Nebraska Movie Review

Nebraska

Starring: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, Stacy Keach, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk

Directed by: Alexander Payne

Rated: R Run Time: 115 mins Genre: Drama/ Adventure

Opens November 22nd

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans! Also, new in theaters this weekend is the new Alexander Payne film “Nebraska”. This film has racked up a few awards and nominees this year at festivals such as Cannes, the Hamburg Film Festival, New York Film Festival and the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival but will it be on everyone’s radar come Oscar ballots due? Read on to find out.

Admit it. If you received a letter stating you won a million dollars, for a nano second you would be excited and want to rush out to collect your prize, right? Well for aging mechanic Woody Grant (Bruce Dern), he’s certain that he’s won a million dollars and needs to go to Lincoln, Nebraska to collect his prize. His son, David (Will Forte), tries to convince him that the letter is just a marketing piece to get him to buy magazine subscriptions without luck.

To keep his father from running away from home again, he humors his father, taking him on a road trip to Nebraska. David himself has hit a rough patch in his life’; his girlfriend moved out of their place, he’s in a dead-end job selling stereo equipment and spend his free time glued to the couch. A road trip with his aging father may just be the trick to snap him back into gear. Stopping off at their relative’s house in their hometown, the word spreads fast of Woody’s new-found wealth, bringing out the vultures to get a piece of this new found “fortune”. David keeps telling everyone that Woody is confused, but it falls on deaf ears. Will David be able to convince Woody and the other fortune seekers that this is all a misunderstanding? Or did Woody really win a million dollars?

This film is storytelling at its best. Why? It's done in the simplest form to create a brilliant narrative. All the elements from the credits, the performances, the locations, the wardrobe to the story and even the credits are so simple, it's brilliant. Bruce Dern's performance, along with his chemistry with Will Forte is such a subtle yet powerhouse of a role. Forte in a dramatic role shows a new level of depth in his career and works really well using his comedic chops in a subdued way. The added element of shooting the film in black and white really ties this film together, capturing the essence of the American Mid West, and it's residents. Definitely check out "Nebraska" when it opens in Phoenix starting Friday November 22, 2013.

Movie Review for Delivery Man

Delivery Man

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Cobie Smulders, Chris Pratt, Britt Robertson

Directed by: Ken Scott

Rated: PG-13 Run Time: 103 mins Genre: Comedy

Opens November 22nd

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans! Opening this week is the remake of the comedy “Starbuck” directed by Ken Scott, which was in limited release earlier this year. Didn't get a chance to see it or curious to see how this version with Vince Vaughn as the lead stacks up to the original? Read on to find out.

Everyone makes dumb mistakes in his or her twenties. Noone knows this better than David Wozniak (Vince Vaughn). For extra scratch, he would go to the local sperm bank to make “deposits”. Out of all those visits, it had resulted in fathering 533 children. Unbeknownst to him, 143 of those children have filed a lawsuit for the identity of their father to be revealed. David seeks counsel from his friend Brett (Chris Pratt), who vehemently advises him to stay away from the kids. David can’t help himself as his girlfriend Emma (Cobie Smulders) is pregnant with his child, and he is curious about his other “children”.

Unable to stay away from the now adult children of his donation days, David keeps his identity a secret by trying to help some of the kids out. Will David be able to keep his secret or will his actions of his past ruin his future with Emma?

It helps, during a remake of an original film, to have the same writer/ director in the same roles as the first film. Although some of the situations have been slightly tweaked, some of the risque scenes cut to make it a more friendly rating of PG-13, the essence and tone of the story does not get lost in translation. "Starbuck" was French film subtitled for English, but "Delivery Man" holds up through translation into English splendidly. Vince Vaughn shows a softer side to his normal, fast-talking, rambling antics to reveal compassionate depths previously unseen. It's not to say that Vaughn didn't spin the Starbuck character into his own image, but it holds the integrity that actor Patrick Huard originally created. It's easy to see why a story such as this would be made and then re-made into a bigger budget Hollywood film. Two words: Unique Story; such a rarity in Hollywood. Be sure to catch "Delivery Man" When it opens in theaters nationwide starting Friday November 22, 2013.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Movie Review

