Man on a Ledge (2012)

Genre: Thriller

Directed by: Asger Leth

Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell

Running time: 102 minutes

An ex-policeman who was arrested and sent to prison for stealing a precious diamond escapes the penitentiary and goes out on the ledge of the 22^nd floor of the Roosevelt Hotel threatening to jump, in a ploy to prove his innocence. He claims to have been framed by a wealthy businessman and he is out to prove it.

This is your generic action thriller movie where a guy convicted of a crime he did not commit is out to prove his innocence; it has been done before. The device used in the movie to get his point across is original enough and offers some good tension. The action is fast-paced and the story is interesting enough. Sure, some of the plot twists were somewhat illogical, but, with action movies, it is important to suspend disbelief a bit to enjoy yourself. Unfortunately, the ending and the resolving of the issue felt rushed, so the movie kind of fell flat for me by the end of it.

The acting was nothing to write home about. Everybody played their respective roles well, there was nobody really bad.

Man on a Ledge offers some entertaining fast-pace action in the beginning, but it leaves you wanting more in the end. It is an OK movie, but, in that genre, there are better choices out there.

Rating: «««

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Wes Anderson

Starring: Owen Wilson, Adrian Brody, Jason Schwartzman

Running time: 91 minutes

Three brothers who have not seen each other since their father’s funeral, a year before, get back together for a spiritual journey across India. One of them, played by Owen Wilson, has an ulterior motive for this trip, and the three estranged brothers will have to learn to trust each other for this adventure to last and come to its proper conclusion.

I found this Wes Anderson film extremely charming. As a prologue, there is a short film called Hotel Chevalier, with Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman. It sets the tone nicely. The rest of the story rests on the shoulders of the three brothers, all other characters are secondary. It is their journey, and the location, India, makes for a beautiful backdrop. As a matter of fact, it is more than a simple backdrop; it is an integral part of the story and the self-discovery that awaits the main characters.

The three main actors do a very good job here; they are all solid in their respective roles.

The use of colors and textures by Wes Anderson is, once again, spectacular in The Darjeeling Limited. Same with the music. The song Where Do You To, My Lovely was stuck in my head for hours after seeing this film, and that is not a bad thing.

Overall, The Darjeeling Limited is a charming movie about reconnecting family bonds that have been broken, in spite of all the obstacles life can put in your way. Highly recommended.

Rating: ««««

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Wes Anderson

Starring: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett

Running time: 118 minutes

Steve Zissou is an aging oceanographer and documentarian who is going on his latest mission, to hunt the “Jaguar shark” that ate one of his colleagues on a previous expedition. This time around, he has on board with him his long lost son, which he had with a woman, decades before, and a journalist chronicling the trip. This new adventure promises to be filled with emotions Zissou might not be ready to contend with.

Of all of Wes Anderson’s films, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou has to be the most quirky and off-beat, and that is saying a lot. That being said, that quirkiness is definitely part of its charm. I had seen this movie, years ago, and I must admit I liked it better this time around.

Wes Anderson sure has developed a knack, over the years, for working with interesting colors and textures. Whenever you watch his movies, you cannot help paying attention to everything on the screen, as every element battles for your attention. And what to say about the music? Once again, the soundtrack was a big part of the package. I must admit that the David Bowie songs sung in Portuguese and played on acoustic guitar was a nice touch.

Once again, we find many of the Wes Anderson regulars on cast, such as Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Angelica Huston. Bill Murray is real solid here, as usual. His transformation is profound and he really becomes this blasé Jacques-Cousteau-esque character. He has really mastered that kind of role as of late, and he showed once again how much he controls his craft as Steve Zissou. You forget his previous roles and joins him on his adventure.

The story tended to drag a bit here and there, with some unnecessary scenes slowing the expedition down. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou also occasionally crossed the line between pastiche and parody, feeling is a tad over-the-top in the process. That being said, it definitely was a movie with a good dose of charm and humor, though definitely not Anderson’s best offering.

Rating: «««

The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Noah Baumbach

Starring: Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg

Running time: 81 minutes

Bernard Berkman is a novelist, who was once very successful, but his star is now on the decline and, in his supreme arrogance, he is not willing to accept that he might be the problem. Just as his wife Joan starts publishing, with great success, their relationship fall apart beyond the point of repair. They get divorced, and, stuck in the middle, are their two children, who are torn between them.

I had seen this particular title a while back, but I came back to it in my desire to see and review everything Wes Anderson was involved in. In this case, Anderson served as producer in support of director Noah Baumbach.

Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney are both solid here, as usual. They have shown their talent in the past and they do so again in The Squid and the Whale. They are both very convincing as a couple falling apart. Daniels carries a big chunk of that load, as the arrogance and selfishness of his character is at the basis of the story. He went in head first without holding back, with just the right tone as to not go over-the-top. You see a father who has alienated his younger son, who is closer to his mother, and who might end up doing the same with the older one.

