My Top Ten Films of 2013

My Top Ten of 2013

Here we are at the end of another fantastic year in film. As always, this list was extremely difficult to compose. Once again, I feel the need to clarify and justify my choices. I choose my Top 10 based on my feelings for the film, regardless of critical acclaim or universal acceptance. Many of my choices are critically acclaimed, but there are some that are not. The common denominator is that I loved these films, even if some are less reputable than others. Your Top 10 will undoubtedly be different than mine and so it should be. Films make people feel differently. What one person hates in a particular film, another person might love. So, with that in mind let's move on. Here are the critically acclaimed films I have NOT yet seen: Before Midnight, Fruitvale Station, The Butler, Rush, Enough Said, All Is Lost, Blue Jasmine, Dallas Buyers Club, Nebraska, Frozen, Inside Llewyn Davis, Her, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Looks like I got some catching up to do. And now, here are my Top Ten Favorite Films of 2013:

Movie Review: "Saving Mr. Banks" Contains Standard Disney Magic, But Is Also A Moving Drama.

Saving Mr. Banks

Director: John Lee Hancock
Cast: Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, and Colin Farrell.
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including some unsettling images.

I was completely unaware of the story behind the making of Disney's classic film, Mary Poppins. Now, being in the hands of Disney Studios there is bound to be some bias on how this story is to be treated and how Mr. Walt Disney himself is to be portrayed. That being said, what is presented on screen is pure Disney magic at its best with some great characterizations by Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks.

Movie Review: "American Hustle" Is Sure To Garner Oscar Noms, Yet It Left Me Wanting.

American Hustle

Director: David O. Russell
Cast: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence.
Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and brief violence.

We're nearing the end of the Oscar season and American Hustle has been highly anticipated as one of the year's best that is sure to be Oscar bait. Director David O. Russell (The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook) has gathered together the stars of his previous two films, plus Jeremy Renner, to tell the fictionalized true story of the Abscam scandal of the 70s in which a handful of politicians were arrested for corruption. So, does this film live up to expectations? I know it has for many amongst film critics, but as for myself, I expected more.

Movie Review: "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" Lands On Two Feet More Often Than Not.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Director: Adam McKay
Cast: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, James Marsden, Meagan Good, and Christina Applegate.
Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, drug use, language and comic violence.

You already know if you're going to see this follow up to the absurd, yet classic comedy, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. I'm not going to write this review in the attempt to convince everyone to see or stay away from this sequel. Films are subjective, and no genre is more subjective than comedy. So, I'm writing to Will Ferrell fans...Anchorman fans. Like many, the first Anchorman is one of my all time favorite comedies. This sequel had a lot to live up to. While not as classic as its predecessor, Anchorman 2 is a solid comedic venture that delivers plenty of laughs.

Movie Review: "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" Is Anchored By Thrilling Action Sequences.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Luke    Evans, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug.
Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images.

The second installment of Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy arrives in theaters this weekend and it is a solid improvement over its predecessor. Some still question Jackson on splitting the much smaller novel into three lengthy film adaptations, but at this point we should just accept that it's happening and go along for the ride.

Movie Review: "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" Ignites And Sizzles In Every Way.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Direcor: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Woody
         Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Donald Sutherland.
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images, thematic elements, a suggestive situation and language.

Sequels can be fragile ground. The goal is to deliver a film that built upon the first film while also increasing the stakes and thrills. The Godfather Part II, The Empire Strikes Back, and The Dark Knight have all succeeded where so many others have failed. I can confidently add Catching Fire to that prestigious list of superior sequels.

Movie Review: "12 Years A Slave" Is An Instant American Classic That Is As Tragic As It Is Beautiful.

12 Years A Slave

Director: Steve McQueen
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, and Brad Pitt.
Rated R for violence/cruelty, some nudity and brief sexuality.

12 Years A Slave is a harsh, brutal, tragic, and powerfully moving true story that is acted and filmed by the greatest of talent and skill. In 1993, Steven Spielberg showed the world the horrific events of the Holocaust. Now, in 2013, director Steve McQueen (no, not the iconic actor) has done the same with this quintessential film on slavery. It is the darkest chapter in American history and this story does not hide the ugly truth of man's inhumanity to man.

Movie Review: "Thor: The Dark World" Does Not Offer Much That Is New, But Is Still A Lot Of Fun.

Thor: The Dark World

Director: Alan Taylor
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Christopher Eccleston, Rene Russo, and
         Anthony Hopkins.
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content.

Thor is back! This time he must fight to save the woman he loves along with the fate of the Nine Realms. Thor: The Dark World may not be the greatest comic book adaptation out there, but it does what Marvel has come to do best: entertain.

Movie Review: "Ender's Game" Is Decent Sci-Fi Entertainment, But Does Not Offer Much More.

Ender's Game

Director: Gavin Hood
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis, Ben Kingsley, and Harrison
         Ford.
Rated PG-13 some violence, sci-fi action, and thematic material.

Firstly, I am not very familiar with Orson Scott Card's novel so I am unable to comment on this film as a book adaptation. However, I have often expressed my views on book adaptions, but I feel compelled to do so again: films and books are two very different mediums and it is unfair and moot to compare the two. A film can be a poor book adaptation, but still work as a good film. If you are too attached to the source material then I can promise you that you will be disappointed in the film adaptation 100% of the time. That being said, Ender's Game, the film, is a big sci-fi spectacle filled with stellar special effects and some solid acting from its young stars and supporting veterans.

