Sunday, July 22, 2012

Movie Review: Red Tails (2012)

"Red Tails" is George Lucas' film based on the true story of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American servicemen during World War II.  The men make up the 332nd Fighter Group and face segregation within the Air Force as they fly outdated planes and are not given a chance at assignments that involve combat.  Col Bullard (Terrance Howard) fights for opportunities for equality for African American pilots while Major Stance (Cuba Gooding Jr) guides a group of pilots who just want a chance to prove themselves.  The group is made up of Easy (Nate Parker), Lightening (David Oyelowo), Junior/Ray Gun (Tristan Wilds), Smokey (Ne-Yo) and Joker (Elijah Kelley).

The reviews I've seen on this film have been pretty mixed if not skewed toward negative but I think there's some good in this film.  I think the story the movie is based on is an important one and there's a lot of food for thought about segregation and equal rights within the film.  The film doesn't shy away from the racism the characters faced outside of the military and also within.  The flying/fighting sequences were overall well done.  I think the problems center on the script because some of it was stilted and awkward and it seemed like there were too many characters resulting in many of them being underdeveloped.  The addition of the love story for Lightening with an Italian local woman just seemed unnecessary.  I think that the script really took what could've been a great movie and made it almost unbearable.  This movie could've been so much better and really should've been given the subject matter.  It begs the question: is it better for a story that needs to be told to be done poorly or not be done at all?

Important issues and good fighting sequences but so many issues in the script - C

Movie Review: Nice Guy Johnny (2010)

I have to admit that I'm a little into Edward Burns lately and that's why I rented "Nice Guy Johnny," which Burns wrote, directed, and co-starred in.  The film's focus is Johnny (Matt Bush), who is indeed a very nice guy.  Johnny is so nice that he is on track to give up his dream job of hosting a radio sports talk show in order to make more money and please his fiance, Claire (Anna Wood).  Johnny goes to New York for the weekend for the job interview and is talked into spending some time with his uncle Terry (Burns) which leads to meeting a free-spirited tennis pro named Brooke (Kerry Bishe) in the Hamptons.  Not only is Johnny tempted by Brooke but he begins to question his fiance's plan for his life.

While this is a good film, it's unfortunately not great.  I think there's great storytelling in this film but it goes way out of the way to establish Johnny as the "nice guy" and to explore the theme of following one's dreams.  Burns, however, provides a lot of humor in his role as the immature skirt-chaser trying to lead his very straight-laced nephew astray.  Bishe really pops onscreen but she's really relegated to the role of the "hot girl" who is the antithesis of Johnny's fiance.  One of the reasons I think that "Newlyweds," Burns' more recent film, works is that Bishe got more of a chance to shine. 

Solid B for this one - Burns' fans will like it but the casual viewer may find it overly simplistic and lacking the magic that "Newlyweds" has.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Movie Review: Friends with Kids (2011)

"Friends with Kids" is a take on the old rom-com standard of "can men & women be friends" but in this case add a baby.  Julie (Jennifer Westfeldt) and Jason (Adam Scott) are great friends but are not interested in dating each other.  They are friends with two couples Leslie (Maya Rudolph) and Alex (Chris O'Dowd) and Ben (Jon Hamm) and Missy (Kristen Wiig) and once these couples start families Julie and Jason notice how their friends' marriages change.  So they decide to have a baby together while continuing to date so that they can have the baby and still have romance in their lives.  Their friends watch on with great interest at this "experiment."  Things seem to go well as Julie gives birth to a son and she and Jason settle into a 50/50 role of co-parenting while still looking for love however the arrangement is tested when they both meet others (Megan Fox, Edward Burns) and of course deal with their feelings for each other.

I think that while this film has a predictable sense to it there's still some good to it.  The casting other than Megan Fox is solid.  The actors really gel together so the viewer feels that they really are out at dinner with this group of friends.  I think there is a commitment to character development and exploring more of the darker emotions than the typical rom-com film, which adds to this movie.  I think that despite the reunion of many of the "Bridesmaid" cast that this film is not the raunchy comedy that film was - there's just enough language and explicit talk to get the "R" rating but otherwise it's not that "adult."  It's notable that Westfeldt directed, starred, wrote, and co-produced (with partner Hamm).

The reviews I've seen on this film are mixed and I think there's a good reason for it - great cast, some good development of character/emotions, but it's just kind of a tired premise that I feel so many rom-com films have done before.  Solid B.

