Movie Review: Girl Most Likely (2012)

"Girl Most Likely" stars Kristen Wiig as Imogene, who was an aspiring playwright with much potential but after a failed relationship, failed career, and failed suicide attempt is forced to move back home to New Jersey with her eccentric mother (Annette Bening) and brother (Christopher Fitzgerald). To add to the confusion, Imogene finds her mother has rented out her childhood bedroom to a casino show singer (Darren Criss) and a new boyfriend for her mother (Matt Dillon).

A quirky film with a good ensemble cast, I feel like "Girl Most Likely" has likely gone overlooked. Bening really sparkles as Zelda, the decidedly offbeat mother and Wiig is enjoyable as well in a role that's different than her "Bridesmaids" and Saturday Night Live fare. A lot of the laughs are from Dillon's character, the mysterious George Bousch. This one is definitely different but there's a nice message and some touching moments too. Nice seeing Natasha Lyonne in a small part.  

Quirky yet touching - Solid B

Movie Review: Passion (2012)

"Passion" is a suspense/thriller focusing on the relationship between two women working together at an advertising agency in Germany.  Christine (Rachel McAdams) is an executive and enjoys toying with her mousy underling, Isabelle (Noomi Rapace).  While Christine is devious and manipulative, Isabelle proves to be learning much from her boss as the two women engage in a power struggle that results in murder over credit for Isabelle's ad campaign and men.

The only thing I really liked about this film was that we finally see Rachel McAdams breaking out of her good-girl-rom-com role and take on a bad girl like Christine.  It's too bad that this film is such a mess because it could have really helped McAdams get more complex roles.  The writing and directing really did this movie in.  Unfortunately the film sets up an interesting struggle between boss and subordinate but then all the twists and reveals get a bit messy and the result is more of a train wreck than a well-designed thriller. It's almost a film with two distinct halves - one okay and one really bad. The directing was also poor with  Rapace looking stiff and cold rather than the actress I've seen her to be in other films and a lot of just awkward choices.

If you're looking for a good thriller, keep looking - D+

Movie Review: Arbitrage (2012)

"Arbitrage" is a suspense/drama centering on billionaire Robert Miller (Richard Gere) who runs a successful hedge fund with his daughter Brooke (Brit Marling) among other family.  Though Robert is regarded as a financial genius, the truth is that he must complete a deal to sell the company and hide a significant loss due to a bad investment on his part.  He has hidden the loss in the company's books but Brooke is suspicious.  To further complicate matters Robert has a mistress Julie (Laetitia Cote) who dies in an accident caused by Robert.  He is desperate to hide his involvement in this accident from the police (Tim Roth), his wife Ellen (Susan Sarandon), and from the company's potential buyer (Graydon Carter).  The son of his former driver, Jimmy (Nate Parker), becomes unknowingly involved and takes the heat as the investigation begins to center on Robert.

I was pleasantly surprised with this film.  It's a nice little suspense film that is also a character study.  The focus is squarely on Gere's Robert Miller, who has very interesting personal ethics and is a conflicted character.  Gere shines in this role and I liked his chemistry with some of the supporting players such as Parker and Roth.  As an ensemble the cast does really well.  I also thought the screenplay was well-done in that the writing doesn't give out toward the end as in other thrillers that just can't keep the pace or suspense.  I feel like this film keeps a steady stream of suspense throughout.  I think some viewers may not like that Robert Miller is not the most likable guy - he's not the bad guy you fall in love with but he is the bad guy who explains himself and that's what I think makes this film one to rent.

Rent this one and be ready to cheer for Gere but dislike his character - B+

Movie Review: What Maisie Knew (2012)

"What Maise Knew" is an updated version of Henry James' novel with the same title.  Set in New York City, the film focuses on the breakup of rock singer Susanna (Julianne Moore) and art dealer Beale (Steve Coogan) and the effects of their young daughter Maise.  Maise is an unfortunate pawn in the breakup as both parents want custody but end up with shared.  Their daughter is shuttled between them and often cared for by her parents' new partners, Margo (Joanna Vanderham) and Lincoln (Alexander Skarsgard).  Maise's selfish parents eventually destruct their new relationships leaving the girl to seek a new version of "family."

