Rango (2011)

Rango is a heavy dose of fun. It has a funny story that is basically Chinatown meets A Fistful of Dollars, with plenty of jokes mixed in. While a few scenes seem a little unnecessary and almost feel as if they are added as filler to make the film slightly longer, it is overall enjoyable.
The voice actors do a wonderful job Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, and many more. They do a great job of bringing their characters to life and give them great personality.







 Rating: 4/5 **** 

Yojimbo (1961)

Yojimbo is another example of why Akira Kurosawa is easily one of the greatest film directors of all time. This film has such a simple concept, Sanjuro, a wondering samurai, enters a small town that is split between two feuding gangs.  He uses his superior intelligence and fighting skills to manipulate the rival gang leaders into destroying themselves and thus ridding the town of the fighting and corruption that is currently plaguing it.
A brilliant film that is more of a western than a samurai film and was in fact remade into a western in 1964 with Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars.
Kurosawa's go to star Toshiro Mifune was brilliant as the intelligent, wise cracking samurai, Sanjuro.
Yojimbo is an exciting, thrilling, comical ride.



Rating: 5/5 *****

On the Waterfront (1954)

Elia Kazan's classic masterpiece follows Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) through a crisis of morality when he is faced with the choice of testifying against his corrupt union boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) or playing D and D (deaf and dumb) to the murders that are taking place on the waterfront.
This is one hell of a movie with some of the greatest performances of all time. Marlon Brando shows here why he is one of the all time greatest actors with his role as Malloy, a washed up ex-boxer who plays dumb to all the corruption around him. That is until the beautiful sister of one of the victims shows up. Karl Malden, Eva Marie Saint, Rod Steiger and Lee J. Cobb also give outstanding performances in this brilliant classic that took home 8 Oscars (including Best Picture).




Rating: 5/5 *****

Network (1976)

In 1976 when Sidney Lumet's film Network was first released, the brilliant director couldn't possibly have guessed how relevant the messages in the film would still be 35 years later.
This film follows a famous news anchor, Howard Beale, who is having a mental collapse on a live network news station. The corporate news network exploits the man in order to gain viewers and move ahead in the ratings. The film is funny, smart, and very intelligent. It has one brilliant (Oscar winning) script and absolutely phenomenal acting by Peter Finch, William Holden, and Faye Dunaway. Finch received a best actor Oscar for his role as Beale and Dunaway best actress for her performance.
This time that we live in disconnect among people is greater than ever thanks to the internet and technology. The messages in this film are extremely relevant and are easily translated into today’s society. This is a film that is as important as it is entertaining. I highly recommend watching for anyone who hasn't seen it.



Rating: 5/5 *****

Grown Ups (2010)

I'm not going to waste a lot of time writing about this piece of garbage, and I don't recommend you waste your time watching it.
Not a lot happens in this film. It is just a group of people going around trying, and miserably failing, to be funny. Not one scene in this movie is worth my time and I feel bad for anyone who has to watch this. This movie is horrible, really horrible.







Rating: 0/5  bomb

Dinner for Schmucks (2010)

Dinner for Schmucks has potential to be so much more than it is. It has a hilarious cast including Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Zach Galifianakis, and Jermaine Clement who steals the show as the
artist Kieran.
Tim (Paul Rudd) is a raising star at his work when the boss invites him to a monthly dinner event where they compete to see who can find the biggest buffoon and bring them as their guest. Tim runs into the perfect guest, IRS employee Barry (Carell).
While it has its moments, most the laughs are saved until the actually dinner, which is quite hilarious.
However overall the movie is mildly dissappointing.




Rating:     2.5/5   **1/2

Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country (2008)

Everyone should watch Burma VJ. This documentary is absolutely stunning. It is a look into a country we rarely see anything about.

