Category: The Twenty-First Century
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The Tree Of Life [2011]
Patience. That’s what “The Tree Of Life” requires. Patience, and plenty of it. I was more than patient, and even more willing to accept the fact that this is is supposed to be a work of art, rather than a “film”, but I’m sorry to say that I was terribly disappointed by the end result.…
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Final Destination 5 [2011]
Laser eye surgery was invented over a 100 years ago by Lans, a Dutch professor. I thought you should know this dull fact because it’s the only damn thing left for Hollywood to exploit in a movie. The first “Final Destination” was decent enough, as it introduced the whole “you can’t cheat death” concept. The second…
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Hoodwinked Too! Hood Vs. Evil [2011]
The first “Hoodwinked” movie had Anne Hathaway in the lead, and managed to make $110-million worldwide. Five years later, and here comes the eagerly unanticipated sequel and awkwardly named Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil . It isn’t bad, but in a way, the freshness from the first film is gone, as we follow Red (now voiced by…
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Captain America: The First Avenger [2011]
I’m a bit late coming to this film-blame it on a lousy last month at the movies- but having heard good buzz, I went in with high hopes. Luckily enough, not only did it exceed my expectations, but I strongly believe that this could well be one of the finest movies ever to come out…
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The Perfect Host [2010]
After all those “Frasier” years of watching David Hyde Pierce be such a nice gentleman, playing Dr. Niles Crane, it’s a hoot to watch him spice shyness with real madness in “The Perfect Host”. Pierce plays Warwick Wilson, a bachelor prepping dinner for friends. When a bank robber (Clayne Crawford) disrupts his plans by claiming…
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The Whistleblower [2011]
There’s nothing more frustrating than wanting a movie to be great and having to admit that it falls short. At one point during “The Whistleblower”, I found myself wanting it to be more exciting and dramatic, to no avail. It isn’t bad, but it never scales the heights of greatness its story promises and requires.…
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Zookeeper [2011]
Given my low expectations for any movie starring Kevin James, I was pleasantly surprised by “Zookeeper”. By pleasantly surprised, I mean I was expecting the worst. James has developed a typical screen persona over the years, which has served him well in such forgettable films as “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”. “Zookeeper” marks his second attempt…
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The Conspirator [2011]
It’s so damn good to sink your teeth into this interesting slice of American history that doesn’t feel the need to bore us with unnecessary details, but rests on clever storytelling, powerful acting, and a wonderful cinematography. As an actor and a filmmaker, Robert Redford can easily be considered as one of the all time…
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The Change Up [2011] ★★
How you react to this film will have a lot to do with your expectations. For a variety of reasons, I had mixed expectations for this raunchy comedy. But I still had faith in director David Dobkin. Yes, I liked “Wedding Crashers ” that much, and I’m eager for his next project. OK, I’m drifting.…
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Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes [2011]
In a multiplex crammed with bad teachers, “Monte Carlo” and stupid robots, it’s a pleasure to sink into this reboot of the classic “Planet Of The Apes” series that radiates CGI with a clever story that seems damn near revolutionary. Hollywood has already produced several “Apes” movies in the past (six films to be more…
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Sarah’s Key [2011]
A deeply touching human story filled with emotions and heartbreak is rare in any movie season, especially summer. That’s what makes “Sarah’s Key” an exhilarating gift. It’s one of the year’s nicest surprises, and I hope moviegoers will find a reason to watch it, despite the fact that multiplexes are filled with blockbusters, superheroes, and…
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Arthur [2011]
I wouldn’t call “Arthur” a disaster, for the simple fact that I wasn’t expecting a masterpiece to begin with. I’ve never seen the 1981 movie, starring legendary comedian Dudley Moore, but I can tell you that I liked the casting of Russel Brand and Helen Mirren in the leading roles here, even if the story…
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Your Highness [2011] ★★
Another comedy set in the middle-ages? Seriously? From the peak of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” to the low of “Robin Hood: Men In Tights”, we’ve seen it all. Really. We have. The makers of “Your Highness” tells us we’ve never seen the R-rated version. Now it’s here, and what “Superbad” screenwriter Ben Best…
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Soul Surfer [2011] ★★
“Soul Surfer” could best be described as a cheesy, uninspired mess that rings so false, I found it hard to believe that it was actually based on a true story. It’s a well meaning film for sure, but the positive message is overshadowed by lazy writing and painful melodrama. And yet, the target audience will…
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Trust [2011] ★★½
David Schwimmer’s second attempt as a director is a strong reminder of the dangers of online networking. “Trust” is about a young girl, Annie (newcomer Liana Liberato) who lives a comfortable life in suburban Michigan with a loving family. Father Will (Clive Owen) and mom Lynn (Catherine Keener) are involved in every aspect of their…
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Crazy, Stupid, Love [2011] ★★★
Well how do you like that? A movie that is both sweet and funny. “Crazy, Stupid, Love”, from directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (“I Love You, Phillip Morris”) comes as a pleasant surprise, and in a year of crap-taculars, that is a great relief (Screw you Michael Bay once again). Much of the film’s appeal is…
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Bridesmaids [2011]
Let’s face it: guys would do anything to avoid movies like “Bridesmaids”. You know it, I know it. But I got news for you: this raunchy, silly comedy written by Kirsten Wiig and Annie Mumolo is about a group of women who are as f***ed up as the dudes from “The Hangover”. Call it the…
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Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 [2011] ★★★½
Fans can relax. The epic crowd-pleaser everyone has been lusting for is finally here, and after 10 years, seven movies (well eight if you split the last film), four directors, two dumbledores (Richard Harris passed away after “The Chamber Of Secrets” and was replaced by Michael Gambon), several dead characters (and they said it was…
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Mr. Popper’s Penguins [2011]
Jim Carrey has developped an irresistible persona as a family entertainer which has served him well in such films as “Liar Liar” and “Disney’s A Christmas Carol”. In that context, “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” is a likable, PG-rated comedy that parents and kids can enjoy together. Is it predictable? Absolutely. Does it try to be anything…
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Horrible Bosses [2011]
Funny. Funnier. And more fun. That’s “Horrible Bosses” in a nutshell. But it’s also a chance for Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, and Colin Farell (what a list!) to show their true colors as comedians. It works, and it works like a charm. The story involves three horrible bosses (duh!) and the…
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