Looper

I'm sorry, but can we please point out the sexiness of the picture above... pretty please?

Looper follows a futuristic plot where the mob has a new way to dispose of unwanted men and their dead bodies.  The mob from the future sends tied up people back in time, where an assassin shoots them dead upon arrival.  You might think that seems a little complicated, and it could be my crummy way of explaining things, but the film was actually easy to follow.  Things get a little more complicated when one of the men sent back to the past, just happens to be the older version of the assassin hired to kill him.  Does he have the strength to kill his older self?? Well, it wouldn't be much of a movie if he did.  As for the rest, I'll leave the plot for you to figure out... it's much more fun that way.  This film stars the adorable and talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the bad-ass killing machine Bruce Willis, the pleasantly surprising Emily Blunt, and the classic Jeff Daniels.

Okay, time to get into it.  I just have to say... OMG!!!!  Yes, I said it!  I loved this film.  It was unique and original, action packed, full of talented actors, and it had a deep meaning behind it - one that they actually took the time to spell out for you in case you happen to be that thick.  I haven't seen anything this original since Inception, and even though this film involves time travel, I ironically found it easier to follow.  For them to accomplish that, I have to tip my hat off to them.  It is not as easy as they made it look.  It took no effort on my part to fall into the story and truly escape into the plot without any reservations.

....oh, and yes... it does help when Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in it... (I still think he and Seth Rogen should have gotten an award for 50/50- just my opinion)  And for all of the Bruce Willis fans, he doesn't disappoint.  He brings the violence and action to a whole different bad-ass level, but I have to admit, it was nice seeing him in something with a little more depth to it - it has been a while.

I really don't want to give away anything more for this film, so just go and see for yourself!  It mixes sci-fie, drama, action and thriller to create this wonderful and unique box office hit.  Don't miss out!  I give this film 8.9/10. 

Lawless

Tom Hardy is one busy bee lately... Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.

Lawless follows the lives of three brothers during the prohibition, bootlegging moonshine in Franklin County, Virginia.  Things get a little more complicated when a new deputy from Chicago comes into the picture with a ruthless and unforgiving demeanor.  Charlie Rakes is on a mission to shut their operation down quickly and without remorse.  This film stars the "less is more" Tom Hardy, the "got something to prove" Shia LaBeouf, the wise and excellent Gary Oldman, the magnificently devilish Guy Pearce, the subtle but strong Jessica Chastain, and finally, the meek and beautiful Mia Wasikowska.  Each actor individually brought their A game, and for that they get a little more attention from me than usual.

Let me start by saying that Guy Pearce was phenomenal.  I can say with complete honesty that he played one of the most disturbing villains I have ever encountered in a film.  He is so amazing at taking a character and creating something with that character that no one else could even come close to.  I know it sounds like I'm gushing... but I can't help it!

Okay, okay, I'll move on.  Apart from the incredible actors in this film, which I can't emphasize enough, the plot is pretty incredible to consider.  It's based on real life events and real life brothers.  Through all of the near death experiences, you can't help but be a little floored that real men survived all of it and they lived quite a long time after these events were over and done with.  I don't want to give away the violence that occurs (and it's not for the faint of heart), but it's not something most people can live through.

So, if you're are going into this movie looking for purpose, or even a sense of plot direction, you'll probably be disappointed.  Since it is based on real life experiences and lives, the plot is not an expected plot, and things seem like they run on unnecessarily for a little bit.  But like I said, that's real life for ya.  As for the romantic elements, girls, they aren't going to jump off the screen for you.  They are simple and in some cases even childish.  Really, the film didn't even need these elements at all, but I assume it was to bring in more of a female audience and to be true to the story.

All this film wants to do is tell a remarkable story about cheating death, not once, but several times, even when all the odds are stacked up against them.  This is also a film that gives the opportunity, with a variety of unique characters, for actors to really work out their acting chops and try new things that perhaps they have never really tried before.

Alright... I guess it's time to conclude.  I give this film 8.3/10, because yes, even though the acting was great, I have to consider all of the aspects, and the fact of the matter is, the plot thins out from midway till the end.  There is really no character development - maybe only in Shia LaBeouf's character - and there isn't proper cause and effect, especially when most of the characters never die, and they probably should have.   So... I concede.   

Hope Springs

The passive housewife, the miserable accountant... why is this sounding so familiar???

