The Kids Are All Right

Short review here since there is really not much to say. This is just a really good film that has to do with life. I know some people might want to put this in the drama category, or the comedy category, I've even heard the dramady category get mentioned every now and again about this film. I think the dramady might be the closest because that is really the best way to describe life. This movie is really just all the relationships we have in our lives, the love relationships, the parent child relationship, and best friend relationship.
I don't think I should really need to mention how wonderful the acting is in this as it does star some greats like Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo. I the acting done Josh Hutcherson, and Mia Wasikowska was really well done. I had never seen Wasikowska in Alice in Wonderland, and had never seen Hutcherson however after seeing their performances in this I went and looked them up in IMDB and have found a few movies to add to my Netflix queue.
I will say there are a few sex scenes in this and some small amount of drug use, this may not be the film to see for your next family film night, it would however be a great date night and talk about it after movie.
I give this film an A.

Official site
http://filminfocus.com/the_kids_are_all_right

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0842926/

Getting on a schedule

So if you have been watching the page you may have noticed I am running on a kind of schedule. Most of the time I'll be posting late Tuesdays and Fridays. However right now because the Oscars are coming up I'll be posting a few extra ones.
Happy reading all.

The Social Network

Ask anyone what this movie is about and they will say Facebook, and while on the surface that may be true there is much more going on here. In many ways this seemed more like a Shakespeare storyline set to the internet and college. Here we have a very smart guy that is just not socially adept that feels wronged by his girlfriend and wants to do something to get noticed by the popular people. It is really a story we have seen hundreds of times before. The only change here is there is some truth (and there is some discussion about how much) to the story. Along with a smart guy trying to get noticed you have the betrayal of a friend, the greedy guy that takes all he can, and the innocent yet angry.
I'm sure over the past 4 months since this film came out you have heard about the acting jobs from Jessie Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake. Let me reasure you it is all well deserved, the surprise for me was actor Armie Hammer as the Winklevoss twins. Not only did he play both characters but he did it amazingly. At no point of the film did I think "hey that's the guy from Gossip Girl". So often you get actors that while they understand they are in the supporting role they seem to want to take over the scene. While he may not have the long list of films that some do I think we will start seeing more of him very soon.
Now I can't really talk about this movie without mentioning David Fincher, and Aaron Sorkin. Sorkin is a long time favourite of mine with his quick signature dialog, and fleshed out characters. Amazing is the only way I can describe what he writes and the way he writes it. Fincher also a favourite of mine, bringing everything little thing in. The are times in the film your not just watching but you are there.
In the end while there are a few small continuity errors they weren't really enough to take away from the film for me. This is an engaging, interesting film and I give it an A.

official site
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thesocialnetwork/

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285016/

The Town

Normally I'm not a person that is really in to the bank robbery movies, but after hearing people rave about this film for the better part of a year and seeing all the nominations it got I thought maybe I should check it out. The only thing I can say is shame on everyone that puts this in the category of bank robbery movies. Now I'm not going to say that this doesn't have a lot to do with robbing banks, however I think film is far more about relationships and what they truly mean in our lives. This film is about how the people in our lives affect us and how what we do affects them. The relationships that often go deeper than love. How many of us have friends that are more like siblings and we say we would die for, yet if the time were to come would we really, the things we hide from our significant others, and the things we hide from our selves. While someone that takes things at face value could watch this film and see a movie about 4 guys robbing banks, and armored trucks, if you are someone that will really take the time to watch this film and take in all into consideration you will find a true love for the story.
The acting in this film was over all really well done. Ben Affleck did a truly wonderful job in both acting and directing, still I would say really needs to work on checking the continuity. There are several times the trees on the street keep going from being green to full golden brown colours of fall. There was also at least 3 times I saw New Jersey licence plates on the police cars when this whole film is suppose to be placed in a suburb of Boston and in Boston. Biggest problem for me was really the accent being there then not being there for Jeremy Renner's character. While Renner's acting was truly fantastic the way he kept dropping the thick Southie accent was really obvious.
Last but not least the language. So I had heard from many people that there was a lot of swearing in this movie. They were right. There is several conversations that uses F*#K! about every other word. Most of the time that would kind of bother me as it often shows a lack of imagination, however in this film it is fitting. The 4 main guys in this film are suppose to be rather uneducated, and thugs. The language itself is practically a character. To the people that complained about the language all I can say is get over it, many real people talk that way and this is suppose to be realistic.
Now for my grade. I have a problem with the errors, I truly want to give this an A but just can't justify that. Every time I saw an error it pulled me right out of the film for a few seconds and those seconds add up. I give this film a B.