This film is honestly a bit hard to watch.  This beautiful little girl is completely disregarded by her parents except when she is being used by one parent against the other.  The theme that sometimes "family" is not the traditional construct is really illustrated here.  This film is a bit rare in that it is very character-focused particularly on a child, who is portrayed as quite perceptive.  

It's emotionally-involving but well done - B+

Movie Review: On the Road (2012)

"On the Road" is a drama adapted by a novel with the same name.  The film and book follow the adventures of Jack Kerouac traveling the US in the late 1940's.  The film's main character Sal, based on Kerouac and played by Sam Riley, is looking for inspiration with his writing and ends up traveling the country with friends.  These friends include Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund), who is the main force pulling Sal and others along on various adventures.  Dean is fixated on women, drugs, intellectualism, and amusement and his romances with his 16 year-old former bride Marylou (Kristen Stewart) and the mother of kids/later wife Camille (Kirsten Dunst) are part of the drama.

This film is unfortunately a bit slow developing.  It really takes time to get going despite opening with Sal already on one of his travels.  The film attempts to chronicle the Beat Generation but really doesn't give a lot of context as to what motivates the Beatnik characters.  There are some interesting supporting turns in the film by Tom Sturridge, Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen, Elisabeth Moss, and Steve Buscemi. The most impressive actor in the film by far though was Hedlund, who was really good as the enigmatic Dean.  I felt Dunst didn't get much of a role here so not as much material for her to work with.  Stewart had a much juicer role though didn't do a lot with it.

Overall this film is a bit of a snoozer and doesn't really explain the Beat Generation.  Watch this one for the expanded cast though mainly for Hedlund - C+

Movie Review: Mud (2012)

"Mud" is a coming-of-age drama set in a community in Arkansas along the Mississippi River.  Teenage boys Ellis and Neckbone live along the river and discover a seemingly deserted island where a boat is stuck in the trees.  The boys sneak off to the island and are exploring the boat when they discover that there is someone else on the island.  That someone turns out to be Mud (Matthew McConaughey), who tells the boys he is waiting for someone and staying on the island temporarily.  The boys are unsure of him but begin to bring him food and supplies.  Mud tells the boys he is waiting for his true love, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon) but the truth is that Mud is a fugitive wanted for killing a man who hurt Juniper and she is on her way to reunite with Mud and run away with him.  Ellis and Neckbone proceed to help Mud, even delivering messages to Juniper when she shows up in town, though the situation becomes dangerous when not only the police but dangerous men related to the man Mud killed are trying to avenge the murder.

This film is very reminiscent of Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Fin.  We have two young boys living on the river, having adventures, and attempting to grow up.  I really liked the setting and the obvious comparison to Twain's characters.  I also thought the two actors playing Ellis and Neckbone (Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland) did a great job.  Their chemistry with McConaughey is really good.  McConaughey is very good here as Mud as he sells the audience on this mysterious, lovable guy who just so happens to have murdered someone over a girl.  He's the bad guy who's not so bad and the audience can see why the boys trust him.

Overall, I think this film is a winner in terms of story, acting, and just an original take on that familiar coming-of-age storyline.  Even the obvious Twain-influence doesn't feel overdone or old.  Rent this one - A-.

Movie Review: Any Day Now (2012)

"Any Day Now" follows a gay couple, Rudy (Alan Cumming) and Paul (Garret Dillahunt) who in a matter of days fall in love and take in a teenager with Down's syndrome named Marco after Marco's neglectful mother is arrested.  Despite Rudy's objections, the couple must live closeted in order to maintain temporary custody of Marco.  The truth about Rudy and Paul's relationship threatens the happiness they find parenting Marco, who flourishes in their care.  The film follows the legal and personal struggles the gay couple have in the 1970's trying to gain legal custody in this based on a true story.

