Big Screen Blurb: Sherlock Holmes--A Game of Shadows

He's one man who can answer the age old question that people have been asking for years: What's up Holmes? He's Sherlock Holmes and he puts out a mean sequel in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

Picture it: It's 1891. Sherlock (Robert Downey Jr.) is back and he's as eccentric as ever. Okay, many would argue as 'weird' as ever.  They're probably right, but there is a definite method to his madness. It may not always be appreciated by his sidekick, Dr. Watson (Jude Law). Actually, ole Wattsy is more concerned with his upcoming wedding and honeymoon. Unfortunately, before the happy couple can get down and dirty Watson is pulled into a caper by Holmes. At the heart of the problem is Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris). He's your run-of-the-mill terrorist looking to capitalize on an arms race that could start a world war. Yadayadayada Inspector Holmes and Dr. Watson battle Moriarty and his liege to the death in an effort to save the world. 

It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars. It's a story that takes the word 'calculated' to new heights and it's told expertly by Director, Guy Ritchie. Give cast and crew a ton of credit here. They deliver big time in creating 1890's London, Paris and more, while making it come to life in a lively plot. Downey Jr--great as always; and Law's Watson is personally my favorite role for him in a not-so-shabby career. The mirroring of Holmes-Watson and Moriarty and his side-kick is excellent. You essentially have Holmes going up against an adversary who is just like him. He's just as bright...just as calculating and nearly as eccentric. Meanwhile, the side-kicks share an interesting battle as well. It makes for a good and quite entertaining match-up.

Yeah, the holiday season is beginning to wind down, but the theatres are jumping...hmm--kinda like Holmes and Moriarty. Make this one a flick to see and see BIG! Enjoy the rest of the season! And don't forget to nominate your favorite actor, actress and best flick in the 2011 Yada's!

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: We Bought a Zoo

What else is an adventurer to do? Why not buy a zoo? Okay, so he's not really an adventurer per se...more of a journalist whose writing has often bordered on the adventurous. But, come on, it's not really a zoo. At least not yet. So, why buy a zoo? Why not?

Meet Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon). He just lost his wife to illness. He's now a clueless father of two who is equally clueless about fitting into life as a single father. There's Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones). She's five-ish and Benjamin's staple. Then there's Dylan (Colin Ford). He's more like a staple remover. Dylan is 14 and has an uncanny knack for trouble, struggling grades and drawings of disfigurement. He's just been expelled. As it turns out, his expulsion is a golden nugget of a last straw for ole Benjamin. He decides to move the family and make a fresh start. Actually, he decides to take his life savings and create a fresh start in a lion's pit...well, it's actually a zoo. That's right, 40+ species of animal-lovin' goodness that Rosie loves and Dylan fights tooth-and-nail.

The zoo is struggling to re-open. It's makeshift staff  includes Kelly (Scarlett Johansson), Robin (Patrick Fugit) and Lily (Elle Fanning) to name just a few. All, including Benjamin and Rosie, are working toward the common goal of opening in July with a zoo that is completely up to code. Of course, that is something that Inspector Ferris (John Michael Higgins) would rather not see. Yadayadayada the crew works to overcome an ark full of obstacles while the family attempts to heal from its loss and right their own ship...uhh, I mean ark.

It's good--check that, it's GREAT! I'll go with 4.5 Stars on this one. We Bought a Zoo is that good. It's a complex formula of 'funny' and 'heart-felt life reality' (it's based on a true story, ya know) with plenty of great animals...and let's face it; I'm one who has the "I like the humans, but I love the animals" atttitude.

All things considered, this flick really touched me on a lot of levels. Yes, it was fun. Yes, I loved the animals; but it was far more reaching. I think We Bought a Zoo really spoke to me because I see so much of my childhood through Dylan's eyes. No, I never got kicked out of school; nor was I talented in desolate drawing. I did, however, deal with the same type of issues he was experiencing. As an adult, I have since been able to see that situation more empathetically through my Dad's eyes, which was something I wasn't able to do at 15.

This movie really brought many of those issues to light, which came to a crucindo in a very powerful scene between Damon and Ford. Perhaps the scene was so effective to me, because I had experienced so much of what they had--zoo aside. Maybe it was just a damn good scene. Regardless, powerful performances meet ab inspirational story that I highly recommend for big screen viewing. Go and go BIG on this one.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Mission Impossible- Ghost Protocol

Narrow escapes. High precision strategical strikes. Death and gravity defying stunts involving mega high skyscrapers. No, I'm not talking about The Muppets here. It's MI-4 (that's Mission Impossible- Ghost Protocol for all of my code impaired readers); and it's good.

Picture it: a Russian prison. Meet Sergei...okay, really it's Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), but he's rotting in a Russian jail for murdering six Serbian assassins. It was a heart-felt revenge hit for taking out their target, Ethan's beloved wife. Of course, it was unsanctioned so the USA is offering no help. Therefore, Ethan sits. That is, until the USA needs his super spy services again. Enter Jane (Paula Paton) and Benji (Simon Pegg). They're sent in to bust out Ethan and for good cause. There is nuclear trouble brewing. It involves a guy who has stolen the Soviet launch codes and is positioning himself to wipe out much of the planet by starting a nuclear war. Ethan and team are joined by Intel Analyst, Brandt (Jeremy Renner) and yadayadayada plenty of blood, death defying stunts, explosions and gun powder later, the world is on the brink, baby!

Yeah, it's good. I'll go with 3.5 Stars on this one. Sure, maybe it's not MI-3, but you can't have that 1-2 punch of Cruise-Seymour Hoffman every flick, right!?! It is, however, far better than MI-2 and maybe a little better than the initial MI offering. It's 133 minutes of solid plot and action chalk full of those precise strikes and narrow misses that most action flicks, especially the Mission Impossible franchise, are known for providing. Okay, maybe it's not all plausible, but that's Hollywood, babe!

If action is your thing, you'll love this one. I'm not a huge action monger, but when the plot is as important, if not more so, than the bloody explosions, then I can deal...and actually enjoy. MI-4 falls squarely in that niche.

Plus, you've got a little 'funny' to throw into the mix with Benji's newly upgraded role into the agent field, which plays well through Pegg. Cruise nails Agent Hunt, as usual and P2 (P-Squared...aka Paula Paton) is a fun Jane. The real new main addition is Renner. This guy is solid in about anything that I've seen him in and he doesn't disappoint in MI-4. There is little doubt that we'll see a return performance from Brandt when MI-5 rolls around. The cinematography was great, too. This was especially true in Dubai, which has always been a fascinating place. And, that hotel showcased in the Dubai sequences...wow...amazing.

All in all, if you're looking for an action flick to take the edge off the holiday mush...check it out and go BIG. It's a fun, nicely put together movie that flows fairly well, with little-to-no dead spots, but plenty of dead peeps. Enjoy and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all...regardless of how you observe the season, or if you don't recognize it all! Best wishes...

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Descendants

It's tough to roll with life's punches. It's also difficult to realize who you really are in life; and, equally tough to realize one's role in his own life. In short, it's tough being Matt King (George Clooney). Yeah--on the surface that might not seem to be the case. But, as usual, the story is always below the surface.

For Matt, the surface reveals a successful lawyer living in Oahu. Paradise, right? He's got a wife and two daughters. Further, he is the controlling trustee in a historic land trust involving generations of family and more than a billion dollars. Looking below the surface, however, is far more revealing. Matt's wife is in a coma stemming from a boating accident. This leaves him as the primary parent, which he is quick to admit that his parenting role has always been that of an understudy. Matt then learns that his comatose wife has been cheating on him. Fuel added to that fire is this looming land deal, of which his numerous cousins are counting on him to make them millionaires. Yadayadayada Matt tries to cope with a very tough stretch while growing into his role as a father and his new life.

It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars. Make no mistake, this is not a high energy story. It's a meaningful tale that effectively covers life's ups and downs, with a strong focus on a few very tough valleys. With that in mind, it's a story that will drag at times, but never loses you. Clooney is outstanding and may well get a nomination for this one when Oscar time approaches.

