LoveYourMovies Reviews

Closed Circuit (2013)

Closed Circuit Has The Thrills

[24 August 2013]

One of last year's highly praised films was Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Any intriguing film with very fine acting but had some of the most dry uninteresting moments of the year. With a good ending saving it, it's action and thrills were VERY subdued.

The producers of Soldier Spy have a new political thriller starring Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall and Julia Stiles. This time around there is no shortage of thrills and intense moments. The action isn't Terminator worthy but is without a doubt they have amped up the excitement.

Martin is a divorced lawyer who is called in to defend the suspect in the biggest terror attack in London and largest murder trial of the century. His co-lawyer is Claudia Simmons- Howe who just happens to be his ex lover and reason for his divorce. As I have zero understanding of British law and court system I am at the mercy of what the movie tells me. The two defending attorney's are not allowed to have contact during the pre trial research which proves to be most difficult as the case unfolds, and not for romantic purposes. Martin was brought in to be the defense because a friend of his who was the defense lawyer appears to have committed suicide. As Martin and Claudia dig deeper they realize that is not the case and their client is not who the prosecution is making him out to be. The defendant's son is the one who holds the key to his fathers innocence and Martin and Claudia are determined to make sure he can exonerate his father.

There is only a handful of problems I had with Closed Circuit and the main one being that the film is way too short. Coming in at just over 90 minutes, the extra time could have been used to develop the backstory a little deeper and explain some things that are taken for granted and left unspoken. Martin has a son himself and it would have been nice to see a little more developed with him.

That said, Closed Circuit is without a doubt a top notch ride of excitement. With questions and wonder around every corner you can't help but keep your eyes locked on the screen.

Well thought out story lines make for a great political thriller that does not try and make a political statement, it just showed what we all know and that is most governments have their corrupt side and will at times do whatever it takes to save face. The film does not come across as a film with a message by any means but the government is the engine at the center of a good story and high powered thrill.

This will not be any award contender by any means but thats not to take away from the entertainment value that the film exudes. It is one well worth your time, no matter how little the time is. Loveyourmovies.com

Gangster Squad (2013)

Gangster Squad Doesn't Know What Side It's On

[6/10 · 9 January 2013]

Every movie rides a very thin line between being a humorous comedy or a serious drama. No genre of movies ride this line thinner than period pieces, films that attempt to capture a certain time in human history in every aspect. They can go from feeling like a breathing comic book or to a snapshot of history. Rarely does a film capture both. Gangster Squad has managed that very thing, and dare I say in a good way. Capturing both could be a good thing if done right. Gangster squad captures both in the wrong way.

This is the VERY loosely based true story of mobster Mickey Cohen's reign over Hollywoodland, as it was affectionately known, and Los Angeles county. Aside from names and positions, the majority of this film is fabricated and the spin of money making film makers yarn. The essential Gangster Squad there seems to be little known about and what they did or accomplished, even less. What is known is how Cohen was taken down and what he did, subsequently afterwards. The movie tells the story of 5 legit cops who put all ethics and laws aside to take down Cohen. In there pursuit is every aspect that makes up a perfect story from a young bitter bachelor cop that falls in love to the gritty veteran who can't seem to let the war go and the ambitious aspect that came with it who also happens to be an expecting father and wants clean streets for his child to grow up on. The dossier on these gentlemen couldn't line up more perfectly outside a Hollywood script therefore taking away the credibility of the film piece by piece.

The trouble with Gangster squad is it's inconsistency as a film. It starts out fairly light hearted, tho in a darker tone a la Guy Ritchie. While it's a serous topic the humor seems to take center stage. the lines almost seemed to be delivered over the top outside of Emma Stone and Sean Penn who are masters at this moment in delivering dialogue. One of the other great speakers and dialogue deliverers is Ryan Gosling who at the out set seems to be a very satirical and almost cliché character.

My initial thoughts were that this was gonna be a Guy Ritchie meets Brian DePalma film. While on paper and in minds that sounds fantastic, on screen it didn't seem to be working.