Sometime in the future, young Andrew "Ender" Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is recruited by Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) to train with other young recruits as potential fleet commanders to help defend Earth from another invasion from an alien species known as Formics. Colonel Graff pushes Ender harder than any other recruit because Graff believes that with his strategic mind, Ender could be the one to save humanity from the alien race.

Director Gavin Hood redeems himself as a filmmaker with Ender's Game after the less than impressive X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Here, the effects are much better, the acting stronger, and the story is more unique (though that is mostly thanks to author Orson Scott Card). Asa Butterfield does some fine work as young Ender. He is more than competent at portraying the conflicting emotions within him: compassion and rage. Harrison Ford brings his commanding screen presence to the role of Colonel Graff and Ben Kingsley is reliably strong as well, though I felt his talents were underused. I must also commend composer Steve Jablonsky for his emotional and rousing score. The film touches on the effect war has on these young warriors, but fell short of really bringing out that moral dilemma. This is something that they book may have done more fully, but I cannot say. Further exploring the themes of war, genocide, and the after effects these horrible situations have on the young heroes would greatly enhance this film. Perhaps these thematic elements can be explored with more depth in the potential sequel(s).

Nevertheless, Ender's Game offers audiences some good popcorn entertainment and warrants a viewing on the big screen.

RATING: B-

Movie Review: "The Counselor" Shows That In The Land Of Wickedness, The Most Wicked Reigns Supreme.

The Counselor

Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, and Brad Pitt.
Rated R for graphic violence, some grisly images, strong sexual content and language.

Expectations were soaring high for this film. Directed by legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott with a screenplay from the Pulitzer Prize winning author of No Country for Old Men and The Road and featuring an all star cast led by the rising star, Michael Fassbender, The Counselor seemed poised for greatness. This is a highly complex film that will leave audiences frustrated and baffled by the words and world that screenwriter Cormac McCarthy has created. However, I do not believe that audiences' frustrations constitute this being labeled as a bad film.

Michael Fassbender plays a lawyer referred to only as "counselor." He has recently gotten engaged to his beautiful fiancee, Laura, played by Penelope Cruz. Facing financial problems and wanting to set up a wealthy life for his wife-to-be, the counselor engages in drug trafficking with the extravagant club owner, Reiner (Javier Bardem with even crazier hair than his Oscar winning role in No Country). Brad Pitt plays Westray, the middle man between the counselor and the drug cartel while Cameron Diaz plays Malkina, girlfriend to Reiner whose intentions are highly questionable. Somewhere along the way, the drug deal goes wrong and the counselor must try to survive and protect Laura from the onslaught that is sure to come.

This film has been criticized for its often indecipherable dialogue as well as plot points that are never fully explained or clarified. While this film was not exactly what I  expected it to be, I believe that most of these criticisms only come from the surface of the film. This is a film that has many layers that may only be discovered upon repeat viewings. McCarthy's dialogue is vague and confusing, yes, but I feel that this was intentional. I feel that both McCarthy and Scott expected this kind of general reaction from audiences, but are secretly inviting those who are willing to take another look and discover the layers of hidden meaning within the film.

The film does have its faults with scenes that are unnecessary in that they do not contribute much to the characters or the story; however, there are numerous scenes filled with fascinating dialogue that dare the viewer to listen. Many have complained of the details left from the film, but such gaps have invited me to come up with my own conclusions and some of the possible scenarios make me want to go back and listen even more intently to what these characters are saying to one another. This is a film filled with immense foreshadowing, some obvious, and some not so obvious.

This is a dark film and a tragedy. If you're looking for happy endings or traditional formulaic thrillers, then I can promise that you will be disappointed. But if you're looking for a different film with many layers (and new ways to decapitate a person), then you might actually enjoy The Counselor.  Though far from Ridley Scott's best films, this is still solid work from a versatile filmmaker. Cormac McCarthy may be more suited for literature, but fans of his prose should still find enjoyment from his poetic sounding dialogue.

RATING: B

Redbox Review: "Only God Forgives" Could Have Been Much More.

Only God Forgives

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Vithaya Pansringarm.
Rated R for strong bloody violence including grisly images, sexual content and language.

Nicolas Winding Refn has a way of taking seemingly simple material and filming it in a typically gory and art house way. Such direction is very apparent in 2011's Drive (a real dazzler also starring Gosling) and Only God Forgives is no exception. However, Only God Forgives fails where Drive succeeded.

Movie Review: "Captain Phillips" Should Bring Tom Hanks Some Oscar Attention.

Captain Phillips

Director: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Max Martini, and Catherine Keener.
Rated PG-13 for sustained intense sequences of menace, some violence with bloody images, and for substance abuse.

Director Paul Greengrass is a master of suspense. He may not stray far from this genre, but he so skilled at creating palpable tension that I don't see a need for him to do anything else. This time, Greengrass has the iconic Tom Hanks to carry the film, and it is a wonder to watch two masters at work: Hanks in front of the camera and Greengrass behind it.

Movie Review: "Gravity" Will Grab Hold Of You And Not Let Go.

Gravity

Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, and Ed Harris.
Rated PG-13 for intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief strong language.

