MOVIE REVIEW: GOON

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GOON



The sports comedy Goon stars Seann William Scott as Doug Glatt, a slacker from a rich family who discovers he has a knack for hockey brawls. Dragged to a game by his best friend, Doug punches out the visiting team's toughest player when the angered thug rushes into the stands. The home team quickly recruits Doug (even though he can't skate) and encourages him to beat up their opponents. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Director: Michael Dowse

Cast: Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill, Marc-André Grondin, Kim Coates, Liev Schreiber

Release Date: Mar 30, 2012

Rated R for brutal violence, non-stop language, some strong sexual content and drug
use

Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.

Genres: Comedy

Review:

Sports films in general have always been a tough sell for me, mainly because they all have to follow very similar trajectories ending in the big game. As a result, I’ve ignored more sports movies than I should have over the past few years. Luckily, I gave Goon a chance and was pleasantly surprised with it. The usual sports plot points are there (underdog team, change in fortunes and the big game) but Goon makes it all so much fun and even infuses some heart in the process. Feeling like a cross between Major League and Forrest Gump, Goon really hooks you in with its comedic side. As a comedy it works just as well as a hockey film. Seann William Scott makes it nearly impossible not to like the Doug’s dim but sincere self. Scott really shows us restraint in how he plays Doug; it would have been very easy to play him as a buffoon, so there’s some texture there. The only real downside is more script related as Doug seems to waver between not very bright to mentally challenged. The supporting cast is made up of fine actors, all doing well in small quirky roles which really give the film life. Marc-André Grondin in particular is interesting as the wonder kid burnout. Liev Schreiber however is incredibly impressive in a small but pivotal role. Schreiber really give his character an authentic look and feel. As a causal hockey fan, his character just felt real in so many ways. As a whole the film’s sports side feels real, credit for that really goes to the director Michael Dowse. One of my other pet peeves about sports movies is that the sports never feel real; in Goon the majority of the hockey is wonderfully staged and done. A fan of the sport will never be taken out of the experience which is so important in my opinion. Goon is very loosely adapted, (he ended up consulting for the NHL’s Bruins for 8 years after his playing days) from Doug Smith Book Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey Into Minor League Hockey.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: SAVAGES

IN THEATERS

SAVAGES



Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone adapts author Don Winslow's best-selling novel into this all-star ensemble crime drama about a pair of peaceful, Laguna Beach marijuana dealers who are targeted for extortion by the ruthless Mexican Baja cartel. Ben (Aaron Johnson) is a devout Buddhist and dedicated philanthropist, and his best friend Chon (Taylor Kitsch) is a former mercenary who trained as a Navy SEAL. They may not seem like major drug dealers, but together they make a comfortable living selling top-quality marijuana. And they share more than just a profitable business; their mutual girlfriend O (Blake Lively) is more than enough woman for the two ambitious young entrepreneurs to handle. But just as Ben and Chun are feeling like they're on top of the world, their blissful life of lawless hedonism threatens to yield dire repercussions. The Mexican Baja cartel wants a piece of the action, and their cruel leader Elena (Salma Hayek) has dispatched her top hatchet man Lado (Benicio Del Toro) to ensure that she gets it. When the cartel kidnaps Ophelia and threatens to kill her unless Ben and Chun comply, the desperate pot dealers enlist the aid of a shady DEA agent (John Travolta) to try and avert a tragedy. Emile Hirsch and Uma Thurman also star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Release Date: Jul 06, 2012

Rated R for Language Throughout, Drug Use Throughout, Nudity, Some Graphic Sexuality and Strong Brutal/Grisly Violence

Runtime: 2 hr. 10 min.

Genres: Drama, Suspense/Thriller

Director: Oliver Stone Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Salma Hayek, Benicio Del
Toro, Blake Lively, John Travolta, Emile Hirsch, Demián Bichir

Review:

Oliver Stone has wallowed in the pits of mediocrity since the mid 90’s, producing films that neither excite nor intrigue. His film’s started to feel like he was phoning it in, putting in as little effort as possible which was readily apparent onscreen. Thankfully Savages is a return to a more confident and self secure filmmaker, closer akin to Natural Born Killers without the film school excess. Working on a script based on a novel by Don Winslow, Stone is kept on course making his most coherent film in years. Savages is a gleefully violent crime tome told in an wonderfully engaging manner. A rather impressive feat since some of the character arch are terribly clichéd and clunky. Even with that, Stone’s film never disengages or loses your interest during its 2 hours plus run time. Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnson are stuck playing two halves of what could have been one character in reality. Kitsch does his best to bring some gravity to his role, occasionally succeeding. Johnson is far too passive, a result of how his character is written, to register much. A golden baked and busty Blake Lively is given far too much screen time, made even worse with an annoying voiceover throughout, for my taste bringing very little to the role. The supporting cast, made up of grade A talent, is clearly having a ball playing overblown exaggerated characters. Salma Hayek in a black bob wig is a steely spitfire of a villain. Benicio Del Toro delivers one of his best performances, along with a mullets, in years playing an unhinged psychopath with subtle strength and ease. John Travolta rounds out the cast, playing a small but equally fun role which grows in importance as the film reaches its climax. It’s great to see Stone back on the top of his game let’s hope this is a sign of things to come.

