Greenberg (2010)

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't whatever transpired on screen. I've seen a lot of indie films like this—kind of pointless dramadies that don't really go anywhere, yet are mildly entertaining. Greenberg was one of the better examples in this category.

Rating: C

National Treasure (2004)

You know right away that the plot is going to be fast and loose with reality when they are searching for an old ship buried under the snow in the artic, and Nicolas Cage shovels a few times only to uncover the very spot where the ship's name appears on the stern. The rest of the movie is a series of incredible coincidences, perfect plans, and impossible luck.

 It's not unwatchable. In fact, they did a decent job with comedic relief and mixing historic facts and cleavor clues. However, the "love" story was beyond lame and completely unbelievable. 

Rating: C

Bully (2011)

This was a difficult but necessary documentary to watch. The footage they capture with the cameras rolling is unreal. Makes you wonder how bad it gets when they aren’t. Most of the school employees they showed were worthless, interested more in either looking the other way or shifting blame.

I was bullied a bit in grade school, and I’ve held a deep seeded hatred for bullies ever since. Hard to believe it’s taken 30 years since then for the topic to receive national attention. Is it that Americans are dumb and slow to react? Maybe. I’m open to alternative theories.

Rating: C+

Shoot ‘Em Up (2007)

A title that lives up to its name. Gratuitous violence in all of its forms. Death abounds as bodies fall like dominoes. Plot is a mere afterthought. Plausibility an ugly step child you refuse to look in the eye. What matters here are bullets, and the speed at which they can be delivered to the assorted parts of our bodies. Carrots play a major role as well, but I'll let you discover that for yourself. Admit it. We all have night's when all we're in the mood for is a high body count and non stop action.

Rating: C+

Big Miracle (2012)

A feel-good eco-friendly whale-hugging family film based on a true story. An amicable John Krasinski helped to keep things more entertaining than they should have been.

Rating: C

Capturing The Friedmans (2003)

Interesting documentary that was well received at Sundance. Enjoyed.

Rating: C+

Need For Speed (2014)

Cliché on top of cliché on top of cliché. Characters that are impossible to root for since at any moment they might thoughtlessly massacre a crowd of pedestrian children. The ramshackle plot existed solely to sell Ford Mustangs. For a movie that takes place in the real world, the entire series of events was completely science fiction with a dash of fairy dust. I’m willing to suspend belief a little for the sake of fast cars and slick sound effects, but nobody said anything about undergoing a brain-lectomy.

Rating: D-