I'll just get right into it: Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity is a milestone in cinematic achievement. Star Wars dazzled audiences in 1977 with its break through in special effects. Jurassic Park brought dinosaurs to life in 1993 with the perfect blend of animatronics and CGI. In 1999, The Matrix changed how action films are made. In 2013, Gravity has taken all these milestones that have come before it and has greatly expanded into unknown territory.

Movie Review: "Prisoners" Is A Gripping Thriller In The Tradition Of "Mystic River", "Zodiac", and "Gone Baby Gone".

Prisoners

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, Maria Bello, and
         Melissa Leo.
Rated R for disturbing violent content including torture, and language throughout.

The summer movie season is meant for kids and/or the kids in all of us. The fall movie season is strictly for adults, and it usually produces many award contenders. Well, this "award" season kicks off with a thunderous bang with the release of Prisoners. This chilling thriller should be recognized as one of the best pictures of the year with fantastic performances from its ensemble cast.

Rating System Change

 Rating System Change

 

 

 

 

 

I have struggled for some time now on how to rate the films I review. I chose to use the 4-star system that many major film critics use, but I feel there is some confusion on how those ratings are interpreted by my audience. For example, I've always intended for any good film to receive a rating of no less than three stars, but when you do the math, three out of four stars is 75% which in school would equal a C or C+, and that's not very good. So, from here on out I have decided to give the films I review a letter grade rating.

 

Film Critic Richard Roeper uses the letter grade system, and I believe it makes it easier for audiences to see what is amazing, great, good, fair, mediocre, poor, and horrible. I will also try and take the time to update all my previous reviews to reflect this new system. I hope this will help my readers to know how I truly felt about the films I review. Needless to say, any film that receives a "B" grade or better will be considered as a recommendation.  

Movie Review: "The Spectacular Now" Showcases The Talent Of Its Young Stars.

The Spectacular Now

Director: James Ponsoldt
Cast: Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Kyle Chandler.
Rated R for alcohol use, language, and some sexuality - all involving teens.

The writers of the wildly original (500) Days of Summer are back again to tell a younger and more serious love story in The Spectacular Now. Though the originality of (500) Days is lacking in this script, what sets this coming-of-age love story apart from the hordes of others is the honesty that these fully realized characters bring to the screen.

Movie Review: "Elysium" Is A Solid Sophomore Effort From Director Neill Blomkamp.

Elysium

Director: Neill Blomkamp
Cast: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, and William Fichtner.
Rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout.

In 2009, South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp put himself on the map with his wildly original take on the sci-fi genre with District 9. Now, his highly anticipated follow-up to his Oscar nominated debut comes to theaters this weekend. Elysium may be more mainstream than District 9, but nevertheless Blomkamp continues to show his strengths with tremendous visual effects, wholly imagined settings, and great action spectacle.

Movie Review: Logan's Claws Are Sharper Than Ever In "The Wolverine".

The Wolverine

Director: James Mangold
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rila Fukushima, Tao Okamoto, and Will Yun Lee.
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, some sexuality and language.

This is Hugh Jackman's sixth time (including his cameo in X-Men: First Class) portraying the clawed rage machine from the X-Men universe, and he has never been better. Fans, including myself, were beyond excited to see Wolverine get his own movie when X-Men Origins: Wolverine was released, but that proved to be the weakest of the X-Men films and not worthy of its character nor the actor portraying him. I am happy to say that Wolverine gets a stand-alone film that redeems this awesome character in James Mangold's The Wolverine.

Movie Review: "Monsters University" Is Charming, But Really Misses Boo.

Monsters University

Director: Dan Scanlon
Cast: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Alfred Molina, Charlie Day, and Helen Mirren.
Rated G.

It has been over a decade since audiences were first introduced to the alternate universe displayed in Monsters Inc. Now, Disney/Pixar have decided to deliver a prequel to that story instead of a traditional sequel. Prequels can be sometimes really add upon the established story, but often times prequels destroy some of the mystery and intrigue of those original stories. Fortunately, Monsters University tells a different enough story to keep it fresh without destroying anything established in its predecessor.

Movie Review: "The Heat" Gives Audiences A Great Female Cop Comedy.

The Heat

Director: Paul Feig
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Marlon Wayans, Michael McDonald, Michael Rapaport.
Rated R for pervasive language, strong crude content and some violence.

Lethal Weapon, Bad Boys, Rush Hour, Stakeout. The buddy cop movie has had its fair share of classic duos. There's not much that a cop movie can give audiences that is fresh and new, but Paul Feig (director of Bridesmaids) has delivered something pretty great: an uptight Sandra Bullock and a foul-mouthed loose cannon in Melissa McCarthy. The formula may be old, but with these two great comedic actresses, it feels like a breath of fresh air.

Need A Redbox? Check Out "Side Effects".

Side Effects

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Channing Tatum.
Rated R for sexuality, nudity, violence and language.

Steven Soderbergh is one of favorite filmmakers. He has a diverse range of films including The Ocean's Trilogy, Traffic, The Informant, Contagion, Haywire, and Erin Brockovich. Though he is a genre-jumping director, he always puts his signature on each film with his unique camera work, subtle music, and terrific performances from his actors. Sadly, Soderbergh has stated that Side Effects will be his final theatrical film so that he can focus on his other passions. Hopefully he is just crying wolf, but if he's for real then he picked a hell of a film to end his career on.

Redbox Review: "Killing Them Softly" Might As Well Be Titled "Killing Them Slowly".

