister (a great Jenna Elfman) off his back. Jamie then leaves, and Dylan must fight to get her back, which (SPOILER ALERT) he does, but this time they try to have a real relationship, but they soon learn that talking doesn't work well for them, and they begin making out to end the film.
The reason why this film is better than No Stings Attached is merely because both Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis are better in their roles, and despite her Oscar, Natalie Portman just isn't made for these fluffy romantic comedies. The supporting players are great in this film, including Woody Harrelson and good cameos by Emma Stone (who loves John Mayer) and Andy Samberg, and there are some funny lines, but unfortunately for everyone, not too many, and yet there are too many light moments for this film to be a serious one. Grade: B-
In Friends with Benefits, Jamie is a corporate head hunter who recruits Dylan to migrate from Los Angeles to the great and powerful city of New York, and she knows that she must sell the city to him, not the job, which is what she does and it works. Dylan takes the offer, and a friendship forms between the two of them. However, both come with great emotional baggage. Dylan's father suffers from, as Roger Ebert put it in his review, movie Alzheimer's while Jamie's mother isn't sure of who fathered her only child. Both parents, Richard Jenkins is Dylan's father while Patricia Clarkson is Jamie's mother, playing basically the same character in Will Gluck's much better film, Easy A.
After some time together, both Dylan and Jamie get hungry for sex, and both being single, they cannot get it elsewhere, so they turn to each other for sex. And they start having sex, and can't seem to be able to stop, until emotions get in the way. Jamie does have another brief relationship with a doctor, but the moment they have sex, he leaves her, but Dylan stays. However, over an extended weekend visiting Dylan's family, Jamie overhears some words that Dylan does not mean, and is merely saying them to get his sister (a great Jenna Elfman) off his back. Jamie then leaves, and Dylan must fight to get her back, which (SPOILER ALERT) he does, but this time they try to have a real relationship, but they soon learn that talking doesn't work well for them, and they begin making out to end the film.
The reason why this film is better than No Stings Attached is merely because both Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis are better in their roles, and despite her Oscar, Natalie Portman just isn't made for these fluffy romantic comedies. The supporting players are great in this film, including Woody Harrelson and good cameos by Emma Stone (who loves John Mayer) and Andy Samberg, and there are some funny lines, but unfortunately for everyone, not too many, and yet there are too many light moments for this film to be a serious one. Grade: B-
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
NCIS: A Desperate Man
They cheated. They totally cheated. MASSIVE SPOILERS ALERT AHEAD. They made Ray (Ziva's fiance) the bad guy. I mean, seriously, I'm really glad she won't marry him (he did propose after all) and that he's completely out of the picture, but they had to make him the bad guy? That's complete crap.
The case was fairly interesting, with the husband of the dead navy woman being a homicide detective himself and naturally he's furious about the whole event and deals with it difficultly. He drinks too much and tries to attack the whole NCIS team, and visits the crime scene himself, but without telling anyone of his actions. And then Ray turns out to be the one who killed the woman, but she wasn't the target, another bad guy was. This guy had joined a terrorist group that was against Americans, so he really was bad, but Ray accidently killed the woman. And Ziva figured it out. And then she found Ray at the airport and punched him immediately, telling him that he now had her answer, a firm NO.
At the end of the show, Nick (the husband of the dead woman) told them thank you and asked how long Tony and Ziva had been together, they answered that they weren't but were good friends. Nick told them to treasure that friendship always. It was a good ending to a show that completely cheated. They could have just let things not work out between Ray and Ziva (that's the way things were heading anyway, after all, he had stood her up at dinner and hadn't called her for several weeks while he was overseas) but then the writers had to go and make him the bad guy, which I unfortunately, could see coming, but I feel cheated by the whole thing and I think NCIS is too good of a show to stoop to that level. Not to mention that they have used that plot device more than once, and not just to Ziva, her boyfriend Michael turned out to be a bad guy and Tony shot him. It happened twice to Ducky's love interests, including once already this season, and several times to Tim's love interest. Grade: B-
The case was fairly interesting, with the husband of the dead navy woman being a homicide detective himself and naturally he's furious about the whole event and deals with it difficultly. He drinks too much and tries to attack the whole NCIS team, and visits the crime scene himself, but without telling anyone of his actions. And then Ray turns out to be the one who killed the woman, but she wasn't the target, another bad guy was. This guy had joined a terrorist group that was against Americans, so he really was bad, but Ray accidently killed the woman. And Ziva figured it out. And then she found Ray at the airport and punched him immediately, telling him that he now had her answer, a firm NO.
