Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

(2011, Guy Ritchie)

Not as crisply executed as the first film, this story follows an actual Holmes tale (the Final Problem) much more closely than the initial Holmes outing. Here we get to see Holmes square off with arch-nemesis James Moriarity (played by Jared Harris). There is some good action and fun banter between Jude Law's wonderful Watson and Robert Downey, Jr.'s Holmes. Noomi Rapace (of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo fame) works well as a gypsy fortune teller caught up in revolutionary politics. Paul Anderson as the diabolical crack shot Sebastian Moran is well cast. An enjoyable romp with a good score by Hans Zimmer. This film also introduces Stephen Fry (Jeeves and Wooster) as a brilliantly, nay definitively, cast Mycroft Holmes-- Sherlock's older, smarter brother. A surprising commentary on the rise of the military industrial complex. (6/7)

Trailer

On DVD: The Last Rites of Ransom Pride

(Tiller Russell, 2010)

Wow what's to say? This largely incoherent piece of crazy stars Lizzy Caplan, Dwight Yoakum,Kris Kristofferson, Scott Speedman, Jason Priestly, Peter Dinklage, Cote de Pablo, Blu Mankuma, Jon Foster, Morris Bird Yellowhead (Apocalypto) and W. Earl Brown (Deadwood). This movie is not good but the idea, the costumes (Wendy Partridge), and the effort are appreciated. A different take on a late period western. Watch this movie and listen to the director's commentary-- it is worth it. Humorous stories and a look at how such a weird mess of a film could be made. Plus boobs, etc.

Action movies I kinda want to see

This one. Haywire with MMA legend Gina Carano-- looks awesome! By Soderbergh. And also Brad Bird of Pixar's Incredibles fame directing the next Mission Impossible.

Official Haywire site

Official Mission Impossible site

Twilight Breaking Dawn: Part I

(Bill Condon, 2011)
Since this is a largely true story about my own life I wanted to like it. . . but oh man! All the "sensual" (aka sex) scenes where almost laugh out loud hilarious because they were so self-consciously constructed, earnest and posed. Each scene was overly long and seemed to comprise most of the movie. Bella Swan marries Edward Cullen and on their first night of lovemaking she conceives the impossible vampbaby which then threatens to kill her because vampbabies grow up real fast in utero. Blah, Blah why isn't Jacob winning in this story? Then the werewolves want to eat the hybrid baby because it is dangerous or something dumb and then wait are you still here? Ugh. I like the cast somehow. . . I do think Pattinson looks like a vampire, K-stew is gawky and awkward and hot somehow, I think Ashley Greene is awesome, Billy Burke plays a great dad, Taylor Lautner is Lava Boy, Jackson Rathbone is Sokka, oh wait Kellan Lutz is in Immortals, Peter Facinelli and Elizabeth Reaser really are vampires-- so the cast works. . . baby grows up yawn. Could have called it Breaking Yawn. I also like Julia Jones as Leah Clearwater although she has a minimal role. Gasp! too long for whatcha get. Much like this review(4/7)

Trailer

Puss in Boots

(Chris Miller, 2011)
Okay so Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Sedaris, Billy Bob Thornton, Guillermo Del Toro, kitties, stuff, graphics, some fun. Not bad. I liked it better than Shrek because there aren't any "mascot" characters ruining every scene with dumb jokes. Some nice action and some occasional beautiful set/ scenery design but I still don't like the Dreamworks Animation aesthetic. Family fun and watch for the spot on cat humor at times! (5/7)





Trailer

Immortals (3D)

(Tarsem Singh, 2011)
Tarsem Singh is a "visionary director." From The Cell to The Fall he has demonstrated his amazing design sensibility. This movie is no exception. A retooling/ telling of the Theseus myth this is one of the most violent films I have seen in some time. Henry Cavill (the next Superman) stars as Theseus with Freida Pinto looking stunning as oracle Phaedra (her nudity is body doubled however) and a ripped Stephen Dorff appears as the largely superfluous Stavros. Luke Evans works as Zeus and Isabel Lucas as Athena is less annoying here than she was in the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. With Mickey Rourke as the evil King Hyperion and support from John Hurt as The Old Man (Zeus). The score is fair, the visuals stunning at times, and the action surprisingly violent and original. This film is interesting but a bit flat. (5/7)

