MOVIE REVIEW: KINDS OF KINDNESS

Three stories revolve around a man who tries to take control of his own life, a policeman whose wife seems like a different person, and a woman who searches for someone with a special ability.

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Cast: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn, Mamoudou Athie, Hunter Schafer

Release Date: June 21, 2024

Genre: Comedy, Drama 

Rated R for strong/disturbing violent content, strong sexual content, full nudity and language.

Runtime: 2h 45m

Review:

Yorgos Lanthimos' Kinds of Kindness isn't going to be for everybody with the anthology's trio of twisted tales dissecting a series of overarching themes such as obsession, self actualization, amongst others, with pitch black humor and a bleak worldview.  There's a fairly transparent sense that the cast and crew are well aware they aren't making something for general consumption as the stories veer into decidedly weird areas occasionally done for simple shock value with others presenting something more substantial to the proceedings.  Each segment sets ups a very specific story but the script only provides some scant, basic details to get the audience acclimated to the plots and characters but very little outside detail beyond that.  The abrupt endings give the film a whole disorienting feel throughout as you're given little to no time to digest what you've seen before moving to the next one.  The stories leave plenty of unexplained plot points which are sure to frustrate plenty of people.   At the very least, the film manages to burrow itself into the audience's mind as the cast and crew gives them plenty of leeway to make their own determination about what each section represents.  The core ensemble made up of Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau and Mamoudou Athie are clearly committed to Lanthimos's vision throughout.  Plemons gets the lion’s share of the screen time across all three segments delivering strong work in each as he showcases his versatility.  Emma Stone gets bigger spotlights in the second and third segments with Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley & Hong Chau mostly serving as supporting players across all three.  The group works well together but really is most effective in the middle segment where the performances and oddity of it all coalesces into the film's most effective moments.  Ultimately, Kinds of Kindness is a niche film that could be dissected as easily as its exalted depending on personal taste. 

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: POOR THINGS

 

Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Cast: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, Jerrod Carmichael

Release Date: December 8, 2023 

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi

Rated R for strong and pervasive sexual content, graphic nudity, disturbing material, gore, and language

Runtime: 2h 21m

Yorgos Lanthimos' Frankenstein-like fable, Poor Things, is a darkly comedic and bold exploration of self-discovery of oneself.  Its a fascinating journey with a distinctive style and feel that permeates the film from its opening act, shot in black and white, before the world and color palate of the film opens up with great effect.  Lanthimos' approach is aggressive but self assured as a bevy of themes and concepts that range from the grotesque, to the perverse and philosophical are thrown at the screen in steady succession.  Its a fearless approach that unafraid of losing portions of the audience along the way.  The film and story is held together and propelled by Emma Stone's central turn as Bella Baxter.  Stone's performance carries the film as she makes her character's journey believable and organic with an effortless ease as we see the character move from innate, instinctive, impulses into a fully defined persona. She has an impressive ability to make every step of journey feel authentic all the while never losing her comedic timing during some of the film's more insane and absurd moments.  If not for Stone's fearless turn, Mark Ruffalo could have easily stolen the entire film from a lesser actress.  Ruffalo's turn as the swarmy and nefarious lawyer is a true testament to his talent as actor.  Ruffalo works against his nice guy type to deliver an overconfident lothario who quickly loses control of Baxter before being ultimately ruined financially and emotionally by her.  Ruffalo and Stone work off each incredibly well which really gives the film an almost manic and vibrant energy it never manages to recapture in the back half of the film.  There's a definite sense that film starts to lose a bit of  steam in the final act which drags here and there which would have been helped with some judicious edits.  Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef and Jerrod Carmichael round out the cast with each turning in subtly effective performances in limited screen time.  Much like one of Dr. Godwin Baxter's experiments, Poor Things, is a fascinating amalgam of ideas and concepts that results in something singular and distinctive.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: CRUELLA

 

A live-action feature film following the evil exploits of Cruella de Vil, the villain from the Disney film, "101 Dalmatians'. 