With cameras illegal in Burma a group of underground video journalists attempt to capture the 2007 protests of the Burmese government led by the countries monks. The video is all footage shot by Joshua (the narrator) and his fellow Democratic Voice of Burma VJs (video journalist) and smuggled out of the country. These people put their lives at risk in attempt to show the outside world what is happening in their country. The journalist are some amazing individuals.  Brave and relentless they go after their footage getting some spectacular shots.

This film is as intense and exciting as anything you'll see. It is an incredible story and a testaments to the ability of individuals to change the world.

Rating: 5/5 *****

Cyrus (2010)

In Cyrus John C. Reilly plays John, a kind but awkward man who is recently divorced and feeling lonely. At a party thrown by his ex-wife he meets the girl of his dreams. Everything is going great until he meets her son, Cyrus (Jonah Hill). Cyrus is a manipulative little creep who acts nice to John at first but we soon see his alternative motive is to chase John away from his mom.
While there are definitely some funny moments, this movie left me feeling uncomfortable. John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill both play their characters wonderfully and have some great moments together. Overall however I felt like this movie could have been much more.









Rating: 3/5 ***

Blue Valentine (2010)

Blue Valentine is a raw, realistic look at the rise and collapse of a modern day relationship. Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling absolutely shine in their roles. They are able to fully capture their characters every emotion with brutal honesty.

The film weaves in and out of the beginning of the relationship where the love is real and strong, and the end where they are struggling and forcing themselves to try to stay together, despite no longer having feelings for one another.

The part of the film that takes place earlier and tells of their meeting and first falling in love is the part of the film that is deep, beautiful woven and well crafted. The rest of the film that shows their decline feels forced, phony and workshopped to the point where it is actually dry and boring. The second part of the story is where it showed that this is filmmaker Derek Cianfrance first attempt at a feature. It seems like he knows what he wants to say, but struggled with knowing how to get there.You can definitely see the influence of John Cassavetes on the screen, but Cianfrance is far from the level of skill Cassavetes had. Maybe in time when Cianfrance has had more time to hone his craft, but until then...

Despite its flaws, the wonderful performances carry the film.


3.5/5 ***1/2

Micmacs (2009)

Micmacs is a delightful, yet mildly forgettable film from Jean-Pierre Jeunet the acclaimed director of Amelie, The City of Lost Children and Delicatessen. A modern day fairy tale with cartoon like characters and actions, Micmacs is comic commentary on the global arms trade. With breathtaking set designs and colorful characters, Micmacs is a fun ride but leaves one feeling like it was just missing the heart and depth of being another Amelie or City of Lost Children. Still, it is worth a watch. 

3.5/5 ***1/2

Shadows (1959)

John Cassavetes’ 1959 directorial debut, Shadows is a groundbreaking film and the birth of American independent cinema.

The film is essentially about interracial relations during the Beat Generation in New York City. It follows three African-American siblings, Benny, Lelia and Hugh.
Benny's a hipster, exploring Manhattan's beat scene. He hangs with his friends, hits on girls and goes to art museums. 

Hugh, is the older brother, a struggling jazz singer whose agent and friend, Rupert, may be the only person who believes in him. 

Lelia, who is much lighter skinned than her siblings, falls for Tony at a book party only to have him leave when he meets her darker siblings and lets his prejudice get the best of him. 

This film is a raw, gritty portrait of the beat generation, filled with jazz and powerful emotion. A groundbreaking film for its time Cassavetes makes a fantastic directorial debut.

Rating: 5/5 *****

The Fighter (2010)

The Fighter is not a film about boxing, it is a film about family. It is not always easy but your family is your family and you gotta stick with them through the good times and the bad. 
With The Fighter, David O. Russell presents us with a very intimate story. With the help of his craftsmanship, as well as great acting, you feel each ache and struggle Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) goes through. You want to give Melissa Leo's character Alice both a smack and a hug, as she does things that she believes are best for her family, but we can all see is not always the case. You feel Amy Adams' character, Charlene's strength and strong will as she helps Micky stand up to his family and do what is best for himself.
Christian Bale's performance as Dickie, Micky's drug addict brother, is the kind of performance worthy of awards. He is a skinny, jittery, drugged out ex-boxer who thinks he has his brothers best interest in mind. Bale pulls all the stops to become his character and as a result, he knocks it out of the park.
An overall great story filled with great acting, The Fighter is definitely a film worth seeing. 