Jesse Eisenberg was already in his early 20’s when this film was made, but he looked the part of teenage boy. He was very touching as a son gravitating towards his father, his hero. He makes you feel the frustration and anger of a boy seeing his life fall apart right before his eyes.

The Squid and the Whale is a very touching movie. There are some tough moments, and some sweeter funny ones. Overall, it is a very good movie, albeit short. Worth a watch.

Rating: ««««

A Dangerous Method (2011)

Genre: Historical

Directed by: David Cronenberg

Starring: Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender

Running time: 99 minutes

This 2011 historical film covers the relationship between Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud and Sabina Spielrein. The movie starts when Ms. Spielrein is brought into a psychiatric hospital, in Zurich, for a case of hysteria. Through analysis, young doctor Carl Jung comes to realize that the young lady is feeling that way because of the corporal punishment administered to her by her father as a kid. Her humiliation comes from the fact that she felt aroused whenever it occurred. Jung seeks the help of fellow doctor, Freud, in treating his new patient, but the two don’t agree on the way to get there, and the young woman will play one against the other to get her way.

This movie brings to the screen a very compelling story about the power of taboos and sex on the human mind. The conflict between Jung and Freud is particularly well played-out. Freud believes sex is the underlying factor in everything, but Jung likes to think there is more to it, and would like to delve more into the issues of spirituality. Fassbender and Mortensen do a superb job working off each other as the tension builds between the two doctors. They have some very good scenes together.

Keira Knightley also shows some great intensity as a young woman trying to learn how to control her emotions towards her burgeoning sexuality. She looked totally invested into this role and it paid off in the end.

A Dangerous Method is a riveting and compelling movie. Highly recommended.

Rating: ««««

Soeur Sourire (2009)

Genre: Franco / Biographique

Réalisateur: Stijn Coninx

Distribution: Cécile de France, Sandrine Blanche, Jan Decleir

Running time: 124 minutes

Ce drame biographique est librement inspiré de la vie de Jeannine Deckers, alias Sœur Sourire, qui a obtenu un succès en chanson après s’être réfugiée chez les religieuses. Malheureusement pour elle, ce succès aura profité plus à son couvent qu’a elle-même. Une fois revenue à la vie civile, elle tenta de retrouver le succès, mais tout devait lui mettre des bâtons dans les roues.

Cécile de France est criante de vérité dans le rôle-titre. Elle rend si bien à l’écran cette femme à la recherche d’un sens à sa vie que nous y croyons fermement. Dans ce film, nous retrouvons une Jeannine Deckers sensible et intransigeante à la fois, rebelle mais désireuse de se sentir capable d’aimer et de se soumettre. Dès que les choses se compliquent trop, elle se sauve, et cela durera jusqu’à ses derniers moments sur Terre.

Sœur Sourire est un beau film très touchant. Le spectateur est invité dès le départ à embarquer dans cette histoire, même si tout le monde sait que cela ne peut bien se terminer. Les acteurs et actrices sont solides dans leur performance, à part peut-être Jo Deseure, qui jouait la mère de Jeannine Deckers, et dont le ton sonnait souvent un peu faux, et le film a été bien ficelé. Somme toute, Sœur Sourire est une belle expérience cinématographique, malgré quelques petites longueurs.

Rating: ««««

The Kingdom (2007)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Directed by: Peter Berg

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman

Running time: 109 minutes

An FBI investigative team is sent to Saudi Arabia following a terrorist attack that killed many civilians and an FBI legal attaché.

The Kingdom should have been so much better, especially considering the cast involved. Many big names on the marquee here, and the filmmakers should have made better use of all the talent on hand. There was such star power, but so poorly used. The story dragged on slowly and painfully at first, really making it tough to continue. Eventually, business finally picked up and, after some well-done fast-paced action and some compelling storytelling, the movie ended on a high note.

The closing of the movie stuck with me; it is a great way of showing that we have not seen the last of these horrible terrorist attacks. Mentalities do not change rapidly, if at all, and that on both sides of the equation. After all, it takes two to tango.

Rating: «««

W.E. (2011)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Madonna

Starring: Abbie Cornish, James D’Arcy, Andrea Riseborough

Running time: 119 minutes

Wally Winthrop is married to a doctor, but she’s almost always alone at home while her husband is at work or doing various other things. Lonely, she is obsessed with the love story of King Edward VIII, who abdicated his throne to marry American Wallis Simpson. W.E. goes back and forth between the modern day story of Wally Winthrop and the story of the royal love affair.

           

I wish I could find something good to say about this movie, but I simply cannot. I was bored to tears all the way through and I just could not seem to get emotionally invested in any of the characters. I simply could not make myself care about any of them, and the people involved in the film did not do anything to help. The acting was bland and uninspired, the story was uninteresting and the directing was lackluster at best. In spite of her being a pop music icon, a great movie director Madonna is not. Oh, the costumes were really well done. There, I found something nice to say. I worked hard on that one.

