Warrior Review

                                                           3 Nuts!

Director: Gavin O'Connor

Warrior is about two brothers, Tommy, played by Tom Hardy and Brendon, played by Joel Edgerton.  Tommy, the younger brother has returned home after many years to his father, a recovering alcoholic played by Nick Nolte. His plan is for his father to train him to become a -professional MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter.  Brendon, an ex- professional MMA fighter is employed as a high school teacher.  He is having trouble making enough money to support his family and so he returns to professional fighting in order to earn some much needed additional income. 

For the first hour of the film each of the brothers stories are kept completely separate.  The two have no contact with each other and Tommy doesn’t seem to be in any rush to become reacquainted with his big brother.  Tommy has incredible rancor towards his father and is only staying with him because his father is a great trainer.  The scenes between the father and son are some of the strongest moments in the film.  The viewer learns that the father has been sober for 1000 days and feels contrite for the way things are between him and his sons.  The dad desperately wants to make amends but Tommy is no longer looking for a father figure.  Brendon’s story is also absorbing as the audience watches him transform from a teacher into a great MMA fighter. 

The second half of the film is primarily MMA fight scenes.  The viewer will see a total of 5 fights.  Tommy is intrepid as he relentlessly battles against his opponents.   Brendon’s style however gives the audience a more realistic idea as to how daunting other fighters can be.  These fight scenes are very exhilarating and ultimately build up to an unforgettable final brawl.   At times the fights can seem a bit much in that anyone of them could have been the final fight.  It was hard to imagine that the film would be able to top each preceding fight but it does.

This film explores the limits of both physical and emotional extremes.  The performances are so genuinely convincing that the audience can see and feel the brothers’ anguish.  This is due to the remarkable acting by both Nick Nolte and Tom Hardy.  Tommy is a rather reserved person, but Hardy plays the character extremely well so that the audience can understand where he is coming from.  Unfortunately the good acting is accompanied by some horrendous acting from several of the supporting characters. 

A shortcoming in this film appears to be figuring out who the main character really is.  For the first half of the movie it feels like it is Tommy but by the second half it has shifted somewhat to Brendon.  It was hard to choose who to root for because in the end only one can be the victor. 

Looking at the film from a technical MMA standpoint there is a huge flaw.  There is no blood.  Warrior is a PG-13 movie about an R rated sport.  People unfamiliar to the sport will be shocked when they go to watch a real MMA fight after seeing this film.  There are a few times in the film where a real professional fight would have been stopped; however, they let these keep going in order to build the drama. 

This film at times felt like a big promotional for professional MMA. It glorifies a brutal sport while making an attempt to attract a younger audience.    

In a peaNut Shell: The drama created between the scenes with Tommy and his father was just as captivating as watching the fights themselves.  The film throws in the occasional cliché but that is to be expected.  Overall this is an incredibly exciting and emotionally charged movie.

                                                                                                                   

 First Published in The Daily Targum

Apollo 18 Review

                                                             2 Nuts

                                                           

Director: Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego

Apollo 18 is not a documentary and it is not a true story.  It is a work of fiction that was created primarily for the purpose of entertaining the viewer.  That being said, the director and writer went to great lengths to make sure this picture projected an aura of irrefutable authenticity.  There are no opening credits to this film.  Instead it begins by informing the audience that what they are about to see is recently found footage from an ‘Apollo 18’ space mission.  Embedded in this story is a supposed explanation of why the U.S has never gone back to the moon.  The film starts out rather slow, briefly introducing our 3 main characters who will be sent up to the moon.  Sometimes a slow start is ok but for a film that is a few minutes shy of an hour and a half the first 30 minutes needs to have more going on.  Having said that, what follows, turns out to be at times a frightening ride in space. 

In terms of plot this isn’t something strikingly different from what audiences have seen before.  Astronauts land on the moon to find out that they are not alone.  Staying alive and getting off the moon becomes priority number one.  Unfortunately, the Department of Defense has other plans. 