Rating: 4.5/5 ****

Batman Begins (2005) **Special Post**

           

Batman Begins may seem like a superhero movie, but it ultimately crosses genres.  There are a number of messages in the film, the strongest are about fear.  Overcoming fear, power through fear and embracing fear are just a few.  Much like a horror film villain, Scarecrow or Jonathan Crane uses fear to conquer his enemies.  I also saw aspects of film noir such as, the corruption of Carmine Falcone in the police department, the DA and even the judges.  However although there are elements of these other genres it is very clearly a superhero film.  Batman is often viewed as a “normal” guy and not a man with superpowers or necessarily a hero because of what he stands for. However, I found that in this film he is in fact a superhero. 

            What makes a superhero is both having super abilities such as the ability to fly or turn invisible and being a hero by standing for all that is good and pure.  I think the title of the film Batman Begins is very significant because it describes the film perfectly.  It is in fact the beginning of Batman as a superhero.  At the start of the film he is neither “super” nor a “hero.”  One may argue that Batman does not in fact have any powers so how could he be considered “super.” However, I believe that he does have many powers that are similar to other superheroes.  This is best seen in a scene where the character Ducard tells Bruce Wayne “You can fight 6 men, I will teach you to fight 600.  You know how to disappear, I will teach you to become truly invisible.”  Through training by Ducard, Bruce learns how to become “more than just a man.”  Ducard as well as Bruce Wayne himself discuss the significance of a symbol.  Bruce says while talking to Alfred “As a man I am flesh and blood I can be destroyed, but with a symbol I can be incorruptible and everlasting.”  In the same way Ducard is just a man but Ra’s Al-Ghul is immortal, Bruce Wayne is just a man while Batman is in fact immortal.  Bruce Wayne himself is not a superhero; he is mortal and has no “supernatural” abilities.  However Batman is not only immortal but he has the ability to turn invisible, fight “600 men” at once, and even fly.  A lot of Batman’s abilities are also inventions or man made objects, such as his ability to “fly” or his bulletproof armor.  These objects are given to Bruce Wayne, mostly by Lucius Fox, and become part of the symbol of Batman himself.  

Batman is not just super, he is a super hero.  One could argue that he stands for revenge which is not a quality of a hero.  However, in this film he stands for justice and not vengeance.  The film discusses the difference of revenge and justice and, although there is a thin line between them, Batman does in fact remain on the side of justice.  In one scene where Ducard is training Bruce he discusses that the path to salvation is through vengeance. However, Batman is unable to get revenge on the man who killed his parents because he was murdered.  This is a fact that might have saved Bruce because it led him to Carmine Falcone and his quest, instead of killing a man and possibly going to jail.  Some other “hero” actions or qualities seen from Batman are hope and compassion.  Compassion is a big one because, as Bruce says in the film, it is what “separates us from them.”  Ra’s Al-Ghul on the other hand has neither hope for humanity nor compassion and that is why he is in fact, a villain. 

