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Marc's Movie Review: The Descendants

George Clooney and this film have been nominated for Oscars and no wonder.  It's the kind of film that appeals to Hollywood types.  If Seinfeld was a TV show about nothing but was funny, The Descendants is a film about nothing that is .....well, pretty much about giving Clooney various scenes in which to pose.

A dying wife who cheated on her husband is the center piece of the flick.  Add in a couple of dysfunctional kids, beautiful Hawaiian scenery, a mega wealthy family and you've pretty much got the background of the movie.  The only thing missing is a redeeming plot, or even one that excites, surprises, shocks, disgusts or tugs at your heart.  This one has none of the above.

The last movie I saw with Angelina Jolie, The Tourist, seemed to have shared a similar motivation with The Descendants, having been written for the exclusive purpose of showcasing closeups of an attractive star.

No doubt Clooney can act.  I've seen him do it.  But he didn't do much of it in this slog.  In fact, on the few occasions when he had to be convincing, he employed very familiar head ticks, eye pops and fleeting smiles that were recycled without much in the way of original study.

The movie came and went without much being accomplished.  And the only thing worth mentioning at all is the over use of leaf litter in nearly every scene.

I can't really give it very high marks because it wasn't very entertaining, and in my book, that's what a movie is supposed to be.

Marc's Movie Reviews: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy

Imagine yourself on a cold January night forced to watch as someone empties a barrel of molasses with an eye dropper.  Flush a $20 bill down the toilet, add a bag of popcorn to the experience and you have a sense of what it is like to pay to watch this movie.

I'm told the book was much better.  It had to be. 

Yes the cinematography was skillful and eventually it all kinda comes together at the end, but the end didn't come soon enough.

I'd wait for this one on HBO if I were you.  It might do the trick if you need a two and a half hour inspiration for a nap on a rainy day when you are stuck at home suffering from the flu.

Marc's Movie Review: The Muppets

Corn served with tears of happiness describes the new Disney movie The Muppets. It's a musical filled with 70's style hokey, but what did you expect? The plot is classic Muppet storyline. The cameo appearances include the likes of James Carville. And the entertainment quality does uncle Walt Disney proud. Whether you go with kids or just your sweetie expect an evening worth every penny of the time and money. This is one movie I rate as "must see" this holiday season.

Marc's Movie Review: The Debt

Helen Mirren stars, sort of, in this carefully directed tense mystery.  I say sort of because most of the movie is about her character 40 years younger as played by Romi Aboulafia.  But there is enough Helen Mirren to make any red blooded guy stay awake despite the fact there are no good car chases in the flick.

What probably will get this movie the best overall rating from me is the way in which the director and editors took pains to keep the tension very high, the intrigue very understandable and kept the whole thing wound very tight until the final credits rolled.

The story is a good one, but not great.  The acting is pretty fair overall, but no one really had to stretch much.  The camera work was mostly tripod if I recall and the set design was pretty easy really considering that there were few panoramas, few busy backgrounds and mostly just a bunch of Eastern Block despair to represent, which can be found in almost any city in America these days, although other than the studio in Britain, the scenes came from Israel and Budapest.

Mirren is filmed as a wrinkled, scarred old woman, a role which pops the bubble of fantasy which has surrounded her "mature beauty" image for several years now.  Of course for us Mirren fans, we know her history and modesty in film has never been a Mirren trait so showing a few wrinkles is nothing compared to her early work as far back as "Age Of Consent".

For film buffs like me who pay as much attention to lighting, camera work, sound mixing, directing and editing, this one scores high in some of those categories.

But for those who are going to see a movie for the sheer escape, expect to have your stomach knotted up for a little over an hour and a half.  Not from blood and guts or crybaby stuff like "mommy is dying and leaving the kids orphaned" storylines, but by the skilled hands of a director who puts you into the scene yourself, and then twists you around just often enough to keep you a little off balance.

Good show.  Go see it, but look for the more subtle work and you will come away with a deeper appreciation of what has been done here.

Marc's Movie Review: "Cowboys And Aliens"

Do you like action films?  Do you like cowboy movies?  Do you like Harrison Ford?  How about Daniel Craig?  If you answered "yes" to any of the above, that would be reason enough to go see this flick, but the real reason to go is because it does just what a movie is supposed to do.  It entertains and provides an escape.

I know it sounds hokey, and, well, on any rational level it is.  But somehow they made it work.

The entire story is in the title, so nothing to add about that.  But Daniel Craig plays a really good tough guy, Harrison Ford has become his own character and the rest of the cast lends just enough star power and familiar faces to let you know that some in Hollywood took this thing kinda seriously.

Special effects are pretty good.  Computer generated scenes are pretty flawless.  Outdoor photography is as big as the west and there's plenty of, although the movie did have a few slow spots.

If you have the spare cash and are looking for a good mood movie, I say saddle up and get on down to see 'Cowboys and Aliens'.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Marc's Movie Reviews: Hangover Part 2

The first Hangover movie was a riot.  This one, not so much.  It's the same premise with similar slapstick humor and sight gags, but without the creativity.  And since the first one depended upon an element of surprise for its humor, going into this sequel knowing it's a sequel tends to turn surprise into predictable.