Some of you might like this movie, but, if I could just be like a virgin again when it comes to that movie, I would never let it in the door. What a waste of time.  

Rating: «

Albert Nobbs (2011)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Rodrigo Garcia

Starring: Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Janet McTeer

Running time: 113 minutes

Albert Nobbs is a woman living her live as a man in Ireland, in the 1800’s. Carrying that big lie with her for decades, she is now working as a waiter in a hotel. Albert is saving all her money to buy a tobacco shop, so she can finally have the freedom she seeks. One day, she meets Hubert, a painter hired to paint the hotel. Hubert finds out the truth about Albert, but will not let the cat out of the bag since she’s a woman living as a man herself.

Glenn Close is absolutely fantastic in the title role. She really looks the part as a person walking around with a huge secret, always afraid of being found out. That scene where she runs on the beach, in a dress, finally looking free, was really touching, and a great transformation job, even for an instant, by the actress.

On the other hand, the idea that these people could really believe that Janet McTeer’s character is indeed a man really took me out of it at the beginning. There is no way she could have been perceived as a man. Albert Nobbs, sure; Hubert Page, not so much.

Overall, Albert Nobbs is a very good movie due in a big part to the acting job done by Glenn Close. I also found the story compelling, though there were a few off moments for me. There was the Janet McTeer situation mentioned earlier, and the story itself dragged in a few spots. Still, this film is worth watching.

Rating: ««««

War Horse (2011)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan

Running time: 146 minutes

In 1912, an aging farmer goes to auction and lets his pride have the better of him as he engages in a bidding war. He ends up with a colt he paid way too much money for instead of the plough horse he needed for his farm. When he gets home, the farmer’s wife is dismayed and afraid they’ll lose the farm because they are out of money and do not have the right horse for the job. Determined to prove them wrong, the farmer’s teenage son undertakes to train the animal and turn him into an effective plough horse. When the First World War breaks out, the horse is sold to the army and ends up going from one hand to the other, with the Brits and with the Germans. Will he ever make it home?

Steven Spielberg is no stranger to the epic films. Is War Horse as good as his most famous ones? Maybe not. That being said, it is still a very good film. In spite of the fact that it is not being carried by a cast loaded with big names, it is very effective. This film will tug strongly on your heartstrings, but in such a subtle and uncheesy way that you do not feel taken advantage of in the process. You just feel like someone is taking you for a nice long ride and telling you a beautiful story in the process.

I really loved this film. The acting was really good from everyone and the story is compelling. Very well done.

Rating: ««««

What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Directed by: Kirk Jones

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Anna Kendrick

Running time: 110 minutes

What to Expect When You’re Expecting tells the story of five women of different walks of life going through the process of becoming a mother. What we have here is an ensemble cast telling five different stories that link up to each other briefly at various points in the film.

I thought it was a nice touch to include a case of parents adopting a child from another country in the stories, as it is something that has not been exploited enough in the movies, especially not the right way. Having gone through part of that process with my wife, it really resonated with me, though our story did not end the same way.

The dude group of guys getting together to discuss fatherhood idea was a very funny one in the way they delivered it. It made me chuckle a few times and it offered a nice little comic relief from the sweet stuff.

The actresses were mostly good here, though a bit over-the-top in some cases. For example, I have seen better roles for Elizabeth Banks. Here, she could have toned it down a bit and it would have not come off as so clichéd. Cameron Diaz, whom I had a crush on when I first saw her in The Mask, has given some lackluster performances as of late. Here, she was OK, though her character was a bit one dimensional. I guess the gals had only so much to work with. Jennifer Lopez really surprised me here, I must admit, though Anna Kendrick played my favorite female character, as she had the right balance in her performance. As for the guys, their roles were mostly secondary, though Randy Quaid and Chris Rock both made me laugh in their limited roles.

The stories being told were cute, though a tad clichéd in some cases. What this a great movie? Not by any means. It was good entertainment for what it is: a cute little movie to see as a couple.

Rating: «««

Mirror, Mirror (2012)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Tarsem Singh

Starring: Lily Collins, Julia Roberts, Nathan Lane

Running time: 106 minutes

Mirror, Mirror is based on the fairytale Snow White, by the Brothers Grimm. Everybody knows the story of Snow White by now, so I won’t spend too much time on the plot. As far as adaptation goes, Tarsem Singh didn’t go out of his way to reinvent or refresh the story.

The main positive trait of Mirror, Mirror is how beautiful the images and costumes are. The vivacity of the colors on the characters and the scenery is a magnificent thing to see. I did find Julia Roberts quite funny in the role of evil stepmother/queen. I don’t know if that was the desired effect, but her tone was so sarcastic that it was hard for me to take her seriously as an evil character. Then again, it is better that way, because, considering my age and my personal tastes, I was not emotionally involved in the concept of a serious fairy tale movie.

As far as the story goes, this movie is a very basic retelling of the old Snow White fairytale, quite like many other similar films. Visually, it does have something nice to offer. Good movie for what it sets out to be.