Still I will say this is really a film worth seeing. If you get a chance please do.

Official site
http://thetownmovie.warnerbros.com/dvd/

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840361/

Inception

If this review were a letter to a person in stead of being a blog/article, it would be a thank you letter to Christopher Nolan. Every film he has done is mesmerising, thought provoking, and yet comes from something simple. The idea of going in to another persons dream isn't new. We have seen it in movies before with sci-fi movies like Dreamscape, and the horror movies of Nightmare on Elm St movies. Still taking this idea and turning it into something really new. Not only is this an action film, but it is a film about moving on in life when needed, always willing to let yourself dream big, and not giving up. It is odd that I should see two movies so close together that would blur the line of reality, and dream world so much, however in this film you do often get a moment to realize when that is going to happen. I'm sure by now you have noticed that I still haven't said much about the overall storyline. Well other than saying this is an action film you really need to figure out what this movie was for you. I guess at the basis you can say plant an idea and see where it goes.
Lets talk for a moment about the acting shall we. Personally I felt all of the acting in this was stellar. This all-star cast did not disappoint, and even surprised me a little. While I have always been a fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, I don't think this level of action was required of him until this. I can't imagine at this point how great the acting is by the men nominated for Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor but it makes me want to see them all that much more if they somehow did a better job. I can truly say that I loved every bit of acting in this film, and that includes the very important extras. So often people are put in the back round and just told to be, here they are a true part of the story.
This review is kind of all over the place and I do know that, I that is large in part because the film itself it all over the place. However the film does come to a point just as this review does, so here goes. I give this film and A+.

I will add however this is not a film to see when you can't give it your full attention. Don't drink anything before you have to watch this so you end up having to take a bathroom break, don't eat, don't cuddle while watching it, nothing don't do anything other then have your eyes on the screen because if you don't you will miss something. Also if I had the chance I would have gone out with a friend afterward to talk about this one.
Thank you again Mr. Nolan for this wonderful work of art.

Official site
http://inceptionmovie.warnerbros.com/dvd/

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/

Hellboy

I saw this last night completely going in thinking I was going to hate it and ended up loving it. I think the only comic book films I have liked more was the Michael Keaton Batman's and the Spiderman (the first one). It has something to offer on just about every emotional level. If you get a chance to see this please do and let me know what you thought. It is much more then a comic book film. The acting in this is really well done, and although it has one liners in it they are good funny one liners unlike many that are just stupid. The special effects in this were also very good. Not overdone but just enough. I give this film an A.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167190/

Beauty & the Briefcase

This review will be really short because this is just one of those simple movies. Beauty & the Briefcase is a cute, simple, predictable movie that while it has a good message does not have a lot of substance to it. Hillary Duff plays an aspiring writer that goes on an under cover mission to find the man of her dreams in a suit. The message of course if people often don't know what they really want until they are about to loose it. None of the acting in this is stellar and you don't really think it will be going in. In the simplest of terms (and most of the time I hate saying this) this is a chick flick. A feel good movie you can watch with a few friends while you are talking because you wont miss too much at the same time.
I give this movie a B-.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1493842/

Black Swan

Since this film was released I have heard a lot about it and yet not much. I wouldn't say that I can't say what it's about because I don't want to ruin it for anyone (which would be true), but really more because when the film was over I sat there in the theater an extra few minutes trying to figure out what the film was truly about. The lines between reality, dream, and madness are so blurred that you just aren't sure. In that past when I have seen movies like that I didn't like them because it often left you feeling that you had just wasted 2 hours of your life that you will never get back. In this film however the beauty, the intrigue, base storyline had me so interested that I found my self enjoying not knowing what or who was real at the time.
One of the things that I heard the most was that I would have to see this film at least 2 times to understand it, I would have to say to truly understand every part of this film you will have to take some serious time of dissecting each scene, and some reading up on Swan Lake.
I should say there are some scenes that are rather unsettling, it's not so much that they are bloody but it's what is being done to cause the blood. I understand that it is all about that line of reality getting blurred again but seeing someone stabbing them selves in the face was something I really could have done without.
Last but not least I have got to mention the acting in this. I was truly impressed by the acting done by Mila Kunis, most people will recognize her as Jackie Burkhart in That 70's Show. This character is a complete departure of Jackie. In this film she is playing someone that you think is nice, then you think is back stabbing, then you just don't know. As far as the acting from everyone else was also very impressed, just not as blown away because I've seen Natalie Portman, Barara Hershey, and Vincent Cassel in film that required fantastic acting and have not been disappointed. With Mila Kunis the only thing I had really seen was her playing Jackie which was a role that didn't really require stellar acting.
Now I am going to say something that I haven't found my self saying in years.
I think this might be the best film I've seen in a year maybe two. I'm still in the process of trying to see all the Oscar nominees so it might get knocked down a little but for right now this one is it for me.
I give this film an A+.