Trailer

A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas

(Todd Strauss-Schulson, 2011)
Wow. Over the top, penile, juvenile, and sometimes very funny. Funny 3D with Bobby Lee. Nudity and Neil Patrick Harris-- what's not to like? A heartwarming adventure featuring Danny Trejo, drugs, Jesus, Elias Koteas, claymation and more drugs. (6/7 just 'cos it's pretty dumb)

Trailer

Red State

(Kevin Smith, 2011)

See it. Decent take on religious gun nuts. Understated for an over the top movie. John Goodman. Not bad. (5/7)

Trailer (This is a "redband" trailer-- not for the language sensitive)

Contagion

(2011, Steven Soderbergh)

Steven Soderbergh brings his now reliable visual and editorial style to bear on this story of a viral outbreak and the effects on society, individuals and first responders. This movie is entertaining if a bit simplistic. Some really nice moments, some really nice shots, and some decent acting. I especially liked Jennifer Ehle's performance as Dr. Hextall. Enrico Colantoni, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Elliot Gould, Bryan Cranston, Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, John Hawkes, and Gwyneth Paltrow all add character to this film. Decent. (5/7)

Trailer

Drive

(2011, Nicholas Winding Refn)

Ryan Gosling stars with Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman, Bryan Cranston and Carey Mulligan in this story of a stunt car driver who moonlights as a criminal wheelman. This is a solid film. I liked Refn's Valhalla Rising (2009) and this film has an engaging style and some gritty, visceral violence and action that evokes Sam Peckinpah. Great supporting cast with plenty of actors drawn from cable television's "A-list" (Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks, Bryan Cranston). Some tender moments and believable tension make this a must see. Interesting soundtrack choices too which echo the early eighties and a Michael Mann-esque, Miami Vice-like sensibility. (6/7) See it.

Trailer

The Eagle (DVD)

(2011, Kevin MacDonald)

First I want to openly condemn Netflix for being the slaves of the media cartels. Renting "rental" movies (sans special features) is against American freedom! Having said that I watched the Eagle with Channing Tatum as Roman Centurion Marcus Aquila and Jamie Bell as his Briton slave Eska as they journey north of Hadrian's Wall to restore honor to the Aquila name by recovering a gold eagle standard lost by Aquila's father. This film has some nice epic backdrops, good use of dialects (wrong dialects of course but dialects at least!), and some good music. Appearances by Mark Strong and Donald Sutherland don't hurt either. Tahar Rahim is good as the bad guy. This is a fairly decent representation of 1st Century A.D. Roman life in the hinterlands, although as with all things Hollywood, a scholar will find plenty to cry about. Not bad. Apparently loosely based on some novel or other.(5/7)

Trailer

The Adjustment Bureau (DVD)

(2011, George Nolfi)

Matt Damon and Emily Blunt star in this tale inspired (one supposes) by Phillip K. Dick's "Adjustment Team." In reality it has virtually nothing to do with the story except for the idea that human fates are sometimes affected and guided by a bureaucracy of human-like entities which work behind the scenes and whose existence is revealed to the main character. Despite the fact that this is yet another Dick story that is horribly maimed for Hollywood, this movie works. Matt Damon is believable as a New York political up and comer and Emily Blunt is incredibly charming as his modern dancer love interest. This is a story of loving "against the plan," of fighting for love and belief against all odds, and taking a stand for the self. Anthony Mackie is vastly under noticed and he is great as the angelic Harry Mitchell who is an Adjuster with a conscience. Terrance Stamp is always good, and the producers and director managed to get some heavy hitters (John Stewart, Michael Bloomberg) to whore for Hollywood and make this movie reasonably realistic. John Slattery always looks good in a period suit and hat. Double Punchy notes and Emily Blunt make this film a win on DVD. (6/7)