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci, and Donald Sutherland

Directed by: Francis Lawrence

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 146 minutes

Genre: Action-Adventure/Sci-Fi

Opens November 22nd

by Eric Forthun of Cinematic Shadows

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire thrills and captivates due to the improvements over its predecessor, providing stronger character development, a thematically rich storyline, and a set-up for a two-part finale that should prove this series as more than just traditional blockbuster fodder. Jennifer Lawrence reprises her role as Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire, who won the 74th Hunger Games with Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). In the eyes of the public they are a loving couple who will spend the rest of their lives together; in their private lives, they are cold and distanced from one another, with Katniss’s affection directed at Gale (Liam Hemsworth), the miner she loves in her home, District 12. As the newly established couple prepare for their Victory Tour that ultimately leads to the Capitol, there’s a storm brewing in every visit. Katniss has instilled hope in many of the lesser districts, providing them with the belief that they can rise above the ranks of the wealthy and establish their own lives. There’s a revolution coming.

That’s the undercurrent of the second film, which helps it resonate effectively. President Snow (Donald Sutherland) is even more powerful and cold this time around, dictating the lives of the previous survivors of the games and ensuring that the oppressed remain in that state. After all, as we are reminded, the games were created to ensure that another rebellion did not occur, and to serve as a reminder of those who died during the rebellions. He hopes to continue the power divide that has existed for so long, and he cracks an ingenious concept for the 75th Hunger Games (or, The Quarter Quell) with Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman): have the new tributes be picked from previous winners. Not only does this ensure that Katniss will be picked, but it will allow for her to die not as a martyr, but as a lost sign of hope for the slow uprising that is happening in all of the districts.

Panem is a dark world, which Francis Lawrence has appropriately established as director. He’s a notable improvement over Gary Ross’s direction in the first film, which opted for shaky-cam, personal looks at the world that became slightly disorienting by the film’s conclusion; while Lawrence does not have a visual staple here, his sensitive, distanced direction works around the film’s hidden brutality. There are far more traps that emerge from the games this time around: a poison fog, jabberjays (which record the sounds of loved ones), a killer tidal wave, and a bunch of other surprises that kill the participants in unexpected ways. This is a decidedly darker film in terms of the amount of deaths; a man shot in the head in one of the film’s opening moments sets the tone for what is fittingly becoming a disjointed, embattled futuristic landscape. It’s as if the second time around has allowed for the filmmakers to embrace the inherent thrill that can be gained from a dystopic universe.

The film isn’t without flaw, though. The central love triangle does not feel authentic so much as manipulated to form conflict for the film. It feels cold on Katniss’s behalf, considering she moves from one guy to another without a true grasp of the emotions that link her to these men; the problem remains that Peeta and Gale both remain viable options for her, which makes the situation all the more uncomfortable as a viewer. The supporting cast outside of that is fantastic: Stanley Tucci is once again delightfully absurd and manic as Caesar Flickerman; Elizabeth Banks turns remarkably sweet and touching as Effie Trinket; Philip Seymour Hoffman is a joy in his very limited screen time; and Woody Harrelson has a blast being the alcoholic Haymitch Abernathy. Lawrence is terrific in the lead, as expected, and she gives Katniss a more layered approach, outside of the aforementioned love storyline. Even if the ending is decidedly open-ended, it builds excitement for the next film more than most sequels do nowadays. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire remains exciting, thought-provoking popcorn entertainment.

The Armstrong Lie movie review

  The Armstrong Lie

Starring: Lance Armstrong

Directed by Alex Gibney

Rated: R

Run Time: 122 minutes

Genre: Documentary

Opens November 22nd

Review by Eric Forthun

Lance Armstrong is a cheater. Alex Gibney’s piercing, maddening documentary about the seven-time Tour de France winner was never intended to be an indictment of the legend that has grown in the past few years. Starting in 2009, Gibney set out to make a documentary about Armstrong’s comeback amidst the talks of whether he had doped during his previous victories. Gibney was skeptical about his subject at first, but did not want to get caught up in the fact/fiction narratives surrounding Armstrong. In 2009 interviews with Gibney, Armstrong never openly admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs; as the documentarian followed the cyclist through his everyday routines, interviews, and practices, there was no semblance of this being a man who would cheat his way through the system. At one point late in the film, as Gibney shows some of the footage from Armstrong’s final race at the 2009 Tour de France, he mentions that he was no longer a filmmaker in this moments, but a fan. He was swept up in the hoopla.