The entirety of the film appears to have been shot using a handheld camera creating the impression of authentic footage.   The audience will only get to see what the camera’s set up on the space ship or the astronauts’ handheld camera allows.  At times these handheld cameras can be rather vexing to the viewer.  It has a similar feel to “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity.”  The camera shakes, it goes out of focus, and even shuts off multiple times.  The use of this technique does work however in helping create a creepy atmosphere for the film.  

Despite a slow start, there are many moments throughout this film that will make the audience jump. So come into the theater expecting to be repeatedly startled.   Suspense is created effectively by the camerawork.  There is always something popping out at the audience accompanied by a loud screech. But ultimately the payoff is cheap and unimaginative.  Despite all this the movie does create an eerie feel of impending doom.

The dialogue between the two astronauts has no real substance.  It is both sparce and insipid.  The main character is difficult to root for simply because he is given no opportunity to develop or change.  He is just an astronaut in space who wants to get back to his family.  Not enough depth goes into this character for the audience to really care if he lives or dies. 

Is this movie just about another United States government conspiracy?  Are the Aliens trying to prevent the astronauts from leaving the lunar surface?  Are all rocks really aliens? These and many more questions will be posed as the film progresses but none will be answered. 

In a peaNut Shell: Apollo 18 is an interesting idea and works to some extent.  It is very slow early on and the payoff is not all that spectacular.  At times it can be scary thanks to the use of clever camera work and a good set of speakers.  At other times this movie can feel vapid and boring. The good parts in the film slightly out way the negatives.  In short, if nothing worthwhile is on TV, go see it.

First Published in The Daily Targum

The Hangover Part II Review

                                                          2 1/2 Nuts

Director: Todd Phillips

This is one review I could have almost written before seeing this film. I know that sounds curious for me as a critic but let’s think about it for a minute. If you watched any trailer for this movie then you know The Hangover Part II is going to be similar in many ways to the original Hangover. Early on in the film the main characters get drunk, wake up to discover their friend missing, and have to find the lost person before one of them gets married by the end.  Part II is the same premise; using the same group of very funny actors and director of the original they manage to keep the plot engrossing so that the audience is interested throughout. Going into this movie I had a good feeling (like many in the audience) that it would still be very funny, however probably not as good as it’s predecessor.

Let’s be real for a minute. If you weren’t expecting lines like” I can’t believe this is happening again”, well then shame on you.  If you go into this movie thinking you are going to see a brand new idea, then you clearly have not seen a preview for this movie.  What I do like is that the trailers didn’t lie to us; the audience knew exactly what they were getting into when they purchased their tickets. 

This time the gang heads out to Thailand for Stu’s wedding.  Stu is played once again by the very funny Ed Helms.  Somehow they get incredibly drunk and lose Stu’s future wife’s younger brother. It’s up to Stu, Phil (Bradley Cooper), and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) to find her brother and bring him back. It does sound like a real carbon copy of the first but looking past that, we once again watch as the group tries to figure out what happened the night before. The situations they get into this time prove to be extremely funny, just not quite as funny as they were in the first film.

What works in this movie are the characters. The three main stars once again have terrific chemistry and work well off one another.  Galifianakis is still outrageous, however at times it felt like he was going a bit over the top with his character, which isn’t really necessary. Nevertheless he is still hysterical and provides many of the best lines in the movie.  Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms were also great and I liked them as much as I did in the original.  They are not working with the most unique idea ever but it is impressive how they can still keep the plot moving.

The writer’s apparently were trying to make Hangover II more outrageous than the first film. At times that worked, and regrettably at other time it did not.  If critics had a problem with Bridesmaids’ raunchiness then look out for this one.  Hangover part II shows more male genitalia then you could possibly want. There is one scene that is so strange and gross that it stuck with me for the rest of the film; it should have been taken out.

In a peaNut Shell: This is not as good as the original, not even close. They didn’t really break out of the original mold. The film still manages to be extremely funny despite all it flaws, which is downright impressive.  The movie had some slow parts; however the three main guys are funny enough to keep this comedy going. 