Movie Review: Newlyweds (2011)

"Newlyweds" follows a newlywed pair Buzzy (Edward Burns) and Katie (Caitlin Fitzgerald) who are both on their second marriage and think they have found the key to a successful marriage: she works nights and he works days so they will enjoy their limited time together.  It sounds like a good plan until they are tested by the host of crazy friends and family around them.  First there's Katie's ex husband Dara (Dara Coleman) who constantly comes around asking for money.  Then there's Buzzy's flakey half-sister Linda (Kerry Bishe) who unexpectedly shows up to stay with the couple while she pursues her ex-boyfriend Miles (Johnny Solo).  Meanwhile Katie's sister Marsha (Masha Dietlein) and her husband of eighteen years Max (Max Baker) are quickly unraveling as a couple. 

I really liked this film because it's a smart, simple movie that asks what makes a successful marriage.  I thought the acting was great especially Bishe and I loved the direction (Edward Burns wrote, directed, & starred).  The actors do "confessional" interviews in character that explain background and motivation throughout the story.  It gives the film almost a documentary feel.  I've heard that this film was shot in Tribecca over 12 days with a budget of just $9,000 and I have to say that it's a fabulous product for that small investment.  Apparently the actors wore their own clothes and did their own hair and makeup too.  I think this is a good example of just plain old good storytelling and acting without all the frills, bells, and whistles. 

Note: This film is not rated but I'd say be cautious of the language and sexual references if thinking of letting a teen watch this.

Great film and I recommend it - A-

Movie Review: Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2012)

"Jeff, Who Lives at Home" is one day in the life of two brothers and their mother.  Jeff (Jason Segal) is thirty, lives in his mother's basement, and smokes pot while looking for signs that will lead him to his destiny.  This day in particular Jeff receives a phone call from a guy looking for Kevin and since there is nobody with that name at the house Jeff takes "Kevin" as his sign.  Jeff's brother Pat (Ed Helms) seems to be a bit more prosperous than Jeff but he has his own problems.  Pat suspects his wife Linda (Judy Greer) is cheating on him and he ends up trailing her with Jeff's help.  Meanwhile, their mother Sharon (Susan Sarandon) only wants Jeff to fix a slat on her kitchen closet for her birthday though she finds she has a secret admirer at work which makes her feel a bit less lonely.  All four characters, Jeff, Pat, Linda, and Sharon, find themselves in a life-changing situation by the end of the day.

This film has some laughs, espeically when Segal and Helms are together, that are in the vein of "The Office."  It's definitely a quirky comedy with smart writing and good character development.  It's definitely interesting to think of fate and destiny through Segal's character Jeff's eyes.  This film is a good example of how a film can be smart, funny, and moving without a lot of the language, nudity, and violence that seem to be part of the "formula" for adult movies.

I think this film is a good rental for anyone who likes a smart comedy with heart - B+

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Movie Review: Bullhead (2011)

"Bullhead" is a Belgian film about a cattle farmer named Jacky (Matthias Schoenaerts) who has been brought into a deal with a shady beef dealer along with others but he is almost immediately suspicious of the other players.  Though his involvement with the beef dealer is minimal, the death of a police officer investigating hormone-fed beef starts wheels in motion that threatens Jacky and brings someone from his past into his present.  Through flashbacks the audience sees a horrific incident in Jacky's past that led him to inject not only his cattle but also himself with hormones.

This movie is gritty and raw with a bit of violence as we see Jacky behave like an animal himself in several situations.  Schoenaerts is great in the lead role making Jacky sympathetic even when he's behaving erratically.  This movie really had an interesting story, good acting, good direction and cinematography.  My only complaint is that some of the flashbacks felt a little awkward and jerky and it's a tad long but otherwise this film is really solid.  I give this a B+ and hope that people will overlook the subtitles and give this film a chance.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Movie Review: Machine Gun Preacher (2011)

"Machine Gun Preacher" is an action/drama biopic telling the story of Sam Childers (played by Gerard Butler).  Sam gets out of prison to find that his wife Lynn (Michelle Monaghan) has "found Jesus" while he goes back to his wild ways.  A harrowing experience gets Sam to attend church with his wife and daughter and he is converted.  As Sam begins a successful contracting business he hears a missionary speak about his work in Uganda.  Sam decides to go to Uganda and work on a mission project but while there he visits the war zone in southern Sudan and is shocked at the need there particularly the orphaned children.  Back at home Sam and his family build and start a new church and then build an orphanage in Sudan.  As Sam builds and supports the orphanage he faces struggles both external and internal.

This is a film that hasn't gotten as much buzz as a typical Gerard Butler film.  I think that this film is average but not great and Butler does his best with the script.  He is especially believable during the first portion of the film when Sam is first out of prison and back to his wild ways.  I felt that at times the script got a bit long and tired.  The direction at times was a bit awkward as well.  It's a gritty film and there is a good bit of violence - Sam's wild ways plus the violence against children in many cases in Sudan. 