Director: Craig Gillespie

Cast: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mark Strong

Release Date: May 28, 2021

Genre: Comedy, Crime

Rated PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements 

Runtime: 2 h 14 min

Review:

Disney's live action remakes haven't been more than cynical cash grabs.  The films themselves have been bland retreads with little to no innovation to justify their existence.  Craig Gillespie's Cruella manages to break the mold by delivering a visual feast for the eyes and story filled with hefty character development and pathos.  Gillespie channels everything from Tim Burton, Lady Gaga, The Devil Wears Prada and even a touch of Cathy Yang's Birds of Prey to create a vibrant dense character study that exceeds all expectations.   It shouldn't work as well as it does and it'll probably bore plenty of the smaller kids expecting something much lighter and funnier.  Gillespie's direction is impressive but it wouldn't work as well as it does if it weren't for spectacular turns by Emma Stone and Emma Thompson.  Both are clearly having a blast glamping it up as the dueling fashionista with their interactions being the high points of the film.  It's be easy to go broad and coast through the film and it'd still be moderately fun but both actresses give their characters so much lived in depth which makes them all the more interesting.  Throw some award winning costumes and it's a feast for movie lovers who enjoy great performances from stars at the top of their game.  The film even manages to give Cruella's sidekicks more depth and characterization than expected with Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hause turning in strong performances as well.  Once the film ends you are sort of left gobsmacked by the quality of the entire production as your reminded this is still a Disney production which started with the most basic of intentions.  Sure it could have used a few trims here and there but the cast and crew all rise above their trappings to deliver something devilishly delightful.

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: THE CROODS: A NEW AGE

 

Searching for a safer habitat, the prehistoric Crood family discovers an idyllic, walled-in paradise that meets all of its needs. Unfortunately, they must also learn to live with the Bettermans -- a family that's a couple of steps above the Croods on the evolutionary ladder. As tensions between the new neighbors start to rise, a new threat soon propels both clans on an epic adventure that forces them to embrace their differences, draw strength from one another, and survive together.

Director: Joel Crawford

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, Cloris Leachman, Peter Dinklage, Leslie Mann, Kelly Marie Tran

Release Date: November 25, 2020

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rated PG for peril, action and rude humor.

Runtime: 1 h 35 min

Review:

The Croods: A New Age which randomly appears 7 years after the original is more unfocused than the first film but still a fun family film.  The story in this sequel is more straightforward but it allows Joel Crawford to move the story into weird and surprisingly psychedelic areas.  Crawford moves the story along a steady pace getting into the story fairly quickly introducing the new characters/cast.  The returning cast easily gets back into their characters and have great chemistry with newcomers Peter Dinklage and Leslie Mann.  Dinklage and Mann play great foils to the Croods as the hipster Bettermans who are slightly more evolved.  Dinklage and Cage in particular seem to be having a ball throughout the film with it all climaxing with a great Punch Monkey finale.  Stone, Keener, Leachman, Mann & Tran also get their time to shine with a strong girl power story thread that has them all saving the day.  Its message is sweet but it’s not anything revelatory like some of the prestige Pixar films.  This sequel isn’t as consistent as the original but it’s still a lot of fun in parts but be warned some sequences might be a bit too intense or scary for very small children. 

B

Cindy Prascik's Review of Zombieland: Double Tap

This weekend it was off to the pictures--a week late, as has become my norm--for Zombieland: Double Tap.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

The makeshift family from Zombieland soldiers on in the post-zombie apocalypse world.

Ten years on from the first Zombieland, and with many a zombie offering in between, it's remarkable how fresh Double Tap manages to be. Certainly the personalities from the first film remain the same, and there are a fair few nods to the original, but there are enough new faces and new happenings that Double Tap never feels like a warmed-over cash grab.

Zombieland: Double Tap retains its predecessor's sharp sense of humor, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments tempering gruesome kills. The terrific cast--Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin-- falls right back in step, and the couple new additions are a good fit, each adding something fresh to the mix. The movie is well-paced and doesn't outstay its welcome, a feat that seems a more and more pleasant surprise on the rare occasions it happens these days. Double Tap serves both as an entertaining continuation and a satisfying conclusion (if it is one?) to a fun series. Be sure to stick around for amusing mid- and post-credits stingers.

Zombieland: Double Tap clocks in at 99 minutes and is rated R for "bloody violence, language throughout, and some drug and sexual content."