I really fell for this film, perhaps as quickly as Rudy and Paul fell for each other in the film.  I felt though this is not the lightest of stories, it is an important one and is well told in this character-driven drama.  The characters and their relationships are well-developed and I especially liked seeing Dillahunt's character Paul really grow from a closeted and timid lawyer to a passionate father and partner to the head-strong and passionate Rudy.  One of the best aspects though is that there are moments when the antagonists such as the judges and other opposing forces show sympathy towards Rudy and Paul though the reality is that in California in the 1970's the legal system simply wasn't going to bend for a gay couple in a custody situation.  I think this gave an element of humanity to the minor players, who were easy to portray as one-dimensional "bad guys."  Look out for the scenes where Rudy sings - I think the staging is especially poignant  and effective at conveying emotion.

Overall I think this is a well-done and effective small film that had the benefit of a well-written script and strong acting by Cumming and Dillahunt.  Give this one a rental - A-

Movie Review: Django Unchained (2012)

"Django Unchained" is a western directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Jamie Foxx in the title role.  Django is a slave just sold at auction when the convoy is stopped by Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), a German dentist and bounty hunter, who offers to purchase Django once he affirms he can identify a trio of men Schultz is attempting to find.  Violence erupts and the result is Django is freed and becomes Schultz's apprentice.  The two work together as partners and then work to find Django's wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) who is a slave sold to Calvin Candie (Leo DiCaprio).  Candie is a cruel owner of a large Mississippi plantation called Candyland.  Django and Schultz attempt a ruse in order to gain access to Broomhilda and persuade Candie to sell her.

First of all this film is definitely a Tarantino-directed film in that there's violence aplenty (some of it directed towards slaves and some of it more of the shoot-em up variety).  There's also plenty of language and this film is controversial for the very heavy use of a certain "N-word."  The film is depicting a time period when this word was used much more and in particular by people referring to slaves, however the language is somewhat  pervasive so please be aware.  All that said, this film delivers on telling a different kind of story set in the slavery-era where a freed slave and a German bounty hunter can team up and have this quest to find a princess held captive in a castle so to speak.  It's definitely entertaining and very different especially from other films on this time period.  I thought the acting was great especially Waltz, who is certainly talented.  Look out for a good performance as well by Samuel L. Jackson, who is amazing as Stephen, the head house servant at Candyland.  I also liked Foxx in the lead here too and DiCaprio is a charming and cruel plantation owner.  Something to listen for rather than watch for is the soundtrack, which I thought was unique and really complemented the film.  It's a long film at 2 hours and 45 minutes of run time but the film moves well and doesn't seem over-done.  Consider this time well-spent.

This film is not for everyone given the violence and language.  If you can get past that then you're in for something pleasantly different - A-

Movie Review: Lola Versus (2012)

"Lola Versus" is an independent film starring Greta Gerwig as Lola, whose life is turned upside down after her long-time boyfriend turned fiance breaks off their engagement.  Suddenly Lola is single for the first time in a long time and she struggles to find her way.

This film is promoted as a comedy but I really think it's more of a female-centered drama.  There are humorous parts, but I caution that the humor is very generational.  Some viewers will definitely be left scratching their heads.  I liked Gerwig in the title role as the very confused and self-involved Lola.  Zoe Lister-Jones is great in a supporting role as Alice, one of Lola's friends.  Look for Debra Winger in a small part playing Lola's mother.

I liked this film but I understand some of the mixed reviews.  I think billing it as a "comedy" was a mistake.  It's very much a drama with a touch of humor.  This one is not for everyone - solid B.

Movie Review: The Sessions (2012)

"The Sessions" is a drama based on the writings of Mark O'Brian (played by John Hawkes), who was a writer/poet paralyzed from the neck down due to polio.  O'Brian lives in an iron lung and relies on caretakers to help him with his basic needs.  His condition precludes him from experiencing sex so O'Brian hires sex surrogate Cheryl (Helen Hunt) after discussing the situation with his priest (played by William C. Macy).  Despite Cheryl limiting their contact to just six sessions together, she and O'Brian experience feelings for each other as O'Brian explores the physical side of himself for the first time.