Further, the three kids in this flick are great and solidify the story. There's Scottie (Amarie Miller), the youngest daughter. She's ten with a ton of pre-pubescent 'tude. The eldest daughter is Alexandra (Shailene Woodley), who takes attitude to new and self-destructive heights. She's recently had all kinds of problems with mom, which the ole parents had hoped boarding school would cure. Wrong answer. Finally, is Alex's friend, Sid (Nick Krause). He's the wild card in the group. He's a typical teenager who is dealing with some atypical problems himself. As with every other 16 year old, Sid has times in which he displays wisdom beyond his years, while at other times, displaying baffling stupidity.  Overall, each actor supported Clooney very well and pushed the story along very meaningfully.

It's a good flick that simultaneously showcases life in all it's trouble and glory. It's worth a view, and a BIG view at that--unless meaningful dramas and lessons in life aren't your gig. (If that's the case...skip it altogether and get an oil change...you ROBOT!) Just one small piece of advice: Don't see this flick as a matinee. Go late...maybe a 10PM showing. It drew a lot of old farts to the matinee and old people talk very LOUDLY during a movie. Actually, on several ocassions I would have yelled "Shut the hell up!" But considering the numerous couples engaging in high-volume chatter, there's no way they would have heard me. Just sayin'.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: New Year's Eve

If you've followed my yada, you know these lil reviews follow a simple formula. I give you the basics of the storyline and yadayadayada through the core of the tale. That's just to make sure that nothing is given away that you need to see first-hand. Then, a humble opinion is provided for you to do with what you will. The chances of that happening with a review of New Year's Eve is IMPOSSIBLE!!!

Here's how it works: You take an infinitesimal number of big name actors...throw them into an equally infinitesimal number of vignettes and round it out by bringing a few of those vignettes together. There you have it. The formula for Valentine's Day and now New Year's Eve. I think this concept is growing on me. After all, I thought Valentine's Day was, well, okay. There was just too much going on for me to truly embrace it. I needed two or three storylines with a core cast of 8-10 celebs...not 10 storylines with 40 big names and a Dramamine. But--I digress. Again, this concept is growing on me, because whereas Valentine's Day was flat. New Year's Eve was very entertaining. I'll go with 3.5 Stars. It was actually fun watching for the next cameo appearance. Of course, that's not to mention the core cast of seemingly hundreds which included everyone from Robert DeNiro and Josh Duhammel to Seth Meyers and Sarah Jessica Parker.

It was also fun watching the various stories come together. Some of those were surprising and others, well, not so much. It was, however, an entertaining two hours that is just plain fun. No real drama. No earth shattering performances. Just a fun ride with tons of great actors--like a big screen variety hour...check that--two hours. I mean, come on...anyone who is anyone in Hollywood is in this thing--with the exception of Ellen, of course.

Good messages abound too. My fave: Your outlook on life will instantly improve if you quit worrying about 'what if' and focus on embracing the 'what is'. That's good stuff, baby. Yoda-esque wisdom! Perfect timing too with holiday stuff upon us that so many dread and others flat-out eat up. (Yeah...I'm in the 'eat up' column)

Big Screen? Hmm...tough call. It really depends on what you're looking for. After all, we've got some good action stuff coming up soon. Some deep stuff coming up as well. New Year's Eve is a great fit, however, if you're just out with some friends and looking for a fun, kick-back movie to help repair any frazzle left in wake of the holiday season. I went BIG on this because...hmm...because it's what everyone wanted to see and I knew I wouldn't rent it after the holiday. (What would be the point in that, right?) So, go BIG if the mood and situation is right. Chances are, you'll enjoy the ride.

Happy Holidays!
True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Sitter

Take a babysitter who stuffs a kid's face with three boxes of donuts...locks him in the closet with a TV that is showing an endless loop of light skin flix on Cinemax. In that parental nightmare of a scenario, you still probably have a better babysitter than ole Jonah Hill in The Sitter; at least that's how it starts.

Noah (Hill) is a college flunky and all-around floundering, self-centered, twenty-something. He's got a girlfriend, but he doesn't--she's just interested in his tongue and potential drug-buying skills. He's got a dad who is out of the picture and literally could not care less about him. And, he's got a babysitting gig, which Noah is about as excited about as his "girlfriend" is about recipricating. Therefore, Noah's evening looks bleak until said 'gf' promises him sex in return for buying some cocaine from the local freaky, deaky drug-king, Karl (Sam Rockwell).

Enter the three kids. They are neglected rich kids and battling their own issues. Blithe (Landry Blender) is the youngest. She's about five and is stuck on looking and behaving like a combo of a Kardasian and Paris Hilton. Rodrigo (Kevin Hernandez) is adopted. He's quickly rejecting his new family before they have an opportunity to reject him. Finally, there's Slater. He's thirteen and gay; and thus, dealing with all of the anxiety brought on by that combination. Noah is forced to take the kiddies with him for the drug score and the...uhh...other score. That's when things get out of hand. Rodrigo steals from the drug lord and all hell breaks loose. Yadayadayada...Noah tries to make it right for all, while learning that helping others is often the best therapy for helping yourself.

It's good. I'll go with 3.0 Stars on this one. It started funny...hit a point where I thought it was going to quickly fall apart, but then rebounded and rounded into a nice flick. Sure, there are some roll your eyes moments, but it's worth a watch. Jonah continues his role through Hollywood and plays Noah well. Ultimately, it's a great message. Noah sees the traits that he struggled with through the kids in his charge. With that, he grows up by helping the kids deal with their issues. Noah helps Blithe grow up and start acting like a five year old instead of Paris Hilton. He helps Slater accept himself, who promptly helps Rodrigo embrace his siblings and new family.

There's a lot out there in movieland. This might be a rental for you when it comes out on video in April. It will be a well-spent 82 minutes, when you do get to it; and ole Noah might've taught us all something while learning something himself.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Hugo

It's like clockwork. Every Thanksgiving brings a feel-good flick that pulls at the ole heartstrings and preps me for my favorite holiday of the year. This year that clockwork came to life...literally with Hugo.

Hugo (Asa Butterfield) is the son of a clockmaker. Unfortunately, Hugo's father passed away, leaving him in the care of his drunken and very absent uncle, who maintains the clocks at the train station in Paris. Since his uncle is typically out of the picture. That job falls on lil Hugo, who is essentially raising himself. He'll swipe some food to survive and avoid the local authorities to stay as low profile as possible. Hugo's plan is simple. Since he's learned much from his father's teaching, if Hugo just maintains the station clocks he'll avoid any unwanted attention. All the while, he's trying to fix a man-like machine that he believes will deliver a special message from his dad. It's an adventure that his friend Isabelle joins (Chloe Moretz), as she saves Hugo's day on a few occasions. Enter Georgies Melles (Ben Kingeley). He's a thorn in Hugo's side. Georgies is also Isabelle's caregiver and a rather bitter ole dude with an interesting past. Unveiling that past becomes the real adventure. Yadayadayada Hugo and Isabelle learn a few valuable lessons and are able to teach a few on the way to helping Georgies get his mojo back.

It's okay. I'll go with 3.0 Stars on this one--barely on the sunny side of so-so. Honestly, I was a little disappointed with this one. It's a little tough to put a finger on exactly why. After all, it's a good story and the acting is fine. The tale is designed to deliver a few valuable lessons and does. Those valuable lessons are the movie's saving grace. They include: When something valuable is broke--you fix it. The story reaches a crescendo with the kid's realization of who Georgies is, or was, and go about trying to rekindle that flame. After all, the past is not truly the past if you can keep those memories alive and truly appreciate them.

Yeah, those are great lessons in a seemingly great story. Unfortunately, that story is told in a way that does little to pull at the ole heartstrings. At least not in the way that I felt it would, could and should. I didn't find myself connecting with the characters the way I needed to in order to truly connect with those lessons...not even Hugo. Bottom line: It's just not very compelling.

