Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller, (Bérénice Bejo)  a young dancer set for a big break.

Rounding off the cast is Uggie, Valenitin’s actor / side kick who happens to be a Jack Russell terrier.  Yes, the dog steals numerous scenes and honestly the movie would be missing a lot without Uggie.  John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller and Malcolm McDowell round off the cast.

Written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the movie, done in Black and White, had a cinematographer, and lighting crew that faithfully recreated the look and feel of the late nineteen – twenties, early – thirties movies.  And story telling techniques of the era were also lovingly added to the story.  I’d say script but the movie is silent with dialogue written on the screen between shots.  Yes the movie is silent except for the music soundtrack and when sound is added, there is definitely a reason and purpose.

This movie is truly a movie aficionados’ movie.

Sure some people will appreciate the story, a return to a simpler time, a return to movie without any objectionable material, but The Artist is a whole lot more, it’s a movie that many people took the time to get the entire project together.

One of my favorite scenes is where Peppy goes to George’s dressing room and slips one of her arms into the arm of George’s coat.   She pretends its George embracing her; such a simple, action, but so original and photogenically beautiful.

This movie will definitely be rewarded at Oscar time.

Click on link for movie trailer: The Artist

5 reels out of  5

For more info check IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1655442/

Or MetaCritic – 89 – http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-artist

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The Descendents

George Clooney plays a Hawaiian lawyer and land baron who tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife suffers a boating accident, resulting her being in a coma and on life-support.  Written and directed by Alexander Payne, who gave us Sideways, About Schmidt and Election, this movie gives us an insight to a man who stumbles across the fact that his wife was seeing another man and was thinking of leaving as he tries to take care of her.

As Clooney’s Matt King’s character tries to reconcile with his wife and his daughters’ fragile relationships, he is also dealing with turning over his family’s land estate to commercial development, an estate that has been in his family since the days of Hawaii’s last royalty.  Talk about life’s crisis converging all at one time.

When I saw he previews last summer, I thought the premise was weak, Clooney as a middle aged man with two daughters, fumbling with all the trials and tribulations of father hood.   But he pulls the part off, so successfully that at times, the slick, cool and charming Clooney disappears and the confused, confronted with loss, and scruffy Matt King emerges.  Personally, I think this is probably Clooney’s best performance, hitting all the marks, sadness, humor, pain, confusion, frustration.  Just like your average middle aged man.

The movie is realistically paced, meaning the events ring true, almost too true.  Interestingly enough even the locale does too.  Yes the movie takes place in Hawaii, but missing are the vibrant, sun drenched beaches and lush tropical foliage.  In its place are locales that at times, are overcast, grey, and desaturated, so much that the scenery is more reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest.

The Descendants has ready won two awards, two Golden Globes; one for Best Picture and Best Actor for George Clooney.  It had gotten three other nominations including Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Screen Play Motion Picture.  Somehow, I feel the Academy will also think as highly this spring.

4.9 leis out 5

For more info check IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1033575/

Or MetaCritic – 84 http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-descendants

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We Bought a Zoo

Following his wife’s death, a Southern California a father, Benjamin Mee, (Matt Damon) moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo that’s run by Scarlett Johansson’s  Kelly Foster.   Thomas Haden Church plays Benjamin’s brother who unsuccessfully tries to talk his brother out of the deal.

We Bought a Zoo, directed by Cameron Crowe and adapted from Mee’s book by Cameron and Aline Brosh McKenna, is based on Mee’s true life adventures of a life altering decision.   At times the movie is slow and predictable, a heart tugging family movie that gets close to be schmaltzy, but then it veers off slightly and reels back in to the story and realistic characters.

Damon has gracefully matured into this role and the relationships with young daughter and rebellious, moody son ring true, perhaps because they are based on real life people.  Johansson seems a little out of her league, playing a zoologist, mainly because of her previous roles, which have focused on over the top individuals.

Though some might feel the movie is a bit formulaic and predictable, Cameron manages to bring some reality and depth to the story and characters.

“You had me a roar.” couldn’t resist it.

3.5 bags of monkey chow out of 5

For more info check IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1389137/

Or MetaCritic – http://www.metacritic.com/movie/we-bought-a-zoo

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An employee of Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh), Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), documents the tense interactions between Olivier and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) during production of The Prince and the Showgirl as well as his subsequent week with the incomparable Monroe, being her confident and oasis from the rigors of filming.

While Michelle Williams doesn’t physically resemble Monroe, within several scenes, she encompasses the actress’ persona and spirit.

After that point, the audience believes that they are privy to Monroe’s life during her stay in England in the mid-fifties.  Williams nails Monroe perfectly, exhibiting both sensuality and vulnerability, that very few actresses then and now posses.  I would not be surprised to see Williams getting a best actress Oscar nomination and even win an Academy Award for her role.

Branagh wears Olivier’s brashness like a glove and his impatience with Monroe, causes conflict both on and off the set.  But towards the end he reveals Olivier’s true sense of awe and admiration for  Monroe and the realization of his fading career and faltering marriage to Vivien Leigh (Julia Ormond)

Beautiful cinematography captures the essence and feel of 1950’s England, both urban and rural, which is where the relationship, platonic and innocent, yet real between Clark and Monroe develops and which ends much too soon for Clark.

In the closing musical scenes, Williams as Monroe, croons and oohs her way into cinematic history.  If you’re a Monroe fan, or even if you’re not, this is a movie for the ‘must see’ list.