At the end of the show, Nick (the husband of the dead woman) told them thank you and asked how long Tony and Ziva had been together, they answered that they weren't but were good friends. Nick told them to treasure that friendship always. It was a good ending to a show that completely cheated. They could have just let things not work out between Ray and Ziva (that's the way things were heading anyway, after all, he had stood her up at dinner and hadn't called her for several weeks while he was overseas) but then the writers had to go and make him the bad guy, which I unfortunately, could see coming, but I feel cheated by the whole thing and I think NCIS is too good of a show to stoop to that level. Not to mention that they have used that plot device more than once, and not just to Ziva, her boyfriend Michael turned out to be a bad guy and Tony shot him. It happened twice to Ducky's love interests, including once already this season, and several times to Tim's love interest. Grade: B-
Saturday, January 7, 2012
NCIS: Housekeeping
Now for a break from what I normally write about. I am going to tell you about the last NCIS episode. The plot line brought Erica Jane Barrett back into our world, she is a former agent who took a job that Tony was offered in Spain but then fell off the face of the earth after nearly being killed. For the past couple of months, she has been living off the grid, not even contacting her own parents. Apparently, the same people that are after her are also after Tony, but he never hid, working out in the open the whole time, so that struck me as weird, but whatever. The main I enjoyed this episode is that there were some good Tiva scenes. For years, tenison has built up between the two, and several times they almost got together, and this episode, unfortunately, wasn't any different. Almost but not quite. E.J. told Tony that Ziva respected him, and perhaps something would have happened at Ziva's desk had her CIA boyfriend Ray had not called her, for the first time in seven weeks by the way.
The rest of the plot was fairly interesting, one of the good guys turned out to be evil, and was betrayed by the other evil guy (who he thought was his friend). And then the main evil guy was captured, so he will just his just revenge. So E.J. is finally safe, and able to return home. But Tony and Ziva are still not together.
Next week's episode also looks great, and Ray has finally resurfaced and will pop the big question to Ziva, will she say yes and if she does, why? There are just so many options for how that can play out. Grade: B+
The rest of the plot was fairly interesting, one of the good guys turned out to be evil, and was betrayed by the other evil guy (who he thought was his friend). And then the main evil guy was captured, so he will just his just revenge. So E.J. is finally safe, and able to return home. But Tony and Ziva are still not together.
Next week's episode also looks great, and Ray has finally resurfaced and will pop the big question to Ziva, will she say yes and if she does, why? There are just so many options for how that can play out. Grade: B+
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Bridesmaids
This is a film the critics loved, and as for me, not so much. Now it was a completely enjoyable film, but certainly not in my top ten. Kristen Wiig is Annie a baker by passion turned jewelry salesperson. She has a nasty roommate who is so stupid it's funny, but fortunately she does have a supportive best friend, Lillian (a lovely Maya Rudolph) who announces that she's getting married. Annie is going to be the maid of honor, and now the real fun begins. There is Helen, the rich lady who steals Lillian away from Annie only to lose ground toward the end, but Megan (a sensational Melissa McCarthey) steals the show, as the little seen groom's sister. There are two other bridesmaids, one is Erin from the Office, and she plays a similar character and another one who is married with children, not much to say about her.
Though the movie is a little long, and some scene drag on too long, there are some truly great ones and the airplane one is especially memorable, though not for Kristen Wiig's great monologue but for the interaction between Megan and her seatmate. Annie goes through hell in this film, and most of it is her own fault, sleeping with some sleezy guy who doesn't care about her or anyone else but himself, and then when she finally finds a nice guy, she tosses him aside with little explanation, other than that is what she always does. She loses her job, just because she can't stand to see other people happy and has to move back in with her mother, but fortunately Megan comes to the rescue, and helps Annie redeem herself, and then when Lillian has a meltdown, Helen cannot save her, but fortunately for all involved, Annie can. All is right with the world. Grade: B
Though the movie is a little long, and some scene drag on too long, there are some truly great ones and the airplane one is especially memorable, though not for Kristen Wiig's great monologue but for the interaction between Megan and her seatmate. Annie goes through hell in this film, and most of it is her own fault, sleeping with some sleezy guy who doesn't care about her or anyone else but himself, and then when she finally finds a nice guy, she tosses him aside with little explanation, other than that is what she always does. She loses her job, just because she can't stand to see other people happy and has to move back in with her mother, but fortunately Megan comes to the rescue, and helps Annie redeem herself, and then when Lillian has a meltdown, Helen cannot save her, but fortunately for all involved, Annie can. All is right with the world. Grade: B
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
We Bought a Zoo
This movie belongs to Matt Damon, and he carries it well. He is Benjamin Mee, a journalist who quits his job because he is sick of all the pity he is receiving after the sudden death of his young wife, Katherine. Everywhere he goes reminds him of Katherine, and he decides that he and his children need a change of scenery so on a mere whim, he buys this beautiful house out in the country that also happens to be an out of business zoo. Here the real story begins.
Scarlett Johannson portrays Kelly, the lovely zookeeper who takes no crap from anyone. Elle Fanning is her cousin, Lilly who also works at the zoo, illegally of course, but apparently that is not a problem for whatever reason. There are also an assorted bunch of zookeepers and receptionists, some of whom are fascinating characters while others are just annoying, mainly the first secretary who also tries to turn the rest of the crew against their new boss.
