Movie Review: I, Origins (2014)

"I, Origins" is written, directed, and produced by Mike Cahill.  Graduate student Ian (Michael Pitt) is determined to discredit creationists by proving that the eye has evolved.  Ian's interest in eyes leads him to meet the mysterious Sofi (Astrid Berges-Frisby).  Despite Sofi's much different belief system, the pair date and are ready to marry.  Ian's lab assistant Karen (Brit Marling) calls him after discovering a breakthrough, which upsets Sofi.  The wedding is delayed and an accident sends Ian on a path causing him to investigate scientifically as well as his closely-held beliefs.

There's a lot to like in this film.  The story haunted me for days, especially the line about the lead character searching to disprove faith with science but what if that science is challenged by faith.  There is a strong theme here about faith vs. science and in Ian the audience can see a man who is ruled by science yet feels a pull towards the unexplained by Sofi and circumstances out of his control.  The acting is good here too - I liked Pitt, Berges-Frisby, and Marling.  Look for a small role for Steven Yeun from "Walking Dead" fame.  What I didn't like here was some uneven writing and directing where the film starts as this opposites-attract love story then abruptly switches to suspense, science fiction thriller.  I wish the transition was a bit smoother.  Otherwise, this is an engaging and thought-provoking film.

Thought-provoking though a bit uneven - 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: Gravity (2013)

"Gravity" is a science fiction drama/suspense film focusing intently on two astronauts, Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Lieutenant Matt Kowalski (George Clooney).  An accident leaves the two astronauts alone in space trying to survive and return to Earth.

This is a very intense, character-focused film with plenty of suspense.  Alone in space without communication to Earth, the two main characters only have each other as everything that could possibly go wrong (with the exception of aliens) happens.  Bullock is simply great in her role and will likely get some nominations for it.  She's the queen of romantic comedies but here Bullock shows she can hold her own in a drama.  Bullock has great chemistry with Clooney, which makes him an effective choice as the only other character in space with her.  I think this film will likely get a nomination for the cinematography which is beautiful and terrifying at the same time.  Look for some really cool cuts where the audience can see reflections in mirrors and the astronauts' face plate.  Hopefully there will also be a nomination for sound/score as well.  I felt that the score really added to the film and increased the suspense.

I did see this film in on the big screen but not in 3-D or IMAX.  I can see where 3-D or IMAX might add to the experience but trust me, it's still suspenseful on a regular screen.  

Go see this one and get ready for awards season because it's sure to get some nods - A

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: Stoker (2013)

"Stoker" is a psychological thriller about 18 year-old India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska), who has extremely keen senses and recently lost her father Richard (Dermot Mulroney) in a car accident.  India and her unstable mother Evelyn (Nicole Kidman) are surprised when Charlie (Matthew Goode), Richard's brother, turns up after the funeral and announces he will be staying with them for a while.  Odd things begin to happen at the Stoker residence including people who disappear leading India to wonder if Uncle Charlie can be trusted.

"Stoker" is a bit of a dark thriller and has some definite dark moments.  What I liked most about it is the direction and staging.  There is a distinct influence by Hitchcock throughout and it's up to the audience to pick up on a lot of the clues that are right before your eyes.  It's really a visual treat to watch and think about all the little nuances that maybe point the viewer towards a clue.  As for the cast, Wasikowska, Kidman, and Goode are very on point here.  I really liked Goode as the mysterious yet somewhat charming bad guy.

Give this one a try but pay attention to the details - B+

Movie Review: Now You See Me (2013)

"Now You See Me" is a suspense film following four street magicians - Daniel (Jesse Eisenburg), Henley (Isla Fisher), Merritt (Woody Harrelson), and Jack (Dave Franco) - brought together by a mysterious hooded man.  The group begin performing together in large venues as "The Four Horsemen" and sponsored by an insurance magnate.  At a show in Las Vegas the magicians perform a trick where an audience member seemingly robs a bank in Paris by teleporting then showering the crowd with money.  The bank in Paris reports missing money and FBI Agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) is soon on the case.  Agent Rhodes is joined, not by his choice, by Interpol Agent Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent).  The pair encounter ex-magician Thaddeus (Morgan Freeman), who now attempts to expose magician secrets.  Rhodes and Dray track the Horsemen to their next show in New Orleans while trying to learn the magicians' secrets.

This film features an all-star cast and a great script up until a point.  I thought everything was good in terms of the suspense and the plot until the ending just really fell kind of flat.  This is one where one has to wonder if the writers got tired and tried to go for a semi-shocking ending but lost steam.  Currently there is a sequel being filmed that will attempt to pick up where this one ends, which should be interesting.  Bottom line: this one is a lot of fun and a nice ride until the very end.

Enjoy it until the end - B

Movie Review: Side Effects (2013)

"Side Effects" is a thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Rooney Mara as Emily, a woman dealing with seemingly depression made worse by her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) getting released from prison.  A suicide attempt by Emily lands her in the hospital where she meets Jonathon Banks (Jude Law), the on-call psychiatrist, who agrees to release her only if she begins seeing him for treatment.  Banks begins trying Emily on different drugs in order to treat her depression while he learns that she previously was treated for similar symptoms by Victoria (Catherine Zeta-Jones).  Emily begins to feel better after being prescribed a new drug called Ablixa but a side effect of the drug causes her to sleep walk.  One evening Emily stabs Martin to death while under the influence of the drug and suddenly she is on trial and Banks finds his world crumbling as his credibility is questioned as a consequence of prescribing the drug.

I found Mara, Zeta-Jones, and Law to be effective in this film and was especially glad to see Zeta-Jones get a juicy supporting role.  The direction and script were also very effective at creating a tight thriller with a fair share of twists and turns.  The only thing I didn't like was Tatum, who seemed a little bland in his performance though in fairness his part wasn't the meatiest.  The ethics of prescribing drugs and also taking money from drug companies was touched on lightly but is an interesting topic that could have been further explored.

Overall I think the casting was good and thought this was a nice thriller with enough twists to satisfy - B+

Movie Review: Broken City (2013)

"Broken City" stars Mark Wahlberg as Billy, a NYPD detective cleared on murder charges but asked to leave the force by the mayor (Russell Crowe) and police commissioner (Jeffery Wright).  Billy becomes a private eye specializing in tailing cheating spouses.  Years later the mayor calls on Billy while in the middle of a heated battle for re-election and asks him to follow his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones).  What starts as a simple cheating spouse job for Billy quickly spirals into something much bigger as he begins to unravel secrets that could impact the election and Billy's life.

With such a star-studded cast including Kyle Chandler in a supporting role, one would think this movie would stand a chance.  I think despite the cast and a good turn from Crowe there's just not much here to recommend.  The script is a major problem.  It just feels like there's nothing new or fresh here in the story and the result is a film that feels forced and stale.  Zeta-Jones is really wasted in her role as the mayor's wife and Wahlberg seems like he's going through the motions.

It's not terrible but there's nothing here to recommend - C-

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: Argo (2012)

"Argo" is a historical drama/thriller staring and directed by Ben Affleck.  Affleck plays Tony Mendez, a CIA operative who devises a daring plan to rescue six diplomats who escaped the takeover of the American Embassy in Iran.  The diplomats hide out in the Canadian embassy as "house guests" while the CIA tries to find a plan to rescue them during a very dangerous time in Iran.  Mendez criticizes the proposed plans then is inspired by a movie his son is watching to pose as a Hollywood film crew scouting a location to film a science-fiction fantasy film called "Argo."  Mendez flies to Hollywood and enlists a make-up artist (John Goodman) and film producer (Alan Arkin) to help create the cover story for his rescue mission.

I really liked this film, which was based on the real-life Mendez's book.  I thought the writing and directing were great - the film has good pace and suspense.  The supporting acting by Goodman and Arkin, as the Hollywood guys helping create the cover, was really good and added to the film.  I would've liked to have seen the "house guest" characters be a little more developed but that would've really changed the focus of the movie from Mendez's character.  Nevertheless, I think this is a solid drama/suspense film and Affleck did a good job directing.

Good story and directing, excellent supporting acting: A

Movie Review: Alex Cross (2012)

"Alex Cross" is based on the popular books by James Patterson and staring Tyler Perry in the title role.  Cross is on the hunt for Picasso (Matthew Fox), a twisted assassin who likes to inflict pain on his victims.  The chase takes a turn for the personal when Picasso targets the loved ones of both Cross and his sidekick Tommy Kane (Edward Burns).  With revenge on his mind, Cross must keep his wits and his integrity about himself while pursuing a madman.

While this film didn't get the best reviews, I did enjoy it.  I thought Perry made a great Alex Cross in that he plays the character with intellect and toughness but also a tenderness as well.  I also liked Fox in the villain role as the sadistic killer.  Burns is one of my favorite actors and I like him in this film as the sidekick but can't help but wish he had more meat to his character.  The problem with the film is the writing because there's some definite lags and awkwardness to the script.  The actors do their best with the material but perhaps the adaptation of bestselling novels just didn't fully translate.  Still, with good acting and casting, this film's not a complete loss.

A good thriller on a cold day - B-

Movie Review: Savages (2012)

"Savages" is a suspense/thriller from Oliver Stone (director).  The film centers on two pot growers/dealers Ben (Aaron Johnson) and Chon (Taylor Kitsch) who share a girlfriend named O (Blake Lively).  The three live a fantasy California life in a beach house together with no jealousy between them until a Mexican drug cartel headed by Elena (Selma Hayek) tries to muscle the guys into a partnership.  Despite seeing evidence of the violence the cartel's muscle guy, Lado (Benicio del Toro), is capable of, Ben and Chon refuse the deal then pretend to reconsider while planning to leave the country with O.  Lado kidnaps O and her guys decide to do what it takes to get her back even if that means they must sink to the level of savages.

I wanted to like this movie but it just came across as really average for me.  The scenery and cinematography were good.  The plot started pretty good, though there's really not enough depth on how/why the three main characters formed this non-jealous and all-love relationship that's strong enough that the two guys will resort to high levels of violence to rescue her.  The plot really falls apart at the end - just not really satisfying.  I did really like Hayek and del Toro and thought their work was very good as the bad guys.  John Travolta is decent in his supporting role as a dirty DEA agent playing all the angles.  I wasn't overwhelmed with Lively or Kitsch.  Look for a very small role by Emile Hirsch (too small in my opinion).  A lot of violence in this movie. 

Solid C- for me because it's just average and lacks in depth and a good ending

Movie Review: Silent House (2011)

"Silent House" is a more psychological than slasher-type horror film set in an old lake house when Sarah (Elizabeth Olsen) and her uncle and father, who are fixing up the house to sell it, are stalked through the house by an unseen perpetrator. 

The film is shot in one-take format which creates kind of a "Blair Witch Project" type of experience.  The audience can't see the stalker but rather sees Sarah's reactions as the camera is close on her face.  This adds to the terror in some scenes for sure.  I liked Olsen a lot in this movie because she really used the cinematography to her advantage by showing a lot of emotion through her face and body so the audience can feel the terror that we can't see. 

I think the script does have some weaknesses to it because there's a hidden story happening that the audience really has to wait until the end to figure out through several twists.  Thus, there's something more happening than appears but you've got to ride the film out to get there.  While watching it I felt like giving up on it but after finishing the film I was able to look back and make more sense out of several scenes and scenarios.  Knowing the twists makes the film better but you have to watch to get there.  The ending itself is not completely satisfying, which is the case with other films Olsen has done.