In theaters now in somewhat limited release.

4.75 Luna Moths out of 5

For more info check IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1655420/ or MetaCritic – http://www.metacritic.com/movie/my-week-with-marilyn 65 out 100

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Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris, by writer/director Woody Allen, is a romantic comedy about a young couple traveling with the girl’s parents to the French capital for business. The party includes Ed, Owen Wilson, a young writer who is forced to confront the illusion that a life different from his own is better.  But before he comes to that realization, the audience is treated to literary and artistic journey of an earlier ‘golden age’.

Don’t want to say any more of the plot, because part of the fun about the movie is the moment the viewer realizes ‘ah so that’s what’s happening’ and then simply going along for the ride, meeting all the folks that Ed encounters on his journey.

This movie is Allen’s most profitable to date, probably from word of mouth.  Midnight in Paris is smart, fun and in typical Allen style, intelligently written with an ongoing wink and nod towards our artistic history.

Movie will definitely be remembered at Oscar nominations and might even garner an Academy Award or two.

4.9 Eiffel Towers out of 5

For more info check IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/ or MetaCritic – http://www.metacritic.com/movie/midnight-in-paris 81 out of 100

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J. Edgar

As the face of law enforcement in America for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career and his life.

The movie is told from J. Edgar Hoover’s version of his reign as head of the FBI, and the audience knows it because he is dictating his biography to various ghost writers.   However it isn’t until the end that his life long assistant (BBF) Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer) set Hoover and the audience straight. (Wink wink).

Director Clint Eastwood attempts to bring us a bigger than life story of one of America’s most powerful men and one would think this would be a no brainer, but the movie misses its mark.  Rather than using fine brushes to paint the story and characters, Eastwood uses board strokes to tell the half century plus story.  DiCaprio tries with what he is given, but he isn’t given much.   With Judi Dench as his mother, Anna Marie Hoover, J. Edgar struggles to please her and in a way denies who he is.

Yes Hoover dressed in his mother’s clothes and what could have been a tender moment causes one to gasp in order to avoid from laughing.  Yes it’s serious but the way it’s carried out doesn’t come across as such.  Think of Mommie Dearest and “no more wire hangers!”

When pivotal points of history cross the story line, I couldn’t help but start looking at the CGI.  It may have only been on the scene for a second or two, but it was enough to make me want to say, “It looks fake.”   Ditto for the make-up.  DiCaprio’s aging is passable, but the latex and paint never seemed to set on Hammer’s face.

It’s a long movie or maybe it just seemed like it.  J. Edgar came and went, soon to be on DVD, which if you really want to see, is the way to see it.

2.25 G-Men out of 5

For more info check IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1616195/ or MetaCritic – http://www.metacritic.com/movie/j-edgar 59 out of 100

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Tower Heist

When a group of hard working guys find out they’ve fallen victim to a wealthy business man’s Ponzi scheme, they conspire to rob his high-rise residence.

Comedy, action flick or con movie?
Not sure if anyone associated with the movie knew either.  Good story and fair acting by all, some funny scenes, especially by Eddie Murphy and Gabourey Sidibe even has her share of funny lines but their efforts aren’t enough to carry the movie.

Ben Stiller and Casey Affleck play their roles in a more serious tone than needed to be.  The set up could have been worked for humor, but it really wasn’t.  Alan Alda as the wealthy business man who steals from the working stiffs, plays against type and seems to relish the role and is the only person who pulls his part off. Matthew Broderick and Téa Leoni as Special Agent Claire Denham telephone their roles.

Concept had a lot of promise, but its execution failed when the writers, producers and director couldn’t nail down what they wanted to do with it.

2.75 Million Dollars out of 5

For more info check IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0471042/ or MetaCritic  http://www.metacritic.com/search/all/tower+heist/results 59 out of 100

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TV Shows of note

Take two familiar sets of stories that have been part of our lives for generations and make they new again is what “Once Upon a Time” and “Grim” manage to do.   When I first saw the promos last fall, I thought, ‘can’t they think of anything new’ but both these shows managed to pull it off.  And I’m hooked on them.

Once Upon A Time

Emma Swan gets the surprise of her life when Henry, the son she gave up 10 years ago, arrives on her doorstep. Returning the boy to his adoptive mother becomes complicated when Henry reveals a stunning theory to Emma. Everyone in Storybrooke, Maine is a fairytale character under a curse, and Emma – as the long lost daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming – is the one who can save them all. The story unfolds; interweaving scenes of the drama in the sleepy New England town and the the inhabitants’ past lives in the world of fairy tales. The timeless battle of good vs evil is ready to begin again.

For more info, check with IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1843230/ or MetaCritic http://www.metacritic.com/tv/once-upon-a-time 66 out of 100

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Grim

Portland detective, Nick Burkhardt, has seen some gruesome crime scenes, but nothing prepares him for the strange visions he begins seeing: seemingly regular people momentarily transforming into hideous monsters. A visit from his only living relative reveals the truth. Nick has inherited the ability to see supernatural creatures, and as a “Grimm,” he is tasked with keeping the balance between mankind and the mythological. A reformed “Big Bad Wolf” becomes his greatest (and also reluctant) ally and confidant. It’s not long before his work as a policeman leads Nick to the criminals he once thought were only found in fairy tales.

For more info check IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1830617/ or MetaCritic – http://www.metacritic.com/tv/grimm 55 out of 100.