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 REVIEW: TED

IN THEATERS

TED



A man wrestles with the lingering consequences of a childhood wish in this live-action comedy from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. As a young boy, John Bennett wanted nothing more than for his beloved teddy bear Ted (voice of MacFarlane) to come to life. Incredibly, that wish was granted. But now that John (Mark Wahlberg) is all grown up, his boyhood dream has become a nightmare nuisance. Mila Kunis, Joel McHale, and Giovanni Ribisi co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Seth MacFarlane

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale, Giovanni Ribisi.

Release Date: Jun 29, 2012

Rated R for some Drug Use, Pervasive Language and Crude and Sexual Content

Runtime: 1 hr. 46 min.

Genres: Comedy

Review:

If you are familiar with Seth MacFarlane’s brand of humor from Family Guy, American Dad etc… then you’ll know what to expect in his first feature film. It’s very much in keeping with those way lengths, even teetering closely into full crossover with Ted sounding very much like Peter Griffin. MacFarlane transposes a standard rom-com plot; annoying friend comes between couple, and mixes it up with a foul mouthed CGI bear. It’s raucous vulgar and generally a lot of fun. MacFarlane is allowed to go balls to the wall without having to worry about TV censors and it’s pretty much what you’d expect, frat boy humor gone wild. Along the way a certain 80’s cult movie star shows up during a crazy party scene and one of the most hilarious fights I’ve sat through since Borat. It’s all utterly silly and stupid and it never takes itself too seriously. The cast is all game with each actor and actress hitting their marks around an impressively realized CGI star voiced with great gusto by MacFarlane. A few hiccups come in the form of the aforementioned well worn plot and kind of unnecessary subplot that adds an extra 15 minutes to the film that could have been excised without much issue. Regardless, Ted is the kind of comedy that’ll end up on many a shelf when it hits video.

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: BRAVE

BRAVE



An impetuous princess discovers that her reckless choice has put both her family and her father's kingdom in peril in this animated adventure from Pixar films. As a toddler, Merida (voice of Kelly MacDonald) saw her father, King Fergus (Billy Connolly), do battle with one of the fiercest animals in the kingdom -- a horribly scarred hulk of a bear named Mordu. Though Fergus lost his leg defending his family, Merida and her mother, Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), managed to escape the beast before it vanished back into the forest. Years later, Merida has grown up to become not just a skilled archer, but also a beautiful princess who inspires a competition among the eligible bachelors in the land. But Merida has little interest in getting married, and the harder her mother pushes the issue, the more fiercely she resists it. When the tournament for her hand gets under way and a deep divide opens between mother and daughter, Merida makes a wish that threatens the future of both her family and the entire kingdom. Now, with only a brief window of time to set things right, Merida must summon the courage to atone for her mistake and prevent a past tragedy from destroying any hope for a peaceful future. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Brenda Chapman

Cast: Kelly MacDonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, Kevin McKidd

Release Date: Jun 22, 2012

Rated PG for Some Scary Action and Rude Humor

Runtime: 1 hr. 40 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Animated, Comedy

Review:

The rousing first act of Brave enchants the way you’d imagine a Pixar created film should. We are given a fully realized Scottish landscape that’s beautifully rendered, even more impressive in 3D, which is populated by wonderfully conceived character designs. It’s feast for the eyes and there a strong sense of self the moment Merida’s uncontrollable fiery red hair hits the screen. Kelly MacDonald, a favorite of mine from Broadwalk Empire, gives Merida the perfect blend of strength, drive and impetuous energy. Emma Thompson and MacDonald have good chemistry together in their mother daughter roles with Billy Connolly bringing a good sense of fun to the king. MacDonald’s work remains the driving force throughout the film but sadly the film falters by taking a far too conventional and safe route. It’s not a bad story by any measure but it’s not the type of cutting edge fare we’ve come to expect from Pixar. It’s enjoyable and once we hit the crux of plot, we all know how the plot will play out. It follows course fairly carefully rarely stepping to far into the deep end of some of the themes presented. As is the film works well but you can’t help but wonder if it wasn’t a bit of a missed opportunity for Pixar to make a truly different princess for the Disney stable.

B

[Trailer] Taken 2

Silly Bryan Mills thinking he could take a family vacation without all hell breaking loose….

Trailer for the sequel looks like it’ll continue the ass kicking that started in the first film. Liam looks like he’s ready to go again, can’t wait to see it….