This is 40 Movie Review

This is 40   

Starring:  Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Maude Apatow, Iris Apatow, Jason Segel, Megan Fox, Albert Brooks

Directed by Judd Apatow

Rated: R

Run Time: 134 mins

Genre: Comedy

Opens December 21st

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

There comes in time in every adults life when you realize that the candles on your cake keep increasing, your body starts going through the next phase of change, but your mind hasn’t quite caught up to the age of your body? In Judd Apatow’s latest film, he brings back the gang (some of them) from Knocked Up – the family made up of Pete, Debbie and their girls Charlotte and Sadie a few years older, maybe a little wiser but still trying to figure life and relationships out with a sense of humor.

On the morning of Debbie’s (Leslie Mann) 40^th a.k.a. 38^th birthday, her husband Pete (Paul Rudd) and daughters Charlotte (Iris Apatow) and Sadie (Maude Apatow) surprise her with cake, breakfast and gifts, but she is in no mood for celebrating. She realizes that now that she’s the big 4-0, everything about their lives has to change – their diets, lifestyle and relationships with each other. Debbie wants to be closer to Pete and the girls, so she limits electronics and internet usage, which send Sadie into a tails spin. Pete’s birthday is a few days later, which a massive birthday party is in the works, which he is thrilled about.

In their daily lives, Pete runs a small record label, and Debbie owns a small boutique, both which are struggling financially. Their accountant informs Pete that they need to sell their house if they want to get back on their feet. With the businesses struggling and Pete giving money to his unemployed father, bills are being not paid or severely late.  Pete tries hiding this from Debbie because he has a plan – in a last ditch effort, he will promote his latest client’s new album, and if they sell at least 625,000 copies they will be fine financially.

With all the pressures of business, the kids, family and friends Pete and Debbie take a quick overnight trip to Laguna to unwind and reconnect. The trip was exactly what they needed, but upon arriving home, the problems multiplied quickly with no clear solution in sight. When Debbie ends up pregnant, their relationship is in a fragile state and with all the mounting problems in other areas of their lives, can Debbie and Pete keep it together or will they be starting their 40’s as divorcees?

For those thinking that this is going to be a sequel to the 2007 hit “Knocked Up”, you’re kinda right. This film is more like an offshoot or character study of the family from “Knocked Up”. Apatow shines light on the next phase of aging – middle age and does it with a sense of humor and a strong dose of honesty. For those approaching 40 or those who are past that age mile marker, this film and the character’s journey may be more relatable than a Judd Apatow fan thinking this is going to be like "Knocked Up" or "40 Year Old Virgin". In typical Apatow fashion, it’s full of awkward moments, bodily humor, some drug use and runs about 30 minutes too long. The cameos were fantastic; watch for music legend Graham Parker, John Lithgow, Lena Dunham, Michael Ian Black, Chris O’Dowd and the always fabulous Melissa McCarthy. Check out “This is 40” when it opens in theaters nationwide starting Friday December 21, 2012.

Movie Review for Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away

Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away   

Starring: Erica Linz, Igor Zaripov

Directed by Andrew Adamson

Rated: PG

Run Time: 91 mins

Genre: Fantasy/ 3D Film

Opens December 21st

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

What do you get when you team up one of the most successful directors of all time, but as a producer, another Academy Award nominated director and the equivalent of a modern day circus? The million dollar answer is… "Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away", brought to you from Executive Producer James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar) and Director Andrew Adamson (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the witch and the Wardrobe). Using the ever popular 3D format of filming, Cameron and Adamson wanted to give the gift this holiday season, of experiencing Cirque du Soleil in a way that allows the audience to experience all the flips, bends, spins, fire stunts and body contorting in an up-close and personal way.

When a young woman, Mia (Erica Linz) wanders into a circus that has set up shop in town, various sideshow performers and circus folk keep pointing her in the direction of the Big Top, where The Aerialist (Igor Zaripov) is about to perform. Along the way she catches a young man’s eye and its love at first sight, so imagine her surprise when she sees The Aerialist, recognizing him as the man from before. The Aerialist, unfocused from the sight of Mia, ends up missing the swinging trapeze and falls to the ground below swallowing him whole. Mia jumps out of her seat jumps down the hole in an attempt to save The Aerialist.

When she gathers her bearings, she realizes she has been transported to a stranger circus world set up like a traveling caravan.  From tent to tent she wanders, encountering a more strange yet magical world than the previous in attempts to find The Aerialist, her true love.

If you have never been able to attend a Cirque du Soleil performance, this is an impressive sampling of 7 of their Las Vegas shows: “O”, "Viva Elvis"," KÀ", "The Beatles - Love", "Zumanity",  "Mystère" and "Criss Angel Believe". Although nothing can replace the thrill of seeing a live performance, this is a terrific introduction to the world of Cirque and is worth the 3D price of admission to experience. “CdS: Worlds Apart” is an Alice in Wonderland like adventure that conjures up the magic, wonder, excitement and thrills that Cirque du Soleil is famous for.  Be sure to check it out when it opens in theaters nationwide starting Friday December 21, 2012.

Movie Review for The Guilt Trip

The Guilt Trip  

Starring: Barbara Streisand, Seth Rogen,

Directed by Anne Fletcher

Rated:  PG-13

Run Time: 95 mins

Genre: Comedy

Opens December 19th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

With less than two weeks to go for the 2012 movie release schedule, here is a comedy that doesn’t quite fit the typical holiday release film type.  Director Ann Fletcher brings together a quirky, yet witty cast of characters, with the most intriguing pairing of mother and son in Barbara Streisand and Seth Rogen.

Andrew Brewster (Seth Rogen) is a former FDA scientist who has developed the cleanest of cleaning solutions and is trying to sell the product to the masses. Every meeting he has had so far has been less than lucrative, so to give it one final attempt as he’s running out of money, he plans a road trip starting on the East Coast and ending up in Las Vegas to visit every consumer distributor of household goods he can fit in.  Andrew’s mother Joyce (Barbara Streisand) is his biggest fan, constantly encouraging him and dishing out the motherly guilt in heaps. Andrew stays with his mother while on the first stop of his trip where he learns about his mother’s first love, the man whom he was named after, but wasn’t his father. It breaks his heart to see his mother lonely, so he is determined to find the original Andrew and play a little matchmaker.

Once Andrew learns that Andrew Margolis (the original Andy) lives in San Francisco, he devises a plan to bring his mother along on his road trip and swing up towards the city by the bay to see if there are any sparks left between the two ex-lovers.  Unbeknownst to Joyce, she enthusiastically agrees to join Andrew on the trip, and they proceed on a cross-country journey that will change their relationship forever.

In this road trip comedy, much of the mother/ son relationship story arc is rather predictable, but actually works in favor for Seth Rogen & Barbara Streisand.  Rogen downplays the obnoxious overtones that he’s famous for, in favor of playing the role of character instead of his own personality. The story was endearing, humorous and quite memorable for some of Barbara’s scenes (Especially the steakhouse scene) and was based on a trip that screenwriter Dan Fogelman took with his mother. Although this film was shot entirely in Southern California, the special effects team did a superb job of making it look like an actual road trip. The only thing I find strange about the film is the timing of the release. This film is a story about the relationship between mother & son, so I would have expected a film to have been released closer to Mother’s Day, the start of the summer film season.  If you are looking for a lighthearted comedy this holiday season, check out The Guilt Trip when it opens in theaters nationwide starting Wednesday December 19, 2012.

Movie Review for Hyde Park on the Hudson

Hyde Park on the Hudson   

Starring:  Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Williams, Samuel West, Olivia Coleman

Directed by Roger Michell

Rated: R

Run Time: 94 mins

Genre: Comedy/ Biography/ Drama

Opens December 14^th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Opening in theaters this week is “Hyde Park on the Hudson”, starring a stellar ensemble cast of Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Williams, Samuel West and Olivia Coleman. With the 2013 Golden Globe Nominations released this week, one thing on viewers minds will be if Bill Murray walk away with an award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for his portrayal of the 32^nd president.