I went into watching this film already a fan of John Hawkes from his work in "Winter's Bone" but was still amazed as his performance in this film.  He is truly a remarkable and gifted actor.  He apparently put a lot of thought into how he would physically bring O'Brian to life in the film and it shows.  I was really moved by his performance.  I liked Helen Hunt a lot in this film as well.  She brought a lot of depth to her character and was fearless in her performance.  This film handled the subject matter really well.  It's a movie on the surface with a lot of sexual content and nudity but watching it I wasn't distracted or overwhelmed but rather I was moved to tears at the emotional content.

Amazing acting in this one - watch it and be moved.  Solid A.

Movie Review: Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

"Silver Lining Playbook" is the story of Pat (Bradly Cooper) who has bipolar disorder and is released from a psychiatric institution to live with his parents (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver).  Pat wants to win back his estranged wife, who has a restraining order against him after a violent episode that is the cause of him being in the institution.  Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), who is a friend's sister-in-law and is troubled with her husband's death.  Tiffany offers to help Pat communicate with Nikki if he helps her by being her partner in a dance competition.

First of all, I think the subject matter, mental illness, was handled very well in this film.  I haven't read the book so all I can judge is the film adaptation but I just thought the film did an excellent job of showing how Pat's bipolar disorder effected him, his family, and others around him.  Secondly, I thought the acting in this film was top-notch from Cooper in the lead to Lawrence, De Niro, and Weaver.  Also look for Chris Tucker playing a small but effective role as Pat's friend from the psychiatric institution.

The film is a little heavy at times due to the subject matter, but I think it's a well-told story with great acting so be sure not to miss this one.  Solid A.

Movie Review: Lincoln (2012)

"Lincoln" is Steven Spielburg's historical drama covering four months of President Abraham Lincoln's life with the focus on his efforts to pass the Thirteenth Amendment.  Daniel Day Lewis stars as President Lincoln who is concerned that the impending end of the Civil War will end his efforts to end slavery through constitutional amendment.  Sally Fields co-stars as First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and Tommy Lee Jones costars as Republican Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, a fierce abolitionist.

There's so much that I liked about this film but I have to begin with the lead actor, Daniel Day Lewis, who really embodied President Lincoln and brought him to life.  Great performance.  I liked Sally Fields but was blown away with Tommy Lee Jones.  He was really great especially in several key scenes.  Look for a small appearance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Todd Lincoln, the President's eldest son.  Overall I thought the direction, costuming, and cinematography were great as history was really brought to life.  My only quibble is that the film really felt long as if it could have ended several times before it actually did.  I'm sure there was so much material that it was difficult to edit down but I felt like I was watching a film that could have been made into a two-part mini-series.

Great acting though it felt a bit long-winded - A-

Movie Review: Hope Springs (2012)

"Hope Springs" is a romantic drama starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones as a married couple, Kay and Arnold, who have lost the spark in their marriage.  Kay decides they need to attend an intensive couples retreat in a small coastal Maine town run by Dr. Bernie Feld (played by Steve Carell).  Arnold is hesitant to attend the retreat and even more hesitant about Dr. Bernie's plans for treatment.

I have to say I was a little surprised by this movie.  I thought it would be more of a comedy especially with Steve Carell in it but it really was more of a thoughtful film about grown-up love.  Rather than going for laughs or glossing over the couple's problems the film is much more realistic and raw.  We see Kay's loneliness in her marriage and her longing for a more tender relationship with her husband.  We also see Arnold's stubborn resistance and later him wanting to try to make Kay happy.  Both Streep and Jones had very honest portrayals in this film and good chemistry together.  I even liked Carell in this role though it's a different one than his usual.  Only thing I really disliked was the soundtrack which was mainstream pop tunes played throughout the film.  It was a bit much and kind of distracting from the acting at times.

