Thursday, December 26, 2013

The Wolf of Wall Street

This is a film riddled with corruption, vulgarities, unethical behavior and sex. Yet, DiCaprio's performance as Jordan Belfort took over and the audience could instantly feel as if they were living the life of multi-millionaire, Belfort. However, it was unsettling to watch DiCaprio play a role that differs so much from his other great characters. If he has not won an Oscar for any of his past roles, this role would not be my choice for him to win such a prestigious award after. 3 out of 4 stars.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Saving Mr. Banks

As heartfelt and imaginative as anything I've watched all year. This is the year of Tom Hanks as he keeps churning out brilliance. Most things he touches turn to gold, and this story of the woman behind Mary Poppins is as pure and sincere as they come in the age of remakes and book adaptations. 3 and a half out of 4 stars.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

American Hustle

David O. Russell's latest film is not as genius as its predecessor, but there were moments of brilliance sprinkled into this comedy-drama filled with intense moments that are washed away with comic relief from Louis C.K. and Jennifer Lawrence. Bale and Adams were the true stars of the film, and the audience leaves the theater wondering whether anything they believe in is in fact, genuine... 3 out of 4 stars.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Anchorman 2

This was one of the biggest letdowns that I've experienced in a movie theater. The story was flat, the jokes were tired and the writing was horrendous. Even more horrendous than the writing was the pathetic sub-plots used in the movie in an effort to squeeze out extra laughs by means of using familiar faces. 1 out of 4 stars.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Frozen

This adorable animated film brought me back to my childhood in the 90's when films like The Lion King and Pocahontas were in the height of their popularity. The musical numbers were stunning and the story was heart-warming-- enough to melt a snow queen's cold heart. 3 and a half out of 4 stars.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Delivery Man

Vince Vaughn delivers his usual, egotistical and self-centered performance in Delivery Man, where he actually has to care for someone other than himself. The movie isn't all laughs, in fact there was very little actual comedy, however it has one of those predictable Hollywood endings. 2 out of 4 stars.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Book Thief

Very well done, from an artistic point of view. The depth of the story was lacking but the sincerity of the characters made up for the substandard depth of the overall depiction. Also, the picture is lengthy with a lot of filler scenes of little-to-no importance to the storyline. However, again the acting was great even though the depth of the script was not. 3 out of 4 stars.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Black Nativity

The film was corny and overdone, but that's how most theatrical musicals are made today. Very flashy and over the top, but I still enjoyed this for the music. Forrest Whitaker is always good, as evidenced most recently in The Butler, but Jennifer Hudson does a fine job in this one as well. 2 and a half out of 4 stars.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Nebraska

Bruce Dern delivers a sincerely cold, yet heartwarming performance. The characters in the film mesh so swimmingly that noticing that the movie was shot in black and white came as an afterthought. What inspired me most of all was the simplicity of the storyline, but the depth and meaning that the story could bring to the characters in the process. The concept is one that the Coen Brothers would assuredly appreciate. Academy Award nominations in line for Dern, June Squibb, who plays Dern's outspoken wife. Also, a nomination for best screenplay is deserved. 4 out of 4 stars.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Dallas Buyers Club

I never knew that Matthew McConaughey could play such diversified roles. He always struck me as the Magic Mike/How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days type of actor. He proved me wrong in this great work that will surely earn him an Academy Award nomination. Playing this role took guts, and more importantly it took him understanding how someone going through the HIV/AIDS tragedy feels during their battle. 3 and a half out of 4 stars.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

The Best Man Holiday

Without seeing the first installment, the film was watchable for someone going in not knowing any of the story. Otherwise, the movie was nothing special. It went from a BET comedy to a Lifetime movie drama as it dragged on for over two long hours, preaching to the audiences. Yawn. 1 and a half out of 4 stars.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

All is Lost

Robert Redford delivers the performance of a lifetime in his latest drama of man vs. sea. As a man in his seventies, Redford does things that people in their twenties could not do physically. In addition, the film says so much with essentially no dialogue in its entirety. 4 out of 4 stars.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Thor 2 3D

I did not see the first Thor film, but this movie was a bore. I did not know who was who, and the story was difficult to follow. I should stick to the Wolverine and Iron Man movies. This was nothing that I would consider seeing future versions of. 1 and a half out of 4 stars.

