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The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
A great transition from the first film....
Bilbo Baggins and the company of dwarfs led by Thorin Oakenshield must continue on their quest towards Erebor, the mountain home of Smaug. Their mission is to retake the Kingdom Under the Mountain, the true home of the dwarfs, from Smaug. This terrifying dragon has made the mountain his home since he defeated the dwarfs many years before. Along the way they are forced to contend with a band of elves unwilling to aid them. Bilbo is able to prove his worth as they continue towards the mountain and their goal.
The Hobbit The Desolation of Smaug 4The continuation of the story started with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is an enjoyable film. Once again director Peter Jackson (The Lovely Bones) proves his ability to stay true to the subject material. Jackson wrote the wonderful screenplay for this movie alongside Fran Walsh (King Kong), Philippa Boyens (The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), and Guillermo del Toro (Cronos). The cast is also great, bringing back all of the familiar faces from the first film in the trilogy. This includes Ian McKellan (Gods and Monsters), Martin Freeman (The World's End), Richard Armitage (Captain America: The First Avenger), Orlando Bloom (Black Hawk Down), Evangeline Lilly (The Hurt Locker), Cate Blanchett (Babel), and Benedict Cumberbatch (War Horse).
The Hobbit The Desolation of Smaug 1This is a visual splendor, much like the first film. The movie does a wonderful job of remaining true to the vision of Middle Earth created in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The visuals are impressive, not only from the landscapes and settings, but also the characters created for the film. Smaug is perhaps the most impressive dragon I've ever seen in a film. The many creatures and other characters also created are wonderful as well. Adding in great set designs and camera work, this is an awesome technical display. Overall, this will not disappoint anyone hoping for an impressive beautiful movie.
The Hobbit The Desolation of Smaug 2The acting in this film is equally impressive. Taking into account the difficulties involved with the green screens and all of the other technical challenges, the actors did an awesome job. Ian McKellan is as wonderful as always, making Gandalf a complicated and compassionate person. Martin Freeman is equally impressive in a role that is required to evolve throughout the story. The rest of the cast does an impressive job in their roles, bring together a myriad of characters that bring Middle Earth to life.
The Hobbit The Desolation of Smaug 3The story for this part of the series must have been incredibly challenging. How do you decide where to end a film when you have another movie in the works to complete the story. I'm glad that it wasn't a decision I was forced to make. Thankfully, Jackson and the team of writers made an excellent choice on how to script this one. Unlike the second Pirates of the Caribbean film, this is not just a placeholder in need of an end. Unfortunately there are a number of loose ends throughout the movie. This was bound to happen due to the multiple story lines and the number of new characters introduced at this point in the film. This doesn't make the movie any less enjoyable, but it will leave you wanting a little more.
The Hobbit The Desolation of Smaug 8This is a wonderful movie that takes The Hobbit and brings it to life much like I imagined it as a kid. If you're a fan of the books of Tolkien, or The Lord of the Rings trilogy, this is one for you. I would definitely suggest seeing the first film before diving into this one. I would also recommend this for fans of action-adventure films. I give this one 4.7 out of 5 stars.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
The birth of a genre, and it's a good one!
Private detective Sam Spade's partner is dead, and he believes it has something to do with their newest client. Now he's joined the hunt for a mysterious statue alongside three bizarre criminals. As the hunt continues, no one knows who can be trusted.
Maltese Falcon 4If you want to see the birth of a genre, look no further than The Maltese Falcon. This film opened the door for film noir to enter the American cinematic vocabulary. Two-time Oscar winner, John Huston (The African Queen) was the right man to direct a film like this. His adaptation of the novel by Dashiell Hammett (After The Thin Man) is a wonderful example of how to bring a story to life. In 1941, this film was good enough to earn Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Writing.
Maltese Falcon 7The cast for this film is one of my favorite ensembles of the era. Humphrey Bogart (Casablanca), Mary Astor (The Great Lie), Peter Lorre (M), and Sydney Greenstreet (They Died with Their Boots On) come together with an incredible amount of chemistry. Greenstreet earned an Oscar for his portrayal of the obsessed business man and crook, Kasper Gutman. Peter Lorre is equally wonderful in his role as the flamboyant and bumbling thief. Mary Astor plays her part well also, working as a character who appears in many forms. Despite all of these wonderful performances, I think Bogart comes out on top. His delivery of the dialogue set the bar for future film noir actors. His natural ease in front of the camera works to his benefit as he plays the cool and calm private eye.