Don't expect a comedy with this one but rather a thoughtful, well-acted drama about love that has lost its spark - B

Movie Review: Life of Pi (2012)

"Life of Pi" is the film adaptation of the novel by the same name by Yann Martel.  Yang Lee directed the adaptation which is essentially the story of a shipwrecked 16 year-old boy named Pi.  Pi survives living on a lifeboat on the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker for 227 days.  The film is an adult Pi recounting his story to a novelist who is looking for material that would make a good book.

It's often difficult to take a fantastic novel filled with imagery such as "Life of Pi" and translate that into a film that does the written work justice.  I feel that this film succeeds where so many have failed.  The film is a combination of live-action and computer animation but it comes off beautifully and I feel that the film does justice to the novel.  Beautifully told visually and through direction, this film delivers.

Finally a book adaptation that does the job - solid A

Movie Review: Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

"Safety Not Guaranteed" is an indie about a disillusioned intern at a magazine named Darius (Aubrey Plaza), who is asked to assist one of the magazine's writers, Jeff (Jake Johnson) investigate a mysterious newspaper ad asking for a companion to travel back in time.  Jeff, Darius, and another intern (Karan Soni) travel to a seaside town and attempt to make contact with the person behind the ad, who turns out to be Kenneth (Mark Duplass), a grocery store clerk.  Kenneth is turned off by Jeff's direct approach so Jeff sends Darius in to befriend Kenneth, gain his trust, and get the story.

There's so much to like about this quirky little film.  First, the story and dialogue are great.  No dragging here - the story flows.  Second, Plaza and Duplass were great in their roles and had good chemistry.  Both of their characters were well-developed and I felt like as a viewer I felt for them.  Third, I really like Johnson is this supporting role as he added a lot of levity to the film.   Watch for a small cameo by Kristen Bell as Duplass' character's former flame.

Overall I thought this was a well-written and well-acted quirky little drama/comedy.  Take a chance on this one if you like small films - A-

Movie Review: Red Lights (2012)

"Red Lights" follows two academics, Margaret (Sigourney Weaver) and Tom (Cillian Murphy), who study the paranormal but their specialty is debunking supernatural phenomena.  Despite Margaret's warnings Tom becomes obsessed with investigating a popular psychic, Simon Silver (Robert DeNiro), who begins making public appearances after a 30-year retirement that coincided with his greatest critic's mysterious death.

This film has a really strong cast - Weaver, Murphy, and DeNiro are solid plus there's supporting performances by Joely Richardson and Elizabeth Olsen.  Murphy is especially stand-out in this role.  The script has weak moments as the story starts off well, then kind of gets stuck in a rut in the middle, and then attempts to recover at the end.  Personally I was okay with the ending but I can see where some wouldn't find it satisfying.  I think the bogged-down parts of the film and an ending that might be a turn-off is where many reviewers got turned off on this film.

This film deserves a bigger audience than it's gotten but it's not for everyone.  You've got to ride through the whole film, weak moments and all, to get to the big twist at the end.  B for me.

Movie Review: A Late Quartet (2012)

"A Late Quartet" is a drama centering on four musicians, who have played together successfully as a group for 25 years.  The group struggles to stay together when the eldest member cellist Peter (Christopher Walken) announces a health issue that threatens the group.   Viola player Juliette (Catherine Keener) finds herself between the other two members: first violinist Daniel (Mark Ivanier) and second violinist/her husband Robert (Philip Seymour Hoffman) when issues of ego and lust disrupt the quartet's harmony.

I found this film to be an in-depth character study of this small group of musicians with more of a "soapy" feel than a focus on music.  There's definitely drama among the group members when Walken's character makes an announcement that threatens the future of the group and awakens deep-seated issues arise among the characters.  It's interesting to look at the very tender balance that exists within groups, particularly artists, where the individuals give up solo glory for the good of the group. The cast is stacked with power and talent making this a treat to watch.  The direction was also very good.