No, need to go BIG on this one. There are enough strong points here to prompt you to add it to your queue and give it a view in April when it hits Blu-Ray/DVD.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Breaking Dawn (Part 1)

Breaking News...Breaking Dawn (Part 1) --well, actually there's good news and bad news. This is the fourth of a five-part series. Twilight was okay and certainly good enough to give the sequel a shot. New Moon was good and shaped the rest of the series. Eclipse was great. Therefore, everything points to the last flick, which is broken into two parts and promises to deliver big. That, is the good news. The bad news is that it's really up to Part 2 to deliver because, quite frankly, Breaking Dawn (Part 1) doesn't.

Sequels are created in one of two ways: 1) The studio saw enough of a response from an original production to invest in a follow-up--these are quite often busts because they can't possibly match the original's uniqueness, but promises to do so. Therefore, high expectations are created that simply aren't delivered; and 2) The sequel is one piece of a larger puzzle. We've seen this a lot in the last 15 years with Star Wars, Harry Potter and the Twilight series. With the latter, a movie may not stand on its own as a blockbuster, but because it's part of a greater story, it is still going to smash the box office due to a rabid fan base. Honestly, every series has its "bomb" that performs well in the box office. With Star Wars, it was the fourth installment (Episode I). With Harry Potter it was number six, the Half-Blood Prince. With Twilight, it most definitely is Breaking Dawn (Part 1).

When we last left Bella and company, Victoria had just bit it. Now, it's on to personal matters for Ms. Swan, who has decided to become Mrs. Edward Cullen. The two are married much to the chagrin of one ticked off werewolf, Jacob. Sure, he eventually comes around, but ends up merely stirring the drama pot a bit before the happy couple venture to a remote island for the honeymoon. There, the two consummate their love, much to the distress of the ole bedroom (to say Edward is an animal in bed is putting it mildly, but I digress...). At any rate, Bella gets knocked up much to the surprise of all (How could that have happened? Did they use the same toothbrush?). Yeah, so no one knew that Edward's boys could swim. They were wrong and all of a sudden Bella has a fetus attacking her. Yeah, I know...kids are hell. With this in mind, however, the rest of the wolves begin plotting to take out the baby. This, of course, tests Jacob's loyalties and he immediately joins with the Cullen coven, at least to protect Bella. Yadayadayada a few bloody Mary's--check that...Milkshakes later, Jacob and company battle the wolves in an effort to save the day and baby Cullen.

I'm going to go with 2.0 Stars here. I know that studios have taken criticism for breaking the finale of these blockbusters into two parts. With Harry Potter, it was completely justified. That story needed the detail that only two full movies could relay. With Breaking Dawn--not so much. This portion of the two-part flick could have been told in 20-30 minutes. We did not need two flicks here.

They attempt to move the story along with a lot of tongue in cheek humor, etc., which is cute but eventually you need a story that compels and entertains. This does neither. In fact, the most entertaining bit from Breaking Dawn (Part 1) never actually appeared in the film. It was the two-minute segment that Ellen Degeneres produced, which plopped herself humorously into a tub while Bella revealed her pregnancy to Edward. That bit was far more entertaining than anything in the movie.

Sure, this film will be a smashing success based on box office stats. We can clearly credit that on the genius of the previous books and movies. Sure, Breaking Dawn (Part 1) is  certainly a flick that I had to see as a fan of the previous movies, but it is not good.

If you're a fan of the books or movies--yeah, you gotta go BIG on this one just to be true to the franchise. But, what if you're just out to see a good movie and have no real opinion of the series? Well, if you fall into that category, and we might find two or three people who have been stuck in a math vault since 2008 who do; for those few, skip it altogether. Just check out Ellen's tub scene online and you'll have all the entertainment value that you'd find otherwise.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Tower Heist

I typically pick movies based on two criteria--1) Concept (is it an interesting storyline); and 2) Cast (can the actors deliver the story in an entertaining and believable way). With that in mind, something about Tower Heist just didn't jive with me. That's why I put off seeing it for three weeks. Maybe it was because when I think of Ben Stiller, I think There's Something About Mary or Tropic Thunder or Heartbreak Kid or even the Focker series. While I loved all of those movies, I didn't have great confidence that he could pull off this combination action, drama, comedy, suspense piece. Okay...and this is big for me...I was wrrr...I was wrrro...okay...it was good.

Josh Kovac (Stiller) manages the Tower, an extremely high-end apartment building for the exceptionally fiscally fit. One such resident is Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda). He's an investment manager, who is accused of a Ponzi scheme of Bernie Madoff proportions. That's trouble for Kovac and company, because Josh had decided to entrust the company's employees pensions to Shaw's slippery hands. Feeling responsible, Josh quickly hatches a scheme to get the money back and right his wrong. He enlists the help of broke residents (Matthew Broderick), fellow employees (Ben Affleck and Michael Pena, Gabourey Sidibe) and even a former pre-school pal and current criminal (Eddie Murphy). Yadayadayada the group attempts to skirt FBI attention while taking on Shaw to retrieve the dough.

It's good. I'll go with 3.5 Stars here...I liked it. Tower Heist delivers a fast-paced and interesting story with a great cast. Sure, some of the schemes, and their results, are implausible at best, but it's a fun story and is bottom line entertaining. Murphy is great as the wannabe criminal mastermind, reminiscent of Jamie Fox in Horrible Bosses as the poser crime lord who really wasn't. Stiller is great as the boss man looking to make good on his employee's trust. Alda was superb as the always sharp shark; and the rest of the cast certainly carried their weight as well. Overall, it's an 1:44 well spent.

Tower Heist is worth a view and it's one that you can definitely go BIG on with slim chances of being disappointed. It's fun stuff and worth a trip to the Big Screen. Well, everyone...enjoy your Thanksgiving. For me, the countdown is on until El Grande Thanksgiving Delecto...my favorite holiday of the year!!!

True...OUT!

BIg Screen Blurb: J. Edgar

It's a love story that seemingly never was, about the man who has touched more events of American history than any other individual born in the U.S.A. It's J. Edgar from a guy named Eastwood, who might just know his way around a Hollywood studio.

He revolutionized criminal forensics. He dug for (and found) more dirt than any archaeologist that ever walked the earth. And, he had a few skeletons of his own in the ole closet for good measure. He's John Edgar Hoover, better known as J. Edgar. Criminology prior to his days in law enforcement was, well, basically a joke. Not only did J. Edgar bring science to his 48 year tenure at the FBI, he brought the bugs. No, not the kind the creepy, crawly kind, rather bugs of the 'wire tap' variety. Actually, it was one of the reasons that he was able to stay the main man in charge for nearly five decades. Whether it was Eleanor Roosevelt or JFK, J. Edgar had enough dirt to keep all off his back.

The story picks up in the 20's with John Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio). He's a young man of 24 whose career is set to take off. He's quickly named head of the bureau, that he essentially forms and, in time, turns into a beacon of law enforcement. Of course, it's often said that behind every great man is a great...mom. Enter Anna Marie Hoover (Judi Dench). She molds her son into the fierce FBI man that he became, but she was merely one influence. Enter Clyde Tolson (Armi Hammer). He's an Ivy League guy turned G-Man--actually, Clyde emerges as J. Edgar's right-hand man...in more ways than one. There's an apparent attraction between the two, which most often is swept under the rug. Actually, we don't really get a clear picture from the flick as to whether or not the two actually consummated their mutual attraction. The attraction is at least apparent. However, as the sign of the times looms, according at least to this account, the two might never have shared more than a frustrated kiss and an admission of love. Yadayadayada we cover five decades of history, learning much along the way in a movie that is headed to the forefront of Oscar consideration come January.

It's good...very good actually. I'll go with 4.0 Stars here with Leo jumping out as a clear fave for Best Actor. It's a story that jumps around among several points in history, but is easily followed. Actually one of the reasons it's so easily followed is the obvious age of the characters from one point to another. The aged J. Edgar and Clyde are easy indicators of where the story has gone. This brings me to my only real criticism of J. Edgar, the make-up. The aged version of J. Edgar is fine. I didn't really have an issue there. However, the same version of Clyde and Helen Gandy (Noami Watts) were both a farce--and by 'farce', I mean OH MY GOSH, THAT'S SO DAMN FAKE IT'S DISTRACTING! Never fear, a fairly fast-paced and certainly fascinating story told in an equally interesting way more than makes up for the lousy make-up.