About half way to 3/4 of the way the film takes a very serious turn and forces all the loose comical appeal of the characters out the window and now forces you to try and look at the film as a serious work of art with great ambitions. There's one problem...it's way to late for that. Everyone seemed to be looking for the next funny moment, which only seemed to arrive when a bloody Mickey Cohen seemed to weep when arrested, but unsure if it was a weep or smile. The faults all lay with the director as the actors seemed to transition well and not make a dramatic change in character, accents and demeanor remained the same but the tone and flow of the film was destroyed.Initial impressions were, if I wondered what would have happened if Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy and L.A. Confidential had a love child this would without question be the answer.

Every actor signed up with a great script and rightfully so, don't fault them for being let down creatively.

It is worthy to note that a substantial portion of the movie was taken out and some was re-shot after the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado and the massacre at the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. This may have played a significant role in the feel and flow of the film but based on the final product, so much was left as a "what could have been" type feeling. www.loveyourmovies.com

Promised Land (2012)

Damon Walks Krasinski Into The Promised Land

[8/10 · 3 January 2013]

There have been plenty of actors to make the great leap from the small screen to big screen and with plenty of success, but it is my feeling that John Krasinski will be one of the few that becomes a powerhouse player in Hollywood. His latest effort, which he co-wrote with co-star Matt Damon and teamed up with Damon's friend and director of Damon's breakout film, Good Will Hunting, Gus Van Sant. Promised Land is one movie that you will be able to go back and pinpoint as turning point in Krasiniski's career and where Damon has gone from the player to the teacher.

This is the story of a big energy corporation looking to take the natural gas resources of a small farming town. The corporation's representatives played perfectly by Damon and Frances McDormand are sent in to find land to lease for areas for fracking a dangerous and controversial means of extracting the natural gas from miles under the ground. Soon a local school teacher and retired "genius" begins raising questions and has the town very much concerned and it raises to another level when a small environmental group comes to town with it's representative played by Krasinski. When he clearly has the town on his side Damon's small town roots and conscience begin eating away at him. Then the bottom falls out and only one is left standing.

Having made his mark on the sit-com, The Office, Kransinski has clearly proved he is more than just a smart funny character on a popular sit-com, he's now a true actor. His performance which begins very much playing into his comedy roots takes a quick and dramatic turn. There is no one better to walk Krasinski out of the office and into the Promised Land than Matt Damon. This being only second major screenplay, it is not unlikely that he could follow his co-stars footsteps and take home the golden statue on Oscar night (this would also give Damon his second writing Oscar).

With a nearly perfectly cast of supporting players from the perfectly placed Hal Holbrook to the always lovely Rosemarie DeWitt, Promised Land is a film that will have you feeling every emotion poured on the screen. With plenty of comedic moments to have you taken in early on, to the real emotions that can easily be identified with of the local towns folk.

The performance of the film that had my attention from the moment he appeared on screen was the legendary Hal Holbrook. His role as a man who loves his town and farm despite having had the opportunities escape, is one that you almost can't take your eyes off of. Holbrook has one Oscar nomination to his credit and it wasn't very long ago for the wonderful Into The Wild when he was a spry 83 years old. Now a perfectly aged 87 he might not only be looking at another well deserved nomination but he just may walk on that stage and take that coveted award in his hand and no doubt to an arousing applaud. www.loveyourmovies.com

Hyde Park on Hudson (2012)

Bill Murray Carries His Latest Effort

[7/10 · 25 December 2012]

Bill Murray is a comedy LEGEND and an American favorite. Everyone just about has a favorite Bill Murray moment or movie. Whats not to like he has a style that is truly his own and a swagger that draws you despite not being the type that craves the labels. While always being a good actor it's only in the last 15 or so years that people have stood up and taken notice that he can act beyond his comedic roots. With a few roles several years ago that showed this such as Where The Buffalo Roam in which he portrayed Hunter S. Thompson and 1984's The Razor's Edge he primarily stuck with his comedic roots, and why not it had served him so well for so long. in 1998 he made Rushmore with visionary director Wes Anderson and suddenly he wasn't Carl Spackler or Dr. Peter Venkman anymore, he was an actor.