Bridesmaids Review

                                                          3 Nuts!

Director: Paul Feig

Bridesmaids could have just been a typical ‘girly’ movie. We have all seen the previews hundreds of times for films with a similar story line.  Thankfully this film is far better and a hell of a lot funnier than any chick flick in recent memory. To even call this a chick flick may be a stretch because guys bringing their girlfriends to see this movie may find it funnier and more enjoyable than their dates. 

This is a hilarious movie. There is no getting around that.  I know on a second viewing there will be scenes that I will look forward to, just remembering how hard I laughed the first time through.  Kristen Wig, who currently is one of the cast members on Saturday Night Live, plays Annie, a 30 something year old who’s best friend Lillian played by Maya Rudolph is about to get married.  Annie is asked to be the maid of honor which she happily accepts.  Annie then meets the rest of the bridal party and the movie truly takes off from there.The interactions between these 6 women are hysterical. Outrageous scenes take place throughout the film in various settings ranging from a high end dress store to an airplane.  Kristen Wig’s performance proved just how comedic she can truly be. 

At times the film can take it a bit far, and some criticism that I have heard regarding the film is that it can be too raunchy at times. However, removing those parts from the film would in fact be a disservice to the film. Those scenes happen to be some of the funniest moments that the film has to offer.  If toilet humor is something that offends you, then don’t see this film, but you will be missing out on some very funny moments. 

The film has a few slow parts where characters get into fights but those are inevitable in this type of movie. It still has some of the elements of a chick flick.  There is a love story between Kristen Wig and a cop. It is a very standard cheesy side story that is put in just to have a sub plot love story.

In a peaNut Shell: This is a solid comedy.  It has moments where I was almost in tears from laughing so hard.  There is also the occasional moment I could have lived without.  In all, the film works and if you can take the raunchy humor you won’t regret seeing this one. 

Thor Review

                                                         2 1/2 Nuts

Director: Kenneth Branagh

There seems to be a good deal of super hero movies coming out this summer and to start it off we have Thor.  He is a god by day and I guess a god by night as well.  Thor takes place in two worlds, one being our own planet Earth and the other Asgard, a planet in a different realm where Thor resides. Unlike most super hero movies where the protagonist gains his powers through an origin story, Thor already has all of his powers from the onset. 

The film focuses around Thor played by Chris Hemsworth who is soon to replace his father as king of Asgard.  Unfortunately his arrogance gets him cast out of Asgard by his father Oden played by Anthony Hopkins.  He is sent to earth until he learns to change his ways. There he meets up with a group of scientist, the primary one being Jane Foster played by Natalie Portman.  Together they try and find a way to get Thor back to Asgard in time to save his planet from destruction.      

The plot isn’t incredibly intriguing but the action scenes are terrific.  Unfortunately the best action scene in the movie is at the very beginning and the film never seems to attain that level of excitement for the remainder. Although a lot of the action scenes take place in the realm of Asgard, there are still the occasional ones on Earth.  The ones at Asgard look significantly better because these mythical creatures look more believable when they are on a planet as mythical as themselves. The battle scenes on Earth at times look rather silly, simply because Earth and Asgard are such radically different locations.

The movie delivered more laughs than I had anticipated it would.  In the second act, Thor is on planet Earth however he behaves and talks in a way that would come out of a Shakespearen play.   In one scene Thor is sitting in a coffee shop and throws his coffee cup on the floor and demands another.  He is so clearly not from this planet, his actions become very funny. 

Although this isn’t the best super hero movie out there, I couldn’t see any other director doing a better job with this specific super hero’s story.  To make this outrageous concept work on film could not have been an easy task, however the end product is surprisingly well done.

In a peaNut Shell:  Between some very solid action sequences and a decent amount of laughs, Thor proves to be rather enjoyable.  The 2^nd act feels slow at parts but picks up again toward the end.  It may not be the best super hero movie out there but it is far from the worst.

