May 21, 2012
May 21, 2012
Average Expectations
It’s fun to watch gorgeous movie stars prance around on-screen, and What to Expect When You’re Expecting remembers that key point. It’s the same concept that worked for movies like Valentine’s Day but also flopped for the likes of New Year’s Eve. What to Expect When You’re Expecting luckily falls more on the Valentine’s Day side. It’s a heartfelt comedy about various women as they face motherhood.
The film follows several story threads. Cameron Diaz plays a celebrity fitness show trainer who accidently got knocked up by her Dancing with the Celebrities partner played by Matthew Morrison. Jennifer Lopez is a photographer working to adopt a baby with her husband Rodrigo Santoro while Anna Kendrick faces a surprise pregnancy from a one-night stand with Chace Crawford. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Banks sees the ugly side of pregnancy while her young mother-in-law, Brooklyn Decker, makes it look flawless. In between all the estrogen is the dads’ group led by Chris Rock to help prepare Santoro for fatherhood.
The cast is talented with what little they have to do besides look good. Kendrick and Lopez’ characters have particularly more emotional toils and shine the most among the star-studded ensemble. Rock and his group of dads also shine.
While not exactly hilarious, the comedy is cute and chuckle-worthy. It has heart and that is what holds it together. The film is a fleeting fun time that lasts as long as the stars’ prosthetic bellies.
C+ My Advice: Rent it.
May 15, 2012
May 15, 2012
Quickies
I’ve been really busy this semester, so I haven’t been keeping up. Sorry! Here are some quick reviews of the films I’ve seen…
21 Jump Street
One of the best comedies I’ve seen in a long time, this movie kept the comedy constant. Channing Tatum showed off his funny side while Jonah Hill kept to his normal great delivery as they played undercover cops going to high school in search of a drug ring. Johnny Depp’s turn was also enjoyable. This is an action comedy worth seeing.
A
The Hunger Games
As a fan of the book, I was impressed by how well this creative story was brought to life. The cast was excellent, and the documentary style cinematography was captivating. The whole eerie mood the film evoked was spot on for book lovers and a great way to draw in new fans. The only thing I’m upset about is the way the media and the film’s record setting box office numbers seemed to have missed the whole point of the book in critiquing media outrageousness and the gross way the Capital enjoyed watching children fight to the death.
B+
This Means War
This action comedy was really funny. However, the plot was so unbelievable, it made it hard to stomach. Reese Witherspoon was in her normal adorable state while Chris Pine and Tom Hardy proved they’re worthy leading men. The way the story played out was just too unbelievable and disappointing. Also, I’m completely sick of leading ladies going for the “bad boy” who will change.
C+
The Vow
This touching drama was a really interesting look at how much one’s memory affects their life and personality. Rachel McAdams was astounding while Channing Tatum was an attractive superb lead.
B
21 Jump Street
One of the best comedies I’ve seen in a long time, this movie kept the comedy constant. Channing Tatum showed off his funny side while Jonah Hill kept to his normal great delivery as they played undercover cops going to high school in search of a drug ring. Johnny Depp’s turn was also enjoyable. This is an action comedy worth seeing.
A
The Hunger Games
As a fan of the book, I was impressed by how well this creative story was brought to life. The cast was excellent, and the documentary style cinematography was captivating. The whole eerie mood the film evoked was spot on for book lovers and a great way to draw in new fans. The only thing I’m upset about is the way the media and the film’s record setting box office numbers seemed to have missed the whole point of the book in critiquing media outrageousness and the gross way the Capital enjoyed watching children fight to the death.
B+
This Means War
This action comedy was really funny. However, the plot was so unbelievable, it made it hard to stomach. Reese Witherspoon was in her normal adorable state while Chris Pine and Tom Hardy proved they’re worthy leading men. The way the story played out was just too unbelievable and disappointing. Also, I’m completely sick of leading ladies going for the “bad boy” who will change.
C+
The Vow
This touching drama was a really interesting look at how much one’s memory affects their life and personality. Rachel McAdams was astounding while Channing Tatum was an attractive superb lead.
B
I’m hoping to keep up with this more over the summer!
February 7, 2012
February 7, 2012
If I ran the Academy Awards
Oscar nominations were announced today, and I sadly don’t have one film that I’m in love with. Sure, The Help and The Artist were excellent films, but I’m not absolutely crazy about them. Last year, I was in love with The King’s Speech andBlack Swan. This year I merely like a few films.
Davis’ performance was superb. She was Aibeleen, and every heart went out to this strong, sweet woman.