Gibney interviewed many people involved with Armstrong over his most successful years. He talked with trainers, previous team members, competitors, bloggers, and essentially anyone that was involved with Lance over his years working in the sport. Much like his other excellent documentary this year, We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, Gibney persists in order to find the truth; that’s his strength as one of the finest documentarians working today. Michele Ferrari, a trainer who helped many cyclists dope professionally and maximize their potential, granted access for a short interview that Gibney used for insight; Ferrari is a shady man that ultimately hid more in the interviews than he exposed. Fitting, considering the interview was done at the time when Armstrong was not guilty, and still trying to rejuvenate his career. Betsy and Frankie Andreu also provide exceptional testimonials on how Lance’s failure to admit his known guilt cost them their careers and a normal life. When he delivers an apology after all is said and done, she talks about the cathartic effect it had on them. The lie was finally done.

Oprah’s interview changed everything for Gibney, who saw the fraud that had stood before him countless times falsely defending his honor; in there lies the essence of The Armstrong Lie. His film is relentless in nature and dense, running around 122 minutes and exposing every aspect of Armstrong’s career during his 2009 comeback. More so than anything, Gibney (along with plenty of media) was hung up on why Armstrong would decide to come back after all his time off, and the major successes he had accomplished in the sport. Looking back now, it becomes obvious that he wanted to prove that he could win the Tour de France without doping, yet even that remains blurry due to one race where Armstrong definitely used performance-enhancing drugs. It was the only way to survive in a sport dominated by drugs and scandal. Armstrong is a good man, one who fought for charity and cancer research, wanting to help others; it’s a shame that through his deceit in the sport, one that required people to falsify their athleticism behind a wall of narcotics, he became a merciless liar.

Movie Review for The Book Thief

The Book Thief 

Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Sophie Nélisse, Ben Schnetzer, Nico Liersch, Joachim Paul Assböck, Kirsten Block

Directed by: Brian Percival

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 131 mins

Genre: Drama/ War

Opens November 15th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  Opening this week is a film based on a book that spent over 230 weeks on the New York Best Sellers List.  Set in World War II Germany, “The Book Thief” stars Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson and Sophie Nélisse. At this year’s Hollywood film Festival, Sophie Nélisse won the Spotlight Award; will she have more in her future this awards season? Read on to find out.

Narrated by Death and his observations on humanity, he comes across young Liesel (Sophie Nélisse), her mother (Heike Makatsch) and her gravely ill younger brother (Julian Lehmann) as they are traveling by train to the children’s new foster home. The boy dies along the way and is buried along the tracks. As they were leaving the grave site, Liesel picks up a book that was dropped and fails to return it to the man who just buried her brother.

Liesel travels onward to the small German village where she is to live with her new foster parents,  Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and Rosa Hubermann (Emily Watson). Desperately homesick for her mother and brother, Liesel retreats within and is slowly brought out of her shell by Hans. When she arrived at the Hubermann’s home, she was illiterate, but with Hans’ patient and playful way of teaching she quickly learns and flourishes. In the village,  she is befriended by a young boy Rudy (Nico Liersch) who is always in competition with her and trying to win her kisses.

Although Liesel may be slowly settling into her new life, the quaint village she now lives in is being transformed by the Nazi party, recruiting the men and children for service or attending their training schools. When the Nazis ordered the burning of books, Liesel couldn’t bear to see the destruction of all the possibilities in reading, so she steals a book from the embers. This does not go unnoticed by the Mayor’s wife who eventually recognizes her as Liesel delivers laundry to their home.

At the same time, Hans and Rosa take in a young Jewish man, Max (Ben Schnetzer), hiding him in their basement from the Nazis. Liesel is ordered never say a word to anyone about the man in their basement as it will put all of their lives in danger. Liesel tries her best to keep it secret, but with the stealing of books from the MAyor’s wife’s collection and her strange behavior about her home life, Rudy starts to ask too many questions. Will Liesel be able to keep her secret or will Rudy figure it out and expose them all?

Unique in its delivery and narration, “The Book Thief” treats the subject matter with dignity and respect for all sides involved. It provides insight into different standpoints; from a child’s understanding of events to the poor and rich German family, to the Jewish and other persecuted groups of that time as well as the duty of a soldier and the hype of propaganda. This story is beautifully told, acted and visually enticing. This film closely follows the book with the exception of a few story lines omitted probably due to runtime or some other reason. Hopefully the reason for leaving certain storylines will be on the DVD extra features. Overall, the film still tells the story of Liesel from Death’s perspective with class. Be sure to catch “The Book Thief” when it opens in theaters starting Friday November 15,2013.