Rating: «««

6 Bullets (2012)

Genre: Action

Directed by: Ernie Barbarash

Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Joe Flanigan, Anna-Louise Plowman

Running time: 115 minutes

Samson Gaul (Van Damme) is a mercenary that decided to retire after his mission to rescue a friend’s kid went awry and some innocent victims were killed. Now a butcher in Moldova, he spends his day serving meat and drinking. He finally decides to go back into action after the young daughter of an American MMA fighter visiting his country for an upcoming fight gets kidnapped.

I must admit, my expectations were low when I saw this particular title on Netflix. That being said, I wanted something not too demanding on the brain and that is what I got. They say Jean-Claude Van Damme can crush nuts with his butt cheeks. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt on that one, but making an Oscar-winning film he will not do.

6 Bullets is your typical Van Damme vehicle. Lots of fast-paced action, fights scenes and guns shooting. The protagonist shows some vulnerability, but overcomes. This movie covers a very real issue in human trafficking and modern day slavery, but they are not aiming at your brain too much in doing so. They tug at the heart-strings a bit, but some of the tricks used to do that are very cheesy.

All things considered, 6 Bullets is entertaining. It is the type of movie where you want justice to prevail and the good guy to win. It offers some nice plot twists towards the middle and managed to keep me on the edge of my seat. I was not asking for much more. Not a grand movie that will change film history, but some good entertainment for a night where you want to shut your brain off.

Rating: «««

Rushmore (1998)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Wes Anderson

Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Olivia Williams, Bill Murray

Running time: 93 minutes

Max Fischer (Schwartzman) is not the best student at Rushmore, far from it, but he’s the one involved in the most extracurricular activities. The 15-year old boy is mature for his age but he lacks focus sometimes, so he doesn’t fit in well at his school, though it is a place he loves so much. He strikes a friendship with Herman Blume (Murray), a blasé and cynical, yet rich, manufacturer. Problems arise when both fall in a love with the same woman, a widowed teacher.

Jason Schwartzman was only 17 or 18 when the movie was made and, already, he was showing the promise of a great career, which was launched by this film. He made me like the character of Max Fischer, a mature yet temperamental kid, while he could easily have come off as overbearing and annoying. Many other actors would have fallen flat on their face and made the character unpleasant. I for one found myself rooting for that boy who was filled with ideas and, mostly, idealism.

Bill Murray has also found a new niche for the rest of his career with Rushmore, making a foray into independent films. He was brilliant here, as he has shown to be in recent years. He brings this aged cynical Herman Blume to life, a guy that looks to his young friend with admiration for still having a dream and wanting to pursue it. We have all rediscovered the talented man that is Bill Murray and we are glad for it.

Olivia Williams was efficient in the role of the object of two protagonist’s desires. She did not have much to work with, but she was good with what she had.

This is the second film in Wes Anderson’s filmography. After Bottle Rocket, he was quickly finding his groove and his style. The use of color and texture was more prevalent in his following film, The Royal Tenenbaums, but, with Rushmore, he was already showing his knack for matching music to scenes. Many times through the movie, a song would play in the background and it hooked me even harder to what was happening on the screen.

Rushmore is a coming-of-age story, a movie of love and friendship, of dreams versus cynicism. Wes Anderson was coming into his own here, and he gave us an off-beat film that made us laugh, cry, smile and think back to those years when we had everything to look forward to and didn’t always know what to do with it.

Rating: ««««

The Devil's Double (2010)

Genre: Biographical

Directed by: Lee Tamahori

Starring: Dominic Cooper, Philip Quast, Ludivine Sagnier

Running time: 108 minutes

This film tells the story of Latif Yahia, an Iraqi soldier who was hired against his will to be the body double of Uday Hussein, Sadam’s son. The veracity of Yahia’s story has been disputed, but, nonetheless, the movie that came out of it was great.

Dominic Cooper offers a solid performance in both of the lead roles. He plays these two men in such a masterful way that they truly feel like two different men miles apart in ideology and personality. The rest of the cast is also very good in this tale of decadence and entitlement.

This story is not for the faint of heart, but, if a considerable amount of it is true, it needed to be told. It is scary to witness what certain human beings are willing to do to each other when they feel entitled and empowered to do so. Some of the scenes in The Devil’s Double will stay with me for a while. Powerful film.

Rating: ««««

The House Bunny (2008)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Fred Wolf

Starring: Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone

Running time: 97 minutes

The House Bunny is a comedy about an aspiring Playboy Playmate who lives her dream life at the Playboy Mansion. After her 27^th birthday, she gets kicked out and has to find a new place to live. After she leaves that life of luxury, she stumbles on a university campus and gets hired as house mother for an unpopular sorority.

This is your formulaic feel-good comedy where a group of socially-inapt ugly duckling girls are all transformed into intelligent and beautiful women by the end of it. It has been done a thousand times before, and on many occasions with more ability and success. I will give The House Bunny props for a few funny pop culture references and a nice cameo by the great Hugh Heffner.  Anna Faris gives it all she has to offer, but a good movie that does not necessarily make. So, overall, there is nothing much to see here.