Inspired by a true story, 50/50 is a dramedy that centers on Adam, a 27-year-old guy, (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who learns of his cancer diagnosis and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.   Seth Rogen is his best friend who stays with Adam’s tough times and Anna Kendrick, is excellent as his counselor who guides her first patient through his rough time.  Anjelica Huston plays Adam’s mother who under her rough exterior, is torn between her ill son and husband who has Alzheimers.

While dealing with a touch and serious subject, 50/50 has moments of humor, warmth and tenderness.  A good deal of the credit goes to Gordon-Levitt’s acting, who treats his character with dignity, fragility and humanity.  Seth Rogan, plays Seth Rogan, but as Adam’s best friend, Rogan always has bud’s back and wants only the best for him.   There’s one scene where Adam finds out how true his friend’s loyalty is and at that point Rogen redeems his character’s crass and juvenile behavior.  But the person who I found most interesting is Angelica Huston, who is not herself, but rather a mother who loves her son and is terrified at the thought of losing him.

One would wonder why anyone would want to make a movie that deals with such a dark and morose subject, but I would ask why not.  Such situations are acted out hundreds if not thousands of times a day and each in their own way provides the basis for a dramatic story.   In the hands of a lesser writer, Will Reiser, and director Jonathan Levine, the story would have collapsed under the weight of the dark subject matter, but both pull it off.  Along with a great cast, the movie is definitely one of the year’s best.

BTW, be sure and bring along some tissues.

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Puss and Boots

Before he teamed up with Shriek, Puss in Boots (voice by Antonio Banderas) had his beginnings as a gatito in an orphanage where he befriended Humpty Dumpty (voice by Zach Galifianakis).  But before we get to that story; Puss in Boots meets Kitty Softpaws (voiced by Salma Hayek) where they are both are trying to cat-burglar Jack and Jill’s magic beans.

Interweaving childhood tales into one story, Puss and Boots, has a cute story line, lovable characters-excellent voice actors, great animation and ingenuous dance routines.   If you have a cat or cats, you’ll enjoy the movie even more. But what was missing was a continuous streak of (adult) humor.  Yeah, the movie has humor, but one has only to see movie trailer to see it all.  Also though the movie came in at 90 minutes, ten to fifteen minutes could have been trimmed, tightened it up the script and perhaps leave out some of the overt exposition.

Still the movie was fun and great to look at.  Banderas has got Puss in Boots down as do the animators, especially, when he displays those sad, round, brown eyes.   It’s a great way to spend an afternoon with the kids or by yourself with a big bag of popcorn.

Moneyball is based on the story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s (Brad Pitt) attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing the computer-generated analysis designed by Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) to draft his players and retool a losing team.

While in the hands of a less able writer and director, the movie wouldn’t have worked, instead director, Bennett Miller, takes Beane’s love of baseball and his drive to have a winning team on a shoestring (compared to other teams) budget to craft a movie that works on all levels.  Miller takes the interactions between Beane and the established player selection processes, Brand, and the players to make this, in my opinion, probably one of the best movies about baseball, though the movie in many ways moves beyond the baseball diamond.

Moneyball also interjects Beane’s back story; as a young man who has to decide between a full scholarship to Stanford and playing professional ball.  With an almost documentary feel, Beane’s sports career shapes his view of baseball and life.  Jonah Hill as Brand, though a complete fish out of water, becomes Beane’s partner in developing a new way to ‘scout’ new players and at times adds comic relief.

The only fault, a very small fault, is Beane’s relationship with his pre-teen daughter.  While the relationship shows another side of Beane and moves the story along, it could have been handled differently so that it tied in with the sports essence of the movie.

Screenplay is by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin who won a writing Oscar for “Social Network”.   Writing is tight, dialogue is sharp, intelligent and real, and when there’s no dialogue, the scenes bring a true feeling to what the characters, especially Beane are going through internally.   When I heard Sorkin was involved, this movie became a ‘must see’ for me.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see this movie remembered at Oscar time next year for best movie, directing, writing, and acting and be willing to be Brad Pitt will be remembered for his portray of Beane.   Be interesting to see if he’ll be competing against himself for his work in The Tree of Life.  See my earlier posting.

8.5 innings out of 9

MetaCritic rating of 87 http://www.metacritic.com/movie/moneyball

For more info check IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/

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The Ides of March

Stephen Myers, an idealistic staffer (Ryan Gosling) for a newbie presidential candidate (George Clooney) gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail.   Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti star as two opposing campaign managers who play Gosling like a tennis ball.

Based on the play by Beau Willimon, adapted for the screen and directed by Clooney, the movie misses its mark.  Either by overstating the obvious, politics can get down and dirty or trying to show honor in serving one’s country by holding up the U.S. Constitution as one’s religion, The Ides of March, is a weakly plotted political thriller.  Almost by the book, the movie would have probably worked better as a made for TV movie or as a filmed play.

Gosling plays Myers, as a young idealist, who truly believes in his candidate, Clooney’s Governor Mike Morris, but when he hooks up with a very young campaign worker played by Evan Rachel Wood, his political world starts to crumble.  Aptly named The Ides of March, one has to ask who betrayed whom and who actually used the political ‘knife’ and who gets used.