Zombieland was my number-one movie of 2009, and, ten years later, Double Tap proves a worthy follow-up.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Zombieland: Double Tap gets eight.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP

Zombie slayers Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita and Little Rock square off against the newly evolved undead.

Director: Ruben Fleisher

Cast: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin, Emma Stone, Rosario Dawson, Zoey Deutch, Luke Wilson

Release Date: October 18, 2019

Genres: Action, Comedy, Horror

Rated R for bloody violence, language throughout, some drug and sexual content

Runtime: 1h 39min

Review:

Sometimes delayed sequels to beloved films can leave fan feeling short changed there are plenty of examples out there from Anchorman to Zoolander follow ups.  So it’d be fair to say that going into Zombieland: Double Tap you wouldn’t be remised if you came into this sequel with lowered expectations. Added to the fact, zombies have kind of peppered the cultural zeitgeist since the original premiered.  Somehow Ruben Fleisher and his cast pulled off an impressive bit of alchemy by delivering a worthy follow to the original film.  The film moves at a breakneck speed but it still give you time to get reacquainted with the characters from the first film before introducing a handful of new characters which work impressively well.  Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin and Emma Stone all fall back into their roles with incredible ease, their love of the character are apparent in each frame of the film.  Joining the group is Zoey Deutch who steals nearly every scene she’s in as vapid blond.  Rosario Dawson is always a welcome addition and she works well as a counter point and love interest to Woody Harrelson’s Tallahassee.  More familiar faces show up before the whole things done, don’t leave right when the credits roll, and its all so much fun you don’t really notice or care that there’s not really much a plot in this sequel which ultimately doesn’t matter. 

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: THE FAVOURITE

In the early 18th century, England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne occupies the throne, and her close friend Lady Sarah governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne's ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant, Abigail, arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing, and Abigail sees a chance to return to her aristocratic roots.

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Cast: Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn, James Smith, Mark Gatiss

Release Date: November 23, 2018

Genres: Biography, Comedy, Drama

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity and language.

Runtime: 1h 59 min

Review:

At some point during Yorgos Lanthimos cynically funny film, you might get the sensation that you are watching a mash up of Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon and Milo Foreman’s Amadeus.  That’s hardly a bad thing but as the film moves on its genuinely funny script and biting wit take hold, carried ably by the top notch cast.  The three leads share the sort of chemistry that’s rare to find.  It’s instantly recognizable and they make you care about these fairly terrible human beings.  Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz are all in top form with each being given multiple moments to shine.  It’d be criminal not to mention Nicholas Hoult who finds a way to standout in supporting role.  The Favourite is truly a fun ride through and through filled with top notch performance and stellar camera work that’s sure to be iconic as the film ages. 

A

MOVIE REVIEW: LA LA LAND

Struggling actress Mia (Emma Stone) and aspiring jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) begin a whirlwind romance as they both pursue their dreams in Los Angeles. However, their blossoming relationship is challenged when their careers pull them in different directions. Damien Chazelle (Damien Chazelle) wrote and directed this musical love story, which co-stars John Legend, J.K. Simmons, and Rosemarie DeWitt. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi

Director: Damien Chazelle

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Finn Wittrock, J.K. Simmons

Release Date: Dec 09, 2016

Rated PG-13 for some Language

Runtime: 2 hr. 7 min.

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Music/Performing Arts

Review:

La La Land is a rousing bit of filmmaking which is as fizzy and bubbly as the best champagne.  Like said champagne, it is a bit light on body.  Instead Damien Chazelle dresses up his retro musical with impressive shots and flashy choreography.  It’s an incredibly fun film, especially in the first 2 acts, with two magnetic leads.  Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone bring a dizzying sense of adorableness to their roles.  You can’t help but get sucked into this love story as their relationship begins to blossom and grow.  It’s an engrossing experience but once you peel back all the frills it’s a pretty bare bones love story tinged with a palatable sense of bitter sweetness.  Still it’s a credit to Damien Chazelle that he could take a simple story and infuse so much energy and passion into it.  Is it the best film I’ve ever seen, not even close, but it’s a still fine piece of film making.