Rating: ««

Safe (2012)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Directed by: Boaz Yakin

Starring: Jason Statham, Chris Sarandon, Robert John Burke

Running time: 95 minutes

Luke Wright is an ex-cop turned MMA fighter. When his pregnant wife gets killed by the mafia after he unintentionally wins a fixed fight, his life goes on a downward spiral. A year later, his life in ruins, he is about to give up everything when he sees a little Chinese girl in trouble walking around pursued by a group of men. She has three different groups after her because she is a math whizz with a powerful ability to remember numbers and they need her to figure out the combination to a safe containing a huge ton of money.

Whew, what a story this is, you would think nobody could think up this stuff. Well, someone did. The filmmakers really tried to squeeze in a little too much in 95 minutes story-wise. When you are doing this genre, with lots of action and fight scenes to boot, it is much more efficient to keep it simple. That is not what happened here, and what we get for it is a convoluted mess.

Jason Statham is his usual self, a badass guy who will never back down from a fight and worthy cause. He shows a little fragility and sensitivity here, up to the limit of his possibilities, and the chemistry with the little girl was pretty good. It is a nice change to see that sensitive side peek through; unfortunately, it was not enough to make up for this and overly convoluted story. And it felt like the director was trying to speed-up the pace a little too much; it felt rushed in some place with some important elements that could have given more depth to it all missing. They could have simplified the story and then have more time to tell it more efficiently, in my opinion.

Safe is a fast-paced thrill ride that should please the diehard fans of the genre, but go in with low expectations.

Rating: ««

Submarine (2010)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Richard Ayoade

Starring: Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor

Running time: 97 minutes

Submarine is the coming-of-age story of Oliver Tate, a 15-year-old who lives in Wales and who, at the same time, has to go through his first love and the troubled relationship of his parents. This movie is based on the book of the same name written by Joe Dunthorne,

I really appreciated this film, as it really takes you deep into the life and mind of this boy who is about to become a man. Craig Roberts, a young Welsh actor I don’t know much about, did a very good job here, truly bringing the character of Oliver Tate to life.

I recognized myself in some of the thoughts of the main character in Submarine, since I had the same at that age. I did not necessarily have the same path and life, but some of the thoughts I truly identified with.

Overall, Submarine is a very good movie. Took a few weird turns and ended ambiguously, but really worth a watch.

Rating: ««««

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011)

Genre: Romantic Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Lasse Hallström

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas

Running time: 107 minutes

A financial advisor recruits an uptight fisheries expert to lead a project paid for by a Yemen sheikh, who wants to bring the sport of fly fishing to his country. At first, the expert in this field scoffs at the idea, saying that it is unrealistic because Yemen does not have the necessary infrastructure to make it happen, but, soon enough, he embarks fully into the vision for this crazy idea.

This is a cute little fantasy film, with some solid performances and some not so good ones. Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt both had the right tone for their respective characters and thus made them believable. Kristin Scott Thomas, on the other hand, was way over the top, almost to the point of looking like a caricature. Every time she appeared on the screen, it took me out of it for a while. It was fortunate she did not have a bigger role in the whole thing. It is disappointing, because she has shown some better performances in the past; I have no idea what happened here.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is an entertaining little ditty of a film. It is nothing overly extraordinary, but it offers a nice little story with some good acting and majestic scenery.

Rating: «««

Secretary (2002)

Genre: Romance

Directed by: Steven Shainberg

Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Spader, Jeremy Davies

Running time: 111 minutes

In the wake of the whole Fifty Shades of Grey craze, I thought I would go back and look at Secretary, a 2002 film that dealt with the issue of S & M. Unlike the new sensation, though, Steven Shainberg’s movie is a work of art that doesn’t cash in on the desire of some people to be titillated. It tells a beautiful, yet difficult, story with complex characters. Funny enough, the last name of the male character is Grey. Got a chuckle out of that.

Lee Holloway (Gyllenhal) is just coming out of a mental hospital, where she ended up after a self-mutilation incident that went awry. She is socially awkward and extremely sensitive, and the tense relationship between her parents is not helping. Once back in real life, she looks for a job and ends up getting hired by E. Edward Grey, a lawyer, as a secretary. At first, Grey seems to be irritated by Lee’s mistakes and manic habits, but he soon finds himself sexually aroused by her submissiveness. They then embark on a complicated relationship that is far from conventional but that, in the end, will help them find a missing piece within them.

Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader both offer solid performances here, playing these characters with such authenticity. They feel like real people, not caricatures, and that is great, because it can go terribly wrong when you’re dealing with such a tricky subject as S & M. The filmmakers give us characters with depth and a story told in the perfect tone. They are not trying to be funny or overly dramatic, they just take on a ride through the lives of two people we end up caring about by the end of it.