Trailer

Colombiana

(2011, Olivier Megaton)

Luc Besson acolyte Olivier Megaton (Transporter 3) is a capable action film director. Sadly the Robert Mark Kamen/ Luc Besson script feels like it wishes it were as perfect as Luc Besson's 1994 magnum opus Léon: The Professional. Zoe Saldana is cast as Cataleya (named for, I guess, the orchid Cattleya which neither sounds like nor is spelled like Cataleya as a google search will reveal).

Her assassin(?) parents are killed when she is little and she vows revenge. She utilmately comes to America through weak plot contrivances and works for 15 years to become an assassin so she can take her revenge on a Colombian drug lord.

Maori Badass, Cliff "I'm from New Zealand" Curtis, plays Zoe Saldana's uncle who takes her in and teaches her how to kill. Full of crisp action and a nice finale this movie does a few things right (a very few). Zoe Saldana is one of those few things. She is a very capable physical actress and she was not afraid of a bit of nudity. I always liked Michael Vartan and he is appropriate as Zoe Saldana's love interest. I like the multiculturalism of this film, I like the female lead, I like that she is black, and a latina. The world needs more action heroines like this (hopefully paired with more original stories). Luc Besson is still one of the few producers/ directors that can really bring the essential sexiness and action of French comics to the screen without actually adapting any particular comic title and Colombiana feels like a comic. Sadly I wish it had been done better. (5/7)

Trailer

Conan the Barbarian

(2011, Marcus Nispel)

So what is there to say? Jason Momoa as Conan, with appropriate levels of sexiness, nudity, and violence. Sadly this film lacks the resonance and brilliant character actors of the John Milius original (1982). There are plenty of R.E. Howard-esque moments and Frazetta-like scenery and landscapes but this movie has a dull story and is poorly plotted with a number of very weak edit points and CG. Having once sat on a plane with Sandahl Bergman when I was 8 years old, and considering I think Gerry Lopez is a god, the Milius film will be definitive for me for some time.

Stephen Lang is awesome as a bad guy. I like Said Taghmaoui but he was totally under-utilized. Rachel Nichols is cute and capable and Ron Perlman is the most epic looking barbarian father ever. Rose McGowan is well cast as an evil witch but she seemed wooden or maybe it was just the wooden script. This film at 70 mil. felt made for cable. I will give Jason Momoa this: he has a barbaric backside. Morgan Freeman narration and beautiful Bulgarian backdrops could not save this movie. (5/7)

Trailer

Is it pronounced: KO-NAHN or KONEN?

Go here for more about Texas author and Conan creator, Robert E. Howard

Beats Rhymes and Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest

(2011, Michael Rapaport)

This is a solid documentary about the varied and interesting story that is a Tribe Called Quest. Interviews with tons of hip hop heavy hitters. If you like TCQ or the history of rap music-- watch this. I remember these days. . . ah the olden times. (6/7)

Trailer

Cowboys and Aliens

(Jon Favreau, 2011)

This period action sci-fi movie does a lot of things right. It has a solid cast, decent music, good FX, and a pretty fun story. Olivia Wilde is hot. The alien design is cool. Weapons, explosions, Harrison Ford, Keith Carradine, Clancy Brown, Adam Beach, Sam Rockwell, Toby Huss-- and a character named Jed! Yay! Enjoyable flick. (5/7)

Trailer

Captain America: The First Avenger

(Joe Johnston, 2011)

Early: I might as well tell you Marvel has a great thing going with the previews for their next film at the end of the end credits: so stay for the end if you want to see the Avengers "trailer."

