Shutter Island

Title: Shutter Island
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow
Genres: Action/Adventure, Thriller, Adaptation
Running Time: 2 hour. 18 minutes
Release Date: February 19th, 2010
MPAA Rating: R

Review: I have been looking forward to this Scorsese-directed thriller for quite some time. Now, after having suffered through it, I wonder why. While 'Shutter Island' is well crafted visually, it is much too predictable, and instead of a cliff-hanger we end up with a boring, heavy, film that is more a test in patience than entertainment. Pass on this one. Seriously.

Grade: 4

The Wolfman

Title: The Wolfman
Directed by: Joe Johnston
Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving
Genres: Suspense/Horror, Thriller, Remake
Running Time: 2 hour. 5 minutes
Release Date: February 12th, 2010
MPAA Rating: R

Review: While being quite appealing visually, and having a dream cast as well as a dream crew, 'The Wolfman' still manages to be a dud. For me personally, the unnecessary gore set the tone right from the start. What is supposed to be suspenseful, quickly becomes ridiculous, and I found myself bored and halfheartedly amused for all the wrong reasons throughout the remainder of this very long flick. Several of the cast members are personal favorites of mine, which makes the disappointment even that much greater. Don't waste your time on this one.


Grade: 3.5

Crazy Heart

Title: Crazy Heart
Directed by: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, James Keane (II), Anna Felix
Genres: Drama, Musical, Adaptation
Running Time: 1 hour. 51 minutes
Release Date: December 16th, 2009
MPAA Rating: R

Review: I saw this movie a few weeks ago, and I've been meaning to post this review for a while, but didn't get to it until today. So, long over due, but 'Crazy Heart' is definitely worth the wait.

'Crazy Heart' is an amazing film, with beautiful performances from both Mr. Bridges & Ms. Gyllenhaal. It is well directed, superbly acted, it is visually gorgeous in all its worn out despair, and it has a heartfelt story. The end result: 'Crazy Heart' is one of the best of 2009, hands down. One of the very few Must See films of last year's crop.

Mr. Bridges is clearly born to play this role, in much the same way as Mickey Rourke was born to portray The Ram in last year's 'The Wrestler'. And, Ms. Gyllenhaal is absolutely wonderful as well (no surprise there, she is always amazing!). I was so excited to see the team behind this film receive a few nods for all their hard work. Any recognition for this film is well deserved, and I'll definitely be crossing my fingers for these guys, come the big awards. I could not recommend this film enough. See it.

Grade: 9.5

When In Rome

Title: When In Rome
Directed by: Mark Steven Johnson
Starring: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Anjelica Huston, Danny DeVito, Will Arnett
Genres: Romance, Comedy
Running Time: 1 hour. 31 minutes
Release Date: January 29th, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Review: You may wonder why the hell I would be watching movies like these when I am a declared Rom-Com hater? Well, a have a friend that loves going to the movies just as much as I do, the only difference being she has shit taste in movies. We have a every-other picking order worked out, and it just so happens that yesterday's film was her pick. And subsequently, I'm stuck with 'When In Rome'.

And, for what it is, it does not disappoint; 'When In Rome' is cute, cheesy, predictable, and a little bit funny. A good movie? Not in a million years. A cookie-cutter Rom-Com? You bet.

Grade: 4

Youth In Revolt

Title: Youth In Revolt
Directed by: Miguel Arteta
Starring: Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Jean Smart, Zach Galifinanakis, Erik Knudsen
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Adaptation, Family
Running Time: 1 hour. 30 minutes
Release Date: January 8th, 2010
MPAA Rating: R

Review: Micheal Cera as his alter ego is absolutely brilliant. Michael Cera as Nick has his moments of hilarity. The rest of the film; from lightly giggle-inducing to jawdroppingly awful. The first real disappointment of the new year. Please, please, pretty please, let it get better from here.

Grade: 6

Up In The Air

Title: Up In The Air
Directed by: Jason Reitman
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, Danny McBride
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Adaptation
Running Time: 1 hour. 49 minutes
Release Date: December 4th, 2009
MPAA Rating: R

Review: 'Up In The Air' is kind of like Mr. Clooney; funny, charming, and good looking. As would be expected coming from Jason Reitman, you say, and bring up 'Juno' as the example to prove your point. 'Jennifer's Body' is my quick retort, proving beyond any argument that you can never know with this guy. Luckily, this one is more like his first venture than the latter.