Everyone knows, deals are made in politics, how else can things get done.  Unfortunately deals weren’t made in preproduction to weed out the mundane plot and stale characters. The actors, especially Gosling, did the best they could with what they were give, but that wasn’t enough to really save the movie and bring a fresh insight to the shenanigans we’ve all come to expect from politicians.

2.5 electorial votes out of 5

MetaCritc rating of 67 http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-ides-of-march/critic-reviews

For more info check IMDb – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1124035/

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On TV

HBO’s Boardwalk Empire is back on the air.  Second season pick up where it left off, and this series, which is full of full developed and well rounded characters, delivers a powerful, intertwined and rich story.   The only drawback to this series is that one has to subscribe to HBO to see it or find someone who has it on their cable.  True excellence.

Showtime’s Dexter returns for it’s sixth season.  (Up against Empire Boardwalk) Unlike Boardwalk Empire, which continues last season’s storyline, Dexter slowly introduces its serial killer(s) for this season.   Dexter savors its story line development which is good, allows to viewer to savor and relish, the evil that develops through out the season arc.

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New on Showtime, Homeland Centers on Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody, (Damian Lewis) who returns home eight years after going missing in Iraq, and Carrie Anderson, (Claire Danes) a driven (and possibly unstable) CIA officer who suspects he might be plotting an attack on America.

Interesting premise and pilot and well developed characters.  Series is based on an Israeli series, “Prisoners of War”  Follows Dexter on Sundays – two great hours of television.

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Person of Interest”

(from IMDb) A computer genius named Finch (Michael Emerson) developed a machine for the government that is used to detect information leading to acts of terrorism before they happen. The machine separates the information gathered into two categories: relevant and irrelevant. Finch, however, discovered that the irrelevant information often led to other acts of violent crime. So before going underground, Finch developed a back door into the system which only spits out the social security number of a central person involved in the crime.

Supposedly dead in the authority’s eyes, Finch hires John Reese, (Jim Caviezel) an ex-CIA special operations agent, who, too, dropped out of life after his girlfriend was killed the result of a professional incident, and as he was dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the situation. Like Finch, Reese is officially listed as dead. Finch convinces Reese that in working for him to prevent the crime associated with the social security number.

Created and written by Jonathan Nolan, who wrote The Dark Knight Rises, The Dark Knight, The Prestige, Memento for his brother, director Christopher Nolan.    Premise is new and interesting, characters well developed and storyline flows more like a movie than a episodic TV.  Definitely worth your time.   THU evenings 9:oo EST/ 8:00 CST.

Official site at CBS – http://www.cbs.com/shows/person_of_interest/

An aspiring author (Emma Stone) during the civil rights movement of the 1960′s decides to write a book detailing the African American Maid’s point of view on the White families they work for, and their hardships they go through on a day to day basis.

The movie has received countless praise, for its performances; however, the script tugged on heartstrings and at times played the audience like a musical instrument.  While the issues of racism and second class citizenship permeated the movie, they were lightly touched upon in an almost sanitized version, much like the lives of whites of the period.

Cinematography echoes of Life Magazine issues of the early 60’s and Madmen of the 21^st century.  Lush to look at, still a bit distracting, on the verge of be sanitized.

The Help contains wonderful performances from Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, both whom should be remembered at Oscar time next year.   Script was taken from the Tate Taylor’s book of the same name and will also probably be up for an Oscar, as will the movie for Best Picture, but I doubt the movie will stand the test of time.

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Contagion 

Contagion centers on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak.   The movie hits the road running, and for the next hour or so the audience is sucked into the pandemic decimating populations around the world.   Someone in the audience coughs and you cringe.

Set up, premise is good, shot almost documentary style; even top actors don’t make it all the way through the movie.  Then comes the second plot point, and (spoiler alert), a cure is discovered, millions die, but those who survive live happily ever after.

Kind of a unique review for Cowboys & Aliens.   Saw it twice; first time I was disappointed, second time, I felt I was seeing a completely different movie.

Initially, I found Cowboys and Aliens was pretty much like the cinematography, extremely desaturated.  Characters were pretty one dimensional, with no depth and full of stereotypes from hundreds of previous westerns.   Even when Harrison Ford‘s nasty character softened up and became a ‘good guy’, it seemed like someone gave him a different character to play.   Daniel Craig basically had two roles, sullen/kick your ass and sullen/trying to remember who he is.   Story was pretty shallow and when there’s a ‘twist’ to one of the characters you go, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Even the aliens were so-so.  They looked like they used the three fingered arms from the aliens in Spielberg’s recent War of the Worlds.  The GC looked like the monster chess set on the original Star Wars.  Guess what bothered me the most was looked at the washed out scenery.  It looked too dull, tans, beiges, creams, light greens and yellows.  Looks like someone set the color saturation levels way down.

However during the second viewing, I felt I was seeing a completely different movie.  In the second theatre, the colors were sharp, bright, and vibrant.  (The theatre used DLP™ TECHNOLOGY TEXAS INSTRUMENTS – when the movie house debuted the projection, I was totally blown away) .

Somehow, the characters became three dimensional and the story became fuller and richer.   Who knows, maybe I was paying so much attention to the lack of color in the cinematography the first go around, I failed to see movie for what it really was.

The movie worked for me, the second go around, though the plot is rather thin.  Jake Lonergan (Craig) wakes up, doesn’t know who he is and ends up in a town where he gets arrested.  Aliens appear and round up (no pun intended) half the townsfolk.  Remaining townsfolk go after the aliens.  Along the way they meet some interesting allies to kick alien butt.  Pretty cut and dry, story line almost seems like a little kids’ game.  Still, there’s enough to keep the audience in engaged.

