Archive for Reviews
GRADE: A
It has taken me far too long to finally see this Award Season Juggernaut. After being nominated for Best Picture for the 84th Academy Awards and winning at the Golden Globes, I made it my mission to see The Artist ASAP. While I had my own reservations because of the old school nature this film embodies, those we dashed by the brillance put forth in this homage to the ‘Golden Age’ of Hollywood Cinema. For anyone that considers themselves a film connoisseur or film fanatic, The Artist should be a must see added to your list.
Matt’s Review: ‘Man on a Ledge’ is Formulaic, But An Action Packed Thrill Ride
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GRADE: B-
The premise of this film is self explanatory considering the title. Man on a Ledge is the latest Sam Worthington flick, which also stars Jamie Bell, Edward Burns, Elizabeth Banks, Anthony Mackie, and Ed Harris. Worthington plays Nick Cassidy, a man, who is essentially on a ledge for the majority of the film. This is the quintessential example of a popcorn flick, a film that is purely entertaining, full of cheap thrills, and devoid of real emotion. It isn’t a narrative that progresses rationally, and some of the characters and many of the situations are over the top. But like I said, it’s a mindless popcorn flick akin to many Summer blockbusters.
Mike’s Review: ‘The Grey’ Is A Ferocious Film
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GRADE: B++
Joe Carnahan has crafted a fine film that should not be considered a typical January release by any means. In fact, Carnahan recently told press that the only reason The Grey released on January 27th is because they were delayed in post-production by some effects shots. The studio has already agreed to re-release it in late 2012 for an Oscars push. While I think it will be a huge stretch for The Grey to earn Academy Award recognition beyond the great performance by Liam Neeson, that’s quite inspiring and should evoke confidence in potential audiences. Otherwise, the movie is quite a ride and really does keep you on the edge of your seat, unlike 99% of movies that use that pull quote from corrupt journalists.
Matt’s Review: ‘Haywire’ Has Positive Pieces, But This Puzzle Doesn’t Fit Right
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GRADE: C
Haywire is exactly what you would think stemming from the previews; elite super solider-esque persona who gets double crossed and must fight back against a system that possesses a lot of firepower. Despite having a run-of-the-mill premise, this is far from the typical action flick. It’s unique from the mindless action genre because it features the distintive talents of Steven Soderbergh’s less serious storytelling and slow paced cuts, as well as his favor for an upbeat jazzy Ocean’s 11-type soundtrack (which I felt was totally off). Don’t get me wrong, Haywire has a lot of great ass kicking and action scenes within, but that unfortunately is where my praise stops.
Mike’s Review: ‘Red Tails’ Crashes And Burns
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GRADE: F
Yes, I went there. A pun review title. And trust me, that’s still less cheesy than Red Tails. You know how they say January is the dumping ground for bad movies? Red Tails reinforces that, and it’s unfortunate because the story of the Tuskegee Airmen deserves so much. If it didn’t take itself so seriously, maybe it could have been less embarrassing.
Mike’s Review: ‘The Flowers of War’ Is Hard To Watch, But You Should
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GRADE: A-
In our screening of The Flowers of War, a female audience member broke down into hysterical tears complete with sobbing and moaning. I had never heard a vocal reaction like that in a theater and it is one as unforgettable as the terrible events that transpired on screen. And the woman was well within her rights to do so, as the epic war film from China depicts some of man’s most detestable actions and rarely hides such details, though there is the occasional comedic relief thanks to (sometimes) drunk Christian Bale.
Matt’s Review: ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ Has Rooney Mara Playing a Superhero
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GRADE: A+
After seeing The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo twice now, I walked out of both showings determined that Rooney Mara is my new hero. Her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander is the definition of a character the audience cannot take their eyes off of. Beneath the barely recognizable exterior, Mara brings new levels to an intelligent yet insane character. On the outside her appearance would push most away — but after getting to know Lisbeth for two hours I was captivated by her every move. The hype surrounding this film is justified in every regard. Mara alone makes it worth its weight in gold, but she is just one piece of the perfectly crafted puzzle.
Mike’s Review: ‘We Bought A Zoo’ Lets Loose The Inspiration
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GRADE: B+
Cameron Crowe brought all his regular ingredients to the table with his latest film, We Bought A Zoo. It’s got the traditional Crowe inspirational dialogue, excellent music choices and commercial appeal of most of his work. Put simply, it’s a movie that seems impossible to hate – although cynics will still find a reason. The theaters are full of options this holiday season, but We Bought A Zoo is about as close to a guarantee family-friendly experience as you can get.
GRADE: C+
How to start this review? The real reason I paid $16.50 to see this film on the true IMAX screen at the Minnesota Zoo was not to watch Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. No offense Tom Cruise. Even before this film started I was completely satisfied, because The Dark Knight Rises prologue left me in awe — I was literally holding my breath I was so enchanted watching the menacing Bane.
Anyway, Tom Cruise’s latest is an amusing action flick, but considering the brilliance of watching Tom Hardy as Bane for about seven minutes, I was let down by the film after that opening. Don’t get me wrong, the action in M:I – Ghost Protocol on the 70 mm (a normal film reel is 35mm) IMAX reel was captivating and worth the money — but this film is over two hours long, and at that length the marathon of action pieces is exhausting.
Mike’s Review: ‘War Horse’ Is A Classic Epic And A Return To Form For Spielberg
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GRADE: A-
War Horse is a sprawling epic. It balances big events with personal moments. It’s the Steven Spielberg that many of us grew up admiring. In fact, you can sense that his past work has influenced every chapter of his latest war drama. You can tell that Spielberg approached this movie with the confidence of a man who’s been there before. He has captured the terror of the front lines and he has manufactured the family drama that haunts many of his characters. And yet, while it comes across as cliche and predictable, War Horse feels new and passionate. Put simply, it brought me to tears three times.