Again, the focus is not on music so much as it is on relationships among the quartet members.  Watch this one for the well-developed and well-acted drama not for the music.  B+

Movie Review: Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

"Zero Dark Thirty" dramatizes the hunt for Osama bin Laden and focuses on CIA Operative Maya (Jessica Chastain).  Maya spends years sifting through intelligence, looking for clues, and interrogating prisoners with a razor-like focus.  Her hunch that a man called Abu Ahmed is a personal courier for bin Laden consumes her as she faces a temporary dead-end and then a breakthrough that brings a dramatic end to her quest.

The level of violence (aka torture) in this film makes it difficult to watch at times.  The direction is amazing, especially during the raid scenes where bin Laden is finally killed.  I found Chastain to be very effective in her role as she conveyed the highs and lows of her character's single-minded determination.  Some good supporting acting from Jason Clarke and Kyle Chandler among others.  The film did feel a bit long but it covers a lot of ground and I guess is meant to show the long road to bin Laden the lead character experienced.

A lot of controversy surrounds this film as to how realistic some of the scenes and the general public likely won't know how close the film is to reality.  My advice is to take it as a dramatization not as 100% authentic.

Good direction and acting with a difficult story - A-

Movie Review: Robot & Frank (2012)

"Robot & Frank" is a little film with a lot of heart and an impressive cast.  Frank (Frank Langella) is an aging ex-convict living alone when his son Hunter (James Marsden) decides that Frank could use a robot companion to keep him company and help with his dementia.  Originally Frank and his daughter Madison (Liv Tyler) are against the robot but Frank learns to like it especially once he discovers that the robot is skilled at picking locks and the robot is not programmed to discern right from wrong.  Frank and the robot become partners in crime committing heists centering on the local library, where a woman Frank is interested in is the librarian (Susan Sarandon).

This film is different but very touching as it says a lot about the value of memory.  I thought Langella was amazing in the lead role as he made me laugh and feel sympathy for his character.  His chemistry with a robot (voiced by Peter Sarsgaard, played by Rachael Ma) felt genuine as though the robot was a human friend.  It makes the viewer question the role of machines in our lives and how we treat the aging in society.

Overall the film is thoughtful and touching and well-acted.  B+

Movie Review: Skyfall (2012)

"Skyfall" is the latest in the James Bond series.  Bond (Daniel Craig) is back and investigating a cyber-attack on M16.  The bad guy this time is a former M16 operative named Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem), who is obsessed with humiliating, discrediting, and punishing M (Judi Dench) for her betrayal of him.  The film brings in two classic Bond film characters: Q (Ben Whishaw) and Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris).

I'm a bit mixed on this film.  I continue to like Craig in the role of Bond and loved Dench.  Her character got a lot of screen-time and development in this film.  As a fan of the Bond franchise I liked the classic characters, Q and Moneypenny, being brought into the script as well as some of the background nuggets offered about Bond's childhood.  I still wish there was some continuity between all of the Bond films, as taken as a series it's difficult to put them on a real timeline and reconcile a lot of "facts" and plots, but I'm begrudgingly accepting that this is just not possible.  Overall this is a nice action/suspense film with a nice theme running through it of asking what is the value of old ways and old spies (note: Bond is supposedly "old" in this film).  Don't miss Adele's theme song during the opening credits.

What I really didn't like was Bardem's character, Silva.  When taken in comparison to some of the great Bond villains of the past, Silva is just not up to par.  This is a shame especially since Bardem is such a good actor - we've seen how thrilling he can be as a bad guy (remember "No Country for Old Men").  Silva comes across as scheming but a bit whiny and the homosexual angle to the character just seemed silly.  I feel like this character should have been written much better.  With better writing I think Bardem would have delivered a villain holding his own with classic bad guys like Dr. No and Goldfinger.

This film should have been better if Bardem had been given something to really chew on: B