Since this has been the first time aliens have been included in the western drama, the inclusion of spaceships and creatures seemed disjointed, but after all that’s what we came to see.

Sequel?  Maybe.   Hope though the writers put a little more meat on the storyline.

For more reviews – check Metacritc – http://www.metacritic.com/movie/cowboys-aliens

1.5 Gold nuggets out of 5 – 1^st viewing

3.75 Gold nuggets out of 5 – 2^nd viewing

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Rise of Planet of the Apes   

This movie has turned out to be the surprise of the summer, not only making over $200 million dollars worldwide or being top of the box office for several weeks but for its story.

Though, the movie is the latest in the long line of ‘planet of the apes’ movies, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, seems fresh and new.  Perhaps one reason is the movie focuses on one ape, Caesar from infancy to leader of the simian world.  A good portion of the movie follows Caesar as he is raised by humans, obtains his knowledge, and how his knowledge grows, at some points in his life, exponentially.

James Franco is Will Rodman, a scientist who is searching for a cure for Alzheimer’s, which his father, John Lithgow, has.  While Rodman’s first version of the serum has promise, it also has some problems.  Enter serum 2.0, which transforms not only Ceasar, but the rest of his simian group, which includes Bright Eyes, Maurice, and Corneila,  Remember them?

At one point the apes go beserk, ape shit – had to put that in, and take over the Bay Area.

It’s at this point the movie loses some momentum for me.  For one, when the apes escape and as their numbers multiple, they are obviously CG and the believability of apes drop a bit.   Also, and this is minor, and I’m only aware of it because I’ve been to Muir Woods, just north of San Francisco, but the movie gets the topography is wrong.  Muir Woods is in a basin north of the bad and the San Francisco skyline isn’t visible.  In the movie it is.  Minor, but a little distracting.

Subtle references to the original “Planet of the Apes” movie include the line. ‘Take your stinking paws off me you damn dirty ape!’ and a ever short clip of the original when one of the characters is watching Charlton Heston on the small screen.

The movie sets up the sequel very nicely and if you’re paying attention you see NASA losing the astronauts who are going to Mars and the annihilation of human race at hands of man.  Of course this sequel would be “Planet if the Apes.”  Hopefully people will forget the 2001 version by Tim Burton.

Movie is worth seeing, simply for the fact that once sees how the Apes come to rule the planet.

4.15 Bananas out of 5

For more reviews check MetaCritic – http://www.metacritic.com/movie/rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes

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Biutiful

Biutiful is the story of Uxbal, played by Javier Bardem, a man living in this world, but able to see his death, which guides his every move.   Bardem received a 2010 Best Actor nomination for his this role,

Director, Alejandro González Iñárritu, crafts the character that has gotten custody of his two young children, who he loves more than life, and lives day to day interacting with con artists, grifters, and other members of the lowest levels of society, scheming and trying to raise money in order to survive.

The movie starts off with what appears to disjointed story lines, several characters groups that at first have no relation to one another but as the movie progress, the story lines and characters come together and we find out how everything is intertwined.   Richly written script, painful and emotional three dimensional characters and just a slight touch of the magical realism brings a truly unique movie to life in modern day Spain.

I could go into the plot, delve into the characters, talk about the slightly unconventional storyline, but the movie is too good, too right to spoil it by talking about it.  As the title states, this movie is truly a biutiful movie.  

Alejandro González Iñárritu, while not an everyday name, has given us Amores Perros, 21 Grams, and Babel and has received three Oscar nominations.

4.75 stars out of 5

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Upcoming movies of note…

August 26^th Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark – A young girl girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend discovers creatures in her new home who want to claim her as one of their own. Director is Troy Nixey and one of the writers: Guillermo del Toro   I saw the preview, and the ‘end’ of the clip gave me goosebumps from my shoulder to the tips of my fingers.  Creepy….

Sept ember 9 – Contagion – An action-thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak.

October 28^th In Time – In the future people stop aging at 25 and must work to buy themselves more time, but when a young man finds himself with more time than he can imagine he must run from the corrupt police force to save his life.

2012 – The Amazing Spider-Man – the story begins (again?)

2012 – The Dark Knight Rises

2012 – The Avengers

– From IMDb “After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers  (Chris Evans) volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals.”

This Marvel Comics’ production is a genuine throw back to 1940’s WWII patriotic action war movies, with 21^st century special effects that don’t overpower the story but rather compliment the character development and plot line.

Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt / Red Skull, is not only Captain America’s Nazi nemesis, but a threat to the entire world with his ultra-secret organization Hydra.  Schmidt even takes a verbal jab at another WWII American hero, Indiana Jones.  Movie is filled will lots on inside jokes that lighten the movie.  Even Tommy Lee Jones as Colonel Chester Phillips, has one of funniest lines in the movie.  Basically he’s his Men in Black character as a WWII officer.

While the storyline is pretty straight forward, at times the movie takes a few detours to develop the character and story.   However, the movie really starts to move when Captain America under Howard Stark’s (Dominic Cooper), Tony’s father, creates his uniform and shield.  Straight into enemy territory, run by Nazi Schmidt, Steve Rogers plows his way into a POW camp/science experiment to free his fellow service men.