   

Scream 4 Review

                                    

                                                           3 Nuts!

Director: Wes Craven

Scream is back and bloodier than ever.  Eleven years after the last Scream movie, Wes Craven was ready to give it another go. Was bringing this franchise back for the 21^st century really necessary? Absolutely, and it’s a damn good thing they did.

Poor Sydney Prescott, this woman just can’t seem to catch a break.  In this installment Prescott  (Neve Campbell, Scream)  returns to her home town of Woodsboro, where the infamous “Woodsboro killings” took place years earlier.  She is there to publicize her new self-help book about her life and the horrific murders that have befallen so many of her friends over the years.  It finally seems like things are settling down for Sydney.  Of course, that doesn’t last long when a new ‘Ghostface Killer’ arrives on the scene to once again ruin her life and the lives of the people close to her.  It now appears her younger cousin Jill Roberts (Emma Roberts) and her friends are the new targeted victims.

This movie did not disappoint.  It’s clever, suspenseful, and delivers the perfect balance of frights and laughs.  The audience will still be creeped out and on the edge of their seats.  This is what makes the franchise so great (especially the first two Scream movies), its ability to poke fun at horror movies while at the same time remain true to the horror genre.  The film makes fun of itself which the audience has come to expect, but this time it goes one step beyond; making fun of itself for making fun of itself.  The film is aware that the franchise is being dragged out and somehow they still make it work. 

All the familiar faces the viewer has come to love (less the ones killed over the years) are back including Courteney Cox and David Arquette.  It’s nice to see them again, picking up their old character roles and being worked into the new plot.

One of the best parts of Scream films are the introductions.  The original Scream had one of the creepiest horror movie introductions to date.  Scream 2’s intro was extremely clever, in which the opening scene takes place in a movie theater.  It’s hard to imagine a scarier scene to watch while the viewers are seated in a movie theater themselves.  This intro although not as good, still was very well done and fits in perfectly with the feel of the originals.

In a peaNut Shell: Scream 4 is one hell of a good time.  If the viewer enjoyed the first two films this one will not disappoint.  It may not be as good as the first two but it’s impressive how smart this movie is considering that this is the fourth installment.  With all the unsatisfactory horror movies put out today, the audience will walk out of this one pleased.

First published in The Daily Targum

The Conspirator Review

                                                      

                                                         2 1/2 Nuts

Director: Robert Redford

John Wilkes Booth killed President Lincoln on April 15, 1865.  Exactly one hundred and forty six years later The Conspirator is released and asks the question; who conspired with Booth to take down the president?  Mentioned in the film’s tagline and throughout the movie comes the answer; “One bullet killed Lincoln, but not one man”.  Her name is Mary Surratt, a middle-aged Catholic, Confederate sympathizer, played by Robin Wright. She ran a boarding house where Booth stayed along with many of the other men complicit in planning the assassination of President Lincoln and Secretary of State Seward.

The film focuses primarily on Frederick Aiken, played by James McAvoy, an ex- union officer, placed in the unenviable position of defending Mrs. Surratt.  Although it is Surratt who is on trial, the entire film is from the viewpoint of Aiken. The movie centers more on the troubles he experience while defending Surratt, than that of her own.  Internally he is conflicted because he is unsure of her innocence, and at the same time he is being ostracized from society and looked upon as a traitor to the Union.  These are the more fascinating parts of the film.

Unfortunately the appealing parts of the film are surrounded by extremely slow periods, which seem to drag on and go nowhere.  The movie’s premise is rather intriguing but there are too many scenes riddled with unnecessary dialogue. The court room scenes standout in the film; this is mostly due to McAvoy’s strong performance fighting for this seemingly guilty woman. 

The issue posed in the film is not whether Surratt is innocent or guilty but rather is she being tried fairly.  Redford, the director of the film, purposely raises this issue.  This was a strange time for the country.  The Civil War had just ended and the people wanted to see the guilty parties punished for the atrocities committed.  The film depicts the trial as being exceedingly contrived; it seems like no matter what happens, whatever evidence Aiken presents, Mrs. Surratt will be found guilty.