B+

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of La La Land & Live by Night

 

Dearest Blog: This weekend it was off to Marquee Cinemas for La La Land (finally!) and Live By Night.

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers. I will offer thumbs-up or thumbs-down on endings, without divulging specifics; if that's more than you want to know, read no further until you've seen these.

 

First up: Oscar hopeful La La Land.

 

An aspiring actress and a jazz musician chase their dreams in Los Angeles.

 

Let it be noted, dear reader(s), that, from its first trailer, I've anticipated La La Land as a great movie and likely Best Picture winner. I generally love musicals, and--while romances aren't my favorite--who could resist a pairing as adorable as Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling? Certainly not I! Well...as it turns out, La La Land IS a great movie, and the probable Best Picture winner...but it's a lousy musical.

 

Getting the bad news out of the way first: La La Land features forgettable original tunes and unimaginative choreography. Neither Gosling nor Stone is a great singer, at least not as demonstrated here. (Stone has done Broadway, so I know she has to be better than this.) The musical numbers are exactly why some folks hate musicals: random songs dropped in mostly random places; there's no flow whatsoever. Finally, the movie has a disappointing finale that's so at odds with the rest it feels as if someone accidentally tacked on the ending of a different film. As La La Land's final impression, it casts a heavy shadow on the whole. (This is not a judgment of a happy or unhappy ending; it's about how the ending fits the rest of the picture.)

 

Having said all that, the good news is, there's lots of good news! La La Land is a compelling enough story that its musical failings are almost entirely forgivable. Stone and Gosling manage to out-cute Lawrence and Pratt as the movie year's most lovable couple, a feat I would have thought impossible. Remarkably, their weak singing voices play as part of a self-deprecating charm, and their characters' struggles and dreams should be relatable to just about anyone. La La Land boasts lovely production design and costumes, and there is one smokin' number, performed by John Legend, that even manages to break the movie's tired-old-showtunes mold.

 

La La Land clocks in at 128 minutes and is rated PG13 for "some language."

 

La La Land is a very good movie, a terrible musical, and a love letter to Los Angeles that fails to sell Los Angeles as anything worth loving. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, La La Land gets seven. 

 

Next on the docket: Ben Affleck's mob thriller Live by Night.

 

A Boston mobster takes over Florida operations for a former rival.

 

By now you've probably heard enough negative commentary to guess Live by Night won't go down in the annals of legendary gangster movies. While that's probably true, that's not to say it isn't a worthwhile afternoon at the pictures.

 

Writer/director Affleck has created an interesting--if deliberately paced--story full of twists and turns. Per usual, he's crafted himself a role that plays to his stoic style and, while he does an admirable job, it's Sienna Miller who steals the show as his sometime girlfriend. If you're into mob movies in general, there are some...erm...offers people can't refuse, but the violence isn't overly graphic, and the movie never feels like a shoot 'em up where the story only occasionally interrupts.

 

Live by Night runs 128 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence, language throughout, and some sexuality/nudity."

 

Live by Night may not rank among the all-time great gangster pictures, but it's a well-executed tale with a satisfying payout. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Live by Night gets six and a half.

 

Fangirl points: Christian Clemenson! Brendan Gleeson! Titus Welliver!

 

Until next time... 

 

MOVIE REVIEW: BIRDMAN

A fading actor (Michael Keaton) best known for his portrayal of a popular superhero attempts to mount a comeback by appearing in a Broadway play. As opening night approaches, his attempts to become more altruistic, rebuild his career, and reconnect with friends and family prove more difficult than expected. Lindsay Duncan.

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Cast: Michael Keaton, Lindsay Duncan, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Emma Stone

Release Date: Oct 17, 2014

Rated: R for brief Violence, Some Sexual Content and Language Throughout

Runtime: 1 hr. 59 min.