And then there are the Mee children, 14 year old Dylan (Colin Ford) who has been having a difficult time adjusting to life without his mother, and sweet seven year old Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) who seems fine. Dylan hates the farm, his misses his old friends horribly and without realizing it, chases away one of the only friends he still has. Rosie enbraces the zoo, especially the peacocks and the babies.
Though there are some hurdles, and massive ones along the way, everything works out in the end, and Kelly and Benjamin end up together, just as everyone could predict, though in my opinion, because Benjamin is still wearing his wedding ring, it felt like he was cheating on her, though he most certainly was not. Still, the film is great feel good movie and it works out well, with excellent performances from Matt Damon (though he called his son 'man' one too many times) and the rest of the cast, including great comic relief from Thomas Haden Church, brilliant as Benjamin's brother, despite being typecast. Grade: B
Scarlett Johannson portrays Kelly, the lovely zookeeper who takes no crap from anyone. Elle Fanning is her cousin, Lilly who also works at the zoo, illegally of course, but apparently that is not a problem for whatever reason. There are also an assorted bunch of zookeepers and receptionists, some of whom are fascinating characters while others are just annoying, mainly the first secretary who also tries to turn the rest of the crew against their new boss.
And then there are the Mee children, 14 year old Dylan (Colin Ford) who has been having a difficult time adjusting to life without his mother, and sweet seven year old Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) who seems fine. Dylan hates the farm, his misses his old friends horribly and without realizing it, chases away one of the only friends he still has. Rosie enbraces the zoo, especially the peacocks and the babies.
Though there are some hurdles, and massive ones along the way, everything works out in the end, and Kelly and Benjamin end up together, just as everyone could predict, though in my opinion, because Benjamin is still wearing his wedding ring, it felt like he was cheating on her, though he most certainly was not. Still, the film is great feel good movie and it works out well, with excellent performances from Matt Damon (though he called his son 'man' one too many times) and the rest of the cast, including great comic relief from Thomas Haden Church, brilliant as Benjamin's brother, despite being typecast. Grade: B
The Conspirator
Now this is a film that I really enjoyed, though hardly anyone seems to share my opinion. This film concerns Frederick Aiken (another good role for James McAvoy), a veteran of the Union army in the Civil War but also a lawyer by trade. His first assignment after recovering from his war injuries is to defend Mary Surratt (a graceful Robin Wright) the mother of known conspirator, John. She also owns the boarding house where John Wilkes Booth and his helpers met to plan the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Instead of given a normal trial, Mary is tried in a military turbanal. After all the country is still under marshal law. This is another film where the supporting characters shine, Kevin Kline as the nasty secretary of state who hates what Aiken is doing, Tom Wilkinson as the southern gentleman who is also Aiken's boss, Evan Rachel Wood and Johnny Simmons shine as Mary Surratt's two children who had decided to lead very different lives. Alexis Bledel and Justin Long also do quite well in a period piece. But the film belongs to McAvoy and Wright and they excel in difficult, juicy roles.
Aiken constantly goes against the grain, he is defending a woman that everyone believes to be guilty, which she may well be, but certainly she deserves a trial with her peers, but this is not granted to her. The film gives the viewer plenty to think about, should a known traitor to her country be punished, or should she be treated fairly? Maybe, the answer will be argued over forever. Grade: B+
Aiken constantly goes against the grain, he is defending a woman that everyone believes to be guilty, which she may well be, but certainly she deserves a trial with her peers, but this is not granted to her. The film gives the viewer plenty to think about, should a known traitor to her country be punished, or should she be treated fairly? Maybe, the answer will be argued over forever. Grade: B+
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Now I can go on and on about how this movie once again didn't follow the book properly which it didn't, though fortunately, it is still a great movie. Harry Potter, a wonderful Daniel Radcliffe, and his best friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger (Rupert Grint and Emma Watson) journey to find the last Horcurxes and then Harry faces his final battle with the dreaded and horribly evil Voldemort (aka He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named). Though the first Deathly Hallows film was slow paced, this one is non-stop action, and certainly nothing can be darker than a measley amount of people standing up to Voldemort and he huge amount of large, nasty looking Death Eaters, but for everyone who read the book (which is everyone) good does beat evil, though Rowling throws in a few twists and turns along the way, and not everyone is spared, Remus Lupin and Tonks along with Fred and countless others die, fighting. Snape turns out to be a good guy (though he apparently cries his thoughts) and Harry doesnt' die, much to everyone's relief. Ron and Hermione end up together, and so do Harry and Ginny, everyone is one big, happy family.
Once again, the music and special effects are top-notch, and the acting cannot be falted. Even Maggie Smith, as Professor McGonagall, has some great moments, which have been missing in the last couple of films, and Julie Walters as Mrs. Molly Weasley pratically steals the show when it comes to defending her daughter against Bellatrix Lestrange, a great role for Helena Bonham Carter. And you just feel for Alan Rickman, delivering another excellent performance as Snape.