There is some controversy surrounding this film due to the connection to the "Kony2012" movement.  Sam Childers works with the Sudan People's Liberation Army to protect and save children from Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army.  Personally I didn't find the film to be a full-fledged propaganda film for "Kony2012."  In fact I thought it was interesting that the female doctor in the film challenges Sam several times about his intentions and methods, specifically using violence, and even compares him to Kony.

This film was okay but not great for me.  I thought at times Butler was really good but at times the film really lagged and the violence got tough to watch.  C+.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Movie Review: This Means War (2012)

"This Means War" wants to be an action/romance/comedy combo but doesn't achieve any of the three.  FDR (Chris Pine) and Tuck (Tom Hardy) are CIA agents who not only work together but are long-time best friends.  Their friendship is tested when they accidentally start seeing the same woman, Lauren (Reese Witherspoon).  Once the guys realize the situation, they agree to let the lady decide and both continue seeing her while agreeing they won't tell her they know each other, won't interfere with each other's dates, and won't sleep with her.  Being CIA agents with a lot of technology and skill on their side, the guys quickly forget about the no interference rule as their dates with Lauren heat up. 

I think that the major problem with this film is that it's trying to be too much.  It's hard to be action, romance, and comedy all at once and I think this film falls short on all three marks.  There's not enough action to really establish this as a spy or action film.  The audience sees very little of the guys doing much other than competing over Lauren, who doesn't know they are spies.  The romance angle didn't work for me because I saw no real chemistry between Witherspoon and her two suitors.  Really I thought the chemistry was between Hardy and Pine, who would've been great in a film just about the two of them in a "buddy" or "partner in crime" situation.  As far as comedy, the writing and delivery just didn't bring the laughs enough to make this a real comedy.  The only chuckles come from Hardy and Pine interacting despite the weak script.  Chelsea Handler attempted to bring some laughs as Lauren's married best pal/confidant, but I felt she just didn't have much to work with and her efforts fell short.

Overall, I just think this film is such a miss in terms of its writing, delivery, direction, and lack of chemistry.  It's a good example of what was possibly a good idea (combining action with rom-com) and big names (Witherspoon, Hardy, Pines) but the result is a poor film - D+.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Movie Review: New Year's Eve (2011)

"New Year's Eve" is the sequel to 2010's "Valentine's Day" and has the same formula: a series of some unconnected and some connected stories set on New Year's Eve in New York City starring a large ensemble cast.  Claire (Hillary Swank) is in charge of the ball drop in Times Square with the help of friend Brandon (Ludacris).  Claire has hired singer Danny Jensen (Jon Bon Jovi) to sing for the crowd but he is also playing a private party where he hopes to reunite with former flame Laura (Katherine Heigl).  Laura is working the party with her catering company including Ava (Sofia Vergara).  Elise (Lea Michele), who is to be one of Jensen's backup singers, gets stuck in an elevator with Randy (Ashton Kutcher), her neighbor who is not into celebrating the holiday.  Randy's roommate, Paul (Zac Effron) is delivering packages when he makes a delivery to the record company holding the big party.  Secretary Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer) quits her job and hires Paul to take her around the city checking off items from her New Year's resolution list.  Meanwhile Paul's sister Kim (Sarah Jessica Parker) is having trouble with her teen daughter Hailey (Abigail Breslin) who wants to go to Times Square with a boy instead of staying home with mom.  In a nearby hospital,  Stan (Robert Di Niro) is dying of cancer and being tended to by nurse Amy (Halle Berry), Mindy (Alyssa Milano), and his doctor (Cary Elwes).   Also in the hospital, Griffen (Seth Myers) and Tess (Jessica Biel) are about to have their first baby, which they hope will be the first baby of the new year.  Meanwhile, Sam (Josh Duhamel), an executive in the record company, is trying to get to the party but also hopes to meet up with a mystery lady he met last year on New Year's Eve.

Whew!  That's a lot of characters and story lines but some of them intertwine later and provide a few twists.  Though I have noticed that many reviewers didn't like this film, I did like it and I think it's because I take it for what it is - a frothy, escape with a lot of stars and romance.  There are some bright spots in the film but the problem is that with so much going on it's hard to focus on some of the high points.  I liked Michelle Pfeiffer, who sparkles in her role and has chemistry with Zac Effron.  Their storyline was one of the best.  Hillary Swank was also noticeably good and I think Katherine Heigl, Robert Di Niro, and Halle Berry added to the film.  The problem is that it's just a lot of stars and stories and at times the film is kind of clunky.

I think the bottom line here is that for someone looking for a light, romantic comedy with a lot of stars or someone who liked "Valentine's Day" then this film is for you.  Solid C for me.