Cudos and thanks to Clint, who is proving to be as talented as a director as he was an an actor, which is exceptionally high praise. And cudos to Leo--great role for a truly talented actor. As for Armi. Wow--he certainly goes big or not at all, doesn't he? Last year it was Oscar staple The Social Network now it's J. Edgar. I think we'll continue to see good stuff from this guy for awhile.

To me, J. Edgar is a must see on the BIG screen. If you're not a history buff, there's probably no reason to even rent it unless you're a fan of one of the cast members. You will miss out, however, on a true piece of history about one of the most iconic men in history: J. Edgar Hoover.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: In Time

If ever there has been a movie set up for a run of sequels...it's In Time. Let's see...there's the sequel, Next Time. Followed by More Time, with the grand finale being Time in a Bottle. Okay, so there's a little tongue-in-cheek there, but honestly, we may see all of those follow-ups because this flick is pretty good.

Picture it: the future. When? We don't know, but we're presumably on earth although there are no real signs of where or when the story takes place. We do know two things: First, there are no cell phones (yeah...I know, right--what's up with that?!?); and, second, no one ages past 25. At a certain point, your clock starts and when all numbers hit '0', you're done. Dead. Further, time is currency. There are no dollars or financing. You need a drink after work, that'll be five minutes. Need a new car? That'll be a cool decade. People are paid in time, all of which is logged digitally on your arm. With that in mind, the class system is glaringly obvious. You've got bad zones where people live with just enough time on their arm to get through the day; and, you've got areas where people have centuries in the bank.

Meet Will Salas (Justin Timberlake). He's one of the have-not's living day-to-day, as is his mom. However, through a fortunate happenstance, Will is given centuries by a guy who's got tons of time, but is just plain tired of living. Will is set. Of course, in a bad zone, this is deadly as your time can be taken from you easily and violently. Therefore, Will moves to a better area where he meets Sylvia (Amanda Seyfried) and her family, including her father (Vincent Kartheiser). They've got centuries built up. Enter the cops, or TimeKeepers. They're suspicious of Will, who they suspect has killed the individual who has given him all his time. Yadayadayada Will and Sylvia play combination Bonnie and Clyde/Robin Hood as they strive to balance the social pendulum.

It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars hands down. It's thought-provoking for certain. If ever there was a movie making a political statement--hitting you squarely in the jaw with a message before you know what hit you,  it's In Time. This  flick will have the folks protesting on Wall Street foaming at the mouth. After all, the world is controlled by an elite few. Actually, life and death are controlled by an elite crowd. To ensure that balance is maintained, the elite set the prices--and prices change all the time. A bus ride that costs an hour this morning, could cost two in the afternoon. That's tough for someone living day-to-day...hour-to-hour.

The world created by Director and Writer, Andrew Niccol was fascinating, indeed. In his futuristic landscape, you see the glaring class structure and a world clearly divided. You see certain technologies--electric cars, for example, are the norm. You see the glaring absence of other technology--cell phones, for instance, are no more. Was this obvious tech-boom of our time intentionally left out to help make the story more dramatic? After all, someone facing extinction with a mere few ticks left, could easily get an extension through a technology that would help them power up from a cell device. Maybe it was left out as a control measure. Perhaps the elite powers have eliminated such possibilities for control purposes. I don't know, but the entire concept is interesting, though provoking and makes for great conversation.

Performances were solid throughout. Justin continues his solid run. Amanda Seyfried might finally get her due--she's been solid in some lesser publicized flicks in the past and never really got the attention she deserves. Plus, it was good to see Vincent Kartheiser again. Yeah, I know he's done the Mad Men (nope, I've never seen it) thing for awhile, but it's good that he's hit the big screen once again. Should you? Hit the big screen for this one, I mean? Well, in a word: YES! It surprised me very pleasantly. Expect a mixture of Logan's Run and Robin Hood with interesting storylines, good acting and a flick worth a trip to the big screen.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Real Steel

Think Over the Top (Sly Stallone flick from 1987). Replace arm wrestling with robot boxing. And you're watching Real Steel, a movie that delivers a lot of good messages with, well...a punch.

It's the not so distant future. The world is a little more high tech, and that electronic surge has impacted the sports world. Well, at least it has impacted the boxing world. Apparently, society's need for a return to a gladiator-esque blood thirst, has helped destroy the sport of boxing--being replaced by robot boxing, where the thumbs down of death is common place. Enter Charlie (Hugh Jackman). He's a former boxer who transitioned to managing robot boxers. Charlie's one of those act first, think later, sorts. Unfortunately, his first actions are always high risk notions that saddle him with great debt and tons of trouble. Next, we meet Charlie's son, Max (Dakota Goyo). Max is eleven years old and has never seen the slightest attention from ole dad. However, when Max's mom dies, Charlie sees a pot of gold. It's Max's aunt that wants custody and her hubby is willing to pay. So, as long as Max spends the summer with Charlie, he'll make the cash he needs and the hubby will deliver custody of Max to his wife. Max discovers Atom--an ancient, but special robot that helps put Charlie on the map. Yadayadayada the two bond as Atom rises to the top of the boxing world.

I'll give it 3.0 Stars--on the sunny side of okay. It's a good story, that strongly mirrors Sly Stallone's Over the Top from the eighties, where a truck driving absentee father bonds with his kid over an arm wrestling tournament. Similarities aside, Real Steel delivers the expected character growth and actually some of the unexpected as well. Of course, we see dad and son bond. However, in terms of Max, there were two elements missing--one, the kid's bond with the robot (Atom); and two, the kid's obliviousness to his mom's death. Actually, I kinda expected more of a bond between Max and Atom, especially when we hear early talk of the bots unique emotional capacity. In the end, he's just a machine--as is Max apparently, because we never see any hint of concern over his mother's passing. Of course, the flick is not about her, but it is about him. Sure, Max is a rough-and-tumble kid, played very well by Goya, but part of his persona could have at least been developed through his distant emotional approach to his mom's death. It was kind of a missed opportunity at character development that would have been very real. Meanwhile, Jackman provided his typical solid performance to yet another macho character, with a slight, but not over-the-top romance with long time friend and once gf, Bailey (Evangeline Lilly).

Overall, it's a fun flick that definitely worth a view. Good messages abound and are delivered in a fun way that tells a good story. Don't over think this one and you'll probably enjoy it. Worth a BIG screen view? Well, I'd probably rent this one if I had a do-over. It's slated to come out in February on Blu-Ray...give it a shot then.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Three Musketeers

Hair gone wild...flashy fashion...skirmishes all about??? No, it's not patrons of a Grateful Dead concert clashing with Lady Gaga fans. It's the latest edition of The Three Musketeers.

We all know D'artgnan. (Logan Lerman) He's the son of a musketeer and eager to take on the world. So, off he travels to Paris to find adventure, which literally slaps him in the face. He quickly pisses off half of France, including Rochefort (Mads Mikkelsen), the head of Cardinal Richilieu's (Christoph Waltz) guards; as well as, former musketeers Aramis, Porthos and Athos (Luke Evans, Ray Stevensen, and Matthew MacFadyen). Of course, this turns out okay for young D'artgnan because he's able to befriend the musketeers and rally against a common adversary. Meanwhile, Richilieu is up to his typical power hungry tricks. He's after the throne--or at least control of it, in the face of a young, fashion obsessed kid king. So, Richilieu pulls a Palpatine (sorry--only Star Wars reference, I promise) and uses a double agent (Milla Jovovich) to create a war which he expects to grant him power. Yadayadayada the musketeers unite to aid their king, saving the day against the British bad guys and setting up at least one more installment in the series.