Killing Them Softly

Director: Andrew Dominik
Cast: Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins, Ray Liotta, and James Gandolfini.
Rated R for violence, sexual references, pervasive language, and some drug use

A movie about Brad Pitt as a hitman for the mob? What can be wrong with that? Well, unfortunately a lot. Brad Pitt reteams with The Assassination of Jesse James director, Andrew Dominik, to tell a dark tale about a hitman who goes after those responsible for robbing a mafia-run poker game. The film starts off with a gritty intensity that only diminishes the more that time passes. The movie clocks in under two hours, but it will have felt like three hours by the time it's over.

Movie Review: "World War Z" Gives The Zombie Genre A New And Different Spin.

World War Z

Director: Marc Forster
Cast: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Matthew Fox, and James Badge Dale.
Rated PG-13 for intense frightening zombie sequences, violence and disturbing images.

Brad Pitt vs Zombies?!?! I never thought I'd live to see the day. Zombies have been all the rage lately, especially with the hit tv series The Walking Dead on AMC. But if you're looking for that type of zombie entertainment then Marc Forster's World War Z may not be for you. Based on the widely popular novel by Max Brooks (FYI Mel's son), WWZ gives us a zombie thriller that treats the genre as a worldwide epidemic as opposed to a horror gorefest, which I believe is all for good.

Movie Review: "This Is The End" Delivers Both Insanity And Hilarity.

This Is The End

Directors: Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen
Cast: James Franco, Seth Rogan, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride.
Rated R for crude and sexual content throughout, brief graphic nudity, pervasive language, drug use and some violence.

Disclaimer: This movie is solely for those who enjoy raunchy and profane comedies. If such comedies are not your thing, then better steer clear from This Is The End. Still interested? Alright then, let's dive in. This Is The End is filled with such bizarre craziness that it often produces gut-busting laughter.

Movie Review: "Hangover Part III" Gives The Audience A Mild Hangover Of Its Own

The Hangover Part III

Director: Todd Phillips
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, Justin Bartha, and John Goodman.
Rated R for pervasive language including sexual references, some violence and drug content, and brief graphic nudity.

Chances are you already know if you want to see this or not. Fans of the original comedy classic, including myself, have been hoping that maybe somehow they could recreate what we loved from the first film. Those hopes were shattered with the highly disappointing Hangover Part II. Still, I thought that maybe they could learn from the disaster and still come out on top with Part III. Unfortunately, the actors are just cashing in their paychecks with a dull and forced script from director Todd Phillips.

Movie Review: "Man of Steel" Gives Us A Superman Who Does More Than Save A Cat In A Tree. A Lot More.

Man of Steel

Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, and Russell Crowe.
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence, action and destruction, and for some language.

There has been much debate on how to bring back the Big Blue Boy Scout to the big screen after his last outing in Bryan Singer's Superman Returns. That film was generally liked by critics scoring a 75% on Rotten Tomatoes; however, it was not as well received by audiences. The film was criticized for being too much of an homage to the Christopher Reeve movies without adding anything new or exciting to the saga. Now some six or seven years later we get a totally separate origin story for Superman in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. So far, Snyder's new take is only scoring 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, but I feel it is a harsh rating on what I believe to be a new and exciting start to a promising franchise.

Movie Review: "The Great Gatsby" Is Definitely A Baz Luhrmann Film For Better Or Worse.

The Great Gatsby
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, and Joel Edgerton.
Rated PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content, smoking, partying and brief language.

The Great Gatsby is a story that has been translated to the big screen numerous times since the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald was first published. Obviously, it is a story that has stood the test of time as it is still being studied in high schools across the country. It is a tragic love story that involves complex and mysterious characters. The language is rich, and the character dynamics are intriguing. But what works in the book  may not necessarily make a good movie; however, that won't stop director Baz Luhrmann from putting his own unique spin to the classic story.

Movie Review: "Fast and Furious 6" Is Absolutely Ridiculous...And Incredibly Awesome!

Furious 6 aka Fast and Furious 6
Director: Justin Lin
Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Luke Evans, Gina Carano, and Michelle Rodriguez.
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action and mayhem throughout, some sexuality and language.

You already know if you want to see this or not. I am not going to attempt to convince those who aren't fans of the series that they are missing out (even though they are). If you're going to see the latest installment in The Fast and the Furious franchise, then you are most likely going for one thing: action. Let me tell ya, this one has some of the best and craziest action around.

Movie Review: J.J. Abrams Fills "Star Trek Into Darkness" With Great Performances and Thrilling Sequences.

Star Trek Into Darkness

Director: J.J. Abrams
Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Alice Eve, Simon Pegg, and Bruce Greenwood.
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence.

The summer movie season continues this week with the release of Star Trek Into Darkness, the follow-up to the reboot that J.J. Abrams delivered in 2009. First and foremost, it should be known that I was never a Star Trek fan throughout my youth. I saw some of the various tv episodes and movies, but they never left a lasting impression, and in my mind, never held up against the ongoing galactic battles found in the Star Wars universe. But in 2009, director J.J. Abrams somehow pulled off what I thought was impossible: he made Star Trek cool. I can safely say that Star Trek Into Darkness is every bit as good as its predecessor, if not better.

After Starfleet suffers two devastating terrorist attacks from a fellow Starfleet member, John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch), Kirk, Spock, and the crew of the USS Enterprise must embark on a mission to bring this terrorist to justice. What they discover along the way will test their resolve and force them to question who they can really trust.