For the most part, the film blends it's actions and multi events occuring at the same time fairly well, though not everything happens like it does in the book, and as a book lover, it disturbs me, but this whole series is great and wholly enjoyable. As a film critic put it, that's a lot for a story about a boy and his wand. Grade: B+
Once again, the music and special effects are top-notch, and the acting cannot be falted. Even Maggie Smith, as Professor McGonagall, has some great moments, which have been missing in the last couple of films, and Julie Walters as Mrs. Molly Weasley pratically steals the show when it comes to defending her daughter against Bellatrix Lestrange, a great role for Helena Bonham Carter. And you just feel for Alan Rickman, delivering another excellent performance as Snape.
For the most part, the film blends it's actions and multi events occuring at the same time fairly well, though not everything happens like it does in the book, and as a book lover, it disturbs me, but this whole series is great and wholly enjoyable. As a film critic put it, that's a lot for a story about a boy and his wand. Grade: B+
Midnight in Paris
This film is quite interesting. Gil, Owen Wilson in his best role yet, is a Woody Allen type writer who is suffering from writing block in the fantasically amazing city of Paris, which he loves. Inez (a nasty role for the usually likeable Rachel McAdams) is his fiance, but she seems uninterested in anything going on in his life. So Gil escapes, he journeys to the 1920s when Gertrude Stein and F. Scott Fitzgerald filled Paris and wrote some of their greatest works. Here many great stars make the real characters great, Alison Pill is amazing as Zelda, Fitzgerald's wife. Kathy Bates, always wonderful, shines as Stein and Adrien Brody provides some relief as Salvador Dali. Marion Cotillard is wonderful as Adrienne, Piscasco's current girlfriend who Gil falls hopelessy in love with, but she doesn't love the 1920s like he does.
Meanwhile, in the real world, Gil's life is coming together and falling apart all at the same time. He finally writes something worthwhile only to learn that Inez is having an affair with someone else. And then Adrienne goes on a journey which Gil cannot follow her on.
This film is quite interesting, considering I don't really like Woody Allen (probably because he married his own daughter, actually his step-daughter but still). Had Woody Allen been younger, he would easily have played the role assigned to Owen Wilson. Grade: B+
Meanwhile, in the real world, Gil's life is coming together and falling apart all at the same time. He finally writes something worthwhile only to learn that Inez is having an affair with someone else. And then Adrienne goes on a journey which Gil cannot follow her on.
This film is quite interesting, considering I don't really like Woody Allen (probably because he married his own daughter, actually his step-daughter but still). Had Woody Allen been younger, he would easily have played the role assigned to Owen Wilson. Grade: B+
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The Muppets
This film is pure fun for there is barely a plot and the acting may be good but it is, well, odd, the characters are similar to cartoon characters and are simple without much depth but the film is still great, after all it is the muppets. Jason Segal, who also co-wrote the film stars as Gary, a simple man who has a brother Walter (the newest Muppet) who may not be a great human, he is much to short, but upon discovering the muppets, he becomes obsessed, and then when Gary decides to take Mary (a delightful Amy Adams) to Los Angeles to celebrate their tenth anniversary of dating, he brings Walter along to visit the muppets. Then the problem arises. The Muppets have split up and have to raise money so can save their old museum because it is about to be purchased by mean, nasty man played with gusto by Chris Cooper, who promises to save it but will really start drilling for oil. Gary, Walter, Mary and Kermit go on a great car ride to gather everyone together to put on one last great show so their museum can be saved. Though the movie is thin on plot, the songs are enjoyable and the dialogue is witty, but the main enjoyment comes when some great stars make their often hilarious cameos. This is another film I could watch almost every day just because of how enjoyable it is. Grade: B+ (but once again, this film is more enjoyable and worthwhile than The Descendents)
50/50
This film is also quite enjoyable though it does include its extremely somber moments. It involves Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, quite good) who receives the devastating diagnosis of cancer from a cruel doctor who never even pauses to let Adam ask any questions and his best friend, despite being his complete opposite, Kyle (Seth Rogen, playing himself, again) who refuses to let Adam get down in the dumps about his new situation. The two play off each other quite well, and participate in many typical male activities, Kyle is determined to get himself and Adam laid, and tries to even use him to use his cancer as a ploy to pick up women, though it ends with horrid results.
But Kyle is great in finding out that Adam's seemingly supportive girlfriend Rachael (another nasty role for Bryce Dallas Howard, though she is great) is actually cheating on him though she felt guilty about telling him about it because she didn't want to abandon Adam. Anjelica Huston is great as Adam's overprotective mother with more than enough on her plate already, caring for her husband suffering from Alzheimer's disease, but still she also wants to care for him as well (he is her only child after all). Though she is clingy, Adam does not treat her well, he seldom calls her until close to the end of the film, despite needing her help.
Anna Kendrick delivers another great performance as Katherine the psychiatrist in training who Adam goes to only because it was suggested to him. She is great, and though everyone roots for her to end up with Adam, it is, unfortunately, technically illegal (doctors can't date their patients).
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is also great in another difficult role and once again paints his face with emotions, and the character he portrays has more than his share of quirks, with refusing to drive, biting his nails and refusing to be late for anything. Grade: A-
But Kyle is great in finding out that Adam's seemingly supportive girlfriend Rachael (another nasty role for Bryce Dallas Howard, though she is great) is actually cheating on him though she felt guilty about telling him about it because she didn't want to abandon Adam. Anjelica Huston is great as Adam's overprotective mother with more than enough on her plate already, caring for her husband suffering from Alzheimer's disease, but still she also wants to care for him as well (he is her only child after all). Though she is clingy, Adam does not treat her well, he seldom calls her until close to the end of the film, despite needing her help.
Anna Kendrick delivers another great performance as Katherine the psychiatrist in training who Adam goes to only because it was suggested to him. She is great, and though everyone roots for her to end up with Adam, it is, unfortunately, technically illegal (doctors can't date their patients).
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is also great in another difficult role and once again paints his face with emotions, and the character he portrays has more than his share of quirks, with refusing to drive, biting his nails and refusing to be late for anything. Grade: A-
Crazy, Stupid, Love
This film is easily one of the most enjoyable ones of the year. And the cast is simply marvelous: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei and Kevin Bacon. All are perfect in their roles.
Steve Carell and Julianne Moore are Cal and Emily Weaver, a seemingly happy married couple, but then, out of the blue, she announces that she wants a divorce and slept with someone else (the pompous but well-meaning accountant Kevin Bacon). Cal can't handle this so he journeys to a near-by bar and complains to everyone about his current perdicament. Jacob Palmer a smooth talking ladies' man takes Cal under his wing, but only because he does not want to hear Cal whine anymore. And it works, women start finding him attractive and going home with him, but will Emily want him back and will Cal fight for her?
And then there's Jacob, who may have finally found the missing piece of his puzzle with the brand-new lawyer, Hannah, a great and hilarious Emma Stone who also just broke up with her crazy, anal boyfriend Richard. Will everything work out between the two of them?
However, despite having two great plots, there is yet a third, and this one is not nearly as endearing. Robbie the teenage son of Cal and Emily is completely in love with the babysitter Jessica but she has a crush on someone else and goes through deseperate (and disgusting) lengths to prove it, but Robbie is not just going to let her go, he's going to fight, but will their age difference (roughly four to five years) prove too much, or will true love (perhaps) prevail?
I can probably watch this movie everyday just because of the great and unexpected plot twist that left the audiences I saw it with gasp and it left them shocked, and the other reason is because of Ryan Gosling's abs which also do not disappoint. Grade: A- (though it is considerably more enjoyable than The Descendents)
Steve Carell and Julianne Moore are Cal and Emily Weaver, a seemingly happy married couple, but then, out of the blue, she announces that she wants a divorce and slept with someone else (the pompous but well-meaning accountant Kevin Bacon). Cal can't handle this so he journeys to a near-by bar and complains to everyone about his current perdicament. Jacob Palmer a smooth talking ladies' man takes Cal under his wing, but only because he does not want to hear Cal whine anymore. And it works, women start finding him attractive and going home with him, but will Emily want him back and will Cal fight for her?
And then there's Jacob, who may have finally found the missing piece of his puzzle with the brand-new lawyer, Hannah, a great and hilarious Emma Stone who also just broke up with her crazy, anal boyfriend Richard. Will everything work out between the two of them?
However, despite having two great plots, there is yet a third, and this one is not nearly as endearing. Robbie the teenage son of Cal and Emily is completely in love with the babysitter Jessica but she has a crush on someone else and goes through deseperate (and disgusting) lengths to prove it, but Robbie is not just going to let her go, he's going to fight, but will their age difference (roughly four to five years) prove too much, or will true love (perhaps) prevail?
I can probably watch this movie everyday just because of the great and unexpected plot twist that left the audiences I saw it with gasp and it left them shocked, and the other reason is because of Ryan Gosling's abs which also do not disappoint. Grade: A- (though it is considerably more enjoyable than The Descendents)
The Descendents
Though this film has been getting numerous nominations from critics and the golden globes alike, but this one was far from my favorite of the year. The plot was overall too depressing and not uplifting enough for me, sort of like Gone with the Wind, but worse because I simply didn't like any of the characters and at least Gone with the Wind had the sweet Melanie and Rhett, certainly terribly interesting, though Leslie was too weak and Scarlett was nothing more than a selfish crazy lady, pining after a guy who doesn't fell the same way.
In The Descendents, there is Matt King a wealthy landowner and lawyer who is bumbling through life after his wife, whom he has neglected as of late, Elizabeth is in a coma after having an accident on her boat. He struggles with his daughters, Scottie (the selfish brat of Amara Miller) and the crazy Alexandra (Shailene Woodley). Alexandra is unlikable for she just hates her mother so much, and she has her own issues, including sneaking out of her private school to drink illegally, but fortunately for all, she improves mightily after hearing some more bad news about her mother.