It was fun. I liked it to the tune of 3.5 Stars. Why not? Sure, I'm perplexed why none of these Parisians speak french, but this was a fun flick. The Three Musketeers offers good action sequences...good acting and an updated storyline to boot. You've got love and betrayal (see Athos and the lovely double-agent, Milady). You've got the retroactive technology of 13th century flying machines and Indiana Jone's-like booby traps. And, you've got new faces playing classic characters with the evil vigor of yet another Walz bad guy (see also Inglorious Bastards, Green Hornet, and Water for Elephants); and further diversity and range displayed by Mr. Lerman (Meet Bill, The Butterfly Effect, Hoot and Percy Jackson).

Big Screen or small? Good question. I've always loved the story, so I went big on this one. If you've got a penchant for a classic tale with a few updates...good action sequences and like any of what is a solid cast--go BIG! If that's not your thing...well, check out these 110 minutes in February on Blu-Ray.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Contagion

What Jaws did for swimming at the beach, Contagion was supposed to do for the handshake. Did it? Not so much. What you do get is an all-star director (Steven Soderbergh), cast and an interesting but complex plot, which is both a positive and a neggy.

Our story starts with Beth (Gwyneth Paltrow). She's back from a routine trip to the orient, that ends with a nasty twist. Beth is sick. Jet lag is the suspected culprit, but alas, it's far more than adjusting to time zones. She's picked up a virus that is quite literally a killer. Before settling in at home in Minneapolis, however, Beth has managed to leave a little piece of herself--that is, the virus, in Hong Kong and Chicago. With plenty of healthy hosts for the virus to latch onto, it spreads quickly. Just as quickly the Center for Disease Control is trying to get a handle on it. The key word here is 'trying'. They are trying to identify the virus and develop a cure, all while trying to keep the severity of the disease to a hush in order to prevent widespread chaos and panic. Yadayadayada the virus spreads as the true nature of humanity rears its ugly head on the way to an eventual cure.

I'll go with 2.5 Stars on this one. As mentioned previously, there is both good and bad in Contagion. The positive comes from watching greats like Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne and Kate Winslet strut their stuff. The negatives comes from a simple lack of development. The massive plot structure never really allows for a good sense of character development or thorough development of each point within the plot. Subsequently, time after time, you merely touch on a this character and their situation. Examples abound. At one point, one official is kidnapped and held in exchange for doses of the cure. That situation disappears for 30-minutes before we return to see our hapless victim happily tutoring the village kids. Now, I'm not one to encourage long stories, but repeatedly, we seemed to have left out the story. For instance, as news of the virus emerges, we go from a level of 'slight concern' over the strand to 'total anarchy' without ever really seeing the panic build.

It was a great concept with a potentially great story and a tremendous cast, that was just executed in a very choppy manner. Give me fewer characters and develop them within that great concept. Let me live each step through their eyes so I can feel the situation build into a panic that showcases the good and bad of humanity. Ultimately, it really didn't accomplish that for me. Actually, I wasn't even compelled to pick up an extra can of Lysol, much less stray from a good handshake.

Considering the combination of buzz that I had heard from friends and a great cast, I really had high expectations. However, this would have been a much better rental for me; and that's what I'm recommending on this one. No need to go big here. Add Contagion to to your queue and plug it into your Blu-Ray in January when it's released for the small screen.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Ides of March

As a general rule, I hate politics. Politicians breed corruption faster than a rabbit on Viagra can create a litter of bunnies. It's little more than unfathomably huge egos selling out to preserve their corner of the power struggle and ensure that they don't have to get a real job. So, any guesses on how I felt about the political drama, The Ides of March?

I loved it.

With The Ides of March I didn't have to get caught up, and subsequently pissed off, by the various political issues. Rather, I could just watch and enjoy the strategy unfold. Sure. As you might guess, they were incredibly devious strategies--but hey, it's got to be realistic, right?

Stephen (Ryan Gosling) is the right hand to Paul Zara (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), the campaign manager of Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney). Stephen is well-known for his ability to manage the media and is a strong reason why his guy, Mike, is a front-runner to best his opponent, Senator Pullman, for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Enter Tom Duffy (Paul Giamatti). He's the campaign manager for Pullman. It's a close race and Tom is hungry for an advantage, which makes him eager  to grab Stephen away from the competition. Yadayadayada a few sex sessions with interns...abortions...lies...cheating...etc, etc., later you've got a fascinating 101 minutes of the only kind of politics that I can truly enjoy.

It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars. What makes this flick work is simple: plot and characters. You've got a plot that works on a few levels and powerful characters that are brought to life through great acting. In typical form, you actually like the characters while simultaneously disliking them...but, that's politics, right? As for the plot, I won't go into detail here, but this much I can say: It holds your attention throughout with very few lulls. It's a series of punch-counter punch in a political fight ring where every move and utterance is put under an intensely powerful microscope. In short, it's interesting stuff that borders on a fascinating storyline and is ultimately very enjoyable.

If you've got a penchant for the political...if you're a sucker for strategy...or if you just love a good story--then see The Ides of March and see it BIG. If you need action, violence and some spilt blood to keep you happy--well, rent Rambo. This is a thought-provoking piece that will spark more conversation than just, "...so can you really strangle a guy with his own small intestines?"

True...OUT!

P.S. This marks my 100th review on the Yada! Thanks to all for reading and Blogger and Tumblr for the blog support!

Big Screen Blurb: What's Your Number?

You think of great movie quests, you automatically turn to Luke Skywalker and Star Wars...Frodo in the Lord of the Rings...and certainly, Indiana Jones and any number of relics he was in search of...finally, there's Ally Darling and her quest to find her man, while keeping her number of lovers at a mere twice the national average.

Meet Ally (Anna Faris). She's under a little stress. She just broke up with her boyfriend. She just lost her job; and her younger sister is getting married. The straw that breaks this camel is an article in a Cosmo-like magazine. The article notes that the average woman has 10.5 lovers in her lifetime. This is a bit devastating news to Ally, who's bedded 20 guys. This news is only darkened when her friends tell her that gals who have more than 20 lovers never find true love and marriage. Thus, Ally begins a quest to renew one of her past love interests, in an effort to prevent that magic number from going over twenty and find true love. She enlists the help of her far sluttier neighbor, Colin (Chris Evans). His interest is in having a safe shelter to wait while his previous night's conquest makes her exit. The two strike a deal and the quest begins. Yadayadayada...to no surprise it's number 21 that brings the magic, but not before many-a-valuable lesson is learned along the way.

It's okay: 3.0 Stars. There's enough funny here...even a few laugh out loud moments...that makes this a flick that lands on the sunny side of okay. With the slew of comedic entries in the move marketplace this year (Bridesmaids,Hangover Part 2, Friends with Benefits, The Change-up, etc.), What's Your Number doesn't quite stack up as one of the year's best. With that said, there are good messages here: 1) Accept yourself; and, 2) You're probably not going to experience true love unless you're able to be completely comfortable with both yourself and your significant other! Good messages and well delivered through a fairly funny script. I actually like Anna Farris, but I've never been a huge Chris Evans fan. I still haven't recovered from his Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four and probably would not have complained about another entrant into the role of Colin.

Bottom line: There's enough here to save it from the "Skip it!" column, but it's not necessarily one to see BIG. Rent it in January when it comes out on Blu-Ray.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Moneyball

I'm a big sports fan. When it comes great sports movies, I've got an extremely short list. The movie has to follow the same formula that makes other flicks great, yet it has to be true to the authenticity of the sport. That's why so many sports movies fall short. I routinely find myself watching a sports movie while thinking, "That couldn't happen!", or "There's no way that would happen!" Neither of those phrases found their way into my interior monologue while watching Moneyball. It's authentic and it's good. Of course, it would be--it's true.

Moneyball is the true story of the Oakland A's. It spans over the tail end of the 2001 season and all of 2002. The A's ended the 2001 season on a low note. Oakland took a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five series after winning two games in Yankees Stadium.However, the A's dropped the next two in Oakland--thanks in part to Jeter's miracle relay and another Pettite performance with his pinstripes backed against the wall (actually, it was the gray road jersey, but I was going for a moment there). Finally, the Yank's came home to knock off the A's and complete the come-from-behind series win. Then, New York really beat Oakland. In the off-season, they gobbled up Jason Giambi as a free agent. The A's also lost Jason Isringhausen to free agency and the St. Louise Cardinals. Finally, Johnny Damon also left small-market Oakland for the big market Boston Red Sox. To put it lightly, Oakland was facing a major rebuilding project heading into the 2002 campaign.