Monday, November 4, 2013

12 Years a Slave

Chiwetel Ejiofor delivers a performance of a lifetime as Solomon Northup, a free black man pre-Civil War who is kidnapped and sold into twelve brutal years of slavery under several owners. This performance is Oscar worthy and the emotions put on display were raw and sincere. 3 and a half out of 4 stars.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

About Time

The latest McAdams chick flick is a bit shallow, as most of the films which she stars in are, but there is an element of cleverness and charm that surround the characters. Nothing memorable but I'm glad I watched the film; it certainly gave me some perspective on life. 2 out of 4 stars.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Last Vegas

A fun, quirky and feel-good comedy starring three older actors who try a little too hard to be part of the younger crowd. Nothing more than a few good laughs and I would not watch it again. However, the acting was great. I didn't think Morgan Freeman had it in him. 1 and a half out of 4 stars.

Friday, October 25, 2013

The Counselor

An awfully confusing film, and as one critic put it, The Counselor was uniquely awful. I'm surprised that such high-end actors would go for a script this shallow and uninteresting. Ridley Scott must have paid them a fortune. 1 out of 4 stars.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Johnny Knoxville did a great job getting into character, but this was more along the lines of something that should have gone straight to MTV as opposed to charging audiences $10 to see. The film was a self-indulging shallow "comedy" where Knoxville and a preteen go around and cause havoc in various communities. 2 out of 4 stars.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Inequality for All

A documentary about the middle class and all of the injustices that go along with living in the middle. Robert Reich does a great job outlining the underlining issues in America with regard to financial inequality without sounding too preachy. 3 out of 4 stars.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Captain Phillips

Tom Hanks turns in his greatest performance on screen since the days of Cast Away and Apollo 13. Truly a cinematic masterpiece that was done with such detail and thought. Even though the actual Captain Phillips was not as much of a hero as we all think he was, Tom Hanks sure did a hell of a job; one worthy of an Academy Award nomination. 4 out of 4 stars.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Parkland

The Kennedy assassination docudrama gives the viewer nothing new to ponder, but gives us an inside look on what it was like in the operating room when doctors were desperately trying to revive the ailing President. Nothing groundbreaking or memorable but nevertheless an entertaining ride. 2 and a half out of 4 stars.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Gravity 3D

Sandra Bullock delivered an Oscar worthy performance in his portrayal of a woman trapped in space, struggling for her life. The CGI effects were spectacular and the story was simple, yet captivating. 3 out of 4 stars.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Enough Said

The light, heartwarming comedy starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the late James Gandolfini really knew how to hit the spot. Granted, I was not in the target audience for this film. The movie is aimed at the 41+  crowd but I was able to appreciate the quality of the work and the quick, witty comedic moments. Gandolfini and Dreyfus are a strange combination for an on-screen dating couple but amazingly enough it worked like a charm. 3 out of 4 stars.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Don Jon

Joseph Gordon Levitt's new film is edgy, funny, smart and charming all at the same time. Jon is a character that is looking for something in his life that will change him. He finds everything he needs in two women, Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore. Johansson's character is something I always envisioned her playing. She teaches Jon about himself more than he already knew. 3 out of 4 stars.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Prisoners

Prisoners was a film that was incredibly scary, and not in the horror sense. The film makes you think about how you would go about living life if your child disappeared. The acting work of Jackman and Gyllenhaal was nothing short of brilliant, as their every move made your heart race out of your chest. 3 out of 4 stars.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Instructions not Included

The melodramatic Hispanic film works ultimately because of the actors. The father-daughter combination is as believable as can be, and the film's tragic moments are felt with sincerity. One flaw is that the transitions from comedy to drama are abrupt and the ending seemed rush in what was already a long movie. 2 and a half out of 4 stars.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

The Spectacular Now

One of the best coming of age films I have seen. The film explores hard choices, lost love and love found. It shows more than two teenagers in a relationship. The film also encompasses what happens when life's problems arise. 3 and a half out of 4 stars. 

Thursday, September 12, 2013

The Family

The mob-comedy was nothing to be taken seriously. The film was meant to be a laugher and the acting of DeNiro and Pfieffer was immaculate as always. In addition, the children also played key roles in the development of the movie. If you're looking for something serious and bold, this isn't the film for you. If you want some action, violence and a nice laugh you will enjoy The Family. 2 out of 4 stars.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

The Butler

The historical drama serves its purpose. The performances by the two main cast members were nothing short of remarkable and Oscar worthy. The story didn't contain many flaws and even though it was a longer movie I was able to watch it all as if time didn't matter. Quite the contrary to the film's main theme. 3 and a half out of 4 stars.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

The World's End

This was a cross of "This is the End" and "World War Z" except this was corny, boring and outright insulting to people's intelligence. I had no expectations about the movie as I entered and I left thinking that "The World's End" was among one of the biggest pieces of trash I have ever sat through in a theater. If it wasn't for the reclining chair I may have not survived. 1 out of 4 stars.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Jobs

The feature was an entertaining biopic, but for someone like myself who didn't know anything about the man I left the theater feeling as clueless as I did when the film began to roll. Ashton Kutcher did a representative job portraying Jobs, but it wasn't an easy task. There are people who are one of a kind for a reason, and Kutcher is not at fault for not being spot-on. Jobs was just a very difficult man to deal with who cared about the product more than he cared about his own innovators. 2 out of 4 stars.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

We're The Millers

The latest Jennifer Aniston film proved to be worth the time spent watching it. I laughed so hard that I cried and the writing was witty and on target for the audience that the filmmakers were aiming to please. This film is something to watch if you want a good laugh, and if you're lucky you will laugh throughout the entire feature. 3 out of 4 stars.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

The Wolverine

The second installment of the Wolverine series starring the incredibly talented Hugh Jackman was pretty shallow but Jackman's performance is nothing short of brilliant as always. The first film was markedly better than the latest but the action sequences were worth watching. 2 and a half out of 4 stars.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

The Way, Way Back

A great coming of age film about a teenage boy looking to find his way in the world. Great cast that had chemistry on the screen. Especially chilling was the authenticity of the relationship between Toni Collette and her son in the film. 3 out of 4 stars. 

Friday, July 26, 2013

Fruitvale Station

An urban drama that shows how sometimes power gets to people's heads. A sincere film with an emotionally powerful message. This film opened my eyes to how people really get treated even today for having a different skin color. 3 out of 4 stars.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Despicable Me 2

The second installment of Despicable was more entertaining than the first, mainly because this film was more light-hearted than the original. The minions were as cute as can be and without them there would clearly be no movie. Also, the soundtrack fit perfectly to the scenes in the movie. 2 and a half out of 4 stars.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Grown Ups 2

We all know that Adam Sandler makes movies to please his fans. However, some of the recent flicks like Jack & Jill and That's My Boy were awful. Sandler returns to what he is great at in the first sequel of his career. The plot is funnier and the jokes are less corny, probably because most of the children from the first film are now teens. I laughed the whole way through and at times had to keep it contained because it would just be too awkward during some moments. 3 out of 4 stars.