Hope Springs follows the lives of a typical married couple living through monotonous routine and daily chores that distract them from the elephant in the room - their dwindling marriage.  When the wife (played by Meryl Streep) has finally hit her limit, she forces her husband (played by Tommy Lee Jones) into couples therapy in Maine.  He reluctantly gives in to her demands and finds himself having to face the fact that their marriage is in desperate need of restoration.  This film also stars Steve Carrell as the marriage councilor.

It is absolutely delightful having to watch Tommy Lee Jones play the discomforted husband discussing his sex life with a marriage councilor.  Jones and Streep are excellent together.  Even though the situation is common in many marriages, the humor the story displays is necessary to counter-balance the anguish that the characters are feeling on the inside.  This film does an accurate job of reminding audiences of what happens after the children have moved out and the years of neglect and hurt are over.  What are we left with?  Shattered relationships that need to be put back together - picking up one piece at a time and putting it back into place.  The problem is, at that point, do you have the patience, the emotional stability, and the love to bother picking up the first broken piece?

I think this film does an excellent job at showing people the heartache that one has to go through to pick up the first piece, but that the pay off you get is worth it once the image is complete.  It has to slowly build back over time, but you have to be willing to rebuild it.  Marriage is a two person commitment, something the film is constantly trying to remind us of.  It's insightful and shines light on certain aspects people would rather ignore.

I give this film 7.8/10 for being relatable and unique in comparison to most romantic comedies.  

The Dark Knight Rises

 

Christopher Nolan does it again!  I don't think I've seen one movie with him as director, that I didn't like - Prestige, Memento, Inception - the man knows what he's doing!

The Dark Knight Rises acts as the final chapter in a three film series, concluding Batman's vigilante escapades, fighting crime in Gotham city.  In the face of a new terror named Bane (played by Tom Hardy), Bruce Wayne has to come out of hiding and become Batman once again.  I'm going to stop there, because the plot is just too good to give away.  

Christian Bale fell in to the role as he always does, with certainty of his character.  Nothing new there.  But it was Anne Hathaway that dressed to impress - literally.  Hathaway was wonderful with her depiction of cat woman, creating a character with a moral dilemma, but who still isn't hopeless.  She was feline in the best way possible - Michelle Pfeiffer would be proud.  Joseph Gordon Levitt did a wonderful job as well, like he always does.  I've never had doubt in his acting abilities and he didn't disappoint.    

Tom Hardy was the star of the show, however.  Even though his face was halfway covered throughout the entire film, his vocal abilities and his physicality overcompensated wonderfully.  He did an amazing job with his character, living up to the fear his character is supposed to inflict.  I enjoyed the background story of Bane, because it really added to the character's development and the plot.  I appreciated the accuracy related to the original comics, when Nolan included the famous scene where Bane breaks Batman's back.  Even though not everything could stay true to the comics, they left the important things for the die hard fans.  

   

The editing of the film was very inventive, especially the way they cut up the scenes to depict the passing of time.  I thought it was unique and it kept you on your toes.  The only thing that bothered me about this film was the ending, and that was only because the plot took a twist, deviating away from what is expected of certain characters.  I can't go into details, because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but for those who know the Batman comics well, know that certain characters should not be together.  As for the open ended feeling of the film, I was annoyed.  With the knowledge that Nolan is not going to do any more films for this series, it leaves me feeling disappointed that we may not see the appropriate continuation the film calls for.  

I give this film 8.7/10 for being wonderfully dark, with doom and gloom in every corner, however, still making room for that one speck of light that makes its way till the end.    

      

The Amazing Spiderman

It was a nice change from the dark and sinister world of Batman, to have a light and slightly comedic retelling of one of the most beloved superheroes.  (not that I don't love the Batman trilogy)

The Amazing Spider-Man is a film that retells the origin of Spider-Man, setting a different tone from the Tobey Maguire films back in 2002-2007.  We follow the adolescent life of Peter Parker (played by Andrew Garfield), a high school student desperate to uncover the past and discover the truth about his parents' sudden death.  While trying to get close to an old work associate of his father's, he comes in contact with radioactive spiders.... well, I'm sure you can guess all the rest.  The love interest is played by the lovely Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, a fellow high school student (no she's not Mary Jane, but in the comics Gwen Stacy actually comes in the picture first).  Some of the other actors in this film are Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Rhys Ifans, and Denis Leary. 

Andrew Garfield handled his role with all the respect and delicacy it required.  He made the character his own, leaving little comparison between his interpretation and Maguire's interpretation. Garfield is an excellent actor who is able to convey the deepest emotions with the slightest of subtleties. His communication was more through the body than it was through the dialogue, something I find very interesting to watch. The chemistry between Andrew and Emma was evident in their romantic scenes.  They played the excitement of a high school love - a first love - extremely well, never losing sight of that distinction.  As the male lead, Garfield lived up to my expectations and in some cases, even exceeded them.