Now: Captain America is a fun period hero story which embraces the idea that the little guy, and more importantly the little guy with a good heart, can do great things. Chris Evans is solid. Hugo Weaving is wonderful and captures the Nazi essence of the Red Skull perfectly. Joe Johnston does a good job with the design and visuals and there are some nice action set pieces and some good emotional story telling. The music by Alan Silvestri (and Mr. Johnston in some places) is appropriate and this WWII tale has some nice period moments. Tommy Lee Jones and the britishy cute Hayley Atwell play well against each other. The end credits are also very well done. This movie works well in 3D. This is a fun movie so get some popcorn and go enjoy yourself.

It finally (!) seems like Marvel is has worked out some of their issues and they are not going to butcher every single one of their comics. . . I hope they keep up the recent trend of decent films (Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and even X-men First Class). (6/7)

Trailer

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

(David Yates, 2011)

Well Dan Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and all the rest are back for the finale. If you read the book you may be a bit disappointed but David Yates tries to deliver emotion and darkness in this last entry in the Potter line. As always some great character work by some of the best character actors around. I liked the dragon. Have fun. (5/7)

Trailer

13 Assassins

(2011, Takashi Miike)

Takashi Miike hasn't so much "remade" Eiichi Kudo's 1963 original, as "reimagined" it. This is a solid samurai film and Miike proves continually that when given proper freedom and a budget he can make incredibly stirring and beautiful films. This is a violent film built on a solid political story of the Edo period immediately prior to the Meiji Restoration. As such the film has some great commentary on what has become of warriors that never fight real battles in a time of peace and what will become of the warrior tradition, bushido and the samurai in the future. The film has a 50-minute long battle sequence which is an important part of this film and is never boring. Kōji Yakusho is really great as Shimada Shinzaemon. Sparing use of CG but an honest portrayal of seppuku and battle adds to the visceral tone. (6/7)

Trailer

X-men: First Class

(2011, Matthew Vaughn)

Okay so if you actually like comics and the X-men then breathe a sigh of relief: director Matthew Vaughn attempts to render the origin story of the X-men intelligible in film form. He has, in large measure, achieved this. He has treated the basic story of Magneto and Professor X's initial partnership as more of a spy movie rather then a superhero film and he has tried to keep the essentially human and moral story of the comics intact. Quality performances by Kevin Bacon, James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender. Decent effects and finally (!) some good costuming. I enjoyed this thoroughly watchable film. For purists it is still totally non-canonical but what do you expect?! (6/7)

Trailer

Super 8

(2011, J.J. Abrams)

Super 8 is a good old school kids and aliens movie that is solid family fare in the great American tradition. The story is not too gooey, not too "double-punchy" and yet it is filled with some great notes that evoke youthful adventure stories like Stand by Me and E.T. . The alien looks cool too. Watch it. (6/7)

Trailer

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

(2011, Michael Bay)

While clearly ripping off Richard C. Hoagland's Dark Mission book, the latest Transformers has it's moments of smartness. Director Michael Bay is still an incredibly gifted realizer of shots. The guy makes everything look amazing and incredible all the time. Frances McDormand, John Malkovitch, and Patrick Dempsey all do a good job (adding some good humor). The best thing about this movie is it is, at times, genuinely funny and exciting. Don't get me wrong it is still dumb as hell but it is fun! Perhaps the least weak of the three and there is also almost no substantial dialogue. The writers still love the stupid mascot characters and the Transformers themselves don't get to say much. Leonard Nimoy has a perfect voice for Sentinel Prime. Alan Tudyk is funny as Dutch and look for a wonderfully comic performance by Ken Jeong has Jerry Wang. Thank god that Michael Bay got Frank Welker to do Shockwave/ Soundwave voices--who else can do it? Throw in Buzz Aldrin to add even more credence to Hoagland's NASA alien conspiracy idea and you got something that almost works. (5/7)

Trailer

For some perhaps not so nutty "conspiracy" stuff:
Enterprise Mission

Priest (3D)

(2011, Scott Charles Stewart)