As for plot, that is all I will discuss for fear of entering spoiler territory. All you need to know is that Into Darkness is a thrilling and exciting ride. J.J. Abrams has a knack for balancing adventurous sequences with intense edge-of-your-seat action, and rounded off with a plethora of great performances from his actors. Chris Pine is born to be a charismatic leading man. He has what it takes to pull off the scoundrel-like hero that we always want to root for. Zachary Quinto is filling Leonard Nimoy's shoes better than anyone could hope for. Benedict Cumberbatch is excellent in his role. Fans of his BBC series, Sherlock, will be thrilled to see him in this kind of role. He owns it. And the rest of the supporting class all have their moments to shine, particularly Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Bruce Greenwood, Zoe Saldana, and newcomer Alice Eve.

There are a couple moments when you really have to suspend disbelief in order to accept what's happening on screen, even for a science-fiction adventure film, but even so it is all so entertaining that you may hardly notice otherwise. I know there are some die hard Trek fans that are not pleased with what Abrams has done with their franchise. All I can say is I couldn't relate to this fans before and definitely can't now. Having immensely enjoyed this latest Star Trek films, I cannot wait till J.J. Abrams takes us back to a galaxy far, far away in 2015.

RATING:  A

Movie Review: "Iron Man 3" Takes An Unexpected And, Possibly, Unwelcomed Turn.

Iron Man 3

Director: Shane Black
Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Don Cheadle, and Ben Kingsley.
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief suggestive content.

The summer movie season of 2013 has officially begun. First out of the gate is Marvel's Iron Man 3 which acts more as a follow-up to last year's The Avengers as opposed to Iron Man 2. Audiences were thrilled and vastly entertained last year when Iron Man teamed up with other Marvel heroes to complete Marvel's Phase One. Now to kickstart Phase Two, writer and director Shane Black has taken the Iron Man reins from Jon Favreau to complete the Iron Man Trilogy. After seeing this latest installment and having given it a lot of thought, I must confess that Phase Two may be off to a shaky start.

Need a Redbox? Check out "The Impossible".

The Impossible

Director: Juan Antonio Bayona
Cast: Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor
Rated PG-13 for intense realistic disaster sequences, including disturbing injury images, and brief nudity.

Warning: If you rent this film then prepare to have a box of tissues nearby. This is a movie that went under the radar with all the big holiday releases, but it is one that everyone should see! The Impossible is an emotional powerhouse of a movie that really proves how strong family ties are. It is both terrifying and beautiful. It is easy to go into most films and look to find faults, but this is a story so moving that you find yourself completely riveted.

Movie Review: "Olympus Has Fallen" Copies the "Die Hard" Formula

Olympus Has Fallen

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Cast: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Dylan McDermott, Rick Yune, and Morgan Freeman.
Rated R for strong violence and language throughout.


There's nothing new or original that Olympus Has Fallen has to offer. For some reason, every now and then Hollywood likes to produce two of the same movie within the same year. For example, Armageddon and Deep Impact. Last year there were two Snow White movies, Mirror Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman (though at least those two were vastly different from one another). This year we get two movies dealing with terrorist attacks on the White House. I will say that this film has the better title as opposed to White House Down with Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx coming out later this summer, but that won't necessarily mean better movie.

My Top Ten Most Anticipated Movies of 2013

The beginning of the year is typically a rough time for movies. Every now and then you'll find a good one, but most of the films arriving in theaters week after week are subpar. That is, until the Summer arrives with its big budget blockbusters (some disappointing, others incredible), and then comes the Fall movie season which brings quality dramas and thrillers that are usually in contention for Oscars. So, since I am not making it to the movies a whole bunch during this bland part of the year, I figured I would look ahead and what is coming out later this year and rank my personal choices for Most Anticipated Movies of 2013.

Movie Review: "Burt Wonderstone" Underuses Its Stars

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Director: Don Scardino
Cast: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, and Jim Carrey.
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, dangerous stunts, a drug-related incident and language.

This movie had a lot going for it: a great comedic cast, a premise depicting outlandish magicians, the minds of 30 Rock behind the camera, and Jim Carrey as an edgy rock and roll rival magician. There are some humorous moments, but there's not much that will have your cheeks hurting from laughter. This is mostly due to the underusage of nearly the entire casts' talents.

Movie Review: "Oz" the Good, Not Great.

Oz the Great and Powerful

Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, and Zach Braff.
Rated PG for sequences of action and scary images, and brief mild language.

Only Disney would have the stones to take a beloved classic and try to capitalize on its fan base. The gamble may pay off financially, but perhaps the only return to Oz should have been an adaptation of the already widely popular musical, Wicked. I am hoping that this Oz does not keep studios from wanting to produce the musical version. If you are a fan of the musical and are expecting to see some similarities between that prequel and this one then you may find yourself disappointed. The two could not be more different.

My Oscar Predictions - All 24 Categories!

 

My Oscar Predictions

for

The 85th Academy Awards

 

 

 

Another year of movies has come and gone. Tomorrow The Oscars will determine the best of the best in film. There are really only two clarifications I need to make before I make my predictions. 1) With these first categories dealing with Documentaries, Short Films, and Foreign Films, I am just guessing randomly. I have about zero knowledge of these categories, but it's still fun to try and guess the winner. I will start my picks with the boring categories and end with the bigger ones. 2) My picks for the bigger categories are those I believe the Academy will pick. My picks are not meant to reflect whom I would prefer to win, though there are sure to be some instances where my preferences will coincide with the actual winners. So, with that out of the way let's get started!