Without a lot of money to throw around, A's general manager, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) was very much behind the eight ball...check that...I mean, the Moneyball. That's when he meets Peter Brand (Jonah Hill). Peter is a Harvard grad and quickly becomes Beane's right-hand man with a very new approach to building a baseball team. The scouts are essentially usurped with Peter's computer as a rag-tag group of A's is assembled for 2002. This wasn't exactly popular in the front office, including A's manager, Art Howe (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). Yadayadayada Beane battles the controversy of his decisions on and off the field on his way to revolutionizing the way small market teams (and now even large market teams) evaluate the game.

It's good. Probably the best sports movie I've seen and easily worthy of 4.5 Star rating. You've got a great cast with powerful scenes and a plot that keeps a viewer very much dialed in. Keep in mind, however, that I fell in love with baseball at the age of 11. This movie was so good to me, because I understand a lot of the in's and out's of the game. I know that it's been said that non-baseball fans are going to enjoy Moneyball just as much as a baseball fan like me, but I'm going to say, "...not so fast!" and respectfully disagree. Many of the moments that were so compelling, spoke to me because I'm fairly fluent in the language of baseball. Don't get me wrong, I think a lot of non-baseball fans will enjoy various aspects of this movie. You've got the side-bar of Beane's own story, rising from high school phenom fame to becoming a bust in the bigs for the Mets, Twins and A's. The family side of Beane is also explored, etc., etc. That's all good, but frankly, if I'm not a baseball fan, I'm not seeing 4.5 stars, here. I saw it on it's opening night with a pretty packed house. You could certainly tell that a lot of people enjoyed it and a good number were fairly bored by it.

The acting is solid all around. Hill was tremendous. His goal with this role was to break from his comedic brand--goal accomplished. He was great. Pitt was Pitt...'nuff said, right! And Hoffman was, well, Hoffman--albeit in a smaller role.

Bottom line: if you're baseball fan, this one is a must see and go BIG for certain. If you're not a baseball fan or a even a sports fan, you're probably not going to enjoy Moneyball as much as you would if 4-6-3 is part of your everyday vernacular.

True...OUT!

Blu-Ray Review: Win Win

You know the old saying, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going"? Well, Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) didn't get that memo. This attorney in New Jersey had a different take. "When the going gets tough, the tough get very shrewd".

Mike's a good guy. He's an attorney in a small-ish Jersey town, who also coaches a little wrestling on the side, and times are tough. Whether it's his equally small-ish law practice or miserably unsuccessful wrestling team, Mike is struggling--especially with his finances. Mike leads a family of four and money is tight. for him, his wife and two daughters. So tight, in fact, that Mike declares himself as the guardian for his client, Leo (Burt Young). Leo is suffering from dimentia and is about to be named a ward of the state. Mike takes on Leo and the $1,500 monthly commission he earns from the state--which is kinda in the gray area of legal scruples. Since Leo's daughter is in drug rehab and she is all that remains of his family, this all sounds like it just might pass. That's when Leo's grandson appears. Kyle (Alex Shaffer) is a 16 year old kid looking to set up shop at grandpa's house.  Kyle is your typical distant, somewhat aloof teenager, who has been through a lot and keeps it all bottled up. Since grandpa is neatly tucked away in a home, Kyle capures the hearts of Mike and his wife (Amy Ryan) and starts staying with them. As it turns out, in addition to being a winner in the Flaherty homestead, Kyle is a winner on the mat. He's a champion wrestler. That's win Kyle's mom shows up and stirs the nest. Yadayadayada Mike battles Kyles mom for the pot-o-gold that is Leo while keeping a nurturing eye on Kyle as well...it's a Win Win for everyone, right?

Well, maybe not everyone in the cast...but it's a definite winner for the audience. I'll go with 4.0 Stars. This is a thought-provoking flick that has a great message about making mistakes and making things right. Further, it's about allowing love and relationship to overcome those mistakes in the process of letting forgiveness win over bitterness and revenge. Bottom line: Win Win is a good movie.

I love this story, this cast and how it unfolds through their acting. Paul Giamatti is a seasoned vet. He's a character actor that will provide a Win to the right role. Whether it's on the serious side like this film, The Illusionist or John Adams; or the zany side like Big Fat Liar or Fred Claus, Paul is usually a winner. Then, there's newcomer Alex Shaffer. Since this is his only credit, he's hard to gauge. I'm not sure if this was just the right role for a naturally quiet, aloof personality or if this guy's the real deal, but I loved him in this role. Since he might have walked into this role situationally (he was a former high school wrestler whose back injury ended his days as a competitor), I'm not ready to put him into the ranks of Ezra Miller or Chase Ellison--young actors that I've seen great things from while in their teens. Meanwhile, Amy Ryan is also solid as the wife and her character really grew on me. Finally, Jeffrey Tambor and Burt Young provide solid anchors to the cast in smaller roles.

You want a good, well-told story that is well acted and stays with you long after the credits...Win Win is a champ. Add it to your queue and enjoy!

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Debt

I was told once, that you're not old until your life's regrets outnumber your life's ambitions. If that is, indeed true, the characters of The Debt were very old at a very young age.

In The Debt, director John Madden weaves a story of revenge, involving a cast of four characters over two time periods. The year is 1966. Rachel, Steven and David (Jessica Chastain, Marton Csokas and Sam Worthington) are Mossad secret agents with one target: Nazi war criminal Dieter Vogel, better known as the Surgeon of Birkenau. The evil doctor has found refuge in East Berlin. The trio's task is a daunting one. They are to identify Vogel. Capture him. And finally, they are to smuggle him out of East Berlin to stand trial for his war crimes. The mission appears to be a great success as the trio is celebrated as national heroes. However, decades later in 1997, things appear to unravel as the trio (Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson and Claran Hinds)  regroups...kinda. Yadayadayada the spy thriller culminates as ultimate revenge meets the pinnacle of regret.

It's good. I'll go with 3.5 Stars. I was told going into this flick, that it was a lot like Munich. It certainly had that foreign, revenge piece, feel of Munich. I liked that flick a lot, but enjoyed The Debt much more. I loved the different levels on which this movie plays out. You're jumping time frames consistently--at least early in the film, but you never find yourself lost. Plus, the characters are intriquing and strong.

The characters and their theme of regret is as compelling as their tale. The love triangle showcases just one aspect of this. It frames the story and is equally compelling. You've got Rachel, shunned by her true love, settling on someone she grows to resent greatly. The regret really just begins there and is weaved throughout the story.

The acting certainly enhances a great story and provides the ultimate cherry on top of the sundae. I love Helen Mirren in just about anything. Tom Wilkinson I have loved since his role in The Patriot and Sam Worthington keeps his recent track record unblemished as the distant and detached David. All in all--good story...well told through great actors.

If you're a stickler for a good, well-told story, with an espionage slant, see The Debt and see it BIG.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: I Don't Know How She Does It

When it comes to marriage, we guys really have it easy, don't we? Guys essentially get to shelve most all household responsibility as soon as the ole ring goes on the finger and the kids pop out. Get the kids up...wife's job. Get the kids dressed...wife's job. Fix the kid's breakfast...wife's job. Prepare the...well, you get the picture. It's a tough juggling act and quite frankly, I Don't Know How She Does It.

We get a few tips from Kate (Sarah Jessica Parker). After all, she does it all. Kate's a wife and mother of two. She has two kids, both under six years old. And finally, Kate is high level exec for an investment company. Plus, her career is booming...as is her husband, Richard (Greg Kinnear)...as are her kids. This leaves little else for Kate to do, but juggle, juggle and juggle some more. Things get a little more crazy when Jack Abbelhammer (Pierce Brosnan) enters the picture. He gives Kate a big career break that allows her to score big at her firm. Yadayadayada the two get closer as Kate manages many balls in the air, while trying to find time to smell the roses while managing her priorities.