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Review:

Birdman is a dizzying powerhouse of a film that’s showcases it’s cast and director on multiple levels.  Alejandro González Iñárritu has crafted a fascinating dissection of fame and celebrity culture through the guise of a mental breakdown.  Michael Keaton’s soul baring performance is simply amazing.  It’s an unglamorous performance which shows every inch of age on Keaton’s face while showcasing his impressive talent.  Aided by excellent supporting turns by Edward Norton and Emma Stone, Birdman maintains an impressive energy throughout as it builds to its crescendo.  There’s nary a moment when the film drags and it’s at it’s best when Norton and Keaton share the screen together since you can tell they are both having a blast while putting on some impressive performances.  If there’s a small drawback it’s the film does reek of self importance even smugness at some points.  That being said, Birdman is the type of prestige film that should hold up well upon repeat viewing thanks to some wonderfully crafted filmmaking and acting.

A

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Dearest Blog, yesterday it was off to the pictures for an afternoon with one of my favorite heroes, the Amazing Spider-Man.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

Spidey faces off with a trio of new foes, while Peter Parker deals with the travails of teen love.
In the Amazing Spider-Man 2, Andrew Garfield reprises his role as the titular web-slinger. Whatever problems this movie has--and, trust me, it has 'em--Garfield's enthusiasm for the role really shines and is something special to watch. As a fan, there's nothing quite like knowing the guy in the suit is as excited about it as you are.

The movie doesn't stretch Garfield's talent, but it's better for having him. The cast boasts some pretty big names, but if there's anyone else worth mentioning it's Dane DeHaan, who is terrific as Harry Osborne.

Like its predecessor, the Amazing Spider-Man 2 has inexcusably poor special effects. For all the money the filmmakers have thrown at the screen, it looks no better than a video game. Jamie Foxx' Electro is pretty badass, but the flying sequences and other CGI are terrible.It goes without saying--but I'll say it anyway--the Amazing Spider-Man 2 is far too long.

There's barely enough substance here for a 90-minute popcorn flick, yet the movie drags on for another 50 minutes beyond that...I considered going for popcorn I didn't want or making a bathroom run I didn't need just to shake off the drowsies.

Most of the humor is juvenile and falls flat, though Garfield and co-star (and real-life love) Emma Stone are just charming enough to make some of it work. I disagree with complaints that there are too many villains in the movie, but I don't think the script really gives any of them their due.

As long as the movie is, they definitely could have done much better on that front. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has its fun moments, but watching it is a little like trying to do a jigsaw puzzle with a cat in the house: just when you think you're getting all the pieces together, they land in a jumble on the floor.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 runs 142 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of sci-fi action/violence."

It's worth seeing for great performances by Andrew Garfield and Dane DeHaan, even if it doesn't live up to its "amazing" billing.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 gets five.

Until next time...

"A million dollars isn't cool. You know what's cool? 95 million dollars!"

MOVIE REVIEW: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

The web-slingin' wall-crawler hits the screens once again in this follow-up to Marc Webb's 2012 reboot of the series. Andrew Garfield returns as Peter Parker, who squares off against the villainous Electro, played by Jamie Foxx. Emma Stone heads up the rest of the starring cast, which includes Paul Giamatti, Dane DeHaan, and Chris Cooper. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Marc Webb 

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Chris Cooper, Paul Giamatti

Release Date: May 02, 2014

Rated PG-13 for seq. of Sci-Fi Action/Violence

Runtime: 2 hr. 21 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure

Review:

I’ll start this review like I’ve probably started the 4 other Spider-man reviews before it.  I’ll never been much a fan of the character, I’m not sure why but he’s just never grabbed my attention like DC’s Mount Olympus of heroes or the X-Men for example.  I did enjoy the first two Sam Raimi and despised the third.  The first film in the rebooted series didn’t hit the mark for me even though I liked Garfield and Stone in their roles.  The 2^nd go around doesn’t fair much better.  The film suffers from some truly awful writing filled with stale dialogue and plot holes just a tad too large to ignore.  It’s never a good thing when certain segments of the film remind you of 90’s era Joel Schumacher Batman films.  As a whole the film feels like a throwback but not in a good way.  While most superhero films are trying to infuse some deeper meaning into their stories or at the very least some fun, this one seems content to give us a few CGI heavy set pieces and the most basic of back stories for the villains and call it a day.  In between this all we get an overdose of Parker and Stacy’s romance which is solid but overdone.  It’s propped up by Garfield and Stone’s chemistry which makes the whole thing more watchable than it should be but they can’t save this bloated mess of a film.  I personally have no problem if a film is 2 and half hours long as long as it earns that runtime, this one doesn’t come close to deserving its runtime, not by a long shot.  It would have been better served with a more focused storyline and villain instead of trying to lay the groundwork for future spinoffs and sequels like the planned Sinister Six films.  The Amazing Spider-man 2 is purely for diehards and anybody wanting to see Paul Giamatti scream out intelligible dialogue in a 2 minute cameo.