The 1st Annual Todd Awards - Winners

The 1st Annual Todd Awards

-Winners-

The time is here. I have decided to post the winners of The Todd Awards on the eve of the Oscars so that the Oscar winners will not affect my own personal choices for the categories that are similar. Please do not confuse this list with my own Oscar predictions for the two are very different. These are my own awards. Not everyone will agree with my choices, because we all have our own preferences and these are just mine. Hopefully, there will be some that you support or can, at least, appreciate. Without further ado, here are the winners:

Redbox Review: "End of Watch"

End of Watch

Director: David Ayer
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick, and Frank Grillo.
Rated R for strong violence, some disturbing images, pervasive language including sexual references, and some drug use.

This week, End of Watch arrived at Redbox. This was one I had meant to see while in theaters, but just never got around to it. This is a hard hitting, in-your-face look at what two cops go through every day in one of the most dangerous cities in America. Let me start out by saying this movie is not for everybody. It contains extreme language that is constant throughout the movie and some disturbing violent content. If those are things that you can deal with then End of Watch may be worth your time.

Need a Redbox? Check out "The Perks of Being a Wallflower".

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Director: Steve Chbosky
Cast: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, and Paul Rudd.
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, drug and alcohol use, sexual content including references, and a fight - all involving teens.

There have been many films about a teenage outsider just trying to survive high school and, if possible, win the heart of that one amazing girl. Perks is another one of those stories. What makes this film stand out is its great young cast and the subtle, yet honest, performance by Logan Lerman. The late John Hughes once said that adults tend to treat teenagers and their problems as inferior to real adult problems. According to Hughes, when you are a teenager and you are going through those problems, they are as real as anything, and because they are real they should not dismissed so easily. Writer/director Steve Chbosky definitely applies what Hughes was saying with this film.

Charlie (Lerman) is starting his freshman year shortly after losing his best friend to suicide. He has no friends and not even his older sister will sit with him at lunch. Charlie often writes letters to some mysterious penpal (possibly himself) describing his feelings. He also talks about an aunt that was his best friend before her death when he was just a boy. Soon, Charlie is befriended by a free spirited senior, Patrick (Ezra Miller), and his step sister, Sam (Emma Watson). Charlie quickly begins falling for Sam as he spends more time with her discovering how much they have in common especially when it comes to music and literature. As the school year comes to an end Charlie must prepare to let Sam go off to college, and he must come to terms with what really happened with his aunt.

As I briefly mentioned before, this young cast is just fantastic. Ezra Miller has a stand out performance as the fun, yet sensitive Patrick. Emma Watson proves that she has the potential to have a wonderful career outside of the Harry Potter universe. There is great warmth and charm that she brings to her character. Logan Lerman is sensational as Charlie. His character could have easily been too bland or Lerman could have overacted some scenes, but instead he brings Charlie to life in such a believable way. Great writing and great characters make a great movie.

 

RATING:  A-

 

Movie Review: "Safe Haven" Made Me Not Want a Haven, Ever.

Safe Haven

Director: Lasse Hallstrom
Cast: Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel, Cobie Smulders
Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving threatening behavior, and for violence and sexuality.

Let me just start by saying I am not entirely opposed to "chick flicks". If I am in a sappy enough mood I can find enjoyment from The Notebook. Last year's The Vow, however, gave me a very bad taste in my mouth for the genre. Safe Haven did not help. At least The Notebook had two lead actors who are actually very talented. It seems like each Nicholas Sparks adaptation gets less and less talented actors for the leads, yet somehow these movies keep bringing in the big bucks. Forgive me as I pick the movie apart:

The plot. Katie (Julianne Hough) flees from a violent relationship with an obsessed cop tracking her down. Sounds a lot like Sleeping with the Enemy, but at least that film focused more on the thriller side of the story than the love story. Not the case with Safe Haven. Katie ends up in a beautiful town in North Carolina where her future love, Alex (Josh Duhamel), awaits her. They begin a romance, but then Katie's troubled past catches up to her and threatens to ruin her new life with Alex.

It's not that the plot is awful. It's not original, but there are some interesting elements to be found. The problem is that it was so boring. It seemed to take forever to tell something that could have been told in about 20-30 minutes but why not drag it out, right? I felt no concern for any of the characters because I knew how they would turn out. Hough and Duhamel are adequate at best. There were definitely moments where Julianne Hough's beautiful looks could not overshadow her failed attempts at being angry or charming. Though the disaster that is this movie is not entirely the actors' fault. Yes, I'm looking at you, Nicholas Sparks.

You may have heard about the twist surprise ending. It's so blatantly stupid that it boils my blood. Reader beware because here comes a major spoiler alert. If you still have intentions of seeing the movie and don't want it ruined then stop reading now! Still here? Ok, let's get into it. So upon arriving in the small town, Katie makes a new friend named Jo (Cobie Smulders). Throughout the movie, Katie warms up to Jo and the two confide in each other and take walks together. At the end of the movie, Alex gives Katie a letter that was written by his late wife before she died of cancer. The letter is addressed to the woman who Alex would fall in love with. Alright, I'm fine with that. There's potential with what's written in the letter. But then there is a picture with the letter (why would there be a picture of the dead wife for the new girl to see? Random), and guess who it is??? JO!!! She was dead the whole time!! Are you effing kidding me?! So either Katie is crazy by imagining Jo or Jo is actually a ghost who decides to hang out with her husband's future love (by the way, how did Jo know that Katie would be the one?) instead of maybe comforting her struggling son. I guess Nicholas Sparks was trying to be as creative as The Sixth Sense, but he failed miserably. One of the worst endings I've ever seen.