Official site
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/blackswan/

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/

Saw

A truly gory and disgusting movie with a message. This is a horror movie that had a lot of the typical blood and guts which don't really get to me, what did however get to me in this film was a character that searched in a toilet full of excrement for a clue as to who is imprisoning him, or why. Still I have to say I did like the over all message of take pleasure in your life, because you don't know when it might end.
The acting in this film was quite good while I never truly felt bad for any of the people being hurt because as you find out there are all there for a reason.
I give this movie a B.

Personal note to the person that asked me to see this I will see the sequels to this but after I watch the Oscar nominees.

Fan club page
http://www.officialsaw.com/

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387564/

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

I wish I hadn't waited so long to see this film. From the start all the way through you are laughing at one thing or another. While on the surface this looks like a typical big guy picking on the little guy film with a lot of physical comedy thrown in, and it is. However it also has back round storyline of not giving up in life or the, general difficult situations, and love. Vince Vaughn does a great job at playing the good guy but still kind of a loser, while Ben Stiller seems to be playing a slightly (and I do mean slightly) smarter and meaner version of his character Derek Zoolander in the film Zoolander. The brightest star of the film for me was however not one of the main characters but one of the smallest supporting characters. Pepper Brooks played by Jason Bateman was so off the wall that I found my self waiting for his next line. There are few movies in the past few years that have made me laugh this much and had this much heart. If you are in the need of a really good laugh and enjoy physical comedy this is a great film for you.
I give this film an A.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364725/

I'm taking requests

I'm sure you have more then likely noticed my most recent reviews haven't been of new films. As things are right now I can't really afford to go to the theater as much as I may like, I do still however have Netflix. If there is a movie that you would like my opinion on please let me know. The movie I currently have is Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. After that the first one on my list is Saw because of a request of a friend.

So out there let me know if you think I should see something or want to hear my opinion on something.

Darkness

Gotta say this is not a film I was thrilled with. This has to do with a father with a mental problem that started when he was a child, a house the may or may not of caused it, and supposedly scary things that can only come out when it is dark. The scary things (not really all that scary), and the fathers problems happen mostly at the house but there is a small episode he has outside as well. The acting by Anna Paquin, and Lena Olin were the only bright spots in this film and that is the only reason it gets as high of a grade from me. What can I say like my scary movies to be scary. I give this film a B-.

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273517/

8: The Mormon Proposition

As Documentaries this is wonderfully done. No matter what side of the fence you sit on with this issue it is good to get all the information you can. While this film is heavily sided with the no on prop 8 people (just in case there is anyone reading this prop 8 was on the rights of marriage equality in the 2008 elections) that is to no fault of the film makers. They did try to interview the Mormon church, and the parents of a suicide victim. I honestly hope that whether you are pro or con this issue you at least see this movie to get a view point as to why many people feel the way they do.

I give this film an A.

Official site
http://www.mormonproposition.com/

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1484522/

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part1

This was all that I expected and more. Not being a reader of the books but being friends with many of them I had an idea of what was coming, what I was not expecting though was the intensity of the storyline. None of the other Harry Potter films had me always wanting to see what is going to happen next. I can truly say I don’t think I found anything wrong with this film. I will say however it is not a film to be seen by young children. I know people say the books are children’s books but when you put some things on film they can become a little too scary for many children. There are some truly frightening, and sad moments in this movie. I give this film an A.