In 2004 he was honored with his first Academy Award nomination for his outstanding performance in Lost In Translation for which he was visibly disappointed that he was the recipient. 9 years later he just may be poised for his second Oscar nomination for his unbelievable portrayal of former president Franklin D. Roosevelt. A most unlikely choice on the film maker behalf, but one that will prove to be a proud choice. The film is Hyde Park On Hudson with whom he co-stars along side the always great Laura Linney.

The story is one of an affair the president had with an extremely distant cousin that carried on for years when he would retreat to Hyde Park, NY of which he was quite fond of doing much of his work from there. During the early stages of the affair a monumental occasion occurred when the new king of England became the first king to visit American soil in history. King George VI affectionately known as Bertie, who was recently portrayed by Academy Award winner Colin Firth in The Kings Speech, was very new to his position and felt it best to visit the US and the president to keep up relations. Over a weekend in Hyde Park the king and president formed a very special relationship that proved vital as WWII would shortly break out a few weeks later.

What is most intriguing was that you had to fine men in positions of great power that at the same time had great flaws, Bertie with his stutter and Roosevelt with his partial paralysis. The film has a fine moment when the two converse late one night and the president clearly seems to instill a great confidence in the king when they both realize many similarities in each other.

Over the same weekend the president's affair with his cousin, Daisy quickly becomes threatened and almost comes to a complete halt.

The film is a fine story and well told but it's not without rhythmic issues and has several slow moments. It is without question carried on the shoulders of Murray's performance. It's not a story that has you drawn in within seconds and has some difficulty keeping you there. It is though a good movie that deserves to be soon for Murray alone.

Murray shows the often unknown and unseen humorous side the president Roosevelt and does it with great perfection. His portrayal is one of the great performances of a historical figure in recent years. The one flaw in his award chances may be he happens to be against another fine actor playing an iconic president in Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln. It's a story every years where a deserving actor comes away empty handed because someone just happens to be on another level.

Murray's day will come at some point. His commitment to taking great roles and being someone different every time only proves that. Unfortunately we will have to wait a little longer. Loveyourmovies.com

Django Unchained (2012)

Tarantino Has A New Masterpiece

[10/10 · 25 December 2012]

I do believe it goes without saying that Quentin Tarantino is without question one of, if not, the finest film maker of the past 20 plus years. His latest effort, Django Unchained does many things but chief among these being, it solidifies Tarantino's place as a great, GREAT film maker. His unique style of fantastic specifically worded dialogue and impeccably perfect scenes is undoubtedly his trademark along with unusual yet perfectly used soundtracks.

Django Unchained has every single element of a perfect Tarantino movie with the added pleasure of being done almost better than he has ever done before. Pulp Fiction is without question his calling card film and it has since become a piece of Hollywood lore and for good reason. That being said Django Unchained may go down at some point as Tarantino's greatest film.

This is the story of Django a slave in the south 2 years before the eruption of the Civil War. Django is soon acquired and given his freedom by bounty hunter Dr. King Shultz played to perfection by the always entertaining Christoph Waltz who is quickly becoming Tarantino's muse much like a Scorsese/ De Niro type relationship, which I would say was one not many people got sick of. When King Shultz asks for Django's help hunting down his 3 former slave owners he quickly discovers Django's knack for the bounty hunting game. After agreeing to help King Shultz hunt criminals through the winter and teach him what he knows Django soon finds the help of Shultz to help him find his wife and bring her into freedom with him. After they discover her new owner is the prominently rich plantation own Calvin Candie they form an elaborate scheme to acquire Django's wife, Broomhilda.

With absolutely expert story telling, Tarantino manages to get Oscar caliber performances from every major principal in the film, from star Jamie Foxx to a short lived character of Big Daddy played by Don Johnson.