I have seen this film a few times already, and each time I come out of it with something new. It offers food for thought while entertaining you. Love it.

Rating: «««««

Think Like a Man (2012)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Directed by: Tim Story

Starring: Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good

Running time: 123 minutes

A group of women are using Steve Harvey’s book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, to get control over their relationship with their men. Their plan backfires when the men realize what is going on and decide to pretend like they give the women what they want so they can finally get them in the sack. Like it is bound to happen when you play games with affairs of the heart, problems ensue.

This movie is filled with clichés and stereotypes about the types of men and women you can find out there. The mama’s boy and the single mom, the man afraid to commit and the girl who wants the ring, the dreamer and the woman who is her own man or the player and the 90 days rule girl.  There are not too many nuances to be found here. Still, this romantic comedy manages to be funny in some spots, before getting a little cheesy in the end.

Some light-hearted entertainment for those slow nights where one does not want to think too hard about what he is watching on the tube.

Rating: «««

Tonight You're Mine (2011)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Directed by: David Mackenzie

Starring: Luke Treadaway, Natalia Tena, Matthew Baynton

Running time: 80 minutes

This British Rock N’ Roll romantic comedy tells the story of Adam and Morello, members of two bands playing at a music festival in Scotland, who, upon arrival, get in a scuffle with each other. A security guard comes along and handcuffs them together. They try to break out, but to no avail. They will have to coexist for a while.

I did not quite know what to expect with this one. It was a title I found on Netflix, but I had never heard about it before. It seemed interesting, though the base for it seemed a little stupid, but I decided to give it a chance. I was glad I did. It is a very cute film, though in a rock n’ roll dirty kind of way. The music is mostly very good. A nice cover of Tainted Love particularly got my attention. It gets a little cheesy in the end, but I can forgive that, as I was thoroughly entertained.

Tonight You’re Mine is nice little story about the power of music to get people together on the same page. Well done, this movie is well worth the short time it lasts, and then some.

Rating: ««««

Bending All the Rules (2002)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Morgan Klein and Peter Knight

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Coleen Porch, David Gail

Running time: 93 minutes

Long before he gained success with The Hangover, Bradley Cooper starred in this little movie called Bending All the Rules.

This 2002 drama is the story of Kenna, a young woman who is still confused about what to do with her life. Abandoned by her mother and raised by a father who worked at the carnival, she did not have the most normal upbringing. Now in her twenties, she is waitressing, still using carny tricks on customers on occasion and dating two men at the same time. The men know about each other. They try to make Kenna commit to one or the other, but she just doesn’t want to settle down and do the whole monogamous relationship thing.

This movie just rubbed me the wrong way. Had it been a guy playing two girls at the same time, he would have been portrayed as the a-hole. In this case, the girl was a poor victim of a difficult childhood. And, honestly, I don’t know any man who would have accepted it so good for so long, especially not for that girl.

As for the acting, it was very ordinary. Very dry, uninspired. That said, the material the actors had to work with was nothing spectacular. Bradley Cooper has now showed what he’s capable of, with American Sniper, so I doubt he’s to blame for this fiasco of a movie. I would skip this one if I had the option again.

Rating: «

The Artist (2011)

Genre: Romantic Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Michel Hazanavicius

Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Béjo, John Goodman

Running time: 100 minutes

The crossover from silent movies to what Hollywood referred to then as “talkies” was not a smooth one for everyone involved. Some actors and actresses had the looks but not the voice. Others were simply not willing to evolve with the times.

That part of history is at the base of this 2011 film that star French and American actors and actresses. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is big star in silent movies, but, as the new era of talking movies is being ushered in, his career goes on a downward spiral. Peppy Miller (Bérénice Béjo), a young starlet, is the new sensation in Hollywood. Her star is on the rise and she becomes a big celebrity with the talking movies. The Artist has those two meeting while they’re going in opposite directions.

A silent black and white film about silent films could have been a tough sell in this day and age of fast-paced action and short attention spans, but The Artist was so beautifully directed and the actors were so great that the response from the public and critics was awesome. This film is a great piece of artistry and the actors involved all do a wonderful job with it. Jean Dujardin has that kind of face that does not even need to utter a word to charm the people. And his silver screen chemistry with Béjo is undeniable. No wonder so many awards were won, both in the States and in Europe. This is a movie to see.

Rating: «««««

Wanderlust (2012)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: David Wain

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Justin Theroux

Running time: 98 minutes

A married couple has to sell their apartment and leave New York City when they find themselves without work or prospects. On their way to Atlanta, to stay with the husband’s arrogant brother, they stop at a bed and breakfast that is basically a hippie commune. They will decide to stay there, at least for a while, hoping to find what they are looking for.

This is your formulaic comedy, with some humor and some good feelings behind it. Problem is the jokes are usually not that funny, with a few exceptions, and the denouement is very predictable. There never is any doubt and it just seems to fall into place and get resolved too easily.

I have seen much better work from Aniston and Rudd. They did not seem that inspired for this one. Wanderlust is nothing to lust over, can easily be skipped without missing much.