Maltese Falcon 1The camera work for this movie is nicely done. It avoids any dramatic movement and remains unobtrusive throughout. Thankfully the film also had a great number of sets to film on. Set mainly at night, the film capitalizes on great lighting to create the shadows and the mood necessary for the story.
Maltese Falcon 2The pace of the film is good, and I felt like the story avoided any unnecessary moments. The mystery and intrigue pay off nicely in this classic film. If you're into mysteries and you haven't seen this movie, I would suggest getting a copy right away. This is an awesome movie with great visuals and a wonderful score. I would also recommend this to fans of films like Dial M for Murder or The Big Sleep. I give this one 5 out of 5 stars.
The Soloist (2009)
A tough but fair look at mental illness and poverty.
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The Soloist
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In 2009 Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. teamed up in this amazing film. Based on a true story the film focuses on the meeting between Nathaniel Ayers (Foxx) and Steve Lopez (Downey). Lopez is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times who needs a new story. While in the park he discovers Ayers playing the violin. Soon he discovers that this homeless man is a former student from Julliard and an amazing musical talent. The challenge for Lopez is his desire to help Nathaniel reclaim his life and his talent. Steve's attempts to do this lead him on a journey to discovery of much more.
This is a great watch. I enjoyed every minute and all aspects of the film worked well together. The acting is incredible as both of the stars worked to pull off this amazing story. Foxx had an especially daunting task as he portrayed a man suffering from debilitating mental illness.
The cinematography in this film is also incredible. Each of the scenes seems perfectly framed and captures the feeling of the moment. The music that is used throughout the film lends itself to the emotion as well.
I would strongly recommend this film for anyone. It's not a children's movie but it's still got a family film feel to it. the depiction of the lives of the homeless and mentally ill can be tough at times, but as a whole the film has a redeeming quality.
I give this film 3.5 stars out of 5.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Another one?
I would venture to say that we've entered the golden age of cinema sequels. Soon we'll have the misfortune of another Ghostrider film despite the fact that the first one stunk. Sequels can be the best thing to ever happen to a film (The Godfather II, Rocky II) or the worst (see any of the Land Before Time series after the first). So, needless to say I wasn't totally excited about the third Transformers film especially since the second film had left me disappointed.
I'm happy to report that this third film was a dramatic improvement in several ways over the second. I still feel that the first film was the best, but this film was watchable and even enjoyable. This time the cast includes Shia LeBeouf, Josh Duhamel, and John Turturro. New to the series are John Malkovich, Patrick Dempsey, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
The story follows up on the previous films as the Autobots discover a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the Moon. Now they're in a race with the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets. In the meantime Sam (LaBeouf) is struggling with being a normal guy after the role he played in saving the earth. Slowly he finds his way back into the mix with his old friends, human and Transformer, as the Decepticons begin their efforts to rule the world.
The film is visually stunning through the action sequences. The CGI and special effects work well as they make each action scene amazing. If you're looking for anything realistic this won't be for you, the fights and destruction are over the top from minute one.
The acting is exactly I expected, LaBeouf plays his frustrated Sam much the same way as he did in the previous two films. Gibson and Duhamel manage to shoot enough Decepticons to make their mark in the film. Sam's new flame Carly (Huntington-Whiteley) is weak in the film but I'm fairly sure that she wasn't hired for her acting. Newcomers John Malkovich and Patrick Dempsey are definitely the highlights of the film.
If there is any criticism I would say that the effort to leave the door open for a sequel is obvious and may have weakened the ending. It's not a bad film, but like the second film it fails to match the quality of the first film in terms of story.
I would recommend this film if you enjoyed the other two in the series. If the second film left you feeling bad this might redeem the franchise a bit. I would give the film a rating of 2.9 stars out of 5.
Rating: PG-13 Running Time: 157 minutes
The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
An interesting film.
Mickey Haller is L.A.'s top criminal defense attorney – a fast living, freewheeling pro who does business out of the back seat of his classic Lincoln Town car. He knows all the ins and outs of the legal system and how to exploit them to his clients' advantage. But after agreeing to defend a wealthy young man accused of rape and murder, Mickey suddenly finds himself embroiled in a deadly game of violence, vengeance and deception that threatens to not only end his career, but also his life. The Good: Matthew McConaughey. He got a lot of praise for this role when this movie came and, and deservedly so. He did an excellent job of portraying emotions and inner turmoil through facial expressions and body language. He was believable throughout the entire film. The story. It had me figuring it out as it went rather than 5 minutes in. It's not a story I've seen 10 times in other movies. It kept me interested until the end.