Django is Tarantino literally at the peak of his craft. With several elements from other films from rarely seen westerns to his own films such as Reservoir Dogs. Django is a very much stripped down effort from him but it never feels like it is lacking in any aspect of the film. With not one camera angle out of place or one song that doesn't feel perfectly used.

Tarantino has a cast assembled that has the chemistry and feel already that you can imagine no one else playing every single role. He has masterfully directed every aspect and while Inglorious Basterds was the film that was thought to be his opus prior to release, it is clear Django Unchained simply will blow and cinephile away and casual fan of westerns and/or action will be enthralled. It should be noted the violence can be extreme and even leave a jaw open once or twice much like he did with his Kill Bill films, but this will in no way be it's defining mark at all.

With several recent Golden Globe nominations by the Hollywood Foreign Press, who has always shown him great love, there is no doubt Django Unchained is a serious contender in every category and will be so once the Oscar nods come out in a few weeks.

This may be his year. He has a best screenplay Oscar on his mantle already but it may have some company and more than one as well. Loveyourmovies.com

The Avengers (2012)

The Avengers Entertainment Value Is Top Dollar

[8/10 · 26 May 2012]

Tremendous hype surrounding a movie can be a very good thing. Usually it guarantees some big box office numbers for at least the opening weekend. But this is not always the case. The downside to so much hype around a movie is that many people tend to make up their minds before even setting foot in the theater. When this happens it takes a very well made movie to up peoples expectations.

Three weeks ago one of the most hyped movies, if not the most hyped movie, of the year opened with The Avengers. Opening weekend in the US (it opened throughout the world the week before) broke every opening weekend recored, taking in $207 million. It would go on to make another $100 million in it's second weekend and cruise to $1 billion world wide in no time at all. This for all purposes, is a movie that lived up to the hype and more.

I chose to let the hype die down before viewing the movie for review purposes, so as not to get caught up in everything BUT the movie. Yesterday was the day to view The Avengers and try not to get caught up in the Avenger storm.

Based on the comic book which is a compilation of several different comic book characters, The Avengers is a secret team of superheroes put together should the world be on the brink of disaster. There wouldn't be much of a movie if the world didn't come to the brink of disaster when Thor's brother Loki comes to earth to obtain the most precious source of energy in the world known as the tesseract. When Loki controls the mind of some of S.H.I.E.L.D.s personnel to help with his sinister plot, director Nick Fury initiates the avengers program. After some difficult persuading the avengers do in fact come together. The movie climaxes with an epic battle throughout New York City.

With the possibility of this movie being an epic failure, director Joss Whedon was very fortunate to have actors from each of their respective characters films, with the exception of The Hulk who had two different Bruce Banner's but was superbly cast with Mark Ruffalo. The talent and good acting by each person in their roles helped tremendously with the success of this film. With Robert Downey Jr. all but leading the cast as Iron Man/Tony Stark in a role he has really come to own, each one was exactly who was needed for their roles. The introduction of Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye was a great choice. He is on the rise in popularity and a fine actor in his own right.

The story is not one that is complex and difficult to follow. It is almost the quintessential superhero story line that has every twist and close call we have come to know and love with these types of movies. Don't look for a surprise ending but also don't expect to be bored with a plot line that is too simple. The purpose of this movie is the effects and action and just seeing a lot of favorite superheroes together at once and Joss Whedon executes that perfectly.

It is a fun exciting 2 1/2 hours and money well spent (for the 2D we did not see the 3D). It's everything everyone wants in a summer blockbuster movie. It is not hard to see why it is pulling in the money it is. It is just another case of giving the movie going audience what they want and making it well.

There is still the possibility that all the records that The Avengers has set could be short lived come the end of July when Christopher Nolan unleashes his final installment in the Dark Knight series. That aside, The Avengers, up to this point, is not only the best summer blockbuster but the best movie SO FAR this year.