The movie is sheer fun, with loads of patriotic music mixed in to help you cheer on Captain America and the US war effort.  Chris Evans, who also appeared in another Marvel Comics movie, Fantastic Four as Johnny Storm / Human Torch, appears in almost every scene and his 98 lb weakling version of himself is incredible.  No body double, instead he was realistically recreated digitally.

                 Before and After 

Rounding out the cast is Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, English military officer who is Rogers’ love interest and fellow soldier.   Her expression when a buff Rogers comes out of the transformation cylinder is priceless.

This is what a movie should be, great characters, even evil ones, fast paced story line, lots of action, and special effects that compliment the movie rather than over power the movie.   Would not be surprised if this movie is remembered as Oscar nominations are handed out.   The 1940’s is lusciously recreated and the ambiance totally compliments the era.

The beginning of the movie ties in with the end, and brings Captain America to 2011.  Of course, and no spoiler here since he’s been in several movies already, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury appears at the end of the movie, before the movie credits.  Nice, very nice promo within the movie for next year’s blockbuster “The Avengers”   But WAIT, there’s more at the every end of the movie’s credit, a full movie preview of “The Avengers.” — looks great.

Hey, I really like WWII movie and comic book heroes, and “Captain America” is the perfect blend!

4.75 Captain America shields out of 5.

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 Green Lantern

A test pilot, Hal Jordon, (Ryan Reynolds) is granted a mystical green ring by a dying alien and the ring bestows him with otherworldly powers, as well as membership into an intergalactic squadron of Green Lanterns who are tasked with keeping peace within the universe.  Once Hal figures out what the ring can do, all sorts of mayhem ensure.

Shame, shame, shame on those movie critics who said how ‘bad’ Green Lantern was.  The way I look at it, there are all kinds of beer – this movie was the lightest of light beers.  I liked the movie, though there were holes in the script.  Personally, I like Ryan Reynolds, smart ass man/child/actor, who hasn’t ever grown up, but down deep inside, he’s all right and wants to please.

Hal Jordan’s ‘public entrance’ as Green Lantern, especially his creation of a ‘green hot wheels track’ is interesting.  I also liked how Hal Jordon’s love interest, saw through the mask and green skin tight costume knew it was Hal.  When he asked how she knew it was him, she said “I’ve seen you naked.”  Finally someone figures out a super hero secret identity. – I mean can a mask really hide who you are?  Can’t people see Superman is Clark Kent without the glasses and Batman is Bruce Wayne…look at the eyes, lips and chin folks!

Peter Sarsgaard was a nasty elephant man looking nemesis and Tim Robbins shows up at Peter Skarsguard’s father, which didn’t work for me and sassy Angela Bassett as a government scientist – just the other day I wondered what she had been up to…real waste of talent.

I mentioned that the movie had holes; I guess that’s where some of the characters disappeared half way through the movie.  Several characters who were at the beginning were never shown again.  Also there were a few parts where Hal/Green Lantern showed up to fight the ‘bad guy’, without showing/saying how he knew where to be.   “Things happened but there was no mentioned of how and why they happened.

I thought the ‘alien being that feed on fear was interesting, it looked like one huge bulging, growing and oozing octopus looking brown piece of $&!# while the ‘Guardians’ looked like the blue aliens from the original (60′s) Star Trek series.  The movie was a

CGI-appaloosa overkill that at times did nothing more than over power the thin storyline and one dimensional characters.

Like I said, Green Lantern is a very, very light Saturday afternoon movie – take it as such and wait for the DVD.

2.5 Rings out of 5

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Beginners

A young man, Oliver, (Ewan McGregor) is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father, Hal, Christopher Plummer.  Hal has terminal cancer, and he has a young male lover.  After his father’s death, Oliver finds Anna, Mélanie Laurent the woman of his dreams and recalls his last days with his father.  The two stories are intertwined, though one takes place before the other.

Wonderfully written “Beginners” is a bitter sweet story, with true to life performances by McGregor, Plummer and Laurent who all will certainly be remembered at Oscar nomination time.  All the actors seemed to inhabit characters and what struck me was the realistic relationship between father and son.  Oliver displayed such tenderness, such sweetness to a father, who was absent during his son’s childhood, that one can’t help but root and identify with Ewan McGregor’s Oliver.

The scenes seemed to be in real time, which caused the movie to move at a glacial speed, but the pace added to the realism of the movie.   Though the movie is about an hour and forty minutes, I felt the movie was twice as long; not that it mattered.  One can’t help but care for Oliver, his father and his friends, and his girlfriend.

Not much to say, other than it’s a well written (and acted) little movie about being family, and in love, regardless of one’s sexual preference.   It’s come and gone in theaters since it has a very small audience.  But still it’s a gem, one that shouldn’t be missed.

4.85 out 5

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Horrible Bosses

Simple idea, three guys hate their horrible bosses and then decide to kill each other’s bosses.  Strangers on a Train meet The Hangover.  Simple, guilty pleasure.   Lots of potty (with tooth brushes where the sun don’t shine) humor, but hey, it’s the genre.

Jason Bateman plays a variation of the “everyman struggling with life” character he does, Jason Sudeikis is a buddy who’s perfect boss dies and is replaced with one (Farrell) from hell and Charlie Day is tortured by his sex crazed female boss.