It's good. I'll go with 3.0 Stars--well on the sunny side of okay. No big adulterous drama that you might expect to find. Just a real story told in a fun fashion. It's told in a The Office format, with interviews from Kate's various friends and foes. This storytelling device mixes things up a bit and gives a personal insight from fringe characters (that are otherwise non-factors) which adds to the tale. There are no earth-shattering points of drama, just real life. It's a simple story told in the midst of chaos and bears a point that will ring true for many. The message is simple: many women are forced to juggle many things that are important to them--chiefly the roles of wife, mother and employee. Sometimes you've got to pick 'job' over 'family'...sometimes it's 'family' over 'job'. The trick is knowing when to pull which string.

It's an art that Kate manages quite nicely actually, leaving all scratching their heads saying, I Don't Know How She Does It? It's worth a watch, unless you're one of the majority of guys that take full advantage of their better halves by piling their plates full. Of course, the ladies that would truly appreciate it (and may really learn a few tips from Kate) will never have time to check it out. It's those ladies who deserve to see it, and see it BIG.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

The first time I saw Jaws 2 was during Joe Stickels' birthday party. I was in the sixth grade and a wee lad of eleven. Jaws 2 was the Late, Late Movie that played while we were busy shooting Joe's homemade rubber band guns, playing cards and making a general nuisance of ourselves during a festive all-nighter. What stood out about that movie, which played background to our fun, was that Joe was very actively rooting for the shark.

Yeah--I thought that was odd, too. Especially considering that the shark in the flick was assigned a rather villianous personality...quite unjustly, I might add in retrospect. Joe's point was simple: In reality, sharks seem innately programmed to swim, eat and crap. They don't know who or what they are eating. They just know that hunger pangs strike and food is in front of them. No vengence. No mal-intent. Finding out that this is malicious would be like me finding out that the Cheetos that I've been chomping on for years has made me instant kin to Darth Vader. Yikes! The very thought makes me cringe with guilt over the poor lil orange puffs.

At any rate, I say all of that to say this: I pulled a Joe Stickels Friday night and was very actively rooting for the apes in each of the 112 minutes in the Rise of the Planet of the Apes. However, the difference between the two movies is simple: in Rise you're supposed to root for Ceaser, et al.; not so much for the shark--sorry Joe, but your point was well-taken nevertheless.

Ceaser (Andy Serkis) is the product of evolutionary genetic manipulation. Thanks, that is, to one Dr. Will Rodman (James Franco). He's hard at work for GenSys, a company in search of its next billion dollar drug. Will, however, has an alterior motive: his dad (John Lithgow). Dr. Will is less concerned about dollar signs and more concerned about finding a cure for Alzheimer's, which he does...kinda. The testing helped Ceasar's cognitive function and even saw the cute little guy move in with Dr. Will and dad. There we watch as dad heals and Ceaser becomes part of the family. Through a series of unfortunate events, the latter is forced out of Will's home and confined to the equivalent of an asylum for apes. From there, we watch as humans cruelly opress the apes, including Ceaser. That is, until he puts his smarts to use and turns the tables. Yadayadayada Ceaser rallies his species to an uprising of unheralded proportions and the first of what promises to be at least a trilogy is officially launched.

It's good. I'll go with 3.0 Stars. Honestly, at times, this was tough for me to watch. I'm an animal guy. Rip off a human's head in a flick, I'm like, "Ooookay...whatever." Hurt an animal in a movie, I'm like, "It's ON BITCH!" With that said, it wasn't tough to root for the apes. After all, we were supposed to, right? We get to know and love Ceaser from his birth in the clinic...to his discovery of life in such a humanastic way that we should all be that in-tune to the world around us...and finally, to his leadership role of his species. Bottom line: we love Ceaser and come to despise the greed-driven folks of GenSys. They're not all bad, mind you. Dr. Will is great and well played by Franco. His cast mates glow as well. Litgow is great and Serkis, although limited in his dialogue, is great as Ceaser. Further, the story is well told by director Rupert Wyatt; and, it's one that makes you think. It's a classic and a conversation starter for certain.

It's worth a watch. Maybe a rental. Maybe a Big screen view. It really depends on your interest in the subject matter. I put off checking this one out for awhile, but I'm glad I saw it. It helped me realize that I'm always going to stand up for, and root for, the opressed. That holds true whether it's a shark from years ago (...yeah, you convinced me Joe) or Ceaser, and the primates, from last weekend.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Our Idiot Brother

Insanely trusting. Mind-numbingly naive. And, well...not the sharpest knife in the drawer. No, that is not a description of yours truly, although many would argue and I could hardly protest. It is, however, an accurate sketch of Ned (Paul Rudd), the lead sibling in Our Idiot Brother.

Ned's a great guy. Actually, he's a little too great. In fact, Ned is a little too good for his own good. Case in point, when we first meet this happy-go-lucky organic produce seller, he's just trying to help a brotha' out. He hear's the guys sob story about a rough week and gives in to his request to sell him some pot--not that Ned was actually selling. He was going to give it away until the guy insisted that he pay something. The trouble with this scenario is that the brotha' was a cop...and, not even an undercover cop. Rather, he was a uniformed cop. Can the audience heave a collective "Whatta ya thinkin', Yo???"

After serving his time, the never negative Ned embarks on his new life. Unfortunately, he's forced to do so without his girlfriend, who has left him. Even worse, she's holding onto Ned's bff--Willie Nelson. No, not the singer, Ned's dog. Then, Ned heads over to Mom's for his first of four stops. After ole Mom, it's on to his sister's (Zooey Dechanel, Elizabeth Banks and Emily Mortimer) homes for short stays. It seems that everywhere Ned goes, he wreaks havoc on the lifestyle of his host. Yadayadayada Ned makes his rounds, bringing his uniquely naive and trusting philosophy to each home, while leaving a wake of disruption in his path; that is, until his family begins to embrace his idiomatic personality.

It's okay...2.5 Stars. I know in marketing...and relationships...and well, life in general...timing is everything. The same can be said for movies. With the hilarity coming out of Hollywood of late (Friends with Benefits, The Change-up, etc.), this one is just a bit flat. Sure, Our Idiot Brother has its moments--at least a few of them, but nothing like I've seen over the last few Friday nights. With that said, there are no glaring issues. The story is fine. The acting is fine. Rudd does no injustice to hapless. Zooey plays the sexually confused sis nicely. Elizabeth Banks nails the role of the high-powered wanna be sister. Finally, Emily Mortimer is convincing as the sister who struggles to dig her own head out of the sand as her hubby (Steve Coogan) cheats left, right and side-ways...well, make that moon-ways. Plus, there's a good message and some good humor, even a couple 'laugh-out-loud' moments.

All in all, with tons of 'funny' available in the flick world, this one is best suited to rent in November. No real need to go BIG here, unless you've got a stalker-esque crush on Rudd or fellow cast mate. That's it for me. No mowing this weekend as nothing grows in this heat. However, plenty of stuff to get done around here so off I go...enjoy your Sunday!

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Water for Elephants

I love Reese Witherspoon, and Robert Pattinson has been growing on me since his role in Remember Me. Still, I wasn't exactly giddy about seeing Water for Elephants when a friend wanted to go see it a few weeks ago. Obviously, I wasn't giddy about writing the review either, but make no mistake about it, this flick is one to see.

As the nation struggles economically in the 30's, here's Jacob. (Pattinson) He's not struggling. Actually, he's a Columbia U student nearing graduation in veterinary science. That's when it all falls apart. His parents are in a fatal accident and all is lost. With that in mind, he joins the circus as a staff vet. There, he is introduced to the lovely Marlena (Witherspoon) and the not-so-lovely August (Christoph Walz). They are a hubby-wife team. August owns the circus and Marlena performs. August rules everything, even Marlena, with an iron fist. Actually, 'iron fist' is not a remotely accurate descriptive. He's cruel. Sure, times are tough in the entertainment industry and competing with Ringling Brothers can't be easy, but August treats the people in his charge horribly and the animals even worse. This, of course, leads Marlena to finding solace with Jacob, Hmm...that doesn't sit well with August for some reason. So instead of a "The Show Must Go On" response, August has more of an "It's ON!!!" reaction. Yadayadayada August and Jacob square off with Marlena and a slew of animals on the line.