The only redeeming qualities found in Safe Haven are the actors' good looks, the adorable little girl who plays Josh Duhamel's daughter, and the beauty of North Carolina. That is it.

RATING:  D

The 1st Annual Todd Awards (2012)

The 1st Annual Todd Awards

 

-Nominations-

I have decided to further indulge my obsession with movies by creating my own little movie awards. Every year, the Oscars let me down in some of the big categories. Last year was a huge disappointment all around, not only with the winners ("The Artist"), but with many of the nominees as well. Most of the time the Academy Awards tend to recognize the more artistic films of the year rather than blockbusters. I do agree that most of the better films are not the summer blockbusters we flock to see, but unlike the Academy, I feel that not all blockbusters should be overlooked.

Need a Redbox? Check Out "Here Comes the Boom".

Here Comes the Boom

Director: Frank Coraci
Cast: Kevin James, Salma Hayek, Bas Rutten, and Henry Winkler.
Rated PG for bouts of MMA sports violence, some rude humor, and language.

Despite what many may think, I do not see every movie that comes to theaters. Though I like Kevin James, this one just did not appeal to me. However, I was told by some family and friends that I should check it out. Here Comes the Boom arrived in Redbox this past week so I decided to give it a try, and I was pleasantly surprised.


Kevin James does so much better on his own than he does when he tags alone with Adam Sandler whose comedic touch has rapidly declined since the early 2000s. James plays Scott Voss, a discouraged Biology teacher who once had a flare for teaching but has since found no motivation in his job. When the school needs to make budget cuts they decide to give the music program the axe. This directly affects Voss's fellow colleague played by Henry Winkler. Voss decides he will not let his good friend lose his job and resolves to raise the money himself to save the music program. After seeing a UFC fight he learns that the loser of the fight was paid $10,000. A former wrestler in college, Voss elects to begin training not to win, but to lose in the UFC. What follows is a funny ride.

If you are a fan of Kevin James then you will definitely find the humor here. This is a movie that the whole family can enjoy aside from a little MMA violence which is nothing too grotesque or cringe-worthy. At the heart of the film is a touching story with some motivational themes. For $1.20 at Redbox, Here Comes the Boom was worth every penny. Oh, and how great does Salma Hayek look even in her late 40s?!

 

RATING:  B

Movie Review: "Zero Dark Thirty" Builds and Builds to a Mesmerizing Conclusion.

Zero Dark Thirty

Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Edgar Ramirez, Mark Strong, Joel Edgerton, and Chris Pratt
Rated R for language, brutal disturbing images, and strong violence.

This is a knock out film. It is the story of how the CIA tracked Osama Bin Laden for nearly a decade and ultimately found him. Whatever details may be fictionalized or exaggerated will most likely go unnoticed. The events in this film are depicted very realistically and are extremely detailed. At just shy of three hours long, the film spans from September 11, 2001 all the way through the death of Bin Laden in 2011.


The film does not mess around with politics or the war in Iraq. It has one purpose - find and kill Osama Bin Laden. Jessica Chastain plays the CIA Agent assigned to the task. She gives one of the best performances of the year. Chastain makes you feel the toll it takes to hunt a terrorist in the most hostile of circumstances. It is the intelligence that she gathers that leads to the raid on Bin Laden's compound, though she appears to be the only one who actually believes he is hiding there. The film is long, but its length does not feel unnecessary. Every detail only confirms how arduous it was to find Bin Laden.

The last half of the film is fascinating. The scenes begin to build on each other with increasing intensity. It is a shame that director Kathryn Bigelow was snubbed of an Oscar nomination, because it is her doing that makes this film powerful and effective. The finale depicting the raid on Osama's compound will have your eyes glued to the screen.

There are select movies that I believe all people need to see, and these movies tend to have major historical significance much like Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. Zero Dark Thirty is one of those movies. Such movies are not always easy to watch, but they are not meant to be. They are meant to show you something important, something we should not forget. I know I won't forget Zero Dark Thirty.

RATING:  A+

Movie Review: "Gangster Squad" is Stylish yet Familiar.

Gangster Squad

Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and Sean Penn
Rated R for strong violence and language.

Gangster Squad is inspired by a true story about the manhunt for gangster Mickey Cohen. According to the film, the Los Angeles Police Department is fed up with the city's acceptance of an East Coast thug running the town, so a police unit is formed to wage war on Mickey Cohen and his illegal activities. This police unit's actions will be kept off the record and if they are discovered the city will deny knowledge of their mission.
Enter Josh Brolin as a World War II vet who only knows how to fight a war. He recruits a team of incorruptible cops and they begin creating havoc for Cohen, played by Sean Penn.

The cinematography and slow-motion gunfights give the film a more comic book feel than an actual account of history. The action is very stylized and entertaining. The film's strengths are its cast of great actors. Brolin seems to be at home playing an angry cop and Ryan Gosling puts in as much as he can into his somewhat dull character. Gosling and fellow Crazy, Stupid, Love costar Emma Stone have great chemistry together. Here's hoping they pair up for a third time on screen. Sean Penn is one of today's finest actors and he seems to be enjoying himself in this role as a villain, though he tries a little too hard at times.