Why is this? Because none of the films that were truly enjoyable this year were nominated. Here are the best film nominees…
The Artist - understandable because it’s a great film that is nostalgic about Hollywood’s glory days
The Descendants - not really all that moving, see here
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - haven’t seen it yet but I’m sure I would cry
The Help - an outstanding film and worthy nominee
Hugo - haven’t seen it and pretty sure they just nominated it because Scorsese made it
Midnight in Paris - yet another case of nominating a film just because of an iconic director
Moneyball - in no way was this a best film of the year, as you can see here
The Tree of Life - I still need to see this one but I’m sure Malick did a great job
War Horse - This one really ticked me off. I love Spielberg, but this movie was terrible, see why
If I were to choose the nominees I’d choose…
The Artist
It’s different, fresh, appealing, thoughtful and completely lovable.
The Help
Without a doubt one of the best stories of the year and filled with incredible performances
Drive
Amazing cinematography and a gripping story make this present day Western unforgettable. See why
Horrible Bosses
Yep, I’d do away with the grudge the Academy has towards comedies and nominate this hilarious film.
Super 8
This sweet film leaves such a gripping sense of childhood nostalgia, you’ll be wishing to be a kid again.
And as far as Oscar predictions go…
Best Film: The Artist
The Academy loves different, and a silent film about a silent film star at the advent of talkies that is told in an elegant, beautiful way deserves the Oscar.
Best Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants
Clooney is popular, and the Academy loves him. While his performance was moving, I wouldn’t pick him. I’d nominate Ryan Gosling in Drive, and he would be taking home the award.
Best Actress: Viola Davis, The Help
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Plummer has been winning at all the award shows and why shouldn’t he. He is a truly fine actor. Although, why is Jonah Hill in this category? I feel like he barely acted in Moneyball. I thought he did a better job in Superbad and that’s not saying a ton.
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Spencer was the perfect Minnie, and she nailed the role of the sassy maid while also not allowing her to become a one-dimensional character.
There you have it. Tune in February 26th to see if I’m right.
January 16, 2012
January 16, 2012
War Horse Review
Spielberg is one of my favorites. Director of such classics such as Jaws, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Schindler’s List, and many more, he has proven time and time again his filmmaking mastery. I was expecting to see such in War Horse. I was let down with a pathetically sappy film that failed to connect and failed to impress.
War Horse tells the story of a special bond between a teenage boy and his horse after they are separated in the midst of World War I. The story then follows the horse, Joey, as he encounters both sides of the war and many enduring characters along the way.
Maybe it’s because I’m not much of any animal enthusiast or because I’ve never ridden a horse, but I had trouble caring about poor Joey’s fate and that is a problem in a film that revolves around a horse. I had much more interest in the human counterparts, but their stories were mere backgrounds that never materialized.
Besides failing to make that human connection that Spielberg is so skilled at, the cinematography was even hard to like. The end looks like a bad replica shot ofGone With the Wind, and it doesn’t work. Everything is too overdone. The score is too melodramatic and the performances and characters merely topical.
The bottom line is that Spielberg can do better. Super 8, a clear homage to Spielberg’s classics, was 10 times better than this actual Spielberg film, which failed to connect or amaze. War Horse has the right elements, but it fails to deliver.
D My Advice: Don’t see it.
January 2, 2012
January 2, 2012
Not Quite There
In The Descendants, George Clooney stars as a man forced to take care of his daughters after his wife goes into a coma. As if his two teenage daughters were not enough, Clooney’s character, Matt King, soon learns that his wife was having an affair.
Directed and written by Alexander Payne, whose other films include Sideways and About Schmidt, The Descendants is dark and depressing. However, it never pulls the emotional strings necessary while remaining so dark. His wife is almost an unlikable character, which definitely adds to the film’s reality but makes it difficult for the viewer to care about her possible demise.
Another dislikable part of The Descendants is the way in which King’s daughters are suppose to be these awful misbehaved children. They seem more like typical children. If the film just portrayed them as that, it would have been more real.
The cast does well, with George Clooney shining as King. Considering the way in which The Descendants is a character drama resting on Clooney’s shoulders, Clooney deserves some recognition for how he portrays King and the way he gracefully wrestles with his wife’s affair and the many choices facing him during a dramatic point in his life. Shailene Woodley is also superb as King’s elder daughter Alexandra, and she is the one who really evokes emotion from the audience. The rest of the cast falls into the background against Clooney’s and Woodley’s performances.
Set against the beautiful landscapes of Hawaii, The Descendants is a slow-paced character drama that fails to move the audience. It’s likable, but not enjoyable.
C My Advice: Rent it.
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