            Many of the characters in Batman Begins contrast or highlight each other.  The strongest pair is Bruce Wayne or Batman and Henri Ducard or Ra’s Al-Ghul.  These two characters are both very similar and opposites of each other.  Both overcome fear to fight for what they believe, have strong stands for justice, and a hatred for evil.  Both characters use an alter ego to become more powerful and to strike fear into the hearts of their enemies.  The main difference between these characters is Bruce Wayne/Batman’s compassion and hope for the human race and Gotham City which he believes can still be saved.  Al-Ghul on the other hand says that Gotham is just a “breeding ground for suffering and injustice beyond saving.”  He plans to destroy the city by letting it tear itself apart by fear.  The compassion and hope are qualities that Ra’s Al-Ghul looks at as a weakness, something that will hold Bruce Wayne back from becoming great.  Bruce sees his compassion as a strength that separates him from the criminals.  The match up seen here with Batman and Ra’s Al-Ghul is one of superhero and supervillian, while Bruce Wayne and Henri Ducard actually have a lot in common. 

        

    We also see a lot of comparing and contrasting between Carmine Falcone the crime boss, and Dr. Jonathan Crane or the Scarecrow.  Both of these characters use fear as power and strength.  The main difference is that Carmine Falcone uses his power of strength, muscular or influential.  He corrupts the police, the district attorney, and even the judges.  He is a very powerful man who is respected out of fear and is almost untouchable.  Dr. Jonathan Crane or Scarecrow also uses power to cause fear.  His power is the power of mind, which is in fact stronger.  One interesting irony is that while Falcone’s power is physical and Scarecrows is mental, the actual fear of Falcone in others is mental.  They fear his power and his influence, while their fear of the Scarecrow is physical as he manifests it as a weapon.  Even though both characters’ form of fear is powerful, which is more? Mental fear in the end proves to be stronger. This is proven when Falcone and Crane confront one another. Falcone threatens Crane, in response Crane attacks Falcone with fear which leads to Falcone going insane.  This leads to the conclusion that “power of the mind” is stronger than physical power. 

            Another pair that highlights each other is Detective Jim Gordon and Rachel Dawes.  Both of these characters represent the uncorrupt, honest people in a corrupt city.  Detective Gordon is a police officer in a department where almost everyone is corrupt.  For example, in one scene Flass is seen taking money.  He goes over and talks to Gordon and says that some of the men don’t like how Gordon is clean.  Gordon responds by saying “I’m not a rat, besides there’s no one to rat too.”  The fact here is that there is no one to rat too because everyone in the police division is corrupt.  The reason the police department is so corrupt is because of crime boss Carmine Falcone.  Falcone has corrupted the city’s police department and also the district attorney.   Much like how Gordon is the one good cop, Rachel Dawes is the uncorrupt in the DA’s office.  Similar to Batman, Rachel Dawes stands for justice and believes the city can be changed.  Although both of these characters are uncorrupt and pure, Gordon doesn’t fight the corruption until the arrival of Batman because there really isn’t much he can do.  Rachel Dawes on the other hand believes “it is not who you are that defines you, but what you do.”  She is a character that fights injustice and the corrupt; she “rattles the cages.”  Some more attributes that these characters have in common are their links to Batman as well as Bruce Wayne.  Through the flashbacks of young Bruce Wayne we see his friendship with Rachel Dawes.  She is kind to him and they are almost like brother and sister.  When Bruce’s parents are killed Gordon comforts young Bruce Wayne in his office.  The criminal and the corrupt fear Batman.  He is meant to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies.  In one scene we see the police surround the building that Batman is in.  Gordon asks them why they’re not going in and they say because Batman is in there and they are waiting for backup.  In response to this Gordon walks into the building.  This goes along with the criminal and corrupt fearing Batman.  Gordon is uncorrupt so he has nothing to fear.  

            The last link is the one between Lucius Fox and Alfred.  These two characters are what I call Batman and Bruce Wayne’s support.  Alfred, Bruce’s butler, is his guardian figure.  He raises and takes care of Bruce after his parents are killed and he gives him emotional and moral support.  In the scene where the house is burning down and Bruce blames himself for failure. Alfred comforts him and quotes Bruce’s father in saying “Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.”  This is significant because it shows Alfred’s role as a father figure to Bruce Wayne.  He cares about helping Bruce and supporting him in everything he does. Although becoming Batman is dangerous for both Bruce Wayne and Alfred, Alfred still supports and helps him.  Alfred is Bruce’s guardian and best friend and is a very important role in the film.  Lucius Fox is another character who supports Bruce.  Although he doesn’t officially know that Bruce Wayne is Batman, he claims he doesn’t want to know.  He supplies Bruce with all his equipment to become Batman.  He gives him the glider cape, his armor, and even his vehicle, the tumbler.  When Batman gets a dose of the Scarecrow’s fear powder, it is Lucius Fox who creates the antidote for him.  All his work does not go unnoticed, at the end of the film he is rewarded by being made head of Wayne Enterprises. 

            There are many themes of the film Batman Begins but the message about overcoming fear is the most obvious.  After the murderer of his parents is killed, Bruce goes and talks to Falcone.  He tells him he is not afraid of him and they get into a discussion about how we “fear what we don’t understand.”  Bruce realizes he doesn’t understand the criminal underworld, so he goes out on a quest.  On his journey he lives among the criminals, learns to pity them and realizes the assumptions of what is right and what is wrong are not as clear as believed.  By learning about the criminal and corrupt, he no longer fears them.  Through Henri Ducard, he learns how to use this knowledge of fearing what we don’t understand.  He becomes Batman, something that his enemies will be unable to see, something they will fear.  Alfred asks Bruce at one point “why a bat?”  His response is “because bats scare me, its time my enemies share my fear.” 

            Identity is also a big part of the film.  At the end of the film Rachel Dawes says to Bruce that his real face is his mask.  This is apparent throughout the film.  He sacrifices his reputation as Bruce Wayne for Batman.  The title of the film Batman Begins is even significant because it describes the way Bruce Wayne evolves into Batman throughout the film.

            Batman Begins is truly a brilliant film. Deep, emotional, and almost completely flawless.

Rating: 5/5 *****

Kick-Ass (2010)

If you're anything like me then you are sick of the same cheesy old superhero movies. We reached the point where is seems every other movie out is another cheesy caped hero. With this in mind, a movie like Kick-Ass is excatly what we needed.
It's bloody. It's exciting. It's bad ass and most of all, it is really funny.
Not quite a parody, Matthew Vaughn is able to bring us a really refreshing take on the whole superhero movie, not to mention Big Daddy (Nicholas Cage) and Hit-Girl (Chloe Moretz) two of the biggest bad-asses in recent years.

Rating: 4/5 ****

The King's Speech (2010)

The King's Speech is a touching, intelligent film topped with a wonderfully written script.
Colin Firth shines with an absolute brilliant performance as King George VI who is suddenly thrust into the throne of England just before the start of WWII. Cursed with a dreadful speech impediment, he seeks the help of an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue played perfectly by the great Geoffrey Rush.
The performances by the two leads are the real highlight of this film.
Overall The King's Speech is a great film for anyone and is a real pleasure to sit through.

Rating: 4.5/5 ****

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)

Like his films Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, Edgar Wright's newest adventure is pure entertainment. The difference between this and his other films is Scott Pilgrim, while being an entertaining time is also so much more.

I've never felt a film was so fully dedicated to my generation. The combination of music, comics, and video gaming that is Scott Pilgrim is what my generation is all about. Edgar Wright uses these to tell a story that is excatly what dating in this day in age feels like.

This film is perfectly cast all around and filled with brilliant special effects. Hilarious, and extremely witty, Scott Pilgrim is wonderful film that I won't forget and hope to enjoy for years to come.


Rating: 5/5 *****

Black Swan (2010)

Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan is an intense psychological thriller and contains possibly the best performance of the year.
Natalie Portman's portrayal of dancer Nina Sayers' obsession with her craft and her mental collapse is up on the list of the greatest performances in film.
Beautifully shot and masterly crafted this is truly a stunning picture that will end up at the top of my list of films of 2010.

Rating: 5/5 *****