My Week with Marilyn (2011)

Michelle Williams does true justice to the iconic Marilyn Monroe

[9/10 · 24 March 2012]

When it comes to portraying a person on film who has actually lived it tends to be a tricky area. Doing justice to that person is always the number one priority. When it comes to portraying someone as iconic as Marilyn Monroe the expectations are even higher. This is the difficulty Michelle Williams faced when taking on this task.

Marilyn Monroe may be the most famous pop culture icon of all time. Though she was real and was on top of the entertainment world for a brief but pivotal period she has reached mythic status. The idea and images are as popular as she ever was. So for someone to play her on screen and not have it come across as an imitation yet a true to life portrayal is somewhat of a daunting task. Michelle Williams, on the outside, didn't seem like the ideal choice to pull this off. She has since completely silenced any criticism that some may have been prepared to give. Williams delivers without question, one of the best performances of the year and greatly deserves the Oscar nomination she has received.

The movie is a true story of a young man named Colin Clark and his time spent on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl starring Marilyn and Laurence Olivier. It is not the story one might expect. It does have the love story between Monroe and Clark but it also shows how Monroe was conflicted and pulled in many different directions at the height of her fame. It shows how she truly wanted to please all those involved in her life and career. She was truly searching for love but felt the need for it to be a person of notoriety and fame to help preserve the image that she and many others created. She didn't have the luxury so many actors have today of making artistic choices. She felt a need to please all those around her but was completely unsure how to do it. Williams so truthfully and realistically shows the wearing down the industry took on the small town girl and how she didn't know how to deal with her fame. She felt an overwhelming need to be everything everyone wanted her to be which was ultimately her downfall.

The film is not the most perfect but it has a quality to it that keeps you engaged and entertained. There is no question that Williams carries the film on her shoulders and doesn't waiver for even a second. It is refreshing to have a year of film that has some of the most perfect casting in years and My Week With Marilyn is no exception. With Kenneth Branagh playing Sir Laurence Olivier to perfection it is one of the few movies that quickly pulls you into it's world to the point you forget you are watching actors and you feel you are just an observer of the time. It is a fine tribute and homage to one of the most remembered and revered persons of the 20th century. www.loveyourmovies.com

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

Elizabeth Olsen captivates in Marth Marcy May Marlene

[9/10 · 24 March 2012]

Every now and then a movie or performance comes out of nowhere to shock everyone at it's remarkableness. Elizabeth Olsen, yes Olsen as in the younger sister of the famous twins, has had one of those moments with her first feature film debut, Martha Marcy May Marlene. Growing up in the shadow of such extremely famous sisters could not have been easy and making your own mark in films had to be equally challenging. One thing is certain, Elizabeth Olsen has, in one film, far and away surpassed anything her sisters have ever done. Her harrowing and haunting performance has given claim to the fact the she is the sister with the talent for acting.

Martha Marcy May Marlene is the story of Martha, played by Olsen, who is an escaped cult member who is still struggling to find the balance between what she was taught in her 2 years with the group lead by Patrick, played by the truly underrated John Hawkes. She deals with the struggle of still holding on to the teachings of Patrick while still knowing the dangers that life brought with her. While reuniting with her sister Lucy, played by Sarah Paulson, whom she never had a strong relationship with. Lucy and her new husband Ted know nothing of where Martha has been or what she has been taught and are having a difficult time trying to help and understand her after such a long absence.

Elizabeth Olsen and John Hawkes flat out marvel in their roles. Terrifying yet majestic in their performances. They make the film come together in a way that makes it difficult to look away even for a second..

The film is both quiet and frightening with a sense of wondering what will come next. It has an ending that leaves you craving more and with a want to know what happens to the characters. Some may call the ending empty and unfulfilled, but in true independent film fashion it let's the intelligent viewer do some of the work and exercise their imagination.