What is weak about the film is its predictability. I am willing to concede that I have seen one too many movies, but even so I can still find myself surprised by a film's plot. Not here. Everything that happened could be seen coming twenty minutes ahead. I am convinced that screenwriter Will Beall used the plot of The Untouchables as his template here. Gangster Squad failed to have any element of surprise as opposed to the fantastic L.A. Confidential which left you guessing who was good or bad and who would live or die.

If you need some pretty mindless gangster action then this may be just what you are looking for. It is not worth much more than that.

RATING:  B-

My Top Ten of 2012

This year was a great year for movies. As I was reviewing the list of movies released this year, I kept thinking how difficult it would be to compose my Top 10 and then rank them! As always, I did not see everything and am always willing to reconsider my list once I do see the major contenders. Some of those I have not yet seen this year include: The Master, Wreck-It Ralph, Cloud Atlas, The Impossible, and End of Watch. So let's get to it. Here are my favorite 10 films of 2012, love 'em or hate 'em:

Movie Review: "Les Miserables" is FAR from Miserable.

Les Miserables

Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Helena Bonham Carter, and Sacha Baron Cohen
Rated PG-13 for suggestive and sexual material, violence, and thematic elements.


This movie, for me, has been a long-awaited event. My childhood was filled with Star Wars, Willow, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman, X-Men, and thanks to my parents, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, and Les Miserables (the musicals). I have enjoyed seeing many of these translated to film. Les Miserables was one I never thought could be made into a movie, but I had always hoped it would be. Now the day has come.


The broad and epic story was already difficult enough to adapt to film, but director Tom Hooper decided to make it an even bigger challenge. Unlike other movie musicals he decided to have his actors sing each song live on set. The performances were not prerecorded in a studio before filming began, and no lip-synching was done on camera. By doing this, the actors sang each song over and over again, each time giving a different performance. They were able to access all kinds of different emotions in their singing instead of just singing the words into a microphone in the confines of a studio. The result is something truly phenomenal.

If you are expecting to hear these famous tunes sung the way they are on stage then you are in for a big surprise, and possibly, you will be disappointed. If you want to hear these songs sung beautifully then listen to the broadway soundtracks or see the stage performance. But, what you will not see or hear from the stage is the intense emotion that is brought before you on screen. These actors (particularly Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, and Eddie Redmayne) perform these songs like never before. It is in your face, intimate, raw, and very real. I have never teared up while watching this incredible musical performed on stage, but there were multiple times I had to wipe away tears as I watched it on screen. It was a joy to see the filmmakers expand the scope of the story in such a way the stage version never could, especially with its beautiful cinematography.

The story is timeless and very involved. It is a story of mercy, love, forgiveness, redemption, revolution, and sacrifice. The music portrays these themes perfectly. All the actors bring their A-game to their characters. As I mentioned before, the singing is raw and filled with emotion. Everyone does great in their respective roles. Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried are the weaker singers, but they hit their notes and their acting is superb. After seeing the movie and listening to the soundtrack on repeat, Crowe's interpretation of Javert has already grown on me, and if Russell Crowe is the weak link of a movie then it must be pretty damn good.

If you are a fan of the musical I can promise you that you will have never seen the story like this. These are not the broadway voices you are used to, but do not let that ruin the movie for you, because it is truly moving. The movie may not be for everyone especially those who are not fans of musical theater, but even still I encourage you to give it a try. This movie has the potential to change your mind. I cannot wait to see it again. 

RATING:  A

Movie Review: "Django Unchained" Should Be Called "Tarantino Unchained"

Django Unchained

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Samuel L. Jackson
Rated R for strong graphic violence throughout, a vicious fight, language, and some nudity.


Ah, Quentin Tarantino. He is one crazy dude and an even crazier filmmaker. No one else can take genre films and totally transform them the way Tarantino does. This time, he takes on a Western, but one that is mainly set in the South and dealing a great deal with slavery.
The plot is fairly straight forward and amounts to nothing more than a revenge thriller. And a revenge thriller at the hands of Tarantino is sure to be ultra-violent. The blood is abundant throughout the first half of the movie, but then walls are literally painted with gallons of it by the end.

The highlight of the movie was when Big Daddy (Don Johnson) leads a raid as KKK members. Despite the fact that these characters are racist pigs, the scene is absolutely hilarious. Again, only Tarantino can make a KKK raid hysterical. The first hour or so is extremely entertaining. The middle of the film slows down a bit, but is carried by Leonardo DiCaprio's performance as plantation owner Monsier Candie. He can quickly flip the switch from being charming to intimidating and very scary. The end is an absolute bloodbath. Django felt like it could have been about twenty minutes shorter and would have been better off, particularly towards the end.

My personal favorite film of Tarantino's is still Inglourious Basterds, but if you are a fan of Tarantino then you will definitely have to catch this one. It is overlong and excessively violent, but was still an entertaining and wild ride.

RATING: B+

My Film Review Rating System

There are many ways to rate a film these days. Many of the top critics use a four star system. There are those, however, that use five stars, letter grades, or "Two Thumbs Up" like Roger Ebert. For my film reviews I will be using the four star system. The breakdown is as follows: