Lincoln (2012)

Filled with old timey political debate and closed door meetings. Chalk full of ridiculous hairstyles, walking canes, hearth fires, longwinded speeches, and the corpse of Tommy Lee Jones. (Someone needs to inform him he died 7 years ago and it’s safe to walk into the light.) If those are things you enjoy seeing on screen, this is a must see for you.

The film features an endless slate of A and B list actors. It may be simpler to list the actors not starring in Lincoln. The production value is very high, however it felt more like a stage production. I was particularly annoyed by Sally Field’s overly dramatic portrayal of Lincoln’s wife. Lifetime movie obnoxious. The movie is somewhat entertaining, but comes off more as a heavy handed history lesson.

Rating: C

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

There’s a lot of torture and paperwork to wade through before the big payoff at the end arrives. Plenty of cruelty and human suffering from both sides as well. Don’t mistake this for a traditional action movie—just one really long reenactment. Films should not be nominated for best picture simply because they depict Osama being shot in the head.

Rating: C+

The Sandlot (1993)

I’ve seen this several times, and I think I enjoy it less with each viewing. Few of the jokes hit. The kids are all basic movie stereotypes. The plot isn’t very compelling. Perhaps worth seeing with the family once, if there are no other options.

Rating: C-

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

I did such a terrific job of avoiding all mentions of this film prior to seeing it, that I had myself convinced it was about a high school football coach leading his team to victory by using a set of special plays in the Silver Linings Playbook. Turns out I was way off, which is how I like it.

I love going into movies ignorant of what I’m about to see. So I instantly went from liking this movie to loving it once Jennifer Lawrence came onscreen. I enjoyed her character because I love girls who are honest, slightly crazy, and aggressive about what they want. (Ideally, that would be me, but it’s been a while since that was the case)

Anyway, all interactions and conversations between Jennifer and Bradley’s characters were golden. Smart, funny dialogue. We can thank David O. Russell for taking an average story and elevating it to an award winning level. After all, this is the man that brought us Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees, and The Fighter. This is definitely the crowd pleaser I heard it was.

Rating: B+

Equilibrium (2002)

I couldn’t buy into the premise of the movie—that a population would forgo all emotion in favor of peace. Additionally, I didn’t believe the emotionless performances of the actors. The bald men on the show Fringe did a better job than this futuristic population. Acting was laughable and the dialogue was embarrassing. Even Christian Bale came off as amateur hour in this one. As for the action, it was like the Three Stooges were trying to rip off The Matrix. A failure.

Rating: F

Flight (2012)

A film about addiction, heroism, culpability, and recovery. Dark at times and somewhat depressing. Not a lot of likable characters to get behind. I felt it ended well though.

Rating: C+

The Legend of Suriyothai (Suriyothai) (2001)

The was the first Thai film I ever watched. A great historical epic with quality production and acting. I was very impressed. Tons of battle scenes, lots of violence, and an interesting storyline.

Rating: B-

There Will Be Blood (2007)

I should start this review by first stating my bias: I'm a HUGE PTA fan. (Paul Thomas Anderson) I think the man's a genius. Magnolia being my favorite, but Punch Drunk Love a close second. There Will Be Blood lets PTA stretch his legs with some new subject matter and style. His mood-setting soundtrack is still present however.

My second bias, since I'm feeling particularly honest today, is an incredible respect for the acting of Daniel Day Lewis. The man can do no wrong. It's hard to choose a favorite role, but if forced to at gun point, I'd have to go with his brutal role in Gangs of New York. Once again, DDL delivers a flawless performance, immersing himself in the character. Why anyone agrees to be in a film with him is a mystery to me. They all look like novice hacks in comparison.

The story here is as dark as the oil, and the telling of it is as hard as the drill work shown in the film. There are no classic good or bad guys—characters freely move back and forth between likable and nasty behaviors. One wonders if success makes you slightly insane or if minor insanity is a requirement for becoming successful. There's no doubt Daniel has lost a part of his mind by the final scene. The film is beautifully shot and riveting to watch. It slows to a crawl at times, and will certainly rub some viewers the wrong way with it's subject matter. To be enjoyed in the company of other serious movie buffs.

Rating: B+

Argo (2012)

Newly crowned Golden Globe winner for best picture is a solid hostage rescue film, with attention to detail and credible acting. Hard to say how factual the film is compared to what actually happened. Many times the scenes felt dramatically forced in order to amp up the its suspense.

I certainly wasn’t impressed on the scale of best picture winner. Then again, I am baffled at 75% of what gets nominated for major awards. Argo was an entertaining 2 hours, with a little history lesson to boot. Nothing more.

Rating: C+

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)

I immediately got the sense that the author/screenwriter/director thinks his dialogue is much wittier than it actually is. I found the script and characters extremely clichéd. as if I was watching reenactments of scenes from far better films. The cast didn’t do anything for me either. Paul Rudd was wasted in his role. Great soundtrack though.

Ok, so it wasn’t all that bad, but it wasn’t good either.

Rating: C

Street Kings (2008)

It's hard to impress audiences these days with a dirty cop thriller, what with The Departed, Training Day, and F/X's The Shield. How do you live up to those? You got to give Street Kings props for making a worthy effort. Things start out a bit convoluted, but improve as the film progresses.

Rating: C+

Saved (2004)

Good concept and cast, but surprisingly shallow performances. Sort of like "But I'm A Cheerleader", for the 1-2 of you who saw that. It had that cheap indie feel, but in a bad way. There were quite a few funny scenes, which make it worth seeing, but I felt it could have been more polished.

Rating: C

Shaolin Soccer (Siu Lam Juk Kau) (2001)

This film is unclassifiable. Sure, it's a "kung fu" movie, but it's a hundred other things too. I must have said "What the f%#@" to myself dozens of times while watching. It loosely follows a plot line, but suddenly things take a turn for the insane with no warning. It's destined to be a true cult classic because it's so off the wall.

Make sure and watch the Chinese version on the DVD, as the US version is only 87 minutes, while the original in all it's psychotic glory runs 113 minutes. Check reality at the door and rent this movie.

Rating: B-

Jane Eyre (2011)

I generally keep my distance from British period pieces, but I made an exception for Jane Eyre. It was directed by Cary Fukunaga, the man behind my favorite film of 2009: Sin Nombre. With a background in cinematography, both are rich in picturesque scenery. Fukunaga excels at creating interesting characters as well, and bringing out superb performances from his actors. Jane Eyre is a lovely, sad, intellectual, and restrained film. I look forward to everything else this director endeavors to make.

Rating: B

End Of Watch (2012)

More and more I find myself determining whether a movie is good or not based on how it measures up to my favorite television shows. Hopefully it gives me something more than a good episode of TV.

End of Watch is reminiscent of Southland, a fantastic cop show. Both make use of different camera styles and angles to bring the viewer into the action. The plot isn’t readily apparent. It sneaks up on you through slowly intertwining subplots. A nice companion piece to the directors other film—Training Day.

Rating: B-

Gangster Exchange (2010)

Frat boys got together and made an action movie. Below straight-to-video production and acting. Terrible. Wikipedia says this film debuted at the Beverly Hills Film Festival where it won the Audience Choice for Best Film. How bad did the competition have to be for this POS to win?

Rating: F

The Neverending Story (1984)

Saw this when I was little and had fond memories. Too bad these movies are never as good as you remember them being when you were a kid. Plus, the DVD extras sucked.

Rating: C

Jaws (1975)

This came out around the time I was born, and I never got a chance to see it. Sure, I knew the movie was about a shark attack, but I had no idea how the story would unfold, and I enjoyed watching it.

Rating: C+

Jiro Dreams Of Sushi (2011)

A documentary about an old Japanese guy who’s been making sushi for decades in his little restaurant in the Ginza train station. It’s received 3 Michelin stars and he’s renowned as one of the best sushi chefs in the world. His life revolves around it, to the point where he was nearly a stranger to his kids when he was younger.

The film also says a lot about the Japanese philosophy about work culture. It’s night and day different from what we are accustomed to in the US. An interesting doc that will leaving you hankering for sushi.

Rating: C+

King Kong (2005)

This was a great film to see in the theater. It was made for the big screen. Tons of action, larger than life characters, and great sound. Peter Jackson can do no wrong in my book.

I knew Jack Black had it in him to do a serious role, and I'm glad Peter saw it too. Naomi Watts was perfect in the lead. The ape was simply amazing. Wasn't cartoony looking at all. Yes it was long, but it's a fantastic trip.

Rating: B

In Darkness (2011)

A Polish film based on a local sewer inspector who helped a group of Jewish people survive the German occupation by living in the sewer tunnels. Amazing cinematography and shooting conditions. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was filmed in a real sewer. Everything looked very authentic. Hard to watch at times, as films about the Holocaust usually are, but very well done.

Rating: B-

Django Unchained (2012)

When I watch a film from one of my favorite directors of all time, in this case Quentin Tarantino, I’m always nervous. Normally I keep low expectations for any movie I see. But when it’s from a master like Tarantino, I can’t help but to expect something amazing. My nervousness stems from the fear of being disappointed.

Django will quickly remind you of his last project: Inglorious Basterds. Both are revenge stories for a disenfranchised and maligned people. Here, we’ve swapped out Jews for slaves. The movie is fantastic on many levels. You may have noticed most of my reviews are very brief. I normally don’t like to rehash plot points and pontificate on the cinematic attributes of a film. Others do it much better than I. In fact, I like going into films blind, so I have no idea what’s going to happen. Most reviews give away too much.

The truth is, I believe the perfect movie review to be a single letter: The rating a reviewer gives to a film. Letter grades A through F are the ideal system in my book. Of course, this is only the case if you can find a reviewer who has impeccable taste, in addition to taste that is largely in line with your own. If you are fortunate enough to find that person, you’ll be blessed with a continuous source of quality movie titles to see, without having to wade through the muck yourself. I’ve yet to find my movie reviewing soul mate, and I can only hope to be that special person to someone else through this blog. I won’t say anything more about Django Unchained other than to offer my grade below.

Rating: A-

The Good, the Bad, the Weird (Joheunnom Nabbeunnom Isanghannom) (2008)

The South Koreans know how to put on a good show. Shootouts and knife fights abound. I tried to overlook the fact that every gun seemed to have endless bullets. Not a bad homage to the American Western it pays tribute to.

Rating: C

Midnight In Paris (2011)

I should start by saying I hate Paris and I could care less about the 1920’s. The very two things this film happens to be about. I don’t even particularly like Woody Allen movies, although I see quite a lot of them. With that said, I liked Midnight In Paris. It was sweet, funny, and had a nice message.

Rating: C+

The Tunnel (Der Tunnel) (2001)

Apparently this was a made for TV movie, but I would never have known unless I looked it up online after watching the film. A tense and emotional story based on real events and people who escaped from East Berlin under the Berlin Wall. It could have used a bit more trimming in the editing room, but overall it was very well made. I enjoyed it.

Rating: C+

Babel (2006)

Babel was all over the place. Literally. The film spans idioms and continents. It satisfies and leaves you wanting more. It's both poignant and pointless. While the acting was great all around, I felt the Mexican & Moroccan stories worked the best, while the Japanese tangent never quite came into focus. Adriana Barraza, as the children's nanny, should have won best supporting actress. She was brilliant in her role. See the movie for it's parts, not the sum of the whole.

Rating: B-

Cloud Atlas (2012)

I read somewhere that Cloud Atlas was a book that nobody thought could be made into a competent film. I didn’t read the source material, but I felt the movie succeeded on many levels. Several complicated narratives taking place throughout different times and places in history were interwoven into one tale. The same themes were conveyed in each one.

The same troupe of actors were transformed via make-up and costumes in order to play a vast array of disparate characters. The sets and cinematography were very impressive. The film held my attention and kept me fully engaged throughout its lengthy runtime.

Despite all these positives, the movie didn’t blow me away or strike me as something I’d want to immediately tell others to see. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. My reviews are generally based upon how entertained I was. And with that in mind, Cloud Atlas earns a…

Rating: B-

The United States of Leland (2003)

A moody and well acted film. Jena Malone plays yet another girlfriend to the unstable male lead. (Much better in The Glass House) Cheadle was very good in his role. This movie won't leave you feeling happy, but it will put you in a thoughtful mood, which is a good thing sometimes.

Rating: C+

Killer Joe (2011)

I didn’t care for the beginning, but things got interesting once McCaughnahay came on screen. A real creepy, perverse role that he seemed all too comfortable with. The movie was dark and ultimately pointless.

Rating: D

Donnie Darko (2001)

I really liked how this film was put together, but after multiple viewings, I'm still not confident I fully understand it. I have a love/hate relationship with time travel movies. The mood, tone, and sound of the film is fantastic. Jake is a fine actor. I like this movie but I want to love it.

Rating: B-

Take Shelter (2011)

Movies about mental illness are hard to watch, just as I’m sure it’s hard to live with. Take Shelter is slow moving and kind of depressing. I thought the ending was a copout. You can’t spend the entire film watching the main character come to terms with his illness, and then jerk the wheel towards him being a visionary at the last second. Some nice performances were wasted on this project.

Rating: D+

Hannibal (2001)

With a new director and Clarice Starling, I was plenty worried the film would fall well short of the book. I stopped worrying shortly after pressing play. Ridley Scott, in his follow-up to Gladiator, does a magnificant job directing. Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal is flawless. Julianne Moore pays tribute to Jodi Foster in her portrayal of Starling. Gary Oldman is creepy as hell as the sick victim who seeks revenge for his disfigurement. Great casting all around.

There were some minor and major points that I noticed were left out of the film. I realize this is normal and necessary when converting a book to a movie, and they really didn't bother me as much as they have in other films. The biggest disappointment for me was the ending. I was hoping in vain they would stay true to the book. Instead, they completely wrote a new ending. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't even close to the fantastic, albeit daring, original version. Enjoy the movie, then go read Thomas Harris' book if you already haven't. It's marvelous.

Rating: B

Brave (2012)

Not sure why every Disney princess movie has to have a witch and spells. It would have been interesting to have a plot about an independent, strong-willed Scottish lass who happened to be an excellent shot with a bow and arrow. Instead, we got moms turning into bears, glowing wisps, and magical tapestries. Parts were cute, but this didn’t even come close to living up to the Pixar name.

Rating: C-

Planet Terror (2007)

This is Rodriguez's contribution to Grindhouse, an unabashedly violent, trashy piece of cinema that young men crave. What separates it from all the other zombie pics, and especially from the early gore films it mimics, are the fantastic characters. Rodriguez and Tarantino can't help themselves. They create dynamic, entertaining characters without even trying to.

It's too bad this double feature wasn't a huge money maker, as I would have liked seeing the 2 for the price of 1 model really take off.

Rating: B-

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

A gem of an indie. A time travel movie that isn’t really about time travel at all. Funny, hip, and smart without being condescending. Definitely a contender for Top 10 Films of the Year.

Rating: B+

Inception (2010)

A total mindf%#@. It takes the movie Dreamscape from my childhood and twists it into a visually stunning film. Very well made with fine acting. My only complaint is, like dreams, it never felt grounded. The movie takes place in a mostly make-believe world, which doesn't allow the audience to fully invest in the story. All the characters, with the exception of Leonardo, are written very shallow. I liked the movie, but in the end it was just a daydream—something to pass the time.

Rating: C+

The Rundown (2003)

I love action movies, even when they aren't very good. I can't help enjoying a great fight scene, car chase, or explosion. The Rundown was ok. Some plot points were a bit tired, but the action and surround sound kept me going. if you're in the mood for a little escapist action, this is a decent rent.

Rating: C

The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)

It takes more than fantasy music featuring a lot of stringed instruments to create a classic movie for kids and adults alike. ET’s and Goonies don’t grow on trees. Spiderwick may appeal to kiddies with low IQs, but the rest of you will be rolling your eyes and groaning. Me included.

Rating: D

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

The perfect balance of flashbacks and storytelling. It's a pretty film to look at. I felt a real chemistry between the two leads. Didn't read the book, but I felt the director paid justice to it. Touching and romantic. Bring a box of Kleenex for the last quarter of the film.

Rating: B

Up (2009)

There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said about the latest from Pixar. Good times for the entire family. Makes me want to hop on 5 planes to go visit the table top mountains myself.

Rating: A-

Up In The Air (2009)

Delightful, funny, smart, and even a little sexy. This made me think back to Clooney's character in Out of Sight—a good thing. Great writing, which we can thank the source material for. Solid acting and competent direction. Hard to find much wrong with this film. I'm a sucker for happy endings, so had things turned out differently, I may have moved this into the "A" range.

Rating: B

The International (2009)

I was very anxious to see this, being a huge Tom Tykwer fan. I almost trust him implicitly, much like a Quentin Tarantino. The International is a very polished action suspense thriller. It screams Hollywood, yet feels indie. Great casting, amazing cinematography, and one really awesome shootout. I can honestly say this was heart-pounding.

Rating: B+

District 9 (2009)

A brilliant, original piece of indie sci-fi. It's so rare to see new ideas on screen these days. In addition, it was so well put together. The CGI, motion capture, and practical effects blended seamlessly. A lot of quality work went into making this film. Story-wise, I was also very engaged. The acting was very believable. The lead actor especially pulled off a great performance—Oscar worthy if you ask me. I hope there's a sequel and that the same people are involved with its creation.

Rating: A-

On The Road (2012)

Pretentious and full of annoying characters. It tries way too hard to be hip and cool without succeeding at either. Rambling on without a destination.

Rating: D-

Sin Nombre (2009)

2009's Amores Perros—that's high praise. Sin Nombre is a cinematic Mexican masterpiece. The acting is so good you forget you're watching actors and fear for their safety. The plot is simple, yet compelling. The cinematography is stunning. Third world countryside has never looked so beautiful and ugly at the same time.

Rating: A

Four Lions (2010)

A dark comedy about jihadi terrorists. Not the usual cinema fare. Frankly, I was surprised they were willing to risk making such a mockery of Muslim terrorists. I’d be afraid of retaliation. Pretty funny despite the grim subject matter.

Rating: C

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Män Som Hatar Kvinnor) (2009)

I had the fortune of having my hotel in Baltimore within walking distance of the Charles Theater where this was playing. It's a rare opportunity for me to see an art house film in an actual theater rather than at home on my couch. The movie builds slowly, even awkwardly, but gathers momentum and clarity in time.

The lead actress is excellent in a very meaty role. I didn't read the book, and therefore was not prepared for the rough subject matter. I'm glad the filmmaker didn't shy away from it though, otherwise the resolutions would not have been as rewarding.

This is an adult film with adult themes. Sometimes it's nice to be treated like an adult when most Americans are being treated like toddlers via films such as Grown-ups.

Rating: A-