This is not a film that will please everyone nor will it leave you feeling good, it will just stick with you long after it is over. Olsen has made her mark and it is a big one. The question left is how she and her career will follow this up. The bar has been set fairly high and her choices from here on out will determine how far she leaves her famous sisters in the dust behind her, make no mistake though, she will leave them behind. www.loveyourmovies.com

Carnage (2011)

Polanski Makes Comedy Of Pain

[7/10 · 24 March 2012]

One of my favorite performances of all time was Elizabeth Taylor in "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?" Taylor's role is that of Martha, the alcoholic wife who is unhappy the path her life has taken and where she is in her life and marriage. When a young couple comes to their home for the evening and Virginia begins drinking all hell breaks loose and everyone's true thoughts become well known. It's a dramatic powerhouse of acting and a sharp script that has truly stood the test of time.

Roman Polanski's latest film has a very similar feel to Virginia Woolf in which two couples come together to discuss a recent physical altercation between their eleven year old sons. As the afternoon goes on tension rises between the couples and amongst the married couples themselves. Carnage being the title of the film undoubtedly describes what ensues of the course of the afternoon while the two couples attempt to resolve whatever issues there are between the boys. The disagreements between parenting styles and personal life create a hot bed of personality clashes.

Polanski has masterfully crafted a film that could easily toe the line between comedy and drama that the subject matter so easily created. While Virginia Woolf took the dramatic side of the situation, Carnage no doubt takes the comedic side and with a biting humor that has you shocked that you are laughing.

With a cast of only 4 the film is still superbly acted and casted. John C. Reilly plays the husband of Jody Foster and tries to be the peacemaker of any awkward situation that is on the horizon. Jody Foster is nervously trying to handle the situation professionally as tho this is a business transaction. Christoph Waltz who plays the Husband of Kate Winslet is the disinterested Attorney who's mind is always at the office while his wife, Winslet, is just trying to make sense of why the situation amongst the boys presented itself and how to prevent it from happening again.

With all four actors masterfully delivering a plethora of dialogue and running the gamut of emotions all with such intelligent wit that falls into near slapstick humor when the bottle of eighteen year old scotch gets opened and all start dabbling and everyones true feelings begin pouring out.

Much like the very uncomfortable feeling Virginia Woolf gave off the same feelings are felt in Carnage but are relieved when you can't help but let laughter out at some of the off the wall thinking and comments that are then made.

Polanski has weaved a fine film with such minimal elements and relied heavily on the smart script and the intelligence that the audience posses to make a fine film that will leave you wanting more and ultimately make you feel a little bit sorry for the kids that have to deal with parents like these. These are parents so obsessed with making such a perfect life that they have found themselves at the polar opposite of such a life.

While the film is very short on time being only 79 minutes long, there is so much packed in the short time you don't feel short changed by any means. John C. Reilly didn't get the accolades that Foster and Winslet received but he has proved to be one of the great comedic actors working. Whether or not Reilly is being off the wall silly with his good friend Will Ferrel or whether he is being intelligent and tickling your mind in Carnage he has truly made an art form of comedic acting and this film is no different.

It's a film well worth your time if you are looking for a laugh but don't want to be treated like your comedic intelligence is so low that only the lowest humor will do. Be prepared for a smart comedy that doesn't leave you feeling dumber for having just watched but will still leave you laughing after it's over. www.loveyourmovies.com

Young Adult (2011)

Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody team up again for Young Adult

[7/10 · 24 March 2012]

Jason Reitman had some large shoes to fill when he began his film directing career. Jason's father, Ivan made some fairly beloved movies during the peak of his career such as Kindergarten Cop and the Ghostbuster films. For all who have seen Jason's films it may be safe to say he has surpassed his father in the art of movie making. His films, while funny and heartwarming touch on topics of relevance and seriousness that most people recognize or identify with.