Kevin Spacey does a variation of his nasty Hollywood producer in Swimming with Sharks.   But it’s both Jennifer Aniston .as Dr. Julia Harris, D.D.S. and Colin Farrell as Bobby Pellitt that step out of their comfort zones and into the really nasty and abusive folks.   Aniston is the sex-crazed dentist who simply wants to f— all the time and Farrell as the drug abusing, no taste when it come to decorating his house, boss without any sign of humanity.

Like The Hangover, someone actually paid attention to the story line, making sure to connect all the dots and the characters are believable but not forgetting to add the adult, though sometimes childish humor.

The movie is really funny and will take it’s place in the current pantheon of ‘guys acting like idiots’ films.

4.0 toothbrushes out of 5

The Tree of Life looks at the meaning of life as director and writer Terrence Malick utilizes exquisite images and music to bring his world vision to the screen.  Malick uses two stories, one set in the 50’s and the other in the present, to interweave a family’s history, as a parable for bringing his cosmology to life.  Speaking of cosmology, he heavily borrows from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey’s ending to bring us stunning images from outer and inner space, to reinforce his personal philosophies, though, I could have done without the dinosaurs.

Brad Pitt plays the patriarch, and Jessica Chastain is the mother.  Both are at the opposite sides of the parenting scale, though each in their own ways totally love and support their three sons. Sean Penn, plays the adult Jack who looks back on his childhood, where his character is played by new comer Hunter McCracken looks at life. 

Malick literally frames each scene from young Jack’s life in gorgeous cinematography and when there’s no one speaking, he pipes in lush rich orchestral music or vocals.  The movie is but a sheer pleasure to sit through and absorb.

Still, the movie will have/has a very limited audience.  A true aficionado of well executed films, will be enamored of the movie; accept the hush, soft, whispers that make up the majority of the film’s dialogue, accept the high concept, high brow, intellectual approach to life’s simple and complex questions, joys and sorrows.

This movie is not for everyone, but then it wasn’t ever intended for anyone.  The Tree of Life is a labor of love for Malick, as are the rest of his films.  His gorgeous vision of life, even though his characters may be flawed, is his trademark.  For the true movie fan, this movie is a rare treat, and it is, by the sheer nature of it being from Terrence Malick.

4.65 epochs out of 5

For more on the movie check IMDb – The Tree of Life

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Super 8

From the previews, commercials and advanced publicity, it was pretty clear that Super 8 would not disappoint…especially those who expected to see E.T. on steroids, or if the movie was from producer Steven Spielberg and director J.J. Abrams.  If that’s what was expected, that is what the movie delivered.   However, that’s not to say the movie didn’t disappoint.

The premise is quite simple; in the summer of 1979 a group of junior high kids, and for a change they do look like junior high kids, are at a train depot filming (on Super 8 film) a Zombie movie when right before their eyes, a truck causes a major train derailment. From the previews, one knows an extra-terrestrial (or some metal pounding creature) is on one of the train cars.   Instead of local law enforcement and EMS showing up, by the book military personnel show up and immediately initiate a cover-up.  (Check the movie poster’s edge)

The local sheriff is the first local to be taken by the creature, which results in Kyle Chandler taking over the local law enforcement.  Meanwhile his son, Joe, Joel Courtney and his group of friends begin noticing strange happenings going around in their small town, and begin to investigate into the creepy phenomenon.

From that point on the movie is a hodgepodge of other alien, cute and not cure, landing on the earth and trying to get home, the only difference is that this movie tries and succeeds in looking like and feeling like Spielberg’s early summer movies.  On that point “Super 8” succeeds; the movie captures the late 70s, with its retro look and feeling, with all the kids’ rooms as real as J.J. Abrams memory of his adolescence.

I couldn’t help but ask were the kids based on Abrams or Spielberg’s childhood memories?  It’s both I think and that’s the movie’s appeal.  The movie reminds us what it’s like to be a kid, with his/her life ahead, an innocent time when anything is possible, from making Zombie movies, finding a first love, or simply pedaling one’s bikes at all hours of the day or night.   While the movie relies heavily on earlier movies, Super 8 is as fresh and innovative the movies of 1979 were thirty two years ago.

6.25MM out of 8MM

For more info check IMDb – Super 8.

Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) as small children realize early on they are different.  For Xavier, it brings him and Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) together.  For Erik, his magnetic talent gets the attention of a Nazi, Sebastian Shaw, (Kevin Bacon) who sets in motion Erik’s life of revenge for the man who wanted to use his mutant powers for the Axis powers and ended his childhood with one bullet.

Flash forward to the early sixties and both children have grown up to young men.  They’ve learned to develop and channel their powers for their lives’ missions.  Throw in the Cold War with the pending tensions between the US and the USSR, a ‘younger’ Sebastian Shaw, and the sleek and stylish AMC Madmen look of the times and you’ve got the basis for an X-cellent movie that looks at the beginnings of the X-men.

Two things tie all this together, great story and great character development.  Movie is tight, not a superfluous scene; everything in the movie is there for a reason and adds to history of the two (eventual) opposing Mutant fractions.  Dirctor Matthew Vaughn, who also co-wrote this script, based on a story by Bryan Singer, treats the characters and their stories in a way that moves the movie at a fast action pace and stays true to this truly American mythology.

What I thought was interesting was how the movie reminded me of the early 60’s James Bond movies when swagger and coolness meant something.  There’s homage to another 60’s movie;  when the president and his military men were strategizing at the onset of the Cuban missile crisis, the set looked like Dr. Strangelove’s set.  Also, the décor was totally early 60’s Madmen. By the way, Don Draper’s wife, January Jones played Emma Frost.