Another caution is worth noting.  This one is filled with vulgar language. No I'm not a prude, but there seems to be an over abundance of the "F" word, beyond the need for impact.  In fact it's pervasive.

Oh, and did I mention nudity and penises?  Yeah, remember the fist movie where at the end there was a shot of a guy's penis, for shock value?  Both male and female nudity are flaunted in this flick, and in a weird combination not often seen in mainstream movies.

It had a few laughs in it, in fact  most of the 3/4 packed house laughed alot.  But for me, this one was a weak attempt to capitalize on the success of the first movie.

If you've got an extra twenty bucks and need a night out, go.  But if you are making plans to see Hangover Part 2 expecting something even close to the first one, you might be disappointed.  I was.

Marc's Movie Reviews: Atlas Shrugged Part I

If you are looking for entertainment from this flick you will have to look hard. It is a brooding, dark, depressing tale of a future we all fear, a future increasingly familiar to anyone paying attention.

Part 1 is filled with hope along with ample evidence of how powerful people can game the political system to effectively dash its brains out against a rock.

I'd say to some it will feel like America's eulogy, to others a call to action and to progressives it will seem like just one more dose of conservative BS propaganda.

You should see it if for no other reason than to acclimate yourself to feeling the kind of helplessness that wakes true patriots in a cold sweat thinking of another Obama term of office.

Atlas Shrugged: ipecac for apathy.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Marc's Movie Reviews: "Limitless"

First things first.  This movie is about a pill that allows the star to unleash the whole power of the human brain.  On one level, it glorifies drug use.  I wouldn't recommend it for teens, it could send the wrong message.  But if as an adult you can get beyond this, then here's my review.

The movie starts with some great camera work, great editing and some great special effects.  This made me think the whole thing was going to be a wild fantasy.  It was, but not on the level of the opening scene.  I'd say the bulk of the budget was spent on the first few minutes. 

DeNiro has a good role for his persona, but it isn't a big role.  If you're going to the movie to see DeNiro, you might be disappointed in how late and how little he appears in the film.

The star, Bradley Cooper, either has super duper blue eyes, or the tricksters in Hollywood made you think so as he far and away carries the plot almost all by himself.

The story is of course far fetched, the acting kinda so-so, but the entire package makes for a good flick.  A few audible groans in a scene or two told me that the audience was engaged and the rest of the special effects throughout were more interesting than distracting, which is a good thing too.

But one little observation about the way the movie ended.  I'm not going to spoil anything for you, but ask you to look for something I saw and tell me what  you think.

For all of the technical expertise exhibited in this movie, at the end the star is obviously wearing a wig.  I don't think we are supposed to know it is a wig, but look for it; you can see the glue line around his sideburns, very clearly. 

The wig flips up a bit in the back and for a Hollywood film with such promising special effects at the beginning, I have to wonder, was this a subtle message meant to highlight something about attention to detail, was it a little joke or merely an oversight?

Bottom line, go early.  It's worth the price of admission, but I'd have felt better about my spend if I would have caught it as a matinee.

Marc's Movie Reviews: "Dilemma", "The Kings Speech"

Two movies in theaters now provide unexpected entertainment, "Dilemma" with Vince Vaughn, and Kevin James and "The Kings Speech" with Colin Firth.  They come at you from totally different ends of the entertainment spectrum, but both deliver solidly.

"The King's Speech" is the historical account of King George VI of England, the shocking story of how he became King and how his lifelong problem with stammering was managed by an unlikely counselor just in time for him to become the inspiration for the British Empire to endure and eventually defeat Hitler's madness.

Firth does a masterful job with the role and the distinctly British tone of the movie, coupled with the fascinating true life story played out on the screen, keeps your attention and fills you with hope and pride.

It might seem a bit draggy to those who like a faster pace, but in the end you know you've seen a movie destined to become a classic.

"Dilemma", on the other hand, provides an unusual surprise of its own.  One would think that pairing Vince Vaughn with Kevin James would result in an uproariously funny flick.  That it is not, though there were plenty of times when the packed house rippled with laughter.

What is perhaps the most surprising is the quality of Vince Vaughn's dramatic acting skills.  James is the same goofy guy from "King of Queens", but Vaughn seems to have put a lot more feeling and expression into his character than what he usually delivers.

This might be due in part to the fact that master director Ron Howard was running the show.  While Howard's recent films have not been as good as some of his earlier ones, and this one is not a home run, nevertheless some how Vaughn delivers a danged good performance and overall the movie provides a nice little escape for the price of the ticket.

On a scale of low to high, 1-10, I give the King's speech a solid 8.  Dilemma I give a 5 1/2.

Marc's Movie Reviews: "Little Fockers"

The first show was sold out.  The second show packed the theater.  The only explanation would be the success of the first two movies in this series because this one is a total dud.

I could tell you many reasons why it falls flat, but the shortest explanation I can give is that it simply is not funny.  Yes there are a couple of funny sight gags and a couple of funny lines, but as comedies go, this one is going straight to pay per view followed shortly by a run on the free movie channels.

My guess is that the main actors were under a contract to do three movies or they got a ton of dough for doing this one.  Otherwise they would never have put their reputations on the line to support this flick.

Skip this one and spend your money elsewhere.