Rating: ««

Groundhog Day (1993)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Harold Ramis

Starring: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott

Running time: 101 minutes

In this fantasy comedy classic, Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, an arrogant and misanthropic TV weatherman from Pittsburgh who is sent for a fourth year in row to cover the annual Groundhog Festival, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. This time, he is accompanied by his cameraman Larry and the station’s new producer, Rita Hanson (Andie MacDowell). Phil’s day at the festival is the day from hell, and he just does not want to be there. Unfortunately for him, there is some kind of spell on him and he starts reliving that same exact day in his life over and over again.

Long before he started dabbling into serious roles, with great success I might add, Bill Murray was already great at being funny on screen. Groundhog Day is one of the finer early examples of his big screen capabilities as far as comedy goes.

This 1993 film offers a good amount of comedy and of stuff to reflect upon. Some of the comic relief is tad slapstick or exaggerated, but everything is in the right dosage here. There is a good lesson to take out of this movie, which is the importance of having the right priorities in your life.

The chemistry between Murray and MacDowell is great here, with the both of them pulling their weight and more in the deal. Chris Elliott’s character is more secondary, but he does the job when needed on screen, mostly for comic relief.

Phil Connors is the type of movie character I really like: Deeply flawed, but with great qualities, hidden deep down. I have seen this title many times before and I probably will again down the line. This is a movie that needs to be seen at least once.

Rating: «««««

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

Genre: Science-fiction / Western

Directed by: Jon Favreau

Starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde

Running time: 118 minutes

I must say that my expectations were not very high regarding Cowboys & Aliens. Mixing two such different genres as Science-fiction and Western can much for a very odd and bizarre combination, but the result on screen was surprisingly better than I expected.

Daniel Craig plays a man who wakes up in a desert with an apparent gunshot in his side and no recollection of anything, including his identity. He also has this weird metal bracelet around one of his wrists. As he fights his way back to a nearby town, he comes to find out from others that he’s a thief wanted by the law. Before he can be brought to justice, extra-terrestrial lifeforms come down and attack the town, taking some of the folks with them. Those remaining, no matter the allegiances and personal issues with each other, will have to band together if they hope to survive this attack.

On paper, this whole thing comes off as kooky as heck, but, as I said earlier, it still works on screen. The story is planned out nicely and the visual effects are pretty darn good. It is an interesting blend of two genres brought together and it makes for an entertaining viewing experience. Is it a great movie that I would care to see again and again through the years? No. That being said, for what it was, it is a good movie that exceeded expectations.

A special mention for Olivia Wilde’s eyes; wow, they are beautiful.

Rating: «««

Act of Valor (2012)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh

Starring: Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, Nestor Serrano

Running time: 110 minutes

In this 2012 war drama, a group of Navy SEALs are forced to intervene following a terrorist attack on a US Ambassador, his son, and many young students in the Philippines and after CIA operatives are killed or captured in Costa Rica.

The subject matter here is an important one, and the action sequences are very well delivered on screen. The only problem I had was with the acting, especially in the scenes when the main Navy SEAL character was sharing his feelings and emotions, both in narration and in dialogue. It all felt very fake and unnatural. It felt forced, just to add an emotional dimension to the whole thing. There could have been a much smoother way to go about achieving that particular goal.

There is some definite merits to Act of Valor, but, as far as war movies go, there are so many better ones out there.

Rating: ««

Bottle Rocket (1996)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Wes Anderson

Starring: Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Robert Musgrave

Running time: 92 minutes

As Anthony (Luke Wilson) gets out of a psychiatric hospital for what he refers to as exhaustion, his friend Dignan (Owen Wilson) waits for him to embark on an adventure. Their plan is to do several heists so they can impress and get hired by Mr. Henry, a former boss of Dignan.

After seeing a few of Wes Anderson’s films, I decided that I liked those enough to review his whole filmography for this blog. So, after The Royal Tenenbaums, I decided to go back to the start with the director’s directorial debut. Anderson also cowrote the movie with Owen Wilson.

Anderson has worked many times with the Wilson brothers over the years, and the chemistry already seemed to be there in Bottle Rocket. The actors seemed to be at ease with the material and in a good place to carry it out.

From the beginning, Bottle Rocket has a low budget feel to it, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The story itself is a bit weak, but it is cute. It showed a lot of promise for what Wes Anderson was capable of doing. The use of music was already a big thing for him, and a pleasant one for me. All things considered, Bottle Rocket is a good start to a director’s career.

Rating: «««

Safe House (2012)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Directed by: Daniel Espinosa

Starring: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga

Running time: 115 minutes

Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington), a former CIA covert operative, has become an international criminal and he has gotten his hands on some sensitive information from a rogue MI6 agent. When that agent gets killed, Frost has no choice but to take refuge in the American consulate in Cape Town, South Africa. Once he has surrendered himself, he is brought to a safe house guarded by young CIA agent Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds). Unfortunately, that house is not that safe, and when people come in trying to kill Frost, Weston runs away with the criminal, trying to deliver him to the CIA. Once again, things do not go as planned. After all, this is Hollywood.