Anna Kendrick is quickly moving her way up on my list of favorite actresses, going from being a peripheral side-kick to Kristen Stewart in that horrible hack job 'Twilight', to being funny as all hell in 'New Moon', to holding her own against George Clooney in 'Up In The Air'. Not a bad ascent, I am impressed.

'Up In The Air' has been thrown around as one of the Must-See films of 2009, and I would agree. Would it, however, have been released in 2008, a movie year that picked up a fair bit of speed at the end, it would have been a tier down from the other 2008 award contenders. This year though, which has come and gone with a pretty short list of noteworthy films, it most certainly stands its ground against the competition, and even do very well.
Grade: 8.5

It's Complicated

Title: It's Complicaded
Directed by: Nancy Meyers
Starring: Merryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, John Krasinski, Lake Bell
Genres: Comedy, Romance
Running Time: 1 hour. 58 minutes
Release Date: December 25th, 2009
MPAA Rating: R
Review: Don't ask me why I would choose to see a film like this one. I didn't. I hate Rom-Coms, and this is certainly one, although just a little bit different than the usual girl-meets-boy-suffer-set-back-over-comes-gets-married-lives-happily-ever-after fare that makes up the bulk of this genre. 'It's Complicated' is kind of funny, and I bet it would delight with the usual audience. It would be a prefect film to take my mother to, she would love it. I, however, spend most of the film admiring Ms. Streep's lovely Santa Barbara home, and wondering what she puts in her muffins in order to sell enough of them to support her enviable lifestyle. And, SPOILER ALERT, I was kind of miffed over the ending.

Grade: 5

Sherlock Holmes

Title: Sherlock Holmes
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan
Genres: Action/Adventure, Thriller, Adaptation, Mystery
Running Time: 2 hour. 9 minutes
Release Date: December 25th, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Review: With a cast like this, how can you not make a great film? Well, ask Guy Ritchie, he knows. Not that 'Sherlock Holmes' is a bad film. It is not. But it is not great either. The individual parts of the film, such as look, feel, and execution is well constructed, but a few weaknesses, such as a flimsy bad guy and too predictable "mysteries" leaves 'Holmes' with a mere 7.5 rating. Of course, Rober Downey Jr. is fantastic as Holmes, and his charm alone makes the film worth seeing. Prepare for typical action hero Hollywood flick and you will not be disappointed.

Grade: 7.5

The Young Victoria

Title: The Young Victoria
Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallee
Starring: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Jim Broadbent, Miranda Richardson, Mark Strong
Genres: Drama, Romance, Biopic
Running Time: 1 hour. 44 minutes
Release Date: December 18th, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Review: 'Young Victoria' is well acted, well filmed, the costumes are gorgeous, and the story it is based on really is lovely. Emily Blunt is perfect (I've been keeping my eye on this girl for a awhile, and she really is great!), and this love story left me intrigued enough to go straight to pick up some historical books on Victoria & Albert as soon as I left the theater. With some additional and rather heavy-handed editing 'Young Victoria' has the potential to be a great film. Unfortunately, a long long list of drawn-out and unnecessary scenes that should have ended up on the floor of the edit-room were left untouched, and the end results leaves us with a great beginning, and a fantastic end, but too much slow stuff in the middle. A damn shame.

Grade: 7

The Informant!

Title: The Informant!
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale, Melanie Lynskey, Thomas F. Wilson
Genres: Comedy, Adaptation
Running Time: 1 hour. 48 minutes
Release Date: September 18th, 2009
MPAA Rating: R

Review: 'The Informant!' is one of those movies where the curve balls of the plot sneaks up on you at the end, and it proves a lot more entertaining that you thought midway though. What initially seems plain and one-sided reveals several levels of events previously obscured, and suddenly you realize that what you though was the whole picture is not even half of it (and all of that is really a convoluted way of saying that "there is more going on here than first meets the eye". At the end I found myself really liking this movie, that seemed pretty bland and kooky at the start, a lot more than I anticipated. Matt Damon's performance is highly entertaining, and it is a film worth seeing, even if some patience is required.

Grade: 7.5