The Bad: Ryan Phillipe. He really wasn't terrible, but I've never been a huge fan of him. He doesn't have much stage presence. However, it does kind of work in this role. His character called for a sense of coldness, but I think there could have been a little more to him. Recommend? Yes. There is some moderate language and the nature of the alleged crimes is very serious. So it is not for the younger crowd. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars.
Moneyball (2011)
A great tribute to a great team. (With some liberties taken.)
With one of the most anticipated films of 2011 Brad Pitt has hit a home run. Proved talent like Philip Seymour Hoffman and Robin Wright add their talents to this incredible film. In addition Jonah Hill proves himself in a serious role with a great performance. All of the remaining cast members take on their roles with great success and put together a great movie.
The film Moneyball is the story of the 2002 Oakland Athletics and the unconventional methods used in putting together their team. Based on the book by Michael Lewis this film focuses on the loss of their star players to teams with bigger payrolls. Billy Beane (Pitt) enlists the help of Peter Brand (Hill) to find hidden talent with unpopular statistical methods. Hill is normally known for his sarcastic tone and comedic relief but this time he plays it straight and fits right in as the young statistics nerd. Beane's clashes with the manager (Hoffman) also make for some great dialogue as they spar over the old school and new schools of talent evaluation. The writing in this film is wonderful overall.
Another one of the major successes in the film is their ability to explain the different schools of baseball thought without being overly detailed. The game of baseball has a rich tradition and the film does a wonderful job showing the backlash that comes from pushing against the grain. This is done throughout the film without slowing the pace or taking away from the story.
I would recommend this film to anyone. Despite being a sports film I believe that you don't have to be a fan to enjoy this amazing story. I also expect this film to gain some major attention when awards season begins. I give Moneyball a 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
A great movie and a guilty pleasure.
The guilty pleasures continue with this 1986 classic starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, and Mia Sara. the story follows a carefree and amazingly lucky high school student named Ferris Bueller (Broderick) as he attempts to give his girlfriend Sloane (Sara) and best friend Cameron (Ruck) the best day ever. To do so he has to get himself and his girlfriend out of school and get Cameron out of bed. From there on its one adventure after another as they head to Chicago in Cameron's father's pristine Ferrari. The trio is out for some fun but they have the principal and Ferris's sister hot on their heels. In the end they'll have the best day ever or get caught trying.
This is one of my favorite movies ever. The story line is fun and full of great moments. Jeffrey Jones does a great job playing the principal who always seems to be one step behind Ferris. Additionally Jennifer Grey is amazing as Ferris's sister who can't accept the fact that her brother gets away with so much.
The cast is wonderfully put together in a film written and directed by the late great John Hughes. Hughes is responsible for some of the best remembered films of my generation some of which include Home Alone, The Breakfast Club, The Great Outdoors and Mr. Mom. This film has some of those great signature moments that define some of Hughes films. Hughes also makes great use of music in creating one of the most memorable scenes of the film.
I would suggest this film to anyone and everyone. If you haven't seen it I would hope you might take the time.
Remember this: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." – Ferris Bueller I give this a 3.7 out of 5 stars. (Remember that this is a guilty pleasure and one of my favorite films.)
The Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie: Strange Brew (1983)
Certainly strange, definitely entertaining.
When it comes to guilty pleasures this film is on my top ten list for sure. Now I can thank Netflix for bringing it into my home. It brings to mind a better time when Rick Moranis was popular (couldn't they find something else for him to shrink or blow up?). It may not be big budget but it stands up as a great comedy even today. The film stars Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas. Also featured is Oscar nominee Max von Sydow.
The film follows Doug and Bob McKenzie, two Canadian brothers, as they attempt to quench their insatiable thirst for beer. After some poorly designed attempts to get free beer they end up as employees of the Elsinore Brewery. There they find that something strange is brewing and unwittingly become part of the solution.
I'm not going to rave about this film. I would suggest this one for anyone who liked Spies Like Us, Airplane, or any films similar to those. It's goofy and silly and fun, something I think the whole family can enjoy.
I give this 2.5 out of 5 stars, but I love this film so much!
Fast Five (2011)
One of the better films in the series.
Finally a film from this series that's Fast and Furious all at once. Recently released on DVD and Blu-Ray this film brings together Paul Walker and Vin Diesel in the fifth film of the series. In addition to actors from the other films in the series this film also introduces Dwayne Johnson in a new role.