The cinematography and set design feels true to the time period.  The picture is not as sharp as many movies made today; dust seems to be present in many of the courtroom shots however that only adds to the authenticity. 

In a peaNut Shell: At times The Conspirator has potential to be a great film, but can’t seem to sustain it throughout.The story is fascinating and raises a lot of questions regarding the judicial system, especially military court. The film can be rather slow and boring at parts but people interested in the post- Civil war period should go and see it.

First published by The Daily Targum

Your Highness Review

                                                 
                                                          2 1/2 Nuts

Director: David Gordon Green

With the amount of publicity Your Highness received via both the internet and television, one wonders if there is a chance of it living up to the hype. Could this movie turn into our generation’s The Princess Bride?  Unfortunately, the answer, is no. 

The film is about Thadeous played by Danny McBride, who sets out on a quest with his brother Fabious (James Franco, Spiderman). Together they must rescue Fabious’s soon to be wife, Belladonna from the evil Wizard Lizar. In their travels they run into Isabel, played by Natalie Portman, who assists them on their journey.

The story isn’t exactly original. However this film is intended as a comedic spoof of medieval times so it doesn’t need to be original to still be funny. Regrettably the parody doesn’t work well, due to the fact that everything is taken to such extremes that the audience knows this isn’t even remotely close to what it was like back then. This film is in no way subtle with it’s very ‘In your face’ humor.  Although the characters speak using old English, the content of the dialogue comes right out of the 21^st century. 

There is no denying, this is a funny film that has the audience laughing from start to finish.  Unfortunately, the problem lies in ‘how’ the movie gets the audience to laugh. There was an unusual amount of jokes where the punch line was the F-bomb. Sure, it was funny the first few times but eventually one grows tired of it and wants something different. The film seems to sink to the lowest common denominator to get a laugh and then somehow goes lower.  

With all the film’s flaws, Danny McBride keeps this comedy afloat. He is hysterical, and the majority of the laughs come from his lines. James Franco and Natalie Portman are not particularly bad in the film; however their characters could have been easily played by anyone else. They are much stronger as serious actors then they are as comedic actors as we have seen in their respective signature performances in 127 hours and Black Swan.  

A lot of time (and money) was put into the set design and mythological creatures in this film.  The creatures fit well with the absurd and perverse feel of the rest of the movie. A good deal of special effects is used for both the monsters and the wizard’s magic. They went a bit over the top in these areas almost to a fault, and viewers may find themselves rather annoyed by the bright lights and loud noises during the fight scenes. 

In a peaNut Shell: This is still a funny movie, despite its problems. Although, anyone past college age will probably find this film offensive and should refrain from seeing it for this reason. It’s not a great comedy; however there are many scenes where you are guaranteed to laugh and isn’t that the point anyway?


First published in The Daily Targum 

Source Code Review

                                                            3 Nuts!

Director: Duncan Jones

Source Code is one of those movies that will have viewers talking about it well after the ending credits. This sci-fi thriller is smart and utterly enjoyable.  The film is about Captain Colter Stevens, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, who wakes up on a train in someone else’s body and is forced to relive the last 8 minutes of that person’s life,  before the train blows up.  Stevens soon learns that his mission is to find out who blew up the train. 

For the first 45 minutes of the film the audience is just as confused as our protagonist; learning things only as he learns them.  Although this gets a bit confusing, the plot remains intriguing.  The film follows Stevens as he tries to uncover who the bomber is while at the same time figure out what’s really going on with him. 

Quick editing is perfectly utilized in the early parts of the film to create a sense of instability in Stevens’ world.  When he first wakes up on the train he is very fidgety and the camera enables the viewer to feel his discomfort.   Each time Stevens is sent back to relive the 8 minutes, the same events occur; a soda can is heard opening, and then it cuts to a woman spilling some of her drink on Stevens’ shoe.  The audience knows these events are coming and so does Stevens.