Reitman's latest movie teams him up with the writer of his debut feature film, Juno, Diablo Cody. Young Adult stars Charlize Theron as a former prom queen in a small town in Minnesota who has left the small town behind for a successful writing career in the large city of Minneapolis. She has become unhappy and unfulfilled in her life drowning it in alcohol and meaningless relationships when she receives an email that announces her former high school sweetheart has had his first child with his wife. She decides that he must be as unhappy as she is and ventures back to the small home town of Mercury to win him back. She soon strikes up a friendship with one of the least popular guys from school played by Patton Oswalt. She reveals her plan to him while he watches the train wreck slowly occur he continues to be the shoulder of truth she really needs. After a few days of some uncomfortable events and disastrous encounters she realizes her unhappiness and depression all fueled by the alcohol she consumes. She soon understands that leaving the small town was the best thing and that the things she has and the life she has built isn't worthy of her unhappiness and she decides to live the life she needs to.

Charlize Theron has developed into one of the finest actresses of the last 10 years and has a true ability to become a character. She makes you hate her and feel sorry for her all in one with her portrayal of her character Mavis. Despite incredible outer beauty her inner person's ugliness makes you look at her from a different angle. She develops her character into a sad lonely woman who is just in need of satisfaction. Her career is on the slide she has a failed marriage and no contact with her family. Theron plays this role so well you are immediately drawn into her life and believe she has become Mavis. The true sign of a great actor is when within minutes you forget you are watching someone acting on the screen and you feel like you are truly watching someone's life. Theron undoubtedly does this in Young Adult even if the movie has it's flaws which kept it off most awards sheets.

Lost amidst Theron's performance is the surprisingly great job done by Patton Oswalt who plays Matt her confidant and new found friend who is crippled physically as much as she is emotionally. He befriends her unintimidated by who she used to be or even her so called success. He is the one person not afraid to tell her whats wrong with her and see's through her masked existence.

Reitman has a way of mixing humor with his serious true to life topics that very few have been able to do. Although labeled as comedy films there is a deep seriousness among all the story lines. His movies have a new John Hughes feel with not quite as much silliness and out right comedy but they still send a message non the less. Young Adult is not quite as masterful a picture as was Juno or Up In The Air but it's fine entertainment regardless. It's uncomfortable feelings will have you cringing in discomfort and laughing while doing so. You will find yourself pulling for Mavis to get herself aligned while also hoping she falls on her face. It's a film worth your time but don't expect it to blow you away, it will just leaving feeling not too bad about your situation because on the surface everyone else looks better off but we all got problems, some just deal with them better than others. www.loveyourmovies.com

The Descendants (2011)

George Clooney raises the bar with "The Descendants"

[10/10 · 24 March 2012]

If you have ever had the privilege of watching a world class musician play while at the top of their craft you know it can be a moving and at times emotional experience. When a great blues guitarist plays, there's a reason they say they are making the guitar cry, and that's because if they do their job well enough they have the ability to move the listener to tears. Their are rare occasions when actors can do the same thing evoking the same emotions out of the viewer.

George Clooney's latest film, The Descendants without question shows how an actor has the ability to pull emotion from them self and from the audience viewer. Clooney's work in this film is one of the best performances in years that features dialogue delivery and facial expressions combined for one of the most heartfelt and gut wrenching performances. Clooney has clearly set a new high for himself and a new standard in the drama/comedy world.

Clooney plays Matt King a successful real estate attorney who's world is turned upside down when his wife has an accident and is in a fatal coma. King soon discovers that his wife had been cheating on him and had planned to divorce him. He is left to rediscover his two daughters and learn along the way how to begin to be a real father to them while trying to do right by them and his native homeland of Hawaii as a trust to the single largest private land owner in the state.

The performance Clooney turns in is completely flawless as he runs the gamut of all feelings. He proves to be not only one of the most respected persons in Hollywood but now, quite possibly it's premiere working actor.

Specifically the scene when Matt learns about his wife's infidelity from his oldest daughter, you can see every thought in Matt's head play out on his face with complete disbelief. He then quickly runs in an awkward and nervous way, to his sister in-laws and then confronts her wanting to know the details of the affair he begins to let himself feel and let out, ever so slightly the pain his is just beginning to feel and discover.