D

Cindy Prascik’s Movie Review : The Croods / Olympus Has Fallen

Dearest Blog, yesterday I set out for the cinema, hoping two highly-anticipated offerings would meet expectations.
Spoiler level here is mild, limited to things you'd know from the trailers.

First on my agenda: DreamWorks Animation's The Croods.


A prehistoric family are forced to flee their cave after it's destroyed by a disaster that threatens to change their lives forever in this animated adventure featuring the voices of Nicolas Cage and Emma Stone. As a protective caveman father leads his family out of harm's way, the clan crosses paths with a resourceful teen named Guy (voice of Ryan Reynolds), who offers to help them reach a distant land where they'll be safe from an impending catastrophe that will soon alter the entire world. Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, and Cloris Leachman round out the cast of vocal performers. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Kirk De Micco

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman.

Release Date: Mar 22, 2013

Rated PG for some scary action

Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Animated, Family


Much to the dismay of a rebellious daughter (Emma Stone), the patriarch (Nicolas Cage) of a pre-historic family believes the only way to keep them safe is to stay within the dark and gloomy confines of their cave home. His theory, as well as his ability to protect his family, are put to the test when the cave is destroyed.

Not gonna lie, dear Blog, I have a ridiculous amount of faith in DreamWorks Animation. Think it's got something to do with How to Train Your Dragon being...oh...only the best animated feature ever. I'm pleased to report that, despite a sluggish start, The Croods does not find my faith misplaced.

The Croods looks magnificent. No words could possibly describe just how gorgeous this film is; you have to see it. I was moved to tears a time or two by its physical beauty alone. Take Oz: The Great and Powerful, and multiply that by about a hundred. Full marks to the artistic and technical staff.

If The Croods' father/daughter tale is a little familiar, and if you see some things coming a mile or so out, that's easy enough to forgive in such a sweet and genuine picture. The voice cast is spot-on, with Cage and Stone joined by Ryan Reynolds, Cloris Leachman, and Catherine Keener.

The Croods does start out somewhat slow, and for 20 minutes or so, I feared I had another Oz on my hands; that is, I'd be left loving the look and nothing else. Once it gets moving, though, the movie's filled with action, laugh-out-loud moments, and a sincere and touching family tale.

The Croods runs 98 minutes, and is rated PG for "some scary action." It's no How to Train Your Dragon, but, of a possible nine Weasleys, it easily earns seven.

Next up was the action/thriller Olympus Has Fallen.

An ex-Special Forces operative and former presidential bodyguard must fight to take back the White House from terrorists who have kidnapped the Commander in Chief in this high-stakes action thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Shooter) and starring Gerard Butler. Melissa Leo, Angela Bassett, Robert Forster, and Radha Mitchell co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Antoine Fuqua

Cast: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo.

Release Date: Mar 22, 2013 Rated R for Strong Violence and Language Throughout

Runtime: 2 hr. 0 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller


When terrorists overrun the White House, taking President Harvey Dent, erm, I mean Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) and his top staff hostage, it's left to Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), an ex-Secret Service agent, to save the President...and the nation.
Olympus Has Fallen is extremely well cast; every actor is a perfect fit for his role.

Aaron Eckhart is very leaderly as a young-ish Commander in Chief. Gerard Butler has never been a favorite of mine. I've softened considerably towards him since he became Stoic the Vast, but think I'm still holding a grudge over Phantom of the Opera!

Yet I found him surprisingly watchable in Olympus, and I think he plays the tormented hero well. Angela Bassett is a bit too hard-ass for my taste as Director of the Secret Service; for some reason, she seemed like a comical police chief on a 70s TV cop drama. My favorite actress and best girl crush Melissa Leo is as lovely and tough as ever as the Secretary of Defense.