The main plot of this film is Matt finding out from Alexandra that his wife had been having an affair with another man, and Matt is determined to find this man and inform hims of his wife's tragic condition. Joining Matt and his daughters on the quest is Aleandra's childhood friend, Sid, an interesting guy to figure out. (On a side note, Sid's mother is just going to let him go off on this wild goose chase for find this other man, including letting him fly to another island. This issue just irked me throughout the whole film.)
George Clooney is great as Matt King, though I still feel like he was much better in Up in the Air (which also gave us a much newer, fresher idea), though he once again is playing a version sort of character. Woodley is sensational as his daughter and turning in great supporting performances is Robert Forster as the old, grumpy father-in-law and Judy Greer as the wife of cheating man.
Then there is the subplot of the large amount of land that Matt and his numerous cousins own, but it must be sold because the trust will expire in just seven years time. But the land must be sold and it will no longer be pure, instead it will be used to make money off of and the essence of it will be ruined forever. I felt that this subplot should have been explored more, but it gave the viewer as break from the comatose wife. Grade: A- (though I enjoyed it much less)
In The Descendents, there is Matt King a wealthy landowner and lawyer who is bumbling through life after his wife, whom he has neglected as of late, Elizabeth is in a coma after having an accident on her boat. He struggles with his daughters, Scottie (the selfish brat of Amara Miller) and the crazy Alexandra (Shailene Woodley). Alexandra is unlikable for she just hates her mother so much, and she has her own issues, including sneaking out of her private school to drink illegally, but fortunately for all, she improves mightily after hearing some more bad news about her mother.
The main plot of this film is Matt finding out from Alexandra that his wife had been having an affair with another man, and Matt is determined to find this man and inform hims of his wife's tragic condition. Joining Matt and his daughters on the quest is Aleandra's childhood friend, Sid, an interesting guy to figure out. (On a side note, Sid's mother is just going to let him go off on this wild goose chase for find this other man, including letting him fly to another island. This issue just irked me throughout the whole film.)
George Clooney is great as Matt King, though I still feel like he was much better in Up in the Air (which also gave us a much newer, fresher idea), though he once again is playing a version sort of character. Woodley is sensational as his daughter and turning in great supporting performances is Robert Forster as the old, grumpy father-in-law and Judy Greer as the wife of cheating man.
Then there is the subplot of the large amount of land that Matt and his numerous cousins own, but it must be sold because the trust will expire in just seven years time. But the land must be sold and it will no longer be pure, instead it will be used to make money off of and the essence of it will be ruined forever. I felt that this subplot should have been explored more, but it gave the viewer as break from the comatose wife. Grade: A- (though I enjoyed it much less)
My Week with Marilyn
This film is quite good, though sorely misnamed. The entire movie does not take place within a week's time, instead it covers the entirely of shooting time the film The Prince and the Showgirl took, which must have been several months. The week is the time when runner Colin Clive grew close to the superstar, Marilyn Monroe, and then he wrote two memiors based on his experience, milking it for all it was worth. Eddie Redmayne (Tony winner for Red) is great as the dewey-eyed Colin, eager to make his career in movies and just starstruck to be working with both Sir Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe. Though the plot is fairly simple, it is the characters that bring this movie to life. Michelle Williams is senstational as Marilyn, capturing every single detail of the essence that only Marilyn had, down to the breathy voice. Kenneth Branaugh also does justice to the fairly similar Shakespearan actor and director Laurence Olivier. Judi Dench is great as the legendary actress portraying Olivier's mother in the film. Emma Watson is fine in her terribly small role as the wardrobe girl on the film. She is simply deprived of screen time though her role is an interesting one, as the girl who falls in love with Colin only to be tossed aside for Marilyn.
Marilyn is such a complex woman, both childish and insecure as well as confident and polished, as well as being a great comedic actress. But thanks to her awful childhood and her devastation in love and childbearing (she suffers a miscarriage toward the end of the film, but this whole situation was handled rather poorly) along with being fawned over by the public, Marilyn is a fragile woman just waiting to break. The break came much too soon, in 1962 when she was just 36. Her current husband, Arthur Miller, the famous playwright, portrayed in the film by Dougray Scott and her acting coach Paula Strasberg, Zoe Wanamaker do little to help her in the long-term run. But on the screen, Marilyn is enchanting, just as Williams is. Grade: A-
Marilyn is such a complex woman, both childish and insecure as well as confident and polished, as well as being a great comedic actress. But thanks to her awful childhood and her devastation in love and childbearing (she suffers a miscarriage toward the end of the film, but this whole situation was handled rather poorly) along with being fawned over by the public, Marilyn is a fragile woman just waiting to break. The break came much too soon, in 1962 when she was just 36. Her current husband, Arthur Miller, the famous playwright, portrayed in the film by Dougray Scott and her acting coach Paula Strasberg, Zoe Wanamaker do little to help her in the long-term run. But on the screen, Marilyn is enchanting, just as Williams is. Grade: A-
Sunday, January 1, 2012
The Help
The Help was originally a best-selling book, and then it became a movie. Now, I have both read the book and seen the movie, twice, and both are excellent, though I would have to say that the book is better as is so often the case. The book is quite complex, told from the point of view of Skeeter, Abileen and Minny and the subplots are numerous and most had to cut from the film. One subplot that they keep in is the short-lived relationship that Skeeter has, which made no sense to me, as it helped the movie little and that time that the movie spent dealing with that issue could have been time spent devoted to something else that aided the movie so much more. Still, the cast is among the best of the year.
The main plot of the film is Skeeter (a great Emma Stone) struggling to become a writer in the 1960s Jackson, Mississippi when most other women stayed at home, played bridge and had children. Then Skeeter stubbles upon the idea of writing a book from the point-of-view of the help. And after some initial reluctance, she finds and opens up the lost soul of Abileen (a wonderful Viola Davis, emotions forever eteched in her face), still reeling from the devastating loss of her young son. Abileen tells Skeeter her stories and they both grow from them. And then Abileen's best friend, a feistly Minny gets involved, adding comic relief and tons more great stories to the film.
Minny works for two terribly different women through the course of the film. In the beginning she is working for Skeeter's good friend, Hilly (a perfectly nasty Bryce Dallas Howard) but then after using the toilet that belonged to the white owners was fired and then finds work from Hilly's own personal nemesis, Celia Foote, who lives far away from town in a large, fancy house all by herself (and her husband who used to date Hilly). Celia does want a maid, but not in the same way that Hilly does, she really wants a friend and tries to treat Minny as an equal. Minny is, after all, the only one she can really talk to. Jessica Chastain, who portrayed Celia, is simply marvelous, and unfortunately for Octavia Spencer (Minny), steals all the scenes that she is in.
In the end, most of the plot lines get solved though some seem much more out of the blue than others. In the movie, the intensity of Minny's abusive husband is not given the importance it needs, but you still feel for all involved, all products of their time, some rise above it, others sink below it. In this film, there are no real winners, everyone loses something, but most (with the exception of the nasty Hilly and her meak friend Elizabeth) gain much more, independence. Grade: A-
The main plot of the film is Skeeter (a great Emma Stone) struggling to become a writer in the 1960s Jackson, Mississippi when most other women stayed at home, played bridge and had children. Then Skeeter stubbles upon the idea of writing a book from the point-of-view of the help. And after some initial reluctance, she finds and opens up the lost soul of Abileen (a wonderful Viola Davis, emotions forever eteched in her face), still reeling from the devastating loss of her young son. Abileen tells Skeeter her stories and they both grow from them. And then Abileen's best friend, a feistly Minny gets involved, adding comic relief and tons more great stories to the film.
Minny works for two terribly different women through the course of the film. In the beginning she is working for Skeeter's good friend, Hilly (a perfectly nasty Bryce Dallas Howard) but then after using the toilet that belonged to the white owners was fired and then finds work from Hilly's own personal nemesis, Celia Foote, who lives far away from town in a large, fancy house all by herself (and her husband who used to date Hilly). Celia does want a maid, but not in the same way that Hilly does, she really wants a friend and tries to treat Minny as an equal. Minny is, after all, the only one she can really talk to. Jessica Chastain, who portrayed Celia, is simply marvelous, and unfortunately for Octavia Spencer (Minny), steals all the scenes that she is in.
In the end, most of the plot lines get solved though some seem much more out of the blue than others. In the movie, the intensity of Minny's abusive husband is not given the importance it needs, but you still feel for all involved, all products of their time, some rise above it, others sink below it. In this film, there are no real winners, everyone loses something, but most (with the exception of the nasty Hilly and her meak friend Elizabeth) gain much more, independence. Grade: A-
Moneyball (2011)
This is another great film with a sensation performance from Brad Pitt, whom I don't normally like, though he was also quite good in Babel. Moneyball details a year in the life of Billy Beane, the manager of the Oakland Athletics, and his struggles to make the team with with extremely limited funds (at least in baseball terms), under $40 million per season while the Yankees have over one hundred million dollars to do so.
Pitt as Beane delivers the performance of his life, begging the team's owner for more money and trying to atone for his own awful career, which never panned out though he was signed with a generous offer. Beane is also a doting father, though separated from his wife and that dictates much of what he does. He wants better for his daughter.
Playing opposite Pitt is the pre-slimmed down Jonah Hill as the fictional character (based on an actual person) Peter Brand who is an economic genius and can crunch numbers quicker than anyone. Brand, however, has a weird philosophy when it comes to baseball. As long as the player gets on base, nothing else about them matters, not their criminal record or past injuries. Ironically, when asked, Brand states that he would have drafted Billy in the ninth round without the signing bonus. Billy muses that then he would have taken the scholarship to Stanford instead. Who knows what would have happened then?