Now, even though my overall outlook on this film is positive, there were some negative aspects I can't overlook.  Rhys Ifan as the Lizard was not a developed villain.  In the last Spider-Man series, the Green Goblin was a dynamic character, where you felt the villain was still a person, and not just a 'bad guy'.  In this adaptation, the motivation behind Rhys' actions did not seem sufficient for the extremes he begins to go to.  As a result, you never fully connect yourself with his character and, therefore, you never feel that right amount of satisfaction when his character is stopped and brought to justice.  I think it's just as important to make both the protagonist and the antagonist emotionally understood.

Other than that, I think they stayed true to the comics as much as they could and brought in new elements we haven't seen before.  For that I give the film 8/10.         

Ted

Honestly, this is where Mark Wahlberg belongs.  Forget The Fighter, I think he's found his calling! (I'm not being sarcastic for once)

Ted is about a young boy named John Bennett who makes a wish that his teddy bear will come to life and become his best friend.  Strangely enough, the wish comes true and Ted is born.  They grow up together, but along the way, things get more difficult when John's relationship with his girlfriend reaches a new level.  Suddenly, John has to leave his childhood behind, and in turn Teddy, in order to enter his adult life.  This film stars Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, and Mila Kunis. 

The celebrity guest appearances were extremely entertaining in this film.  Ryan Reynolds, Norah Jones, Tom Skerritt, Patrick Stewart as the narrator.  There were many more, but let's leave it at that for now. 

I think this film was hilarious with its jokes, in true Seth MacFarlane fashion.  Sometimes stupid, sometimes flat out ridiculous, while always attacking popular culture along the way.  It was almost like stand up comedy, but with a teddy bear making the jokes.  I give a thumbs up to Wahlberg for his ability to physically fight a teddy bear and make it look real.  Great job guys!

My favourite scene I have to say is the when Kunis has to pick up a turd from her carpet.  Mark Wahlberg's expression is priceless!

See this film!  Trust me, it's worth the two hours watching a teddy bear on screen.  I give this film 7.7/10.

Magic Mike

Surprise, surprise... looks like Channing Tatum is useful after all. 

Magic Mike is about a young man named Adam who gets into the stripper business, falling in to the party life of easy money, loose women, and drugs. This film stars Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Olivia Munn, and Matthew McConaughey.

And you thought this film was just cheap titillation for women.  Shame on you!

I was pleasantly surprised by this film, and not because of the naked men stripping on screen.  Let's just say I have little faith in Channing Tatum's acting abilities, partly because he rarely impresses me.  But in this film, I had zero issues with him.  I assume that he stepped it up because the film is loosely based on his life.  How embarrassing would it be if he sucked at recreating something he has already lived through?    

I found that the script was very realistic, especially the dialogue with the young girls.  The acting seemed very authentic and I liked that the most.  Now there were a lot of stripping scenes, and maybe a little too many, but that's just my opinion.  The dance numbers were very impressive, especially Tatum.  I forgot he was a good dancer, though you wouldn't know it by just watching him in Step Up. Ironically, he was much better in this film.

Now let's talk about the huge issue with this film: the ending!  It's so ambiguous, so empty.  You get a conclusion for one character, but you are completely left hanging when it comes to the main character.  They did not wrap up the film like they should have, and I just hope from the bottom of my heart, that they did not want to leave room for a sequel.  I can guarantee that if they try to continue this with more films, it will be a waste of people's money and time.  This is a one time success, and I promise you it won't happen again.

But back to the ending.  Seriously, it doesn't make sense.  I know I can't give it away, but let me say this -  had everything unfolded the way it did, the romantic element in the movie should not have happened.  Family will always come first, especially in a film like this, and I doubt that it would have ended that way in reality.  I think they were just desperate for a romantic moment.  That's all I'll say for now.

Matthew McConaughey deserves his own paragraph.  He really went all the way with his character, you can tell.  He was hilarious to watch and somehow mesmerizing - as though stripping is what he was meant to do.  I wish I was on set when he was filming, because I have a feeling it would have been one of the most entertaining performances to watch.

So Kudos to all the actors, the director, and the producers that made this film actually have substance.  Who would have thought?  I give this film 7.8/10.  Had the ending been better, maybe this would have been worth a solid 8.