It's a moving on a lot of different levels and well worth a watch. I'll give it 3.5 Stars. It's a good story that is well told. It leaves you thinking and creates an emotional response. Of course, it's incredibly difficult to endure the scenes of animal abuse, even if those aren't played out graphically. Those scenes are necessary however, along with a few other abusive scenes of the human variety, to truly develop the character of cruelty that is, August. None of that would truly work for me, however, if it didn't leave me with an ultimate 'feel good' moment, which it most definitely does.

Pattinson, Walz and, of course, Witherspoon are all great. Walz definitely has the bad boy role perfected to nearly pure evil proportions. Although his August shows a hint of a conscious as opposed to his Colonel Landa from Inglorious Bastards. Still a strong role played exceptionally well. That's true of his fellow screen leaders as well.

All in all--Water for Elephants is one to check out. If you're looking for pure feel-good entertainment, it may be one to rent on a night when you could use a little emotional roller coaster ride. It will be out on BluRay in November.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Change-Up

The Change-Up. Hmm...maybe this one should have been called The Curveball instead. Yes, it is a familiar story that seems to make the rounds every few years with the same old message. However, this thing is riotously funny and easily overcomes the familiar ole "Wow...I'm now you and you're now me" storyline.

Dave (Jason Bateman) is our career-obssessed entrant. He's working on the deal of his life and watching his own go by. Dave is positioning himself for partnership in the law firm where he is also putting together a merger deal that will all but guarantee the promotion. Dave is also a big family man. He's got the lovely wife, daughter and newborne twins--all of which have pretty much gone forgotten or merely being tolerated. Next, we find Mitch...wake-up Mitch...Mitch, HEY WAKE UP! Oh well, Mitch (Ryan Reynolds) is a single, lazy and struggling actor; actually, he's just struggling. He works the ladies, but that's just about it. So, when the two lifelong friends get together for a night on the town, alcohol takes over and the two share an envy toward each other's life. That, along with taking a leak in public fountain is obviously enough to make Mitch, Dave; and Dave, Mitch. Yadayadayada they both learn a few lessons about appreciation and growing up on the way to switching back.

It's good...4.0 Stars--check that, it's freakin' hilarious. As if we didn't draw enough humor from Dave being Dave and Mitch being Mitch, we are treated to numerous 'OH MY GOSH' moments from the ole change-up. Keep in mind, you get a lot...check that A LOT of those, 'Uhh...I probably shouldn't be laughing at this, but can't help myself' moments. Friendly advice on that front: Give in...that's right, surrender to it; you'll be glad you did. It's a very well written script, taking a worn out concept and injecting some 'push the envelope' humor to make this more than work. It's fun. Bateman is awesome. Reynolds matches that description. Yes, it takes a lull (story and humor-wise) at about the 75 minute mark as the final plot point pieces are plugged into the puzzle. (say that three times fast) That sluggish stretch aside, it's more than worth it.

Word of warning--no prudes allowed. If you are tad on the uptight side, you're not going to enjoy this one. However, if you like humor that leaves a lingering twinge of guilt, you gotta see The Change-Up and see it BIG. It's 152-minutes of fun and December is too long wait to see this one.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Thor

Thor. With the slew of super hero flicks we've seen come out over the past few years, I wasn't sure how this one would stack up. Sure, it carried lower expectations than Iron Man or the recent Batman flicks. Would Thor lower the hammer or merely drop it on his big toe? Hmm...I'd say the hammer is in fairly good shape and decently polished.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is about to take the throne from his aging papa (Odin--Anthony Hopkins) in the realm of Asgard. Unfortunately, young Thor is about 80 percent ego and 19 percent muscle. This leaves a mere one percent for maturity, which prompts Odin to dub him incapable of ruling and sees him banished to earth. Yeah--pretty rough first step, huh? One minute you're ready to set on a golden throne and the next you're stuck in a world where satellite TV and limited cell phone coverage are the high points. We meager earthlings do have something to offer, however, and that is the crux of the story. You see, on earth, Thor meets the lovely scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). After Thor's unorthodox landing on earth, the feds confiscate all of Jane's research. Let's face it...Jane's a chick 'in-the-know' so years of documentation is unwillingly handed over. Thor's here to help and learn some valuable lessons. Thor's hammer arrived with him and he'll be able to pull it out of its resting spot when he's matured enough to rule. Yadayadayada Thor enrolls in Grow Up 101 taught by Ms. Foster as enemies from Asgard plot to destroy Odin and send a monstrous foe to earth to knock out Thor for good measure.

It's pretty good. I'll go with 3.0 Stars here...on the sunny side of okay. I'm a comic book fan, but admittedly had never truly delved into the realm of Asgard and Thor's story. It's a well put-together story that involves plenty of action, a little romance and a dash of humor just to keep you on your toes. You've got relationship issues, headlined by the sibling rivalry of Thor with his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), not to mention the ole father-son dynamic. All in all...it's a fun movie, if you've got a hankering for super heroes. Hemsworth is a solid Thor...Hopkins is well...Hopkins and Portman, in a fairly light role--lighter than Black Swan, yet far heavier than The Highness--is her typical Oscar nominated self (although this one probably won't garner much attention from the heavies).

If you like super heroes or some pretty good action attached to a good story, give this one a shot. Although, it's big screen life has just about ended. It is due out on Blu-Ray on September 13th, so give it shot then.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Cowboys & Aliens

Cowboys & Aliens. Hmm...five words for you: I didn't see that comin'! Yeah, this one never really drew a blip on my radar screen. Not because of the cast, mind you--far from it. Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford make for one doozy of a action duo. No, this one didn't register with me during it's trailer run because of the crossing of two genres. Cowboys. Aliens. It just didn't ring true. The title itself invites a nasty double-take. Cattle, gunslingers, horses and buggies meet space-men? Come on! However, when a friend insisted that I see it...I thought "well...with Harrison Ford...how bad could it be?" Answer: Not bad at all.

We open with Jake (Craig). He's waking up in the middle of nowhere. Jake doesn't know where he is, or even who he is. All he knows is that he's got a funky bracelet attached to his wrist. Stumbling into the sleepy little town of Absolution provides some answers. At least Jake learns that he's a 'wanted' man--not in the 'we love ya, Jake' sense of the word, but rather, the fugitive sense. Things turn around for ole Jake's popularity when those funky space-men show up. They invade the town in their equally funky (at least to the cow-pokes) flying machines and snatch a slew of Absolutionites. That's when Jakes bracelet comes in handy. Slowly, he starts to piece together his past, as he joins Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford) and, yadayadayada...with the company of a tribe of indians, they wage war against aliens in an effort to save their people and mankind.

It's good. Quite good, actually--good enough for 3.5 Stars. Jon Favreau directs this one and told a thoroughly entertaining story. Not an easy tale to spin either, considering we've got two genres on polar opposites. This one could have been a flop from the beginning, but add Craig and Ford in starring roles...throw in great supporting roles from Sam Rockwell, Abigail Spencer, Adam Beach, Paul Dano and Noah Ringer, and you've got something that actually works. The story itself moves along nicely and develops in a way that keeps interest piqued. The characters help that tremendously. You've got a slew of interesting characters, each well acted, and most of which experience a surge of personal growth.

All in all, Cowboys & Aliens is definitely worth a watch, and deserves consideration for a BIG screen view. Of course, since the title is supposed to create the ole, "huh...what-the-???" effect, they probably should've called it "Cowboys and Indians...and Aliens". Yeah, that might have been a tad long, but hey...give my peeps some props--after all, the Indians played a big role in this one too!

True...OUT!