Morgan Freeman makes a predictably solid turn as Speaker of the House, forced to take charge as both the President and Vice-President are in the terrorists' grasp. If I had to trust the world's safety to any one individual, I admit I'd be entirely comfortable if that individual were Morgan Freeman. The rest of the cast is up to snuff, the one exception being Radha Mitchell, whose teary-eyed close-ups got old pretty quickly.

Olympus Has Fallen features maximum carnage.

The body count is so extreme that even I grew tired of it, and it's not that sort-of cartoonish massacre you get with a GI Joe or super-hero movie.

As a result, any chest-thumping 'Murica! sentiment the filmmakers hoped to achieve is somewhat deflated. The effects are good, and the trashing of the White House and other DC landmarks is chillingly realistic.

Olympus Has Fallen clocks in at 120 minutes, and is rated R for "strong violence and language throughout." If I liked it less than I'd hoped, I attribute that partially to my feeling that nobody makes a Big Baddie quite like Russia did back in the day, and partially to the movie's having precious little of that feel-good cowboy vibe (think Die Hard) I kind of expected from the trailers.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Olympus Has Fallen gets six.

Our next question, dear Blog, is how many cinema trips can one individual fit into a long weekend that also includes three home hockey games, a midday hair cut n' color, and one full day of enforced family time (ugh). Time will tell!

Until next time...




Is it twisted that I'd totally do this cartoon person??

MOVIE REVIEW: THE CROODS

A prehistoric family are forced to flee their cave after it's destroyed by a disaster that threatens to change their lives forever in this animated adventure featuring the voices of Nicolas Cage and Emma Stone. As a protective caveman father leads his family out of harm's way, the clan crosses paths with a resourceful teen named Guy (voice of Ryan Reynolds), who offers to help them reach a distant land where they'll be safe from an impending catastrophe that will soon alter the entire world. Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, and Cloris Leachman round out the cast of vocal performers. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Kirk De Micco

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman

Release Date: Mar 22, 2013

Rated PG for some scary action

Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Animated, Family

Review:

The Croods is the type of animated family film that made for everyone to enjoy. Working from a simplistic and tried and true formula its script brims with enough energy to every keep it from being tedious. It’s funny and touching throughout. Kirk De Micco’s direction is deft; he keeps our attention with a lush virtual cornucopia while ably handling the family dynamics at play. De Micco has a strong track record going for him, (Lilo and Stich, How To Train Your Dragon) so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that his film has some tangible heart in between all the action set pieces and gags. The voice work by the assembled talent is all great with Cage, Stone and Reynolds deserving specific praise. Cage and Reynolds really seem comfortable doing voice work as both have distinctive voices and personalities that lend itself to this kind of film. Throw in some wonderful character designs and fun 3D and you have a family film that enjoyable for everyone.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

IN THEATERS ON DVD

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN



Typical teenager Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) embraces his incredible destiny after uncovering one of his father's most carefully guarded secrets as Columbia Pictures reboots the Spider-Man franchise with the help of director Mark Webb ((500) Days of Summer) and screenwriter James Vanderbilt (Zodiac). Sally Field, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, and Emma Stone co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Marc Webb

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott

Release Date: Jul 03, 2012

Rated PG-13 for Sequences of Action & Violence

Runtime: 2 hr. 16 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure

Review:

The main question most everybody has asked and will continue to ask is why? Why reboot this so quickly after the Raimi trilogy? There’s no good answer other than Sony didn’t want to lose the rights to the franchise, it’s that simple. So taking that question out of the equation and taking this film on its own merits it’s an enjoyable if imperfect redux. Marc Webb’s take is more focused on character interactions and relationships, so it feels more weighty and grounded. The spectacle is there but it feels like it’s more of an afterthought. Webb is more interested in how these character think interact and deal with things. He does a solid job of capturing the turmoil and angst in Parker’s head. Helping him along the way is a perfectly cast Andrew Garfield. Garfield feels like a much better fit than Maguire right from the start. He embodies the smarts and awkwardness of the character and is a lot of fun to watch both in and out of the costume. Emma Stone brings her own charms to the character, bring more depth and texture than you’d expect when you consider her limited screen time. Rhys Ifans make a passable villain but hardly memorable. Martin Sheen and Sally Field come off stiff throughout barely registering occasionally. Denis Leary is underused throughout leaving his character feel kind of pointless. While there are obvious strengths in this iteration it’s not perfect. The plot offers a few new points but for the most part it’s a standard issue origin story and there’s really no reason for it to be as long as it is. At 2 hours plus there are plenty of bits that could have been trimmed to streamline the film. Some of action pieces, a certain part in the school gym is just idiotic, feel out of sync and occasionally awkward. Webb’s inexperience in filming these sequences is fairly evident, it’s hit or miss for the most part with some working very well and others just missing the mark. The 3D version has some strong sequences but outside of these rare instants it’s hardly worth the higher price tag.