Alexander Payne has a unique way of blending the serious and emotional with the comedic side that unavoidably comes with those times and situations. While one moment you are laughing at Clooney's terrible stalking abilities you are then angry and on the verge of tears as he confront's her wife's unsuspecting lover.

Not lost amidst Clooney's fine performance is the acting of the rest of the superb cast from the two daughters to Matt's father in-law played but the always underrated Robert Forrester and even the oldest daughter's confidant and friend Sid who ultimately becomes a key role in Clooney's acceptance.

Payne perfectly weaves the different levels of the completely new life Matt has discovered. He let's you in the mind as he continues to peel the layers away and starts his new life. He shows how King learns fatherhood along the way much later in life than he ever expected to or hoped to.

The Descendants wasn't the most unique film of the year, unlike The Artist, but it was undoubtedly the most true to life and most perfectly made movie of the year. It will no doubt gain in appreciation and following as time goes on. It is the one can't and shouldn't miss film of the year. www.loveyourmovies.com

The Hunger Games (2012)

Blockbuster Season Get's Underway With The Hunger Games

[7/10 · 24 March 2012]

With award season over, movie fans seamlessly movie right into blockbuster season. These are the big budget pure entertainment films that make summer exciting and tend to get blood pumping. Blockbuster movies over the summer tend to be the action movie and comic book movies and phenomenon movies and this year looks like it will have a plethora of choices for everyone.

Blockbuster season got off to a roaring start with the adaptation of the first of the wildly popular trilogy of books, The Hunger Games. While they are already projected to be as popular as the Twilight series and some say possibly even Harry Potter.

Set in the distant future world of Panem which is a remnant of the United States the story revolves around a 16 year old girl named Katniss from the poorest district of Panem known as district 12. In Panem all children aged 12-18 from all districts are entered in a lottery to be chosen to participate in what is known as the hunger games. In the hunger games, one boy and one girl from each district is chosen to play a survival game in a wilderness arena where only one winner emerges and that is the last one living. When Katniss' younger sister is chosen in her first year of eligibility, Katniss volunteers to take her place in the hunger games. She is then put through various training scenarios and put on somewhat of a media tour in order to gain sponsors to help provide her with needed supplies during the competition. Along with her fellow district 12 tribute, Peeta, she sets out and changes the outcome of the games and the way they are played much to the dismay of those in high power.

Not having read the books I am forced to look at the movie strictly as that, a movie. Hunger Games is a fairly well told story with great background on characters that aid you in gaining feelings for Katniss and Peeta. With a fairly basic look at what a post apocalyptic world may be it still emits it's own taste as to what upper class is like in Capitol City. While the acting is, like in the majority of blockbuster movies, is nothing to rave about, Jennifer Lawrence solidifies herself as an up and coming star of film. Lawrence already has one academy award nomination under her belt for the haunting and brilliant, Winter's Bone. She is joined by one of the best actors working right now and commonly underrated, Woody Harrelson. Harrelson feels somewhat out of place in this type of movie but begins to fit the character better as the film goes on.

Hunger Games does a fine job of bringing the intensity of the action that is the hunger games to life. While the movies tends to run a little long for having been a story geared towards a younger audience, the time does move rather rapidly and I suspect this is the film maker doing his best to do true justice to the books.

With some visually stunning scenes and a decent amount of action it is not a movie that will leave you feeling unfulfilled. The film makers leave a fine opening for the follow up film. On a pure entertainment level, Hunger Games doesn't miss at all. It has all the elements a summer blockbuster looks for and an originality that has lacked in recent years. It does all this with minimal CGI or special effects, although it doesn't lack in that department for fans of this. Hunger Games has something for everyone and is quite refreshing to not see a vampire or supernatural creations of some kind which tend to be an easy out to try and be creative.

It is the perfect start off for the blockbuster season which looks to be one filled with highly anticipated movies with the likes of The Avengers, Spiderman's reboot, the final installment of the Twilight series and the crescendo of all these movies looks to be The Dark Knight Rises which most likely will shatter any record any of these movies will set beforehand. WWW.Loveyourmovis.com