The Fast and the Furious series is one that hasn't required a lot of attention to enjoy. The cars are cool and the action is great, the plots are generally weak but sufficient to embody the action people come to see. This film seems to be leveling off the quality of the story with the incredible action. The stunt work and special effects are the best by far of all the films.
The story finds Brian O'Conner (Walker) and Dominic Toretto (Diesel) together again after Dominic escapes from prison with the help of his friends. this time they're in for one last score before they fade away into hiding. When the score goes bad they find themselves calling on their old friends to join them for revenge. They're up against a powerful and corrupt business man (Joaquim de Almeida) and a daring federal agent (Johnson). The action is great and the story is well done in this fifth film.
Sure this isn't an Academy Award winner or anything, but it's a series that has grown up with this film. I would definitely crown this as the best film in the series. The acting is good and the soundtrack provides a great backdrop for the action. Still the star of the show is the action. It's visually exciting and filled with over-the-top action sequences. I would definitely recommend seeing this film if you've enjoyed the others. It's also great on its own since it only loosely relies on the previous films. I would give this a 3.1 out of 5 stars.
Brother's Keeper (1992)
An interesting premise that just misses being more.
Once in a while I find a documentary film that I can really sink my teeth into. Brother's Keeper is one of those films. Produced and directed by Joe Burlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, this film documents the murder accusation and trial of Delbert Ward. Ward had been accused of the mercy killing of his older brother and roommate who lived in a shack with him and his other two brothers.
The film sheds light onto a small segment of society in central New York state. The brothers worked a farm and lived in the poorest of conditions. None of them were educated and were mainly illiterate. The defense of Delbert would focus on the possible coercion of a confession and Delbert's illiteracy would be at issue. Other factors would include a number of forensic details that were disagreed upon amongst professionals.
Part of the amazing nature of the film is the sudden upwelling of support for Delbert and his brothers from the small farming community he lived in. Despite being seen as outsiders the Ward brothers gained the financial and moral support of a community who didn't believe that one of these men could kill their brother.
The success of this documentary comes from several things. The editing is the first major piece since it makes this documentary flow well. Secondly, the interviews with the people on both sides adds to the credibility. The District Attorney and the defense attorney are both interviewed as well as people from all over the town. The trial footage also gives a great look at the testimony of medical experts.
Finally, the three brothers were all interviewed. Their interviews add weight to the innocence claims of Delbert. It's also amazing to see the interaction they have in their dilapidated farmhouse where they're cut off from the world.
I would suggest this film for anyone. The film is a unique look at the justice system, small community life, and illiteracy. I would give this 3.2 out of 5 stars.
Metropolis (1927)
A film student's view...
In 2026 Metropolis is run by the wealthy industrialists who have enslaved the working class in an underground world. When Joh Frederson's (Abel) son Freder (Fröhlich) is lured into the worker's world, he witnesses a horrible accident and begins to have a crisis of conscience. Now he's decided to trade places with one of the workers to better understand their plight. This decision leads to a bigger crisis when he falls in love with a prophetess (Helm) who threatens everything his father has worked for. As his father seeks to destroy the young woman and the people who have followed her, he also threatens the existence of all the working people in Metropolis.
Metropolis is a visually stunning film. Fritz Lang (M) essentially created the science-fiction film genre when he co-wrote and directed this epic film. The movie was produced in Germany at cost of five million Reichsmarks, making it the most expensive movie produced up to that point. The result is a large-scale epic that tells a tale of a futuristic world ruined by industry. This would also be a major building block for Lang, a director who made the transition to American films under his contract with MGM.
The acting in a silent film is all about body language and facial expressions. This movie displays great acting by all of the people involved. It definitely has a melodramatic feel, but that's something common to most silent films. Brigitte Helm (L'argent), Alfred Abel (Phantom), and Gustav Fröhlich (Asphalt) do a great job as the three main characters. Lang also worked well with the massive number of extras that included over five hundred children.
Classic movies are often lost due to age and damage. The film wasn't made to last for 100 years, and unfortunately this has cost us many of the classic films of the early years of movie making. Thankfully, this movie was saved through hard work and a lot of luck. Most recently a copy of this film was located in Argentina and allowed restoration work to be done that brought back a lot of missing footage.
If you're a fan of classic movies and you haven't seen this one, I think it's a must-see movie. This puts early innovation on display as Lang stretched the technology and the art of cinema to the breaking point. This isn't a short movie or an easy one to watch. I would recommend this for people who want to see some of the best early feature film-making. I give this one 5 out of 5 stars.