Movie Review: Straw Dogs (2011)

This film is apparently a remake of a 1971 film with the same name and I admit that I haven't seen the original but I pray it's better than the 2011 version.  The new version stars James Marsden as David who moves with his wife Amy (Kate Bosworth) to her hometown, a small town in Mississippi.  David is a Hollywood screenwriter and unfortunately he sticks out in the town where guys are more like Charlie (Alexander Skarsgard) and his friends.  Charlie is Amy's ex-boyfriend and leads his gang of good ol' boys hunting, drinking, and oh they also do roof repairs so David hires them to fix their barn (bad idea).  Apparently the moral of this awful film is that if you are not a small-town country guy then be sure you don't move to a small town in Mississippi because you're just asking for violence.

This movie is just such a disaster.  The writing is terrible and the cinematography is bad.  The result is a movie that spends the first half beating the viewer over the head with cliches and one-dimensional characters (look how rich/elitist/out of touch David is!) and then the other half in violence including the last 30 minutes or so when all hell breaks loose and an earlier violent rape scene.  It's like an amped-up Lifetime movie in terms of violence with famous people in it.  I felt relief and kind of awkward when it was finally over.  Take my advice and don't rent this one - D-.

Movie Review: Hugo (2011)

"Hugo" is a beautifully-made family film that anyone could watch.  The movie centers on Hugo (Asa Butterfield) who is a 12 year-old orphen living in a secret space within a Parisan train station and maintining the station's clocks.  Hugo often steals pastries and parts that he uses to work on a project he never got to complete with his late father: an automaton or mechanical man who can write.  He is caught stealing from a toy vendor (Ben Kingsly) names Papa Georges and later befriends Georges' goddaughter Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz).  Hugo is convinced that he will find a message from his late father if he can fix the automaton. 

This movie is shot in 3D but it's still beautiful to watch in 2D.  Martin Scorsese lovingly directed this film and the accolades for direction, cinematography, and art direction are well-deserved.  While the plot may not keep adults on the edge of their seats, this movie is perfect for the family and offers an entertaining tale for a broad audience.  I liked Sacha Baron Cohen in a supporting role as the station's security officer.  Solid B - rent this and watch with the family.

Movie Review: Dream House (2011)

Unfortunately "Dream House" has a great cast (Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, & Naomi Watts) but the script is terrible and the result is something like a well-cast Lifetime movie.   I labeled this film as "suspense" but the suspense was watered down when the publicity for the film gave away what should've been the twist.  The film centers on Daniel Craig as Peter Ward, whose family was murdered and while he was suspected he was institutionalized, declared unfit for trial, and released.  He returns to the family home and develops this fantasy world where he is Will Atenton and living in the home with his wife and two daughters, calling them by different names.  He starts to think that Peter Ward is stalking his family and investigates Ward.  Of course he finds out that he is Ward and this fantasy is to protect himself from the truth of the murders.  Naomi Watts is a neighbor/friend who attempts to help Peter figure out what happened to his family.

Like I said, the publicity for the film gave away the twist of Peter and Will being the same person so that really limits the suspense of the movie.  With such a good cast this movie could have been really something great but unfortunately it's just a mess.  Apparently the director, Craig, and Weisz were so disappointed with the final cut of the movie that they refused to promote it and I have to agree with them.  This film gets a D from me - don't rent it just wait for it to be on cable (or Lifetime).

Movie Review: We Bought a Zoo (2011)

I think "We Bought a Zoo" (2011) is one of those movies I would recommend for just about anyone.  It's a heart-warming tale of Benjamin (Matt Damon) recently widowed who seeks a fresh start for himself and his two kids by buying a home that includes a run-down zoo with Scarlett Johannson as its overworked zookeeper, Kelly.  They then embark on an adventure as they try to bring the zoo up to standard and reopen.  Along the way, Benjamin and family deal with their loss and try to move forward though not without strife between Benjamin and his rebellious teenaged son.

This film is a home-run as far as a family-friendly film.  Rated PG it's appropriate for a wide audience.  Yes it's a bit predictable as these movies go but it's well-acted by the main actors and a good supporting turn by Thomas Haden Church as Benjamin's brother.

The bottom-line: This movie won't change your life but it's a heart-warming and entertaining two hours that you can share with the family.  Solid B. 

Movie Review: The Art of Getting By (2011)

"The Art of Getting By" (2011) is a coming-of-age romantic drama that isn't exactly reinventing the wheel so to speak but it's charming nonetheless.  The film stars Freddie Highmore as George, a loner/slacker high school senior who's lost in fatalistic thought and completely neglecting his schoolwork.  George is also a promising artist who cannot find any inspiration to paint.  Enter Sally, played by Emma Roberts, who is George's classmate and new friend.  Though George continues to find no inspiration for schoolwork, through Sally he does find friendship and someone he cares about and eventually does inspire him.  The road is rocky for George, however, because he cannot process his feelings for Sally and there's trouble not only at home but all that schoolwork he's not been doing catches up to him.

As I pointed out, there's not a lot new here in this genre but the acting is solid and the film has a certain charm.  Several well-known actors took supporting roles in this film (Blair Underwood, Rita Wilson, & Alicia Silverstone) which rounds out the cast well.  Again, this film doesn't change the world but it makes for an enjoyable hour and a half.  C+

Movie Review: Footloose (2011)

This review is of the 2011 remake, which I enjoyed more than I thought I would.  It has to be difficult to take such a loved and iconic film as the original "Footloose" (1984) and try to remake it.  This film does an admirable job because while it's not a shot-by-shot replica there is a lot that's from the original including music and an homage at the beginning of the film.  There's some great dancing in this one thanks to female lead Julianne Hough.

Overall I have to say that anyone who enjoyed the original will most likely like the new one because there's so much that's similar or same.  People who had no interest or didn't like the original should skip this one as well as anyone looking for vast difference from the 1984 classic.  The 2011 reboot is enjoyable for the same audience that enjoyed the 1984 film.  Solid C for me.

Movie Review: El Bulli: Cooking in Progress (2010)

This documentary takes the viewer inside and behind the scenes at the famous El Bulli resturant in the Catalonia area of Spain.  This is apparently one of the most inventive resturants out there as evidenced by this film.  The film follows chef Ferran Adria and his staff for a year.  The first half of the year Adria and his top staff close the resturant and head to a cooking lab in Barcelona to invent new tastes, flavors, receipes, and ultimately the new menu before heading back to reopen the resturant for the second half of the year.  Once reopened, the head staff work on creating and perfecting the new menu items before they are worked into the 35-course 3-hour meal served each night. 

I enjoyed this film because the food lab portion was so in-depth.  The chefs were scientific about their experimentation but there's also an art to creating innovation in anything so it's an interesting process they have.  Then there's seeing the research put into practice once they are back at the resturant.  Much trial and error goes into creating "magic" as Adria calls it. 

This film in in Catalan so subtitles are a must and also due to the subject matter this film isn't for everyone.  Serious foodies will love it and anyone who is interested in behind the scenes of such an innovative resturant.  Solid B in my book.