Told from the point of view of Daisy (Laura Linney), the film chronicles the presidential years of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Bill Murray) and his time spent at his mother’s summer home in Hyde Park, NY leading up to World War II. Daisy had been summoned by one in FDR’s camp to keep him company while he was recovering from a cold. Since she was the only family member (they were cousins 6^th removed) to reply to his summons, she ended up forging a close relationship with the tenacious president by being a “friendly” companion.

F.D.R.’s wife, Eleanor (Olivia Williams) is in the middle of planning events to entertain King George VI (Samuel West) and Queen Elizabeth (Olivia Coleman) during their visit to Hyde Park. The purpose of the trip is to get America to form an alliance with Great Britain if Hitler was to attack.  The whole town is a buzz that the first time in the history of the United States, British Royalty will be setting foot on American soil. Being the free thinker she was, Eleanor plans a picnic to honor the King & Queen, complete with Native American dancers and barbecuing hot dogs.  The mere though of the King eating a hot dog is mortifying to Queen Elizabeth and is worried that this will reflect badly on the monarchy.

During the monarch’s visit, Daisy discovered she wasn't F.D.R’s only special friend which enraged and devastated the overly patient woman. Although she acknowledges Eleanor is FDR’s wife, she attends to his needs and acts like his wife rather than Eleanor. Will she continue to look the other way and continue to be a part of the inner circle, or will she cut the president off cold turkey?

With the success of "The Kings Speech", having another film focusing on the King of England in a different light almost cheapens the Bertie role in Hyde Park. Much of the film is like a soap opera set pre-World War II, hitting hard on the comedic and dramatic moments.  If you thought the Kennedy or Clinton scandals were juicy, FDR may have trumped the other two. With much of the sexual tones implied rather than seen, Bill Murray and Laura Linney have commendatory chemistry for a secret relationship between 6^th removed cousins.  By the tone of the film, the relaxed approach to FDR’s presidency cheapens and makes him a caricature rather than a historical figure. You be the judge when the film opens in Phoenix theaters starting Friday December 14, 2012.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Movie Review

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey     

Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage

Directed by Peter Jackson

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 169 mins

Genre: Fantasy/ Adventure/ 3D Film

Opens December 14th  

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com  

Tolkien fans should be overjoyed; the long awaited prequel to the Academy Award winning Lord of the Rings Saga is finally here. There have been advances in filmmaking technology since the first Lord of the Rings film was release, so audiences will now be able to experience a more life like viewing of the film, thanks to 48 frames per second projection rate and in 3D. Thank you Peter Jackson & digital projection.

For those not familiar with the J.R.R Tolkien book, The Hobbit is the prequel to the Lord of the Rings series, focusing on Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and how he came to possess the ring. In this first out of the three films, Bilbo is sought out by the wizard Gandalf the Grey(Ian McKellen) to be the 13th member of a group to reclaim a lost dwarf kingdom.  Thorin’s (Richard Armitage) grandfather ruled over the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor where the gold was mined in abundance. The fortune of the kingdom was greatly sought after and was eventually overthrown by a dragon named Smaug and Ogre invaders.  Gandalf knows that this will not be an easy feat as Bilbo along the way, has lost his childlike adventurous spirit. Thorin does not have much faith in Bilbo, mentioning several times during the journey how much he wishes he didn’t come along to fight their battle.  Bilbo will have to prove to himself, Gandalf and others that he is the right hobbit for the job, but at what cost?

For months now, the popular discussion point in cinematic circles was the decision to use a high frame rate for filming the latest trilogy, 48 frames-per-second. This may be the future of filmmaking, but watching it at the high rate along with 3D, can really do a number on the eyes.  This is just one opinion, but the veil between the viewer and actor is so transparent that the illusion of fantasy is dimmed, looking more like dailies on the set or a television set. What is amazing to watch is the sweeping landscape scenes. How different is the film from the book? Although there are some changes as “The Hobbit” is only one book instead of 3 like LOTR but also being delivered in 3 films; there are some clever additions on Jackson’s part, the film sticks pretty close to the book. The Hobbit is a much lighter tone than the LOTR books, so expect more lighthearted moments and slightly less dark drama. The Hobbit is a much lighter tone than the LOTR books, so expect more lighthearted moments and slightly less dark drama. Not to put too many spoilers in this review but several characters from the LOTR films do make an appearance, making the scenes very enjoyable to watch. Be sure to catch The Hobbit when it opens in theaters nationwide staring Friday December 14, 2012.

“CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: WORLDS AWAY” COMES TO SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUARE!

“CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: WORLDS AWAY” COMES TO SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUARE!

With Advance Movie Ticket Purchase, Film Goers Are Entered to Win a Trip to Las Vegas

or A Year of Free Movie Passes

WHAT:          To celebrate the release of its upcoming 3D film spectacular, “CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: WORLDS AWAY,” Paramount Pictures is proud to announce that the film’s feature performers will be appearing exclusively at the Scottsdale Fashion Square aboard their “Vessel of Dreams”, allowing shoppers to experience the magic of the movie event of the year before it hits theaters December 21^st, with 12pm & 7pm showtimes.

Fans will have the chance to purchase discounted tickets to showings of “CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: WORLDS AWAY” onsite, courtesy of Fandango, and enter to win two fantastic prizes courtesy of ”CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: WORLDS AWAY” and Fandango: A trip for two to Las Vegas to see a Cirque du Soleil show or a year of free movie passes from Fandango!

WHEN:          Saturday, December 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

WHERE:        Scottsdale Fashion Square

7014 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

*Performances will occur at the food court.

Playing For Keeps Movie Review

Playing for Keeps   

Starring: Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Catherine Zeta- Jones, Dennis Quaid, Uma Thurman, Judy Greer

Directed by Gabriele Muccino

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 106 mins

Genre: Comedy/ Romance

Opens December 7^th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film fans, this is another light week on film openings, but instead of going to see Skyfall or Twilight again, a new romantic comedy is opening in theaters nations wide, “Playing for Keeps”.

Aging former soccer god, “King” George Dryer (Gerard Butler) has moved to the town where his ex-wife and son currently reside. George’s fortune from his soccer glory days has dried up from a mix of the current economic climate and a series of poor business decisions. Now George is trying to rebuild his life, starting first with the relationship with his 9 year-old son, Lewis (Noah Lomax).  His ex-wife, Stacie (Jessica Biel) is about to get married to her boyfriend of 3 years, Matt (James Tupper), and this doesn’t bode well with George as he still is in love with her. Trying to get back in Stacie’s good graces by being a better father, George is coerced into coaching Lewis’s soccer team.

George is not only an enormous hit with the kids, but with the soccer parents as well, especially the mothers. Soon after he takes on the coaching role, several mothers are throwing themselves at Coach George, and not in a subtle way. Barb (Judy Greer) is a newly divorcee, looking to get past her failed marriage. Denise (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is Samantha’s mother and used to be a well-known sportscaster. If George helps her “out”, she thinks she can land him a dream job at ESPN.  Married couple Carl (Dennis Quaid) and Patti (Uma Thurman) have issues galore, with the money to back their strange behavior. Carl takes George under his wing, introducing him into Virginia society.

When George’s philandering behavior is witnessed by Lewis firsthand, he wants nothing to do with his father. Not knowing what to do, George turns to Stacie for parenting advice and tries to make peace with his past. Can an aging ladies man ever grow up to be the father his son needs and the man that his ex-wife always wanted him to be?

In an attempt to be a clever, male driven romantic-comedy, Playing for Keeps doesn’t quite score the amount of laughs needed to be unique and different. This film is more of a pallet cleanser between now and the films released in time for Christmas. This film is more guy friendly than anything, but leaves little room for creative storytelling or genuine chemistry to build between the actors. Most of the time, the ladies cast, are running around like hormone, sex-starved teenagers star stuck by a substitute David Beckham type aging sports star. Gerard Butler’s evolution from childish, selfish, over indulgent ladies man to caring soccer coach dad is rather rushed. The chemistry between Biel and Butler is rather muddled and feels more like brother- sister than ex lovers torn apart by pride and unhealthy decisions. I think Biel’s role was poorly cast and would have been better with a slightly older actress like Kate Beckinsale or Isla Fisher, still who look young, but have better comedy chops.  You be the judge when "Playing for Keeps" opens in theaters nations wide starting Friday December 7, 2012

Waiting for Lightning opens Friday - Read a Q&A with the director

 

Waiting for Lightning opens this Friday (12/7) at Harkins Valley Art Theatre

This documentary is the story of Danny Way, a young boy from a broken home in Vista, CA, whose passion for skateboarding would one day bring him and his creation, a ramp of prodigious and dangerous proportions, across many cultural and ideological boundaries to attempt the impossible: jump China's Great Wall on a skateboard. It's a film about how much abuse the body can sustain, how deep you have to dig to survive the betrayals of family, and how high and far dreams can fly.

Filmmaker Magazine did a great Q&A with Director Jacob Rosenberg and here it is.....

Q: What sparked your interest in doing a documentary on Danny Way?

Danny Way has always held a unique spot in the cannon of Skateboard Legends, but having known and grown up with him, I was privy to all the social/psychological things that made his legendary status so incredible and ultimately narratively compelling. When Danny asked me to make the film, I knew right away I had the opportunity to pay tribute to a skateboarder I

admired and tell a human story that fed my filmmaking soul. When Danny calls and asks, you don’t say no.

Q: What part of his story did you most identify with?

Danny and I shared a mentor by the name of Mike Ternasky. Mike had a unique and lasting effect on us both and to some extent the film is a love letter to Mike. In the grand scheme of life experiences it was a necessity for me to re-visit and present the mentorship that Mike had with Danny in order to make ultimate peace with the mentorship Mike had with me. Mike pushed Danny on his skateboard and at the same time pushed me as a young filmmaker. Being

able to pay tribute to the impact that Mike had on both of us within the confines of one project has been quite profound and meaningful.

Q: What was the experience like getting Danny to discuss his childhood?

I firmly believe in the shaping of a man through their childhood experience and Danny is a shining light for that belief. It was a meaningful and bonding experience to get Danny to discuss his childhood in such great depth and the material that came out of our conversations made our story and narrative even clearer as to the path Danny has traveled to become the man he is today. My editor Carol Martori spent months thematically coding the transcripts of all our interviews and always came back to the significance of Danny’s dramatic childhood experiences and particularly one of a recounting in the first interview Danny and I did on camera.

Q: This film will most likely speak to a lot of young people from broken homes. What would you like them to take out of watching this film?

The clearest and strongest message of the film is that anyone can do anything, despite the odds and obstacles. Danny has a quote from one of the earliest skate videos that he was featured in, “It’s all in your head, you just gotta spend time on it.” And it is amazing to see that he exercised this philosophy from pre-teen to adulthood through a firestorm of personal and professional tragedies. The hopeful take away is that no one is completely alone in their experience, because there is always someone else to relate to or draw inspiration from.

Q: How do you think this film stands apart from other skateboarding documentaries?

As a skateboarder, I am a fan of any documentary that delves into the skateboard world, but as a filmmaker I am fascinated with psychology, drive and personal stories. I think “Waiting for Lightning” will stand out from other skateboarding documentaries by the fact that it is not technically a film about skateboarding. First and foremost it is a film about a boy’s journey in becoming a man and attempting to overcome an insurmountable obstacle which is The Great Wall of China. Skateboarding is an essential component of the film because it is the vehicle and outlet of expression that helps that boy grow, tell us who he is and challenge the Wall. Our team drew inspiration from documentaries outside of skateboarding such as “MAN ON WIRE” and “HOOP DREAMS” so we were constantly striving

Argo surpasses 100 mil at the box office

WARNER BROS. PICTURES’ ACCLAIMED HIT “ARGO” STRIKES BOX OFFICE GOLD, SURPASSING $100 MILLION

Ben Affleck’s widely acclaimed dramatic thriller “Argo” has crossed the $100 million mark at the domestic box office, it was announced today by Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution. One of the best reviewed films of the year, “Argo” has earned an estimated $101 million, domestically, to date.

In making the announcement, Fellman stated, “‘Argo’ is one of those rare cinematic achievements that has been equally and enthusiastically embraced by both critics and audiences. Its success at the box office, combined with categorical raves from critics everywhere, is a testament to the talents behind the film, beginning with its remarkable director and star, Ben Affleck. We congratulate him and everyone involved in ‘Argo’ on this milestone.”

“Argo” has been applauded by moviegoers and hailed nationwide by critics, a number of whom have called it one of the best films of the year, among many other accolades. At the box office, “Argo” accomplished the extremely rare feat of climbing to number one in its third weekend in release. Overall, it remained solidly in the top ten for seven weeks, including four weeks in the top three.

Word of mouth has been unabated, which will carry the film through the holiday season, while the buzz surrounding “Argo” has continued to build throughout the fall, heading into awards season. In October, the cast won the Hollywood Film Award for Ensemble of the Year.

“Argo” chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans—spearheaded by the CIA’s heroic exfiltration specialist Tony Mendez—which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis. The drama focuses on the little-known role that the CIA and Hollywood played, information that was not declassified until many years after the event.

On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, the Canadian and American governments ask the CIA to intervene. The CIA turns to their top “exfil” guy, Tony Mendez, to come up with a plan to get the six Americans safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.

Academy Award® winner Ben Affleck (“The Town,” “Good Will Hunting”) directed and stars in “Argo,” produced by Oscar® nominee Grant Heslov (“Good Night, and Good Luck.”), Affleck, and Oscar® winner George Clooney (“Syriana”). The screenplay is by Chris Terrio, based on a selection from The Master of Disguise by Antonio J. Mendez and the Wired Magazine article “The Great Escape,” by Joshuah Bearman. David Klawans, Nina Wolarsky, Chris Brigham, Chay Carter, Graham King and Tim Headington served as executive producers, with Amy Herman co-producing.

“Argo” also stars Bryan Cranston, Oscar® winner Alan Arkin (“Little Miss Sunshine”), and John Goodman. The main cast also includes Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham, Kerry Bishé, Kyle Chandler and Chris Messina.

Movie Review for Killing Them Softly

Killing Them Softly   

Starring: Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, Sam Sheppard

Directed by Andrew Dominik

Rated: R

Run Time: 97 mins

Genre: Crime/ Drama

Opens November 30^th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

After last week’s film release overload, the week is a tad light on the new releases. This week the 2012 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or nominated film, Killing Them Softly opens in theaters nationwide. Based on the novel “Cogan’s Trade” by George V. Higgins, Director Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), Brad Pitt’s production company Plan B and The Weinstein Company assembled a top-notch group of actors for this crime thriller.

What happens when stupid people do exceedingly Incredulous acts of stupidity?  The smart or “wise guys” step in to clean up the mess. That’s what happened when 3 small time crooks decide to take on the mob by robbing a Mob protected card game run by Markie Trattman (Ray Liotta). They try to set Markie up by making it look like he was robbing his own card game to steal the cash of the high roller gamblers. Markie is a bit of a prankster, which he pulled this trick once before, but “Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me” goes a long way with this crowd.  The other players were not about to be duped again, so taking matters into their own hands, they target Markie. In the meantime, balance needed to be restored to the crime community, so Driver (Richard Jenkins) calls in an “enforcer” of order, Jackie (Brad Pitt).

Jackie,  familiar with the on goings of the circuit knows he needs assistance to complete the job that normally his fellow hit man Dillion (Sam Shppard) would have taken on. Because Jackie has been in contact with someone who knows the target, another wet work guy is brought in to complete the job, Mickey (James Gandolfini).

It becomes glaringly clear that Mickey is not in the right state of mind nor body to take on this job, so it now falls down on Jackie to clean up the entire mess before it gets worse.

Have you ever, after watching a film, walk out of a theater wondering why a star was drawn to a certain project? Is if for the money?  A great part or a great storyline?  Or maybe perhaps it is to work with someone they have wanted to work with for a long time?  Whatever the reason maybe, it befuddles me to see strong actors such as Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Sam Sheppard and even Ray Liotta be reduced from the strong presence they had in past roles playing gangsters or criminals to the mess that was displayed in Killing Them Softly.  For those expecting an exciting crime ridden film that you would expect from a cast such as this, I’m not sure this would live up to the expectations that films such as Snatch, Goodfellas or even a television show such as The Sopranos.

I’m not sure what went awry along the way in production, but the Big Political/ Corporate Criminals vs. the Smaller Crime circuit, whining about their cut of the business accentuated with the overlay of news clips and sound bites from the 2008 election/ economic Chernobyl-esq meltdown did nothing to help the story.  The film is heavily focused on the dialogue, which for a film about gangsters and crime is unusual. With the combination of the heavy dialogue, slow pacing of the film and the constant topic-jumping between characters not seen or have large parts, if the viewer is not paying attention may get confused and lost.  One of the bright points of the film was during a few of the hit scenes with Jackie. There is a particular slow motion sequence that is done well and breaks up the monotony between storylines. The film takes a while to get interesting which could have been cut by 20 minutes and still accomplished the point of the story. This film was trying to be clever and intellectually stimulating, but should have focused more on the entertainment value.  You be the judge when “Killing Them Softly” opens in theaters nationwide starting Friday November 30, 2012.

Interview with Matthew Quick, Author of "Silver Linings Playbook" - Part 3

Matthew Quick Interview: Finding the Silver Linings- Part 3  

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Continued from Part 2:

PFF: Do you have any plans to adopt any of your other books into screenplays? 

MQ: Yes, I would love to do that, but my agents keep telling me I’m a brand now; you are a novelist. There’s a screenplay for “Like a Rock Star” and there’s some interest in “Boy 21”. I think all the stuff I write is rather cinematic. We are kind of waiting to see how SLP is received before making some decisions going forward. I have an adult book that I can’t currently discuss at the moment, which would be a great film and follow up to Silver Linings, in both book and film formats. We are excited about that, but it’s hard not to say anything else.

“Leonard Peacock” would be a brilliant film. “Perks of Being a Wallflower”, which was great, I love that book; I almost didn’t want to see the film. I would love to meet Stephen [Chbosky]; I’m unabashedly a fan.  I saw “Perks” and thought “Leonard Peacock” would be in the same ballpark. I would answer his call any day; I’m a huge fan of his.

PFF: Do you have a favorite "silver lining" moment?

MQ: There are definitely a lot of them… One really beautiful moment was that of my Uncle Pete is a Vietnam Vet. He is a stock options trader, a very intense man. I mean that in the best of ways, he knows who he is; he doesn't take anything off anyone. He’s the kind of guy who makes money, but wears camouflage all the time. He’s a brilliant man, but lives on his own terms. He’s not someone I thought who would encourage me to write, but when I told him my plans the first time, he said to me, “Risk & Reward”. He played the stock market, “You want to do something great; you need to take a risk.”  He’s one of the very few people at the time who understood what I had to do.

I remember when I wrote “Sorta Like a Rock Star”, there is a character name Private Jackson and he is aVietnamveteran – he’s not my Uncle Pete, but all the stories, I learned from him.  My uncle counsels vets and is very serious aboutVietnam. Shortly before the book’s publication, I told him about this character. He looked at me quite seriously, and said “You better not mess that up. If you made this character look bad, you’re in bug trouble”.  He was very serious.

Uncle Pete went out and bought the book on the first day of its release, and to put this in perspective, the cover is white, had rainbow letters with a teenager girl. This is not the type of book my uncle would generally read. He mainly reads book on history and war. He was the first in my family to read the book and he called me up to tell me – I got it right, this book is beautiful.  He is such an unlikely reader for that type of book. It really struck me hard because I realized the power of stories, to transcend all the differences. He related to that story because it was about people that were wounded, connecting in a very intense moment. That was a beautiful silver lining for me. To connect with my Vietnam Veteran uncle through art was something I never expected to happen.

PFF: Is there any advice you can give to aspiring artists that can help them find their silver lining on their artistic journey?

MQ: I felt so lonely when I went through this process of writing. Without exaggeration, dangerously lonely.  Really, sometimes I was so depressed, I just wanted this so much, I felt like it was something I could do. There were so many times I felt it wasn’t going to happen. So when I talk about this stuff, one of the things that strikes me, and I try to be as honest as I can, how many people say that, “I’m in this situation, and it resonates so strongly with me.”? Not even artists; just people that come up to me and say, “I’m a CEO of a company, and I started when I was your age”, our stories are the same. Or “I started a law firm when I was 29; everyone said I was crazy, but I followed my vision.” You end up seeing; this is the journey of the hero. It is exactly what people go through. I honestly think we don’t talk about it enough, and we don’t encourage people to leave the herd. In our society, especially in our schools, we tell kids, “Be the same. Make sure you get the right score on the SAT. Make sure you go to the right college.”, instead of saying “Find the authentic You. Find what you can put into the world.”  I love the fact [the book & film] inspires people to make art and keep going. If I had quit 5 days before I sent my query letter to my agent, and this book was rejected by a lot of agents in New York, we wouldn’t be talking now. David O. Russell wouldn’t have made the film. I have a novelist friend, Ron, he told me, “People are quitting everyday.” What he meant by that, is that part of making it is not giving up. We need more people that help those people who are trying not to give up; that shine the light on some of the positive things. People are leaving the "Silver Linings" movie or reading the book, and saying “Wow, I feel uplifted after this.” We need more of that.

“Silver Linings Playbook” opens in theaters nationwide November 21, 2012. For more information about on the novel “Silver Linings Playbook” or any of Matthew Quick’s other novels visit http://matthewquickwriter.com

Interview with Matthew Quick, Author of "Silver Linings Playbook" - Part 2

Matthew Quick Interview: Finding the Silver Linings- Part 2  

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

 Continued from Part 1

PFF: After reading the book and watching the film, each on its own are fantastic. One scene that was left out of the film that was in the book was the scene at the beach. Do you know why such a poignant scene didn't make the final cut?

MQ: That was my favorite scene of the book. I think when you make a movie, there’s all kinds of constraints. The had planned to film on the Pennsylvania side of Philly, but the beach is on the New Jersey side, so I’m not too sure. You would have to ask David why, but thank you for saying that.

PFF: In the literary world versus the film world, have you found it easier or more difficult than the film development process, in terms of getting to the finished project?

MQ: It’s different. There is more at stake in the film world, given that David’s budget was $26 million dollar, which in Hollywood terms, is not an extraordinary budget, but it would be unheard of in New York to have a book budget that large. In New York, things are done on a much smaller scale, but there is more books published than films produced in L.A., so it’s hard to compare. The Weinsteins have sent me out on tour, which is great. I love coming out to talk about the film and book; this is getting a lot of PR out there. That’s not as typical in the book world; you’re networking is more intimate (Librarians, Schools, etc.) so it’s more of a long term plan, but they both have their pros and cons about the process.

PFF: If you had to identify with one of the characters from Silver Linings, who would it be and why?

MQ: I think there’s a little of me in many of the characters. Obviously, Pat is someone who is trying to reinvent himself; especially Pat always working out in the basement (book version); I was writing my novel living in a basement, so there’s definitely some things people can pull. I’m a huge Eagles fan; Pat’s a huge Eagle’s fan, but I think Tiffany as well. Tiffany has this explosive quality about her; she’s not embarrassed about that. She’s very volatile and loyal at the same time. I’m incredibly loyal, but I expect a lot from people – I’m not afraid to push. She’s messy; part of my personality is like that too Dr. Cliff… I counseled troubled teens for a long time. He’s a guy I would want to do therapy with – sign me up, absolutely!  That’s not a conscious thing – I’m just trying to be me, telling a story. Your conscious is always at work. There’s other books (of mine), now when I listen [recorded version] to them now, I’m surprised, and I wrote them!  I don’t remember that part. One of the characters will say something and it’s like, wow… it’s a bit of a mystery, fiction writing. I do get frustrated with writers who say “No, no, no, I was in control the whole time; there’s nothing mystical about the process.” I really thing it’s a disservice you do for a lack of a better word, channel the stories. If I had to now sit down and write Silver Linings, it would be a completely different book. It is a snapshot of my psyche at that time in my life and I couldn't do that again because I’m a much different person now.  The work that I’m doing now is a reflection of where I am now and what’s going on in my psyche/ subconscious. What things I’m interested in; what’s happening in my life – that’s what comes out.

PFF:  Do you ever hear back from old students feedback on Silver Linings Playbook?

MQ: Yes! Those are some of my favorite emails. Last year I received a glowing review from the New York Times, I would trade for student emails any day.  When I hear from a former student after they've read my stuff, actually I received one last night in fact, a student I hadn't spoken to in 10 years  said, “Mr. Quick, I see what you’re doing and it gives me hope – you’re living what you told us in class.” She is someone that is pursuing the arts as well. “All that stuff you said all those years, you weren't lying. You really believe it.” At my Boston screening, some students showed up and said they had read the book and said, “It’s so you! It’s like being in your class again!”  Right now, I’m mentoring a former student who is writing a novel, who attended the Philly premier with his family.

Whenever I hear back from students, it means a lot to me. I was quite attached to my students, as I don’t have children of my own. When I was teaching, people would ask if I had kids and I would tell them, “Yeah, I have a thousand of them.”  I really took teaching as a responsibility. There’s a saying Latin where it says something to the effect “You’re the parents in the absence of the parent.” I took that very seriously, so when I hear from those kids, it means the world to me, and it really does.

I’ll say this on record anywhere to get the message out there. Teachers have the hardest job in the world. I did not know that to be a High School English teacher, to do a good job, you are asked to wear so play so many roles. Parent, college prep adviser  therapist; they all work so hard. A thank you letter to a teacher, you have no idea how much fuel you give that teacher. I know when I was teaching, every time I got to my lowest point and couldn't face the day, almost serendipitously, I would get a letter from a student and think, “OK, wow, I’m doing this.”, and walk back into the classroom.  Reach out to your former teachers and let them know they’re doing good work out there. They need all the fuel they can get, so please thank them.

Click here to continue - Part 3

Interview with Matthew Quick, Author of “Silver Linings Playbook” - Part 1

Interview with Matthew Quick, Author of “Silver Linings Playbook”  

Finding the Silver Linings – Part 1

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Phoenix -  When a High School English teacher decides to peruse his dream of becoming a novelist, never in his wildest dreams did he anticipate that he would be touring the country doing publicity for a Holiday release film for his first novel, “Silver Linings Playbook” starring A-List celebrities Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Nor did he expect to have a brilliant name such as David O. Russell behind the camera bringing his pages to life. A great story behind the story itself, Matthew Quick is a name you want to keep on your radar and your bookshelf stocked with his novels as he is not only a brilliant storyteller and writer, he’s an all-around great guy to back it up with.

PFF: Tell me about what your journey was like bringing “Silver Linings” into novel form.

MQ: When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to write. I thought to myself, “What is the easiest job I could have?” I looked at my English teacher and thought, “Wow. Summers off. Home by 3 pm everyday. Great.” In my naivety, I thought I’ll be an English teacher; I’ll have a ton of time to write. In college, I was a Secondary Education English Major and I fell in love with teaching – I didn’t expect that. I became very passionate about working with troubled teenagers and so when I woke up one day and I was suddenly in my 30’s, not writing anymore, I had this total panic attack.  I was known in town as a very passionate teacher, a kind of go-to teacher for kids that were in trouble. I was doing important work but the best part of me was dying.

My wife and I decided, along with her encouragement; to quit our jobs, sell our house to make this huge transition. We traveled around to Peru, South Africa and hiked the Grand Canyon, finally ending up moving with my in-laws, which was a really difficult decision for me because I did not have the full support if my family and friends behind me. I come from a family of bankers; my friends I grew up with came from a blue collar neighborhood and now had great jobs, living lifestyles their parents never could afford. So when my friends were buying bigger houses, having kids, getting nicer cars and I’m in a basement writing a novel, people really didn’t understand. It was a very lonely time for me.

David (O. Russell – Director) talks about re-introducing Bradley Cooper; that you think you know Bradley, but here’s a new version of Bradley Cooper, and that’s why he cast him as Pat. The story of Pat is that he comes home from a mental institution; you think that you know the old me, but I’m gong to reinvent myself and everyone thinks he’s delusional. In the book he’s the same way. Pat comes home and says “I’m going to do these things, get my wife back and even though on some levels, he is delusional, he’s trying really hard to be a better version of himself.

I has spent all this time teaching high school English, telling kids “You should pursue the arts; it’s OK to be an artist”, I started to feel like such a hypocrite because I wasn’t following my bliss. When I left [teaching], I remember my principal, Dr. Joe Ruzico said, “you’ve been telling these kids to follow their dreams and now you’re doing it”.  When he said that, it really hit me in the face because not only was it a great compliment, but I felt really responsible. What if I told all these kids “You can do it and I go out and fail?”.

It was a very difficult time, those 3 years of writing and when I started “Silver Linings”, I knew I really had something. That became scary as well because you think you want something, then when it really starts becoming real, movie deals come in, people are giving you money; that was a transition period that took a while for me to go from “guy in the basement” who everyone thinks is delusional, to guy that Hollywood people are giving money to.  When you’re creating a movie, it really took me a while to wrap my mind around the whole process.

PFF: When you were going into the movie deal, did you work directly with the screenwriter or did they say “Hey we love the book, we’re going to adapt it and we want you to write it?”

MQ:  I received a call from my agent at CAA. I was hosting a party in Vermont when I got a phone call. When you’re a fiction writer and you see a number pop up on your screen whose area code you don’t recognize, you get really excited because it’s either New York or L.A.  Low and behold, it was L.A. and the guy says “Hi, I’m Rich Green, I’m your film agent at CAA.” I was like “I have a film agent?”. I didn’t even know I had a film agent, but my lit agent has a partnership with him. They started throwing out all these names at me like Anthony Minghella (The English Patient), Sydney Pollock (Tootsie), the Weinsteins, and David O. Russell.  At first I thought, “Are these my buddies playing a trick on me?” Of course, it was real and the first question I asked was “Can I write the screenplay?” There was a long pause. Then, “I think David O. Russell will write the screenplay. (Laughs). I’m a huge fan of David’s work, and he’s a story telling hero of mine, so that was a silver lining moment in and of itself.

I’ve heard people say, some talk bad about the whole experience and it can be attributed to Ernest Hemmingway, but I’m not sure, “Doing a deal with Hollywood for a novelist is like doing a drug deal.” You go to a wall, throw your manuscript and they throw back a bag of money and you run away as fast as you can. That has not been my experience at all. The Weinstein Company has been very good to me, sending me out on publicity, being able to talk about the story. I wasn’t involved with the screenplay or casting; they didn’t bring me in until they started filming, out of a courtesy. Since then, I have developed a relationship with David. He called me before seeing the film in New York – it was very important to him that I like the film. In the press that I’ve done with David, in retrospect, I can see that it was a huge task for him to take something so personal to someone else. This is his first adaptation, making it into his film and that was something that he had to do; I understand why I wasn’t around in the beginning. He had t take something so authentically me and make it so authentically him; the fact that he was able to do that so when my family saw the finished print, they didn’t feel it was a betrayal at all, which is a hard feat to pull off.

Click here to continue to Part 2

Hitchcock Movie Review

Hitchcock   

Starring:  Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johannson, Jessica Biel, Toni Collette, Danny Huston, James D’Arcy

Directed by Sacha Gervasi

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 98 mins

Genre: Biography/ Drama

Opens November 23^rd

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

“Good Evening.”  Was the greeting of every "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", running on television from 1962-1965, whom viewers simply knew as the “Master of Suspense”. Alfred Hitchcock was the man who gave the film world the MacGuffin was an enigma himself, but little people know about the woman behind the man, Alma Reville.

Very little people know the story behind the story of the making of Psycho, Hitchcock’s most well-known film. It al starts with a killer fromWisconsin, Ed Gein who was captured in 1944, featured in the novel Psycho by Robert Bloch. After the release of “North By Northwest”, Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) was looking for a project to sink his teeth into; something that would be unique, shocking and to prove that he still had “it” as a director. Alfred’s wife, Alma Reville (Helen Mirren) was pushing for another script by screenwriter Whitfield Cook (Danny Huston), but when Hitch stumbled across the Psycho novel, he was hell bent on making this his next film.

Trying to get the studio’s approval was tricky as he had one picture left on his contract withParamount. The studio wanted another “North By Northwest”, but Hitch wouldn’t budge in his decision. After talking it over withAlma, the decision was made to finance the picture himself and see how things go. This could be a total crap shoot, and soon the pressures of the film, outside influences and Hitch’s heath take a toll on his marriage. Will the film finish on time or will this be the biggest disaster of Hitchcock’s career?

A exceedingly clever film starting with the opening credits, as it captures the essence of Alfred Hitchcock’s greeting before every television show, Hitchcock gives the feel of a behind the scenes featurette of a DVD feature , with the bonus of a glimpse into the private life of the notorious director. More of an inside look of a mad genius’s mind and the birth of Psycho into the cinematic world, Anthony Hopkins plays the notorious director with an air of arrogance, wit and mystery, making it immensely enjoyable to watch. The chemistry with Dame Helen Mirren is equally dynamic as the two powerhouses compliment each other beautifully. The rest of the supporting cast, although interesting choices from afar, do work well in their respective roles from Scarlett Johannson as Janet Leigh, Ralph Macchio as screenwriter Joseph Stefano and James D’Arcy as Anthony Perkins. The essence of the late 1950’s, early 1960’s was capture beautifully in the small details; from the twin beds in the Hitchcock’s bedroom, to the wardrobe selections to the sets at Paramount Pictures; the greatest attention was paid giving the viewer the feel of the time period. Hitchcock is fiendishly fun and deviant entertaining, paying homage to the “Master of Suspense” in a respectable manner. Check out Hitchcock when it opens at Harkin Camelview starting Friday November 23, 2012.

Silver Linings Playbook Movie Review

Silver Linings Playbook   

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Julia Stiles, Jacki Weaver, Anupam Kher, John Ortiz, Chris Tucker

Directed by David O. Russell

Rated: R

Run Time: 122 mins

Genre: Comedy/ Drama

Opens November 21^st

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

With a few  film festival awards under its belt, Silver Lining Playbook looks like it may have a head start going into the awards season. Based on the novel by Matthew Quick, David O. Russell assembled a brilliant, interesting cast to bring the quirky, endearing novel to life.

Pat (Bradley Cooper) has little recollected of the past few months. He’s been locked away at a mental institution for a violent act that he can’t quite remember, but cased his wife to leave him until he gets better. Or that is what Pat thinks. His mother Dolores (Jacki Weaver) is his primary caretaker, bring Pat home to live with her and his father Pat Sr. (Robert De Niro).   Although everyone is happy to have Pat home, everyone is weary, yet on edge due to Pat’s past behavior, which included explosive, violent outbursts.

Pat believes that he will win back his wife Nikki (Brea Bee) by becoming a positive, more loving, culture man; being the man Nikki always wanted him to be. His therapist Dr. Cliff Patel (Anupam Kher) is helping him work through his issues, by trying to help him uncover why Nikki actually left him and how he can overcome such behavior in the future. But can he really? His friends want him to move on from Nikki, even setting up an arranged “blind date” with his friend’s sister-n-law, Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a woman with an equally troubled past with mental illness. With Tiffany’s help, can Pat win Nikki’s affection or lose her all over again when he regains his memory? Will Pat be able to repair the relationships he damaged with his illness before his court ordered medical vacation? Or will Pat grow into the man he thought he should be, but will his past be enough or will a future with someone else be his silver lining he has been chasing after?

Whenever books are adapted into film, there is always a concern that the film won’t be as enjoyable as the novel. Rest assure, this film lives up to the novel and delivers powerhouse performances from a brilliantly assembled cast. Bradley Cooper performs the best role of his career, since his breakout role in “Wedding Crashers”. In “Wedding Crashers” we saw a glimpse of his neurotic, violent behavior, but in Silver Linings, he channels that energy into a brilliant interpretation of a man suffering from bi-polar disorder. Jennifer Lawrence delivers an equally strong performance as the sexually driven, grief-stricken bipolar widow, which despite her young age plays the role with the wisdom and neurosis of a woman of the age the role was meant for, mid thirties.  One would think that the age difference between Cooper and Lawrence wouldn’t translate well into chemistry on-screen, but the performance and comprehension of the characters gives the audience a memorable couple with Pat and Tiffany. The supporting cast is equally grand, although subdued in nature, which is surprising with the actors that surround the protagonists. Robert De Niro normally has such a strong presence on screen, but it balances out well with Cooper’s neurotic performance; that if De Niro was let loose, the story would have been too outlandish for the drama.  Keep this one on your awards season watch list as Cooper and/or Lawrence are strong contenders for at least a Golden Globe. Check out Silver Linings Playbook when it opens in theaters starting Wednesday November 21, 2012.

Movie Review of Life of Pi

Life of Pi   

Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall, Adil Hussain, Tabu, Shravanthi Sainath

Directed by Ang Lee

Rated: PG

Run Time: 125 mins

Genre: Drama/ Adventure/ 3D Film

Opens November 21^st

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Opening this week, among many other new releases, is Academy Award winning Director Ang Lee’s new film Life of Pi. Based on the best selling book by Yann Martel, Life of Pi has won the Audience Award at the 2012 Mill Valley Film Festival.

When a freelance writer heard that he should meet am man named Pi (Irfamn Khan) because he has an unbelievable story, he was intrigued.  The writer had been searching for his next project and was at an impasse. As he sits down to hear the wild tale of Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma) the 16 year old boy who spend 227 days at sea, stuck in a life boat with aBengaltiger.

When he was a boy, Piscine Molitor Patel, a.k.a. Pi, grew up in a small coastal town ofIndia, living on a piece of land that was once a botanical garden converted into a zoo.  When he was still a small boy aBengaltiger arrived named Richard Parker. Pi felt a connection with this animal as he had been on a spiritual quest to find meaning in his young life. He studied 3 main religions, including hi native religion, Hinduism against the wishes of his father, demanding he approach life from a rational view of thinking.

About the time Pi was in high school, his father decided to sell the zoo and move the family toCanada. They would use the animals from the zoo as collateral for their move; placing them in zoos inNorth Americafor purchase. The news deeply disturbed Pi as he just starting dating a beautiful young girl from a dance troop he played drums for.   Somewhere along the way, the Chinese freight ship sinks during a fierce storm, killing all aboard except for Pi, a zebra, hyena, orangutang andBengaltiger.

The first few days were challenging as natural selection took over until all that was left were Richard Parker and Pi. Pi was able to survive with the supplies in the life raft, but taking care of Richard Parker would be a challenge. When they were in India, Richard Parker would be fed several times a day, so Pi needs to learn to co-exist with Richard Parker so they would not both be claimed by the grandest danger of all; the Ocean.  Exposed to the elements, Pi’s faith, courage and character are placed to the ultimate test, and what he finds is the ultimate spiritual journey, finding proof of God.

When there have been so many movies that utilize the 3D technology, very few can make it look authentic and believable. The only genre so far where it had been worth watching is the animated films, and a handful of live action films such as "Avatar" and "Hugo". "Life of Pi" is one of those films whose cinematography is stunning to watch in 3D and is one that must be experienced in that format. The colors are vibrant, and the world comes alive, surrounding the viewer with such intense imagery that it’s impossible not to get swept up in the film. Although most of the story takes pace at sea and the only dialogue are really that of Pi talking to himself, God or the tiger Richard Parker, it lacks the finesse of previously other survivor films like Cast Away or 127 Hours. This is the most visually ambitious project Ang Lee has taken on since “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” but is an astonishing feat of visual imagery. Check out "Life of Pi" when it opens in theaters starting Wednesday November 21, 2012.

Life of Pi - Guest reviewer

  Life of Pi 

Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall, Adil Hussain, Tabu, Shravanthi Sainath

Directed by Ang Lee

Rated: PG

Run Time: 125 mins

Genre: Drama/ Adventure/ 3D Film

Opens November 21^st

Review by guest reviewer, Eric Forthunn of Cinematic Shadows

Life of Pi is a visual triumph, a movie that put me in a state of wonderment over its prolonged poetic movements. It's a film of seemingly abstract purpose, providing astounding landscapes on an ocean front with nothing more than a young, abandoned boy and a Bengal tiger fighting for their lives. It's remarkable in the sense that we don't get a true advancement of plot outside of this character's survival, but a character study in the most base use of the word. Ang Lee's vision here is admirable, sometimes breathtakingly so, for it encapsulates a spiritual flow that the movie wants to emphasize in its themes; for the most part, the film's closing moments help demonstrate that wonderfully. I'm skeptical when films rely so heavily on faith as their main driving force, because that can lead to exploring religion in forced and obvious ways. But there's a subtlety here in its approach, using a faith-based narrative that challenges this main character and us as viewers. Are we supposed to believe that this happened to this man, that these extraordinary circumstances lead this boy to the life he lives today? That's a question posed near the end, one Lee doesn't shy away from. His style here is outstanding, the 3D the finest I've seen in years, and the film one of the most visually stunning I've ever come across.

The film, based on the 2001 novel, has Pi (Irrfan Khan) telling the story of what happened to him when he was a boy. The man who's listening, a writer (Rafe Spall), has been struggling lately and finds some hope in Pi's story, asking to write about it. Pi details his life as Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma), an Indian boy who goes with his family to Canada in hopes of starting a new life. They run a zoo, so they intend to travel with the animals, sell them upon arrival, and use that money to find a new home. As they're travelling by ship, they hit a huge storm that begins to overtake the crew. Pi, being the adventurer that he is, wakes his brother and asks him to go yell at the thunderstorm; his brother refuses, his parents are asleep, and Pi heads out on the deck. The storm is worse than he anticipated, for he is laughing and enjoying the chaos until he sees men on the other side being overtaken by the currents. He sees the destruction around him and doesn't know how to react, only to finally stumble upon the life boat that the remaining crew surrounds. Pi searches for his family, but their barracks are flooded beyond belief. After much entanglement and struggle, Pi is the only one to make it onto the boat, along with a wounded zebra, a hyena, and a Bengal tiger.

As you can imagine, the tiger wins out and he's the only one remaining. Pi stays off the boat with a life-raft he creates, using the canned water and bread in order to survive. The tiger and him don't necessarily get along, because for all he knows, that tiger is a true animal with no soul. His father even told him so, forcing him to watch the tiger mutilate and kill a goat as a young boy. His father said that when you look at an animal, you can't look into their soul as they say; all you see is your own reflection in the tiger's eyes. Pi doesn't necessarily believe him at the time, but what is he supposed to do? He samples religions here and there as if they were taste tests, and his mother approves because she says he's finding his way. She's also faith-based, holding the religious beliefs in the family, while his father says it's a waste of time. Particularly, he finds that believing in all of those religions is contradictory and won't get Pi anywhere. They each want what's best for him, and their arguments of faith are rather strong; his mother mentions that science can explain everything except who we truly are as people. His father says that science has done more in a few hundred years than any religion has for all of our existence. Both have valid points.

The movie plays like Pi's spiritual journey to accepting himself and the world he inhabits. Certain things are inexplicable, others driven by karma. Some dumb luck, some healthy coincidence. The film's final half hour lays on the element of God guiding him on his path, and while I traditionally don't care for narratives that berate the audience with religious beliefs, it makes sense for this character. And the visual effects in the film only enhance that, giving us the sense of amazement that Pi is undoubtedly receiving. The film is a beauty, whether that be with a scene of flying fish (thousands occupying the screen seamlessly), the whale breaching in an ocean lit only by jellyfish, or the stars occupying the ocean floor as they lie in the boat. The most understated part of it all, though, is that Bengal tiger, who we forget is CG if only because it's that seamless. Pi's interactions with him, including the brilliant introduction of the tiger on the boat (him pouncing at the screen in what might be the best 3D gimmick I've ever seen), are gorgeously rendered, and the tiger's animations are crisp enough that we forget he exists on another plane. The 3D, as I mentioned, is truly remarkable; outside of last year's fantastic Hugo, this is the best 3D film I've seen since Avatar.

Life of Pi takes a while to build to its spiritually guided level; the film's first half hour sets up characters in a rather conventional way that led me to believe I would be getting an average film. But this is an unforgettable film in a year of truly magnificent features; there are so many undeniably impressive elements. This one is full of no names; the only recognizable ones are Depardieu and Khan, but even then they aren't the focal points. Sharma is a star here, carrying the movie's heavy burden on his shoulders, for he anchors a solid hour-and-a-half of the film's running time all by himself (well, with a little help from that tiger). The movie's visual effects feel otherworldly at times because of how truly advanced they are; the 3D goes leaps-and-bounds over where it was a year ago, providing us with not only the immersion required to be effective, but giving us an all-around experience. I've been a staunch critic of 3D, saying for the most part that it is unnecessary on almost every film, but if you're going to see a movie with the new technology, make it this one. Lee's vision requires that extra depth, that little extra glimpse into this wonderful world that could've only been created in today's modernity. Yet the movie has an old-fashioned sensibility that makes it relatable, understanding, and loving. This is an accepting, rewarding film, one of the year's most gorgeous features.

Review of Silver Linings Playbook by guest critic, Colin Boyd

Silver Linings Playbook

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Julia Stiles, Jacki Weaver, Anupam Kher, John Ortiz, Chris Tucker

Directed by David O. Russell

Rated: R

Run Time: 122 mins

Genre: Comedy/ Drama

Opens November 21^st

Reviewed by Guest Critic, Colin Boyd

What's that old equation? Tragedy plus time equals comedy? Based on his career, filmmaker David O. Russell missed that math class. He has an open season rule for just about anything, and it seems as though the more he can push the envelope, the more he tries to wring every last drop of absurdity out of it.

Incest ruled the day in his first film, Spanking the Monkey. Nailed -- a film that was never completed because the money dried up -- centered on a woman who developed deep sexual urges after being accidentally shot in the head with a nail gun. Now there's Silver Linings Playbook, which doesn't outwardly play bipolar disorder for laughs but doesn't discourage them, either.

Russell has not shied from controversy and with a lesser filmmaker, the controversy would win. But Silver Linings Playbook is far and away the best, most interesting, most mercurial work in a very unusual, very individual career. And as it is with many great films that are linked forever with their director, it's unlikely anybody else could have made this movie this way.

Pat (Bradley Cooper) has just been released from an institution. Eight months earlier, he was happily married, or so he thought: Pat came home early to find his wife in the shower with another man and the plea bargain from the beating he issued the other guy meant spending some time under supervision and on heavy meds. Now back home, Pat is trying to adjust to his life. He lives with his parents (Robert De Niro and Jackie Weaver) and wakes up every day working toward some balance. Pat hates his condition but not as much as he hates everything that goes along with it -- the judgment, the drugs, and the wild swings.

On his way back to normal, he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). She dealt with her recent emotional upheaval a different way: After her husband died, Tiffany slept with everyone in her office. She's tough on Pat, he's not very nice to her, and you -- like every other character in the movie -- can see exactly where they're headed.

Because our lead characters aren't processing stimuli in the most straightforward manner, Silver Linings Playbook moves at an agitated pace. Dialogue races by, scenes are smashed together, emotional states bounce around like kids on a trampoline. And with a looser grip, David O. Russell would have lost the movie. But there's something remarkably controlled about all of it; this chaos is intentional.

The deliberate pulse of the picture becomes more apparent as Pat and Tiffany grow closer. The more trust they establish, the more things start to slow down. It never feels or plays like a traditional classic Hollywood romance, but the waves don't crash with the same volatility after a while. Fittingly, these two frenetic souls are bound to each other through a dance competition, which not only develops more propinquity but also keeps two kinetic characters in motion.

Mental illness, of course, is no laughing matter. Russell definitely walks a line here by presenting bipolar disorder so broadly. But he also trusts Pat implicitly, which is a mark of a good director. Pat does not want to be defined by his diagnosis and takes its consequences in stride. If that means saying or doing the wrong thing, he'll live with it. So does the director. Sometimes those wrong things are funny while others, which get nearly equal representation here, are heartbreaking.

If you love really good acting, you've come to the right place. There was a 20-year period in this country when Robert De Niro's onscreen dominance was indisputable. He was the most dangerous actor in the movies. Then came everything after Casino. But Silver Linings Playbook gets De Niro back on solid ground. He's not playing a cop for a change, he's not overdoing it, and he's come at his supporting role with sage experience and youthful vigor.

Bradley Cooper, on the other hand, has by and large not been taken seriously. Credit the limpid blue eyes and the mop-up duty he had in the stupendously successful Hangover movies. But...the guy can act. And here, he acts his ass off. It's great work, and much like Russell's direction, could go flying off the rails if he didn't know what he was doing. Cooper's all-over-the-road performance is actually the grounding influence on the film.

But it's Jennifer Lawrence (she of The Hunger Games) that you need to see. Only 21 when this was filmed, she's added an exclamation point to an extremely promising young career. Put it this way: Hollywood producers hiring actresses under 30 who aren't named Jennifer Lawrence are  just throwing their money away. She has shown with Winter's Bone, Hunger Games, and now Silver Linings Playbook exactly what an actress should be able to do. She's played dark drama, action, and now Oscar-worthy human comedy with uncanny perfection. It just doesn't happen this easily this suddenly this often.

And the perfect occasion to announce that she's here for keeps is Silver Linings Playbook, a film truly worth the attention and affection it's receiving.

Movie Review for Rise of the Guardians

Rise of the Guardians   

Starring:  (Voices of) Chris Pine, Jude Law, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher, Hugh Jackman

Directed by Peter Ramsey

Rated: PG

Run Time: 97 mins

Genre: Family/ Animation/ Adventure/ 3D Film

Opens November 21^st

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

What a way to kick of the official start of theHolidayseason!  This delightful family film is adapted from William Joyce’s novel “The Guardians of Childhood” and his short film “Man in the Moon”. This film won the Animation of the Year award at the 2012 Hollywood Film Festival.

When the Man on the Moon gave Jack Frost (Chris Pine – Voice) his role in the world, he was jazzed that he was given the ability to fly, create stunning ice etchings and wield some gnarly abilities with a staff. The only nagging issue that he has about being The Jack Frost is that no one is able to see him nor do they believe in him.  He has been reduced to a cliché expression that is sung about during the Holidays and a warning for mothers to give children before playing in the snow.

Three Hundred years pass and a few days before Easter, an ominous sign appears at the North Pole. North, a.k.a. Santa (Alec Baldwin – voice) bears witness to the event and sends out a signal to the other Guardians to assemble. The other guardians include the Sandman (to help children have pleasant dreams), Tooth, a.k.a. the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher – voice) and Bunny (Hugh Jackman – voice) a.k.a. the Easter Bunny. When they al arrive at the North Pole, North informs them that a dark force has arisen, threatening the children of the world and the guardians existence. This dark force, better known as the Boogeyman/ Pitch (Jude Law – voice) creates fear and nightmares among children, extinguishing any belief in wonder, joy or dreams. The Guardians must act fast, but the Man on the Moon informs them that a new guardian will join their ranks to help defeat Pitch, Jack Frost.  Some of the guardians, especially Bunny, are wary of bring Jack into their ranks as he’s know to be self serving and cause too many issues.   Jack, when approached, agrees to the consensus, but falls in with the group as time is of the essence.

Pitch has kidnapped all the tooth fairies helpers and the teeth they collect, as they hold all the childhood memories. Quickly children start un-believing in the Tooth Fairy, and she looses her abilities. The Guardians find a way around this, which infuriates Pitch. He then garners enough strength to take down each guardian until all that is left is Jack Frost and one child left who believes in the Guardians.

Will Jack Frost believe in him self although others lack faith and belief?  Will Jack be able to save the Guardians or fall to the darkness of Pitch and his evil ways?

Even children know that there is a sort of darkness that lingers around the world today, that some of the magic and wonder that storytelling and film once had have been replaced by special effects, 3D and lackluster storytelling. Rise of the Guardians ignites that magic and wonder and breathes new life into family/ holiday films. This is an inspiring, uplifting family film that would turn the most Scrooge-like spirit into a jolly one.  With that said, the animation and 3D effects were quite good, and the characters were adorable and likable.  The only qualm I had with the film was the modern take on the “Santa” character, North. Am I the only one that thinks tattooed forearms of “Naughty” and “Nice” on Santa is just pain wrong? Be sure to check out Rise of the Guardians when it opens nationwide starting Wednesday November 21,2012.

Movie Review for Red Dawn

Red Dawn 

Starring:  Chris Hemsworth, Adrianne Palicki, Josh Hutcherson, Josh Peck, Isabel Lucas, Jeffery Dean Morgan, Connor Cruise

Directed by Dan Bradley

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 93 mins

Genre: Drama/Action

Opens November 21^st

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

With all the Hollywood remakes, reboots and revamps, can it take a wildly revered movie and refresh it to fit today’s mindset, culture and attitude? Its usually a coin toss if it will be any good.

Set in Spokane,Washington, a small town is invaded by North Korean soldiers in an effort to reform the U.S. from its evil crony-capitalism, consumer-driven, immoral ways. A Marine who is home on leave, Jed Eckert (Chris Hemsworth) quickly steps into a leadership role getting his younger brother Matt (Josh Peck) and a few other of Matt’s friends out of town and up to the family cabin away from the chaos. Jed and Matt’s father  (Brett Cullen) was caught behind as he is one of the town’s sheriffs, along with Matt’s girlfriend Erica (Isabel Lucas). Matt is uber distraught, but keeps it together with the intent of going back for his father and Ericka.

Once at the cabin, they are able to regroup, process and plan for what is coming next. A few of the teens end up going back, feeling that if they cooperate with the North Koreans that they will help themselves and their families. To prove their loyalty, they lead the soldiers back to the cabin to arrest the rest of the group, but they were out trying to gather info and food. When the boys don’t come forward, the soldiers burn the house and kill Jed and Matt’s father. This ignites the flame of revenge and to take back their town from the soldiers. Jed trains the rest of the group to fight guerilla style, learning how to take weapons and materials from the soldiers. As one teen puts it, he’s  now living Call of Duty.

The “Wolverines”,  as the renengade teens call themselves, wage war against the Communist occupiers. Will they be able to defeat the Koreans and return to their lives without too much collateral damage? Or will too many of their friends and family perish under the invading regime?

The original release of Red Dawn  in 1984 played a large role in the cultural mindset of the era. Now that some of the same issues have recycled into the public psyche, will this film have as much box office pull the second time around?  The modern remake of Red Dawn accomplishes a few key things: It is entertaining. It is loaded with action-packed, edge-of-your seat, adrenaline pumping drama and makes you feel a little proud for our country. Sure it has a few differences as the North Koreans invade the West Coast and the Russians invade the East Coast; The original it was a Russia/Cuba combo. Although this is a remake, it does justice to the original film with the cheesy dialogue and fills in some of the plot holes.  Will this film strike a chord with the younger viewers and appease the older generation who grew up with this film? Be the judge and go see it when it opens in theaters starting Wednesday November 21, 2012.