Priest is a surprisingly fun retro future take on the vampire vs man concept. Starring Paul Bettany as a fallen warrior priest who must defy the church-state in order to save his daughter from the vampire menace, this film features some great sets and locations and some really solid action set pieces. The 3D added little to the experience. It's got a cameo from Madchen Amick of Twin Peaks fame and she is still hot! Also Brad Dourif is here in a brief cameo and the very capable Karl Urban is great as the classic Black Hat bad guy and Christopher Plummer is here as the head of the Church! This film is really styled as a western and that is a daring idea these days. It also features one of my favorites, Maggie Q, who adds some double punchy/sexiness to the film. This film is based on a korean manhwa that is more about a heavenly war on earth versus demonic forces than a vampire tale. I liked this movie-- it could have been totally dumb and it wasn't. (6/7)


Trailer

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

(2011, Rob Marshall)

Rob Marshall taking over for Gore Verbinski leaves something to be desired. The cast is decent: Stephen Graham is fun to see, and Keith Richards just looks so cool as a pirate, Ian McShane is a god and is surprisingly under utilized in this film. The whole fountain of youth device is actually decently thought out and I personally loved the actions of the Spanish in the film (seemed believable). Penelope Cruz wasn't too annoying and Johnny Depp is iconic and Geoffrey Rush is a real pirate. Newcomer Astrid Berges-Frisby was appropriately innocent and sexy as the mermaid in distress. Overall the film was thin in its execution and while the 3D was good the movie was just not quite up to the level of the other films. (5/7)

Trailer

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
(Hosoda Mamoru, 2006)

This is a pretty interesting time travel movie. Similar in some regards to Shane Carruth's Primer in that it focuses on short jumps into the past and the cascade effects which can result-- it is really a more interesting take on teen romance and relationships. I liked it! Double Punchy and it had some pretty nice, contemplative animation. Good characterization and character design. The Art Director was the art director on Princess Mononoke. If you like anime: this is solid work. (6/7)

The DVD gets a lesser review-- my viewing copy had subtitle issues and I was forced to watch the film in English which left something to be desired but is still well acted and is actually pretty faithful to the "essence" of Japanese dialogue. It has a good feature commentary with the principal actors and the director which is worth checking out.

Trailer

Thor

Thor
(2011, Kenneth Branagh)

Thor was surprisingly fun. A bit CGish in spots but it had a nice ensemble cast featuring some of my favorites: Tadanobu Asano; Ray Stevenson; Natalie Portman; Idris Elba; the ubiquitous Stellan Skarsgard. Tom Hiddleston played a believable Loki to Chris Hemsworth's Thor and the whole thing felt like it paid honest homage to the best Thor comics by Walt Simonson. Good humor too and it felt like Marvel really is trying to unite the look and feel of it's recent efforts into a cohesive universe. Colm Feore should be acknowledged as one of the greatest bad-guy actors of all time. (6/7)

Trailer

Paris, je t'aime

(Various, 2006)

In short this movie by 22 directors which takes place in Paris is really good. There are sexy vampires, touching and tragic love stories, fun, satire, whimsy, intelligence. Watch it. (7/7)

Trailer

This Week

A Serious Man
(The Coen Brothers, 2009)

An interesting look at a 1960's American life through the experiences of a Jewish Physics professor and his family. Quirky and mystical at times this is a different kind of film for the Coens. One word: Jefferson-Airplane, oh whatever-- see it. (6/7)

Trailer

This Week

Rango
(Gore Verbinski, 2011)

Jed: Rango is a triumph. Gore Verbinski and the ILM team with Crash McCreery leading the way did an excellent job. The cast is first rate with wonderful performances by Johnny Deep, Bill Nighy, Isla Fisher, Alfred Molina, Ned Beatty and Abigail Breslin. Ray Winstone, Claudia Black, Harry Dean Stanton-- it's a solid cast! Music by Los Lobos and Hans Zimmer is wonderful compliment to an irreverent and almost psychedelic tale of a captive chameleon who reinvents himself to become savior and hero to an old west town on the edge of modernity as the town triumphs over the selfish actions of evildoers. Some stunning animation and an appearance by Timothy Olyphant doing what might be one of the best Clint Eastwood impersonations ever. This was double-punchy goodness and is worth checking out. Far better than I expected! 6/7