My Australia

The Polish film is certainly strange, but it had it's moments. The story never really takes off but the character development is noticeable. This is a film that you should watch just because of the acting. 2 and a half out of 4 stars.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain

This was an HBO special that Kevin Hart decided to make into a movie in order to make more money. Aside from fifteen minutes of scripted material, the entire show was taped and put out to the public to make some money for the comedian. Nonetheless, the routine was funny, and I laughed out loud a handful of times. Wait for this one to come out on HBO, when you can watch in for free, and in the comfort of your own home. 1 and a half out of 4 stars.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Blue Jasmine

Blue Jasmine, Woody Allen's latest film, was dark and yet simultaneously comical. I initially disliked the nonlinear narrative technique used by Allen to tell the story but as the plot unfolded I found myself drawn to the structure of the film and the brilliance of how the story is told, with some shocking twists along the way. Not Woody Allen's best but in the days of remakes and sequels this film displays originality and provokes thought. Cate Blanchett did a fantastic job at portraying a New York housewife who is in the midst of a life crisis. Maybe it's just my love for Woody Allen films in general, but I thoroughly enjoyed Blue Jasmine. 3 out of four stars.

Friday, June 21, 2013

World War Z

While the feature starring Brad Pitt will not be considered a classic, the film successfully displayed what the world would become in the event of some kind of apocalypse. The acting was raw, keeping me on the edge of my seat and the story itself gave me goosebumps on several occasions. Good summer flick. 2 and a half out of 4 stars.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Love Is All You Need

The film was strange to say the least, in terms of European customs that seem bizarre to Americans. However, this was a good romantic flick for older folks who are looking to watch a film about Pierce Brosnan forming a relationship at an advanced age. 2 and a half out of 4 stars.

This is the End

As good as a comedic film about the world ending could possibly get. Never mind the fact that none of the events couldn't happen in real life. This was a badass film and you can tell that the actors loved making it. 3 out of 4 stars.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

The Internship

Stupid and funny but nevertheless, funny. Also, despite the lack of seriousness in the film it sends a good message about not giving up on a dream. 2 and a half out of 4 stars.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Hangover 3

Obviously, it's a stupid concept. I take it for what it is. However, it was better than the second installment. I still think though, that the original was the best. They tried to hard to make the audience laugh in this one. Good thing this is the last film. 2 out of 4 stars.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Disconnect

Disconnect amazed me in every way possible. This is a film that uses social media and plugs it into all facets of life, whether it be bullying or identity theft. Truly an amazing movie with lessons to last a lifetime in the digital age. 4 out of 4 stars. 

Friday, May 10, 2013

The Great Gatsby

Much like in the character of Gatsby himself, there was something missing from this film that made it short of being potentially brilliant. I am disappointed in the casting for Daisy, as Carey Mulligan drowned in her portrayal of the the glamorous Daisy Buchanan. Overall, this was a huge disappointment that we all had to wait an extra five months for. 2 out of 4 stars.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Iron Man 3

This installment of Iron Man may have been the best one of the three films. Definitely better than the second film and on about the same level as the first one. However, this one kept my attention better than the first and second combined. 3 and a half out of 4 stars.

Friday, April 12, 2013

42

A remarkable story of how one man changed the game of sports forever. This film chronicles Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, in compelling and dramatic fashion. ge

Friday, March 8, 2013

Oz The Great and Powerful

Oz was among the worst movies I have seen in my short time on earth. The casting was awful, but not as awful as the screenwriting and the delivery of the lines by James Franco and Mila Kunis. Could not have picked worse cast for a film that had such high expectations. Disney took The Wizard of Oz and made a mockery of it. 1 out of 4 stars.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Identity Thief

Despite getting panned by critics, I actually thought this movie was hilarious. Melissa McCarthy did not disappoint. She was as funny as ever, and I was impressed with all of the acrobatics that she did in the movie! That being said, it is nothing more than a laugh. 2 out of 4 stars.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Zero Dark Thirty

Well done film in all facets. Much better than Hurt Locker and the story stole the show. This film will go down in history as a great one. 3 out of 4 stars.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Les Miserables

Les Miserables was a brilliantly acted film. Hugh Jackman blew my mind and I'm surprised that he isn't being considered for award recognition. While Hathaway was great, Jackman was that much better. 3 out of 4 stars.