Safe House is a very good action thriller movie. Denzel Washington is solid, as usual, in the role of a guy on the edge between good and bad. He keeps you guessing all the way true. The veteran actor’s chemistry with young Canadian Ryan Reynolds is pretty good here. They work well off each other as their characters embark on a cat and mouse game. Reynold offers a good performance also as an up and comer trying to prove himself to the CIA so he can get a better post than the one he has.

This 2012 film offers some solid fast-paced action, filled with gun shots and car chases, and some good entertainment for almost two hours. It kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. And, folks, that is pretty much all one can ask for from this kind of flick.

Rating: ««««

Tower Heist (2011)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Brett Ratner

Starring: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Alan Alda

Running time: 101 minutes

In this 2011 crime comedy, Ben Stiller plays Josh Kovaks, the building manager of a luxurious apartment building in New York City. When he realizes that he and fellow employees were swindled out of their pension money by a wealthy businessman, Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), who also resides in the building, he gets a group together to seek revenge on Shaw. Their goal is to reach Shaw’s high security penthouse apartment and steal some money.

We are served with quite the loaded cast here. Along with the main actors, we can find names such as Téa Leoni and Matthew Broderick in supporting roles. Given what the filmmakers had to work with, this comedy should have been so much better. The main issue is that a lot of the jokes were not that funny and some of the acting was over-the-top.

Eddie Murphy was particularly bad, as a crook who gets enlisted by the group of apprentice criminals, to help out in the coup they are preparing. The former SNL cast member seems to have lost his mojo when it comes to making adults laugh. Gabourey Sidibe (Precious, The Big C) is also not very convincing with her fake Jamaican accent. Ben Stiller is up to his usual antics and does well with it. Casey Affleck is a non-factor, really. As for the story, it is still somewhat compelling, in spite of the many jokes that fell flat.

OK comedic movie, but could be easily skipped without missing much.

Rating: «««

The Ides of March (2011)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: George Clooney

Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Running time: 101 minutes

Politics can sometimes be a very dirty game, and this 2011 political drama illustrates that point in a great way. Other movies and TV shows might have done it before, in some cases even better, but The Ides of March is very efficient.

Stephen Meyers (Gosling) is the junior campaign manager for Mike Morris (Clooney), the governor of Pennsylvania who is trying to become the candidate for the Democrats in the US presidential elections. Meyers is an idealist, fueled by ideas and convictions, but he will lose much of his innocence in the dirty process and he will come to realize that, sometimes, to get what you want, you have to get down and play the game.

George Clooney, who plays in the movie, is also the director. He fulfills both roles very proficiently. The story is told to us in linear fashion, very straight-forward, and the ensemble cast is well directed and offer some great performances. When you get such actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei, you have all the ingredients for a great recipe. Then, the pressure is on you to bring it all together well. Mission accomplished. What we get is a very real look at politics through a compelling story brought to the screen by talented people.

Rating: ««««

The Thing (2011)

Genre: Science-fiction / Horror

Directed by: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.

Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen

Running time: 103 minutes

This movie is the prequel to the 1982 original directed by John Carpenter.

In this one, a Norwegian research team finds an alien spacecraft under the ice in Antarctica and decides to extract it and study it. Unfortunately for them, things don’t go as planned and trouble soon ensues.

The filmmakers involved into making this prequel and the cast hired to deliver the product on screen totally failed to gain my interest in any way. Quite frankly, I was bored and tuned out of this one quite rapidly. I will stick to the original John Carpenter film. Lots of flash and attempted sizzle in this 2011 film, but nothing really connected with me.

Rating: «

The Thing (1982)

Genre: Science-fiction / Horror

Directed by: John Carpenter

Starring: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Donald Moffat

Running time: 109 minutes

In this 1982 cult classic by famed director John Carpenter, employees of a research station in Antarctica get infiltrated by a parasitic ET lifeform that assimilates other organisms and then imitates them.  

The main star in the cast is a much younger and bearded Kurt Russell, as helicopter pilot MacCready. He does a good job here, along with the rest of the cast.

Carpenter was great at building the mood slowly at the beginning of the film. When the first scene opens, you are wondering why this helicopter is pursuing a dog and trying to shoot it. You feel bad at first, but you soon come to realize that this canine is not man’s best friend. We see these isolated men get put in a position where they don’t know who to trust, since they have no idea who has been infiltrated by The Thing. It makes the isolation even worse, and the filmmakers did a great job creating that kind of atmosphere. You cannot help but feel the paranoia set in as you wonder where the enemy will come from next.

The original The Thing is a classic among sci-fi and horror movies, and it should be seen at least once by any fan of those particular genres. It was a great delight seeing it again, and it even managed to gross out my wife when she walked in on one scene.

Rating: ««««