Trailer

Suckerpunch
(Zack Snyder, 2011)

Man Zack Snyder why do you always manage to take a good idea, or a great idea even, and so totally blow it? Why? So what would, or could have been, an epic, sexy, violent, double-punch tale of nerd fantasies made real-ish, with a solid cast-- full of potential-- instead is a bland, barely sexy tease, with a misplaced, anachronistic soundtrack, cliche Synderisms (slo-mo, etc.) a thin plot and even thinner story. The acting is fair but irrelevant because the story is so poorly realized. The basic premises are fundamentally weak and the lines are often hilarious at times. The physical action is good and all the females leads are visually engaging, the set design and machinery, costumes, etc. are all pretty cool-- and the fantasy scenes try to do something fun. It all adds up to total fail. Maybe Emily Browning will go on to be an action star-- I hope so-- and I hope she never works with ole ZS again! This is a hard 5/7 for me because it should have been rated "R," it should have had nudity, and someone who can actually write should have written it. Sad. . . this movie could have been great! I'm guessing this is the director's cut? 5/7 (maybe 6/7 for a few seconds of action here and there). Oh, Scott Glenn. . . what happened?

Trailer

This Week

Get Low
(Aaron Schnider, 2009)

Jed: Featuring solid performances by Robert Duvall, Lucas Black, Sissy Spacek, and Bill Murray this quasi-true story of a backwoods hermit in the 1930's who decides to throw his own funeral party as a way to work through the troubles of his past and find some measure of peace before his death, is solidly directed by Schnider and has excellent, appropriate music by Jan Kaczmarek. Nice period work for a cinematographer turned director. This film is a bit melancholy but sometimes that is just what is needed to properly tell a tale that is reasonable and realistic. (6/7)

Get Low Trailer

This Week

Animal Crackers
(Victor Heerman, 1930)

Jed: The classic madcap Marx Brothers muscial comedy is really strange and very well staged. Margaret Dumont as Mrs. Rittenhouse is incredibly expressive and is a good counter point and straight-woman to Groucho's Captain Spaulding. This is pure oddball, sexy, madcap comedy and all of the Marx Bros. turn in great performances. Chico's piano performance and Harpo's Harp playing are genuinely innovative and engaging both visually and musically. Lillian Roth is hot news! and it makes sense she was married eight times! The sets and staging are amazing-- but the plot is simply a backdrop upon which the Marx Bros. weave their zaniness. A fun movie even if a tad predictable. See it. (6/7)

Lillian Roth (image courtesy Wikipedia)

Trailer on TCM

Shock Corridor
(Samuel Fuller, 1963)

Jed: This a fairly psychedelic film. The social commentary on race in America is particularly poignant (Hari Rhodes as Trent is incredible). It is better than Shutter Island. . . (winks). That is all that need be said. Check it out on the Criterion Collection Release. (6/7)

Classic Trailer

This Week's Pick

The Social Network
(David Fincher, 2010)
Trailer

Marshall: In David Fincher's The Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg (played with surprising depth by Jesse Eisenberg) isn't so much an asshole as he is unforgiving. He navigates his many obstacles with an almost ninja-like grace, going for the jugular and using his opponents momentum against them. This deftness, however, is exhibited often at the expense of the brilliant Facebook-creator's personal relationships. A hip, beautiful and understated movie (with matching musical score), that not only introduces us to some promising young acting talent, but delivers honest human drama and solid laughs to boot. (7/7)

Jed: The Social Network is a return to David Fincher at his finest. While Benjamin Button had some nice notes-- this is a fine film throughout. When I first heard this film was being made it did not interest me very much. . . I should have been interested. The Social Network captures elements of the zeitgeist nicely and is well timed. Standout performances-- especially by Armie Hammer as the Winklevoss twins. Hopefully this will inspire a generation to get out there and do something. I also like the use of split shooting, still photography, and rotoscope to get that tilt-shift z-depth (miniature) look for the crew race scene without actually doing it -- leave it to David Fincher to try something a bit different and pull it off! Solid film. Solid score by Trent Reznor. (7/7)