Many of the funny moments came from the star Jake Gyllenhaal whose natural energy and charisma make him a very likable character.  The one character in the film that was miscast is Jeffery Wright who plays the creator/inventor of this mission. His lines feel forced and overacted at times.

Although the first hour is very strong, I felt like the last 30 minutes were a bit weaker.  Not that the conclusion of the film is weak, I just felt it loses some of the shine it had in the beginning.  The film’s tone changes a bit and a few scenes begin to feel like something other than an action thriller.  The last few minutes deliver a twist but it happens too fast and is done almost too casually. 

In a peaNut Shell:  Source Code is a solid sci-fi thriller that feels like The Matrix meets Groundhogs Day. There are a few plot holes, but that should not stop you from enjoying it. This film is well worth your time.

This review was first published by The Daily Targum 

The Lincoln Lawyer Review

3 Nuts!

Director: Brad Furman

The Lincoln Lawyer is a surprisingly refreshing film.  It’s not anything groundbreaking but it doesn’t try to be. It’s a good courtroom drama, it’s fairly easy to understand, and it’s very engrossing.  The movie is about Mick Haller, played by Mathew McConaughey, a defense attorney who pretty much works out of his old Lincoln Town Car.  His new client is a young real estate millionaire, Louis Roulet, played by Ryan Phillipe, accused of beating a woman. Roulet does not want to go to jail and proclaims his innocence, but Haller begins to uncover the truth and realizes his client may be lying.

The story is not all that original. What I like about it though was it didn’t go over the top and took no shortcuts. The viewer figures out the mystery alongside McConaughey’s character. There are no big twists here, which I was honestly hoping for; however, it still worked out well.

McConaughey is super cool in this film; he is quick witted and knows all the right people.  The movie shines from the performances of its star and the supporting cast which consists of William H. Macy (Mick’s private investigator), Marissa Tomei (his ex-wife), and even Brian Cranston (a detective).  This is not Mick going at it alone; he has a lot of help from his friends.

The Lincoln Lawyer has pretty much everything you could ask for in a courtroom drama. The court scenes are fluid and feel very real.  The process of unraveling the mystery is an engaging endeavor, sprinkled with moments of suspense. McConaughey plays a solid lawyer and really knows how to work the jury. And, at the film’s conclusion loose ends are tied together surprisingly well.

In a peaNut Shell: Although this film is not a breakthrough in its genre, it is still very entertaining.  The entire cast is stellar and keeps you rooting for the Lincoln Lawyer throughout the film.

Limitless Review

                                                      2 1/2 Nuts!

Director: Neil Burger

What would you do if you could access 100% of your brain? This is the question presented in the new action/thriller Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper. Cooper plays Eddie Morra, a struggling writer who can’t seem to get a jumpstart on his next book.  His girlfriend breaks up with him and nothing seems to be working out. Only when he runs into his ex-wife’s brother does his fortune change.  His former brother-in-law gives him a new pill that allows him to access all of his brain power. The pill changes everything.  Eddie writes his book in a matter of days and is then off to bigger and better things. Along this path he meets up with Carl Van Loom, played by Robert DeNiro, a big time investor who serves as a mentor for Morra throughout the movie.

The first half of this movie is stronger than the second half.  It’s a fairly original premise and it turns out to be quite enjoyable watching Eddie put his new found knowledge into application. There is a good amount of mystery surrounding the new drug. How does it work? Why are certain people willing to kill to get it?  The answers to these questions are a little absurd; however, they are consistent with the entire premise of the movie. It was only when I thought back on the movie a few hours after viewing that I began to notice a few loose ends that were not tied up too neatly. Many explanations were quick and unclear.

Despite the movie's shortcomings it was enjoyable throughout. There are a few actions scenes that were pretty good and I found myself feeling anxious during suspenseful scenes, which is a good sign.  The director manipulated the lighting well in the film. When Morra wasn’t on the drug, the world he inhabited was dark and gray; it always seemed to be cloudy outside. However, when he takes the pill, the colors in the world become extremely vibrant and a golden hue is added.

