Category: GENRE
-
Goon [2012] ★★
I’ve tried to make my peace with what is known as “The New Vulgarity”, as Hollywood has jumped on the R-rated comedy bandwagon, but it isn’t always easy. Luckily enough, Sean William Scott (a.k.a “The Stiffmeister) gives it his best as a hockey player whose main function is to beat up the players on the other…
-
American Reunion [2012] ★★½
“American Pie” hit theaters in 1999, which in Bieber years is about a century ago. The movie was followed by two decent enough sequels and another four unrelated direct to DVD films. Did we need another installment? Not really. But writer Adam Herz and director John Hurwitz, who’ve been working this gig for a while now,…
-
One For The Money [2012]
The worst movie of the year so far has a good chance to retain the title for all of 2012. Ripping off a few lousy comedies, “One For The Money” manages not only to be bad, but to drill a hole deeper into the scum. Yep that’s Katherine Heigl again (the perpetrator of such misfires…
-
Taxi Ballad [2012] ★★★
Do you want to see a movie about a taxi driver who learns valuable lessons in life? Probably not. Which means you’re in luck. Because director Joseph Daniel (in his film debut) doesn’t do things by the numbers. Instead, he builds his movie from the inside out. Character comes first. Talal Jurdi, who plays our…
-
The Sitter [2011] ★★
“The Sitter” is far from the disaster it’s been made out to be in some reviews…nor is it an unqualified success. How you feel about it will have a lot to do with your age and gender. Younger audiences might think it was the greatest movie ever made, a wish fulfillment comedy featuring lots of…
-
Young Adult [2011] ★★
Compared to Jason Reitman’s other films, like “Juno”, “Thank You For Smoking”, and “Up in the Air”, “Young Adult” doesn’t stand a chance. Charlize Theron delivers a bold performance, playing an extremely unlikable character (she did it before in “Monster”). An author of young adult fiction, she lives an empty life in the city, drowning…
-
Albert Nobbs [2011] ★★★
Glenn Close’s performance in Albert Nobbs” seems almost too good to be true, but that’s what makes it so effective. She first played the role of Albert Nobbs on stage some thirty years ago. Since then, she has dreamed of bringing the story to the screen, and has worked continuously to make it happen. Now…
-
This Means War [2012] ★★
“This Means War” is the movie equivalent of fast food; familiar, enjoyable, but easily forgotten. If you’re a fan of the comedy generated by Reese Witherspoon and Chelsea Handler, you’ll either be the perfect audience for this movie or you may find the humor overly familiar. I’m not a diehard fan, and I found the…
-
The Big Year [2011] ★★½
“The Big Year” is an enjoyable comedy with an unusual premise about three dedicated “birders” (that’s bird watching) and their attempt to track as many species as possible during a whole year. Stu Preissler (Steve Martin) is a successful businessman ready to retire and spend 12 months travelling around the country in search of birds. Brad…
-
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo [2011] ★★★½
The american version of “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” is gripping and unusual, even if you’ve seen the Swedish film that inspired it, which in turn was based on a novel by Stieg Larson. If you did catch that striking Swedish import two years ago, you should be familiar with the story by now.…
-
Warrior [2011] ★★★½
A movie that gives you rooting interest, as soon as it opens, and keeps coming at you, could best be described as a triumph. “Warrior”, from director Gavin O’ Connor takes place in the world of mixed martial arts. It is violent, blunt, powerful. You name it. But “Warrior” also possesses heart and finesse on…
-
What’s Your Number? [2011] ★★½
Start hating me now, but despite its silly and cheesy premise, there’s something likable about this romantic comedy, starring Anna Faris and Chris “Captain America” Evans (yep that’s his nickname now). If you’re in the mood for mindless entertainment, look no further. Personally, I had no expectations whatsoever, so imagine my surprise to find this…
-
The Help [2011] ★★★½
Nothing heats up an Oscar race like an underdog for best picture. On the surface, “The Help” sounds like a movie that’s been done so many times before: the well-to-do white folks and their black servants in a Southern Town in the 1960’s. But it doesn’t take this captivating and steadily surprising movie very long to…
-
Senna [2011]
Fantastic documentary chronicles the life and death of Formula one legend Ayrton Senna, from his days as a go-kart racer, to his debut as a professional driver, his rivalry with Alain Prost (that includes him winning the title three times), and ultimately his tragic death on May 1st 1994. But that’s not all. Beneath the…
-
Father Of Invention [2011] ★★
Kevin Spacey is a pleasure to watch in anything. Ok maybe not in “Fred Claus” or…anyway you see where I’m going. Who doesn’t like Kevin Spacey? The Spacey appeal is what makes the otherwise forgettable “Father Of Invention” go down easy. Spacey plays Robert Axel, one of those guys you see on T.V yelling about some…
-
Winnie The Pooh [2011] ★★★
Only those with no sense of nostalgia would fail to appreciate the magic in this sweet, gentle animated movie. I’m talking Winnie The Pooh, the stuffed bear, and his friends, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Tigger, Owl, and Eeyore the donkey. The movie generates smiles from start to finish as we find Pooh and Co. going on…
-
Friends With Benefits [2011] ★★
Admit it: You’ve seen that same story about a guy and a girl who say they’re just in it for the sex so many times before and better. So why try to deny it? Yet as soon as it opens, “Friends With Benefits” wants you to know that you’re in for something completely different than…
-
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.…
-
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…
-
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…
Let's Talk About Movies 