Despite the odds, Beane follows Brand's seemingly crazy theory much to the chargrin of the A's manager, Art Howe (another brilliant performance from Philip Seymour Hoffman) and the tons of scouts. And at first, nothing seems to be going right, but then, things pick up. He truly believes in what he does and shakes things up. Hatteberg (Chris Pratt) an injured catcher is taught to play first base, but the coach doesn't use him at first base despite all of Billy's pleading. He finally gives in only after the first basement he uses is traded and literally has no choice but to use Hatteberg. However, will the A's be able to beat the bigger, richer and better teams?
The Oakland A's also do the impossible, winning twenty straight games in a row, a true miracle but Billy is too superstitious to even watch the games and when he finally does, it almost blows up in his face.
The movie is somewhat of a feel good film, though there are tons of moments of where one false move, and everything would slip right out of Beane's fingers, namely his job. And despite being largely a sports film, a sports hater will still find reasons to like this film, namely the perfect script and excellent performances, in addition to Pitt and Hill, the rest of the cast delivers. For sports fans, this is an absolute must! Grade: A
Pitt as Beane delivers the performance of his life, begging the team's owner for more money and trying to atone for his own awful career, which never panned out though he was signed with a generous offer. Beane is also a doting father, though separated from his wife and that dictates much of what he does. He wants better for his daughter.
Playing opposite Pitt is the pre-slimmed down Jonah Hill as the fictional character (based on an actual person) Peter Brand who is an economic genius and can crunch numbers quicker than anyone. Brand, however, has a weird philosophy when it comes to baseball. As long as the player gets on base, nothing else about them matters, not their criminal record or past injuries. Ironically, when asked, Brand states that he would have drafted Billy in the ninth round without the signing bonus. Billy muses that then he would have taken the scholarship to Stanford instead. Who knows what would have happened then?
Despite the odds, Beane follows Brand's seemingly crazy theory much to the chargrin of the A's manager, Art Howe (another brilliant performance from Philip Seymour Hoffman) and the tons of scouts. And at first, nothing seems to be going right, but then, things pick up. He truly believes in what he does and shakes things up. Hatteberg (Chris Pratt) an injured catcher is taught to play first base, but the coach doesn't use him at first base despite all of Billy's pleading. He finally gives in only after the first basement he uses is traded and literally has no choice but to use Hatteberg. However, will the A's be able to beat the bigger, richer and better teams?
The Oakland A's also do the impossible, winning twenty straight games in a row, a true miracle but Billy is too superstitious to even watch the games and when he finally does, it almost blows up in his face.
The movie is somewhat of a feel good film, though there are tons of moments of where one false move, and everything would slip right out of Beane's fingers, namely his job. And despite being largely a sports film, a sports hater will still find reasons to like this film, namely the perfect script and excellent performances, in addition to Pitt and Hill, the rest of the cast delivers. For sports fans, this is an absolute must! Grade: A
The Ides of March
The Ides of March:
This has been my favorite film of the last year. Though the material may be perhaps a bit dated and overdone, it was still a chilling film that makes you wonder about every single elected politician and whatever secrets they have hidden.
George Clooney portrays Mike Morris a senator who is campaigning to be the next democratic presidential candidate. Ryan Gosling charms as Stephen Moyer the young, eager campaign manager who grows up and sees that no one is perfect, and this time it actually affects him. He delivers a winning performance. Also excellent is Evan Rachel Wood, another young, eager woman working for Morris’s campaign, with tragic results. In support, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti excel as a reporter, another senator, the head of Morris’s campaign and the head of the competitor’s campaign, respectively.
To some, the movie may have been predictable, but to me, it was not. It shows how horribly easy deception is, and not just to the public, but to other family members as well. And throughout the film, there is more than enough blackmail and double-crosses. Stephen’s secret meeting with the enemy is revealed to the public, but by someone who he least suspected, and to get back everything he once had, he uses blackmail despite having no proof of his own, it is merely his word against the other’s. But in the end, Stephen is not a winner, his face is completely void of all emotions, perhaps that’s because he is no longer naïve, he has seen the cruel, ugly world, and he didn’t like it.
Ryan Gosling gives an exceptional performance as Stephen and is certainly the best actor in the film, though George Clooney doesn’t disappoint as the seemingly perfect senator who has a dark secret. Evan Rachel Wood is also great as the woman whose actions lead to her own demise. Grade: A
The films that I have seen in 2011
I have seen many films this year including tons from other years but I will focus first on the films that were released this year.
The Ides of March
Moneyball
The Help
My Week with Marilyn
The Descendents
Crazy, Stupid, Love
50/50
The Muppets
Midnight in Paris
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Conspirator
We Bought a Zoo
Bridesmaids
Friends with Benefits
The Adjustment Bureau
New Year’s Eve
Our Idiot Brother
Drive
Bad Teacher
No Strings Attached
Arthur
Beastly
I will begin with a review of each of these films.
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