I liked this movie but it requires an investment - watch the whole way through to really get it.  C+

Movie Review: Drive (2011)

"Drive" is a gritty thriller with a definite 80's vibe.  The movie centers on a dark, strong, silent type only called the Driver (Ryan Gosling).  The Driver works in a garage and as a movie stunt man by day but by night he is a getaway driver for hire.  The owner of the garage, Shannon (Bryan Cranston) makes a deal with a gangster named Bernie (Albert Brooks) to finance a race car which the Driver will drive.  Meanwhile, the Driver meets and becomes more involved in the lives of his neighbors Irene (Carey Mulligan) and her young son.  Irene's husband Standard comes home from jail and needs the Driver's help when pushed to do a job for another gangster who protected Standard in jail.  The web of gangsters including Bernie's partner Nino (Ron Perlman) and violence threatens not only the Driver but the family he is trying to protect.

First of all I want to mention that I found the violence in this film over the top and gratuitous.  There are scenes that are mind-blowing, for example a man getting a fork stabbed in his eye.  Also I thought that Gosling and Mulligan had little chemistry to make his interest in her character believable.  Unfortunately the pacing of the film is quite slow particularly the first thirty minutes (the film is only 100 minutes in length). 

The script itself is pretty standard gangster fare but what is different is the cinematography and music in addition to Gosling's performance.  The film has a slick 80's feel in terms of music, graphics, and even some of the wardrobe (such as the Driver's jacket) that either the viewer will love or hate.  I thought Gosling was good in the silent, brooding hero role and the combination of Brooks and Perlman as the villans.

While there are positives to this film, skip this one if over-the-top violence isn't your cup of tea.  C+ for me.

Movie Review: Anonymous (2011)

"Anonymous" is a psuedo-historical thriller that explores the idea that William Shakespeare may not have been the author of the works we attribute to him.  Rather, Edward de Vere (Rhys Ifans), 17th Earl of Oxford, is the man behind the works.  Edward's life is shown as he is discouraged from writing as a young man and later as a nobleman.  He is depicted as a former lover of Queen Elizabeth and father of one of her secret children though he is married to the daughter of a powerful advisor in Elizabeth's court.  A political struggle breaks out as Elizabeth needs to name an heir.  Edward backs one of Elizabeth's illegitimate sons while his father-in-law is backing James of Scotland.  Edward notices how the audience is swayed by a play written by Ben Johnson and approaches Ben to put on one of his plays.  Ben does so but doesn't want to put his name to the unproven work.  When the play is a success a drunken actor named William Shakespeare steps forward to claim credit.  Edward continues feeding scripts to Ben and William continues to take credit while Edward attempts to advance his political cause.

I thought the acting, primarily Rhys Ifans, was good.  The costuming and staging was great as well.  I think that for someone without much knowledge of British history and Shakespeare may have problems following some of the script.  I know I had problems following at times as the script weaves together Edward's life through flashbacks.  It definitely helps to have some background knowledge but if you stay with the film I think you can figure out the confusing parts.  The film overall gives solid suspense weaving history and historical figures throughout.

This film is NOT a documentary so please don't take it as fact the presentation of Edward as the real Shakespeare or that Shakespeare himself is not the true author.  Rather this is a work of historical fiction exploring one possibility of who really wrote the famous works.  The audience has to accept that this is merely what could have happened and open their minds to the possibility.

I say suspend belief and open your mind to the possibility and rent this one - A-.

Movie Review: Columbus Circle (2012)

Though "Columbus Circle" went straight to DVD I think this movie shouldn't be overlooked.  It's actually one of the best thrillers I've seen lately.  The story centers on Abigail (Selma Blair) who is an heiress who is hiding from the world in her Columbus Circle penthouse apartment.  When her elderly neighbor across the hall dies Abigail must face the police and then the new couple  Charlie and Lilian (Jason Lee and Amy Smart) who move into the now vacated apartment.  Things aren't what they seem and Abigail faces challeges from the outside world she can no longer ignore.

I thought Selma Blair did a good job playing the agoraphobic Abigail and I also liked Giovanni Ribsi in a supporting role as the detective investigating the elderly neighbor's death.  I think the writing was pretty good as there are several twists and the movie held my attention to the finish.  The film has minimal language and violence.  Bottom line: Don't overlook this little-known but satisfying thriller - I give it B-.

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: 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).