This Week's Picks (Reviews)

Network
(Sidney Lumet, 1976)
Marshall: Sidney Lumet's Network is a brilliant satire well deserving of its many accolades. It's just as funny as it is smart. If I have one gripe, it's that the film is a bit preachy with many long diatribes, however, this is quite forgiveable since the almost Shakespearean soliloquies are delivered with realism and conviction by the top-notch cast. [7]

Jed: Network is easily the best movie of 1976. See it now!

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
(Edgar Wright, 2010)
Jed: Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010) is a genius tour-de-force of epic battles, double-punchy cuteness, love and awesomeness. Brilliantly cast, brilliantly edited, with wonderful music and a kick-ass story-- this movie rocks hard! I watch it about once a week, sometimes twice in one sitting! [7]

Marshall: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is easily the best movie of 2010. See it now!

This Week's Picks (Trailers)

Network (1976)
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

Mechanic

Jed: The Mechanic, directed by Simon West of Tomb Raider infamy, and starring Jason Statham and one of my alter-egos Ben Foster is an almost incomprehensible mess. Supposedly a remake about some assassins n' stuff. . . who cares. With an appearance by Donald Sutherland and a general lack of action through most of the film-- I was left wondering, "Sure that looks cool, but why?" It did have gratuitous nudity by Mini Anden (Swedish model) and some nice gun play-- but c'mon guys! Weak. Jason Statham should stick to working with Luc Besson and Guy Ritchie. It was actually filmed in Louisiana though![4]

Marshall: [Did not review-- he knows better]

Tron: Legacy

Marshall: The world of Tron Legacy is a visceral techno-wonderland whose beauty almost makes up for the wooden performances found within. Kosinski turns in a film with loads of style and flair (thanks largely to a brilliant score by Daft Punk) that lacks an engaging narrative and interesting characters. [5]

Jed: When I sat down and the movie began, reflecting the simplicity of the 1982 opening sequence, I thought I was in a "visceral techno-wonderland." Kosinski does an "Evil Dead 2" on this one: one part sequel, one part re-imagineering of the Tron idea. Garrett Hedlund does not ruin the film and Olivia Wilde is hot and double-punchy. The story is simple but able to slide in both socially-conscious commentary, and vague spiritual overtones without cumbersome explanations which disrupt willful suspension of disbelief. Michael Sheen gives a fun, over-the top performance, and hey Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner are back! Not bad for a video/commercial director. [6~ visuals/score]

True Grit

Marshall: The Spielberg produced western remake, True Grit, is a beautiful testament to the genius of the Coens. Outstanding newcomer, Hailee Steinfeld, proves she can hang with the best (namely Jeff Bridges). [7]

Jed: The Coen brothers have a fine film on their hands with standout character performances by Jeff Bridges and wonderful charismatic work by Hailee Steinfeld. Shot in Texas, this is one of the Coens better films and fits nicely next to No Country and O' Brother in the Coen film compendium. Great action, heartwarming charm and humor, and solid cinematography and score. [6]

The Links

True Grit Trailer
Tron:Legacy Trailer

A Magical Film-laden Quest

So intrepid readers you have finally wandered off the well-lit paths and into the dreamy subterrene world of the movie hole!

It is a dark place, full of mystery and yet hopeful providence! We carry the light with us! Fear not: we will ferry you safely through these poorly charted lands!

Sit back, relax and let us do the heavy lifting. We review the movies. You decide if we grasped your heart and yanked it still beating from your chest. . .or if we sent you to seek the gentler caresses of Morpheus and the Sandman with their downy pillows and quiet lullabies. . .

Watch! And return to the upper world beyond the movie hole, feeling refreshed and sated, eager to return again and feel the warm, flickering light once more. . . .