B-

MOVIE REVIEWS: EASY A

IN THEATERS

EASY A



Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is re-imagined as a contemporary high school comedy in this tale of a scheming student who plots to give her popularity a boost by painting herself the easiest lay in school. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Will Gluck

Cast: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Lisa Kudrow, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson

Release Date: Sep 17, 2010

Rated: Mature thematic elements involving teen sexuality, language and some drug material

Runtime: 1 hr. 33 min.

Genres: Comedy

Review:

Quick witted, smart and just incredibly likable, Easy A should be Emma Stone’s coming out party. Director Will Gluck is fully aware that the film’s strength is it’s cast and script so he keeps it nice and tight. Gluck moves the story along at a brisk pace and he keeps Emma Stone front and center. Stone is more than up for the task and delivers her lines with a wonderful deadpan delivery. She brings an instant likeability and authenticity to her role. She owns the screen uses excellent comedic timing to keep you laughing throughout. The supporting cast is equally impressive. Thomas Haden Church, Lisa Kudrow, Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson all have limited screen time but each make an impression. Amanda Bynes is decent if a tad over the top as school Bible beater. Easy A is the type of movie that light while dealing with some interesting topics about the current world kids live in. It’s not a message movie and that’s alright. What it is is an incredibly funny comedy that’s gives movies like Mean Girls a run for its money. The wonderful Emma Stone keeps proving that she’s a force to be reckoned with in comedy.

A

Movie Reviews: ZOMBIELAND

Sunday, October 04, 2009
Movie Reviews: ZOMBIELAND
IN THEATERS

ZOMBIELAND

A cowardly shut-in named Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is forced to join up with a seasoned zombie slayer named Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) in order to survive the zombie apocalypse. As Tallahassee sets out on a mission to find the last Twinkie on Earth, the duo meets up with Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), two young girls who have resorted to some rather unorthodox methods to survive amidst the chaos. Reluctant partners in the battle against the undead, all four soon begin to wonder if it might be better to simply take their chances alone. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Cast: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Opened ..October 2, 2009..

Runtime: 1 hr. 21 min.

Rated R for horror violence/gore and language

Genres: Horror Comedy, Horror



Review:




Zombieland is very much like a rollercoaster ride, filled with frights and fun which is only occasionally marked with slow or choppy moments and over way too quickly. First time director Ruben Fleischer makes an impressive debut never lingering too long on any moment or situation. Fleisher makes some fun stylistic choices throughout, the opening sequence and rule breakdown are good fun, and keeps the pacing brisk. Plotting is straight forward and it doesn’t bother itself with extraneous details. It’s a road movie and while most will compare it to Shaun of the Dead because of the zombie comedy aspect but in actuality it feels more like a zombie filled National Lampoon’s Vacation with a motley crew of characters. Leading this crew is Woody Harrelson in full ham mode is hilarious throughout and somehow manages to makes us believe the connection he makes with the characters towards the end of the film. Jesse Eisenbern is great as the straight man to Harrelson manic energy and gives Michael Cera a run for his money in the awkward 20 something category. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin play con artist sisters and they do decently but aren’t given much to do outside of shooting guns and stealing SUV’s. An inspired celebrity cameo give the film’s middle section a much needed boost as the film starts to lag. The finale in the amusement park will make you long for a rollercoaster where you can shoot zombies as you speed along the tracks. Zombieland is the type of film that hard not enjoy in its entire gooey zombie bashing goodness.



A-