Kevin Bacon was the wickedly Sebastian Shaw and played the character to the hilt, evil, nasty and with no scruples — how else should the bad guy be played?

But who I really enjoyed watching on the screen was Michael Fassbender; he was a young Magneto and was probably given the best scenes and lines in the movie.  Shaw/Magneto was very charismatic and charming but had a definite ax to grind, which was one of the vehicles that moved the story along.   Fassbender, managed to be a very sympatric character, which even though you know in future movies will be at odds with Dr. Xavier and clearly stated his reasons for why mutants and humans can’t ever really mix.   The only drawback was James McAvoy, who was good in his role but I could not see him growing into Patrick Stuart’s, Dr. X.  I could see Fassbender’s character becoming/ growing into Ian McKellen’s Magneto.

Hugh Jackman, did a Wolverine cameo and has a great line. Unfortunately the preschooler sitting next to me asked, “What does f**k mean?”   I tried not to laugh as his mother gasped.

The Cuban missile crisis and tv news stories were credibly worked into storyline.  And what could have been a special effects ending spectacular, were reigned in, to keep with the story at hand. (Take a note Michael Bay.)  

The movie’s summer fun: a good story and character development.  Come on take the afternoon off from work and find out how the X-Men started their careers.

Official Site at 20th Century Fox
IMDb – X-Men: First Class

4.5 Mutants out of 5

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Thor

From IMDb “The powerful but arrogant warrior Thor is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard and sent to live amongst humans on Earth, where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.”

The premise causes Thor to seem like two different movies, with two very distinct looks and feel, with a very thin story line connecting both worlds. Thor, Chris Hemsworth, heir apparent to Odin, Anthony Hopkins, pisses off his father by nearly causing a war and gets banished to the Earth, (New Mexico) where he meets two members of the scientific community. Jane, Natalie Portman and Erik Stellan Skarsgård.  The remainder of the story is the power struggle on Asgard, Thor’s banishment and trying to get back home, and Agent Coulson, Clark Gregg, trying to find the power source in Thor’s hammer.

Director Kenneth Branagh, who is known for his Shakespearean movies, treats Thor as such and gives the movie a more grandiose and dramatic feel than rightfully deserves.  Psst, Thor’s a comic book hero.  The ploy could have backfired but Chris Hemsworth plays the part straight and noble, with a few comedic scenes thrown in to show that he doesn’t take himself or the part seriously.   And that is why the movie works for me.  Thor is a fish out of water when he drops in the New Mexico desert and literally runs into Jane and her crew.

Thor has to give up all notions of nobility and power, however, when he finds his hammer, he feels he’s got a chance to recapture his past.  However Agent Coulson and his men have other ideas for Thor, Jane and Erik.  Throw in the turmoil back on Asgard and the movie starts to move. Unfortunately for me, the Asgard realm reminded me of an updated version of  the 80’s Flash Gordon.

Marvel Comics produced the movie and is heavily involved in the development of their characters and stories to ensure a smooth transition from comic book to screen and this movie shows it.  Thor is treated regally in Asgard, and just like any other guy in New Mexico.  And in the end, it is Thor that the audience is rooting for, everyone else are just supporting characters.

Though Branagh strives for a high brow story, the movie basically brings one of Marvels comic book heros to life, with a good simple story and characters.

Official Site at Marvel Comics
Info at IMDb – Thor

3.5 Hammers out of 5 for comic book aficionados.

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 Thor – now in theaters

The powerful but arrogant warrior Thor is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard and sent to live amongst humans on Earth, where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1431476761/

   X-Men: First Class – starts June 3

In 1963, Charles Xavier starts up a school and later a team, for humans with superhuman abilities. Among them is Erik Lensherr, his best friend… and future archenemy.

Director: Matthew Vaughn
Stars:James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1270798/videogallery

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  Super 8 – starts June 10

After witnessing a mysterious train crash, a group of friends in the summer of 1979 begin noticing strange happenings going around in their small town, and begin to investigate into the strange phenomenon.

Director and Writer: J.J. Abrams
Stars: Elle Fanning, Amanda Michalka and Kyle Chandler

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi447192345/

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 Green Lantern starts June 17

A test pilot is granted a mystical green ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers, as well as membership into an intergalactic squadron tasked with keeping peace within the universe.

Director: Martin Campbell
Writers: Greg Berlanti (screenplay), Michael Green (screenplay), and 5 more credits
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively and Peter Sarsgaard

Trailer:http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2110954777/

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Captain America: The First Avenger – starts July22

After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals.

Director: Joe Johnston
Stars:Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving and Dominic Cooper

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2207227161/

Cowboys & Aliens  starts July 29

A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. A posse of cowboys are all that stand in their way.

Director: Jon Favreau
Stars:  Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2016976153/

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Rise of the Planet of the Apes –  starts August 5^th

An origin story set in present day San Francisco, where man’s own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.

Director: Rupert Wyatt
Writers:  Pierre Boulle (suggested by novel “La planete des singes”), Rick Jaffa, and 2 more credits » Stars: James Franco, Andy Serkis and Freida Pinto

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi624008473/  – wait till you see the second half of the trailer…

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For a full list – Check MetaCritic’s  Movies – Upcoming Page

http://www.metacritic.com/browse/movies/release-date/coming-soon/date