Bradley Cooper turned out to be engaging in the starring role. I was able to take his character very seriously.  I’m glad to see he is taking on serious roles because he is a good actor but hasn’t been given enough good roles to show off his acting abilities

In a peaNut Shell:  I don’t give this a strong recommendation, but it’s still worth seeing or renting.  The premise is fascinating and although the story can be weak at some points, there is a good deal of intrigue that keeps you wanting more. This is not one of those movies that has a message. There is a lot of build up to one, but then it just ends. It’s not perfect, but I found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would.

Battle: Los Angeles Review

                                                           1 Nut

Director: Jonathan Liebesman

Battle Los Angeles is one of those movies you can walk into late and still know exactly what is going on.  Sure it’s good for the tardy ones among us but, it sucks for the majority of the audience.  You can walk in 10 minutes late, 20 minutes late, but I would suggest not walking in at all. 

The film is about Aliens invading Earth; they shoot at us, we shoot back, it’s not very original.  For most of the movie there is no plan, or objective, just Marines going around killing aliens.  Only towards the very end of the film is there any type of objective.  The action scenes are long and tedious and seem to be going nowhere.  

By the 3^rd battle I was getting pretty bored, and with all the massive explosions and gunfire, I shouldn't have been.  It felt too much like a video game, and not enough like a good movie.

Unfortunately that wasn’t the worst part of the film, where the movie really suffered was in its dialogue.  It had some of the cheesiest cliché lines that I have ever heard.  Most of these lines you have heard a hundred times from other war movies.  As much as I didn’t enjoy the action scenes, I truly dreaded the moments when characters opened their mouths to speak.  The acting was subpar to say the least.  This I’m sure had a lot to do with the terrible script, but some actors were also overacting.  Aaron Eckhart is the main character and I didn’t even think he did such a good job. 

The direction is not good.   But this was no surprise as it was directed by Jonathan Liebesman who has done such classics as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, and Darkness Falls.  He couldn’t decide whether he wanted to have the camera stay still or move franticly.  What we got was something between the two, which although works for action scenes, is terrible for the dialogue scenes.  I guess it was there to distract us from the mindless dribble that came out of the characters’ mouths.  The editing worked for the battles but was way too fast when people were simply conversing.   The director had a tendency to zoom in on characters faces.  I’m assuming he did this to show their expressions; unfortunately these two dimensional characters had none, so it just looks silly.

In a peaNut shell: The movie takes itself pretty seriously but has no heart.  It lacks a real story and has terrible dialogue making it a movie to miss.  Its two hours too long.

Movies You May Have Missed- 3:10 to Yuma (2007)

3:10 to Yuma is one of those movies that gets better and better each time you see it. Sure there are certain shocking moments that are not as surprising the second time around, but anticipating your favorite scenes can be just as satisfying. This was my third time viewing the film and because I already knew the plot I was able to focus on its more nuanced aspects.  The film looks beautiful, but still manages to keep its authentic western feel. One of the striking things about this film is that all its aspects need not be laid out for us. Instead small clues enable the viewer to understand how and what the characters were feeling.  

Let me set the stage. The movie is about a poor rancher, Dan Evans, played by Christian Bale, who desperately needs money to prevent the railroad company from repossessing his house. Lucky for him Ben Wade, a murdering criminal played by Russell Crowe, needs to be put on the 3:10 to Yuma where he will be tried in court for his actions. Evans agrees to help take him there for 200 dollars. The story is a simple.  However, the film fills up 2 hours without a dragging moment. 

The film was directed by James Mangold, who two years before this film directed Walk the Line, another great movie.  His direction in this is fantastic and makes the film absorbing. This is a remake (the original was made in 1957) and many critics say it is better than the original.

What really stands out more than anything in this movie are Christian Bale’s and Russell Crowe’s performances.  The academy really snubbed them both, as each of their performances were easily Oscar worthy.  Bale manages to have some extremely powerful lines without overacting.  He truly embodies his character. Crowe’s character is a terrific villain; a real killer who at the same time has a strong moral compass.  The interactions between the two characters create the most captivating aspects of the entire film.

In a peaNut Shell:  This is a western and may possibly be a better one than True Grit, which I loved.  It’s hard to compare the two.  For those who don’t much care for westerns give this one a chance, it may surprise you. 

Movies You May Have Missed- Zodiac(2007)

I’m starting a new segment in addition to my normal reviews called Movies you may have missed.  This week I will be discussing Zodiac. The film was made in 2007 starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr.   Besides its all star cast, it is also directed by David Fincher, the man who brought you The Social Network, Fight Club, and Seven.  Fincher has a solid track record directing great films notwithstanding a few outliers, one being, Alien 3.  Zodiac may not have been The Social Network, but, it was definitely nomination worthy. 

Zodiac is a terrific film.  There is no getting around it, if you like a good mystery/suspense movie go rent this one, and you will not be disappointed.  The movie is about the Zodiac Killer, who during the late 60s and early 70s killed many innocent people in California.  We view the movie from the perspectives of both the local newspaper (The Chronicle) and the San Francisco Police.  No detail is spared. It’s not boring by any means, but nothing is overlooked. We watch the detectives on screen and begin to feel like we are part of the investigation.  The second time I watched this movie I found myself pausing it frequently to discuss what was happening and try and see if I could figure it out. 

The film shifts back and forth between The Chronicle (newspaper) and the SFPD until the last hour or so where Jack Gyllenhaal’s character, who is a cartoonist for the Chronicle, decides he is going crack the case. 

I don’t want to give too much away so I won’t mention more of the plot.  What is worth mentioning is the feel of the movie.  It doesn’t sass anything up, it tells the story just like it is.  There are no gimmicks here, just real detective work.  The film is shot beautifully and the set has a real 70s feel to it.  Fincher does a terrific job creating suspense out of virtually nothing. 

In a peaNut Shell:  This is one hell of a movie.  It’s engaging, suspenseful and incredibly intriguing.  You become as addicted to solving the case as the main characters are.  It’s a long film with a run time of 2 hours and 37 minutes.  It doesn’t fly by, but I honestly didn’t want it to.  Go see this, you won’t be disappointed.  

Unknown Review

                                                       2 1/2 Nuts!

                                                   

Director: Juame Collet-Serra

After Liam Neeson’s last action/thriller “Taken”, I came into this movie expecting to see another practice in Liam’s “badassery”. What I got was not quite what I was expecting however what it turned out to be did not necessarily disappoint.   The movie is about Dr. Martin Harris played by (you guessed it) Liam Neeson.  He has taken a trip to Berlin with his wife to go to a major biotechnical summit and give a speech.  When he realizes he has forgotten one of his bags at the airport, he jumps back in a taxi to retrieve it.  Unfortunately for him, the taxi crashes into the river and he goes into a coma for four days.  Once he wakes up he finds that no one, not even his wife knows who he is and someone else has taken his place as Dr. Martin Harris. 

This is not Liam going around busting heads trying to get to the bottom of it all.  The movie turned out to have a lot less action scenes then I had previously anticipated.  For the first act, Liam is mostly wandering aimlessly, trying to get some grasp on his situation.  The car chase scenes in the movie are quite engaging and a good deal of suspense is created through the use of quick editing.  By the end we do get to see Liam kick ass which is what we were pretty much waiting for the whole time.

The movie has some twists and turns that are not incredibly surprising but are decent enough to be intriguing.  There are some scenes that seemed forced to move the story along, but it doesn’t need to be perfect. 

There is an incredible amount of closure by the end, almost to a fault.  The story leaves no questions unanswered and no real room for debate about what’s going on.   It’s not a bad thing, however by the third act what you have is a pretty generic action movie, with all its’ mystery gone.

In a peaNut Shell:  This is worth seeing but not worth going out of you way for.  Don’t read too much into the holes in the movies, or you will just become frustrated.  Take it for what it is.