Official web site
http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthedeathlyhallows/mainsite/index.html

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0926084/

Troy

Wow this film was good. This film was great. I have never really been a Brad Pitt fan, and I never really saw what everyone was talking about as far as his looks. However in this hubba hubba lol. Honestly though this film is not just good because of that. The story is really good; there are very few moments where you wish it would move on to the next thing because you really want to know what is coming next. The acting in this is truly amazing. Not once was I taken out of the movie for a missed accent, or what might have been missed intonations. I can hardly believe I'm saying this but I give this film an A+. This film is a winner all the way around.

IMDB - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332452/

I'm Baaack

Yes ok I have been gone for quite a while, no excuses just the truth. What can I say other than depression really kicked my butt a few times over. I did however want to come back to this as it was something that I really enjoyed and the few that were giving responses really seem to like. I will however be adding a small element to this. From here on end I’m going to be writing everything like I’m in a conversation. Now it would be wonderful if I get a response, however if I don’t that’s fine too.

In the spirit of my honesty of all things entertainment I currently give this site a D- please know I’m going to be working towards making this an A list Blog.

Much love to you all and I hope you enjoy the review I’ll be posting in just a few minutes.

Frost/Nixon

You've heard all the hype I'm sure, well it's all deserved. I am not a person that really goes to see political films most of the time. When it comes down to it if I have to choose between a political film and a romantic comedy, the romantic comedy will almost always win. I'm telling you this with the hopes that if I tell you this is well worth the price of admission and more you might think about seeing it if you haven't already. All of the acting in this film is perfection, directing was great, writing was wondering, even the lighting was perfect for what it was suppose to be at the time. I can give this no other grade then an A+. If there were a higher grade it would get that. Really this is a must see.

http://www.frostnixon.net/
U.S. site

http://www.eldesafio-lapelicula.es/
Spanish site

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870111/
IMDB




Sorry about the long pause in reviews all, I've been a little under the weather and wasn't really able to watch anything. More reviews coming soon.

Haunted Honeymoon

Campy, silly, and not a great storyline, still all in all a good film. You really need to be the type of person to enjoy the campy stuff but if you are and haven't seen this you need to rent it NOW!!! Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner play an engaged couple going to his family's estate while he seems to be going through pre-wedding jitters, so parts of his family feel the best thing to do is to scare him in to it. Not really sure how else to put the over all plot but I will say it's an odd one. There is also one scene that truly makes the whole film worth watching. Dom De Luise (playing aunt Kate) and Gilda Radner do a song and dance number that is so extremely funny I'm not sure it could be put in to words. I'll say right now I love these types of films and well it may not be Oscar material it is a film that gets an A from me. Check it out for a good laugh just don't take it too seriously.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091178/
IMDB

In the next week I will be seeing the following films please look for these reviews

The Wrestler
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Grand Torino

Serial Killing 101

Bizarre doesn't cover it. This is about a boy (Casey) that decides that he wants to be a serial killer and so decides to study on past serial killers. His friend Sasha helps him study serial killers, and helps him to pick his weapon of choice. In the process of helping Casey there is a real serial killer in town turning people in to furniture. Considering the concept of the film it is really very funny in many parts, and isn't really that bloody. Overall this is an OK film with so, so acting for the most part. I give this film a B- however if you are a person that likes the more bizarre side of things I would suggest watching this.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122247/

Bedtime Stories

In one of my last reviews of an Adam Sandler film I had mentioned that films produced by Sandler seem to have a formula that is often the same but with different story lines. Bedtime Stories is no different, yet still again another really likable movie. Many of Sandlers films in the past have been movies made for grown ups that children can see and still enjoy, this one however is a film made for children that grown ups can see and have a good time at. So what is this film about? Well if you have seen any of the previews you have a pretty good idea on a lot of it with a couple added little things that you might not be aware of. First off I was under the impression Skeeter (Sandler) was visiting his niece and nephew a few nights in a row not that he was watching them for nights in a row. Secondly I didn't realize Bugsy (the guinea pig) was going to be as important to the over all story as he was but many times Bugsy stole the show. While the acting is not top notch for the season it is par for the course on Sandler films and I overall enjoyed this film. The only reason this film doesn't get a higher rating is because of the acting. I give this film an A-.
I would also suggest that if you have children take them to see this film, nobody will be bored and you will be in out of the rain.

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/bedtimestories/
main website

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0960731/
IMDB