Thor: The Dark World Movie Review

Thor: The Dark World 

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Jaimie Alexander, Idris Elba, Zachary Levi, Stellan Skarsgard, Christopher Eccleston, Kat Dennings, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo

Directed by: Alan Taylor

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 120 mins

Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy

Opens November 8th 

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  What normally would be considered a summer blockbuster film, the next installment in the ‘Thor” franchise opens in theaters nationwide this week. Is the sequel as good as the original or “The Avengers”?  Read on to find out.

Like “Iron Man 3”, “Thor: The Dark World” takes place post- Avenger incident in New York. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is back on Asgard, keeping the peace in the nine realms. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is also back on Asgard but as a prisoner under Odin’s (Anthony Hopkins) rule for his crimes against humanity.  Thor and the gang have managed to keep things under control, but the young warrior can’t seem to forget about his lady love on Earth, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman).

Funny thing, Jan can’t seem to forget about Thor either, searching for any anomaly that will be able to open a portal or way to see him again. It appears that Jane may have her chance as there has been some funky occurrences with magnetic forces happening on Earth with the impending Convergence. What sounds like a horror film is actually the alignment of the 9 realms where the fabric of space and time is the most vulnerable.

Cue in evil elves. Way back before Odin’s time, Odin’s father fought a group of Elves led by Malekith (Christopher Eccleston). The elves were convinced that humanity was worthless and to restore order they needed to release the Aether to bring the Dark World. The Asgard warriors defeated Malekith before he could unleash the Aether, hiding it where it couldn’t be found and destroying the race of elves in the process.

A few of Malekith ships managed to escape before their home was destroyed and have been in a suspended state until the Aether was found. Jane Foster managed to stumble upon finding the Aether, having it merge with her body and waking up Malekith in the process.

Somehow this alerted Thor that Jane was in danger, so he brings her back to Asgard where Malekith finds them, attacking the city, palace and everything around them. Can Thor and Jane restore order before the Convergence starts of will all nine realms be lost forever?

If you’re not a comic book fan or follower of the series, the great quality about Marvel films is that you don't have to necessarily know the backstory of the character to understand the film. This film stand alone is entertaining; silly comedic moments, phenomenal special/ visual effects and fantastic creativity in set design, makeup and costumes. The story does take time to build momentum but builds to a point where the payoff is worth the wait. Some of the scenes seem a little “Star Wars”- ish in nature but works well within the context of the story. Be sure to catch “Thor: The Dark World” when it opens in theaters starting Friday November 8, 2013.

Kill Your Darlings Movie Review

Kill Your Darlings  

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, Ben Foster, Michael C. Hall, Jack Huston, Elizabeth Olsen, Jennifer Jason Leigh, David Cross

Directed by: John Krokidas

Rated: R

Run Time: 104 mins

Genre: Drama/ Biography/ Romance

Opens November 8th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Another film opening this week is also based on a true story but featuring some more notable figures from a different generation. “ Kill Your Darlings” recounts the event surrounding the murder of a University professor and the “Beat Generation” students entangled with its circumstances. The names may sound familiar, but not sure where you may have heard them? Allen Ginsberg (poet & one of the leaders of the Beat Generation of the 1950's). Lucien Carr (another founder of the Beat Generation during the 1940’s and editor of the United Press International). Jack Kerouac (poet & author of “On the Road”, another member of the Beat Generation). William S. Burroughs (poet & author, also member of the Beat Generation). With playing such notable figures in American literature, can this group of young actors deliver a performance deemed worthy of these men?

Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliff) was a young man that shouldered the burdens of his world. His mother Naomi (Jennifer Jason Leigh) was suffering from some mental illness, convinced that her husband Louis (David Cross) was out to get her. To escape the madness that infected his homelife, Allen applied and was accepted into Columbia University.

Once he arrived at Columbia, Allen met a young man full of interesting ideas and mischievous spark, Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan). Forcing the freshman to open his mind and creative genius- loose, Lucien introduced Allen to his inner circle of friends Jack Kerouac (Jack Huston), William Burroughs (Ben Foster) and pseudo his paramour English professor David Kammerer (Michael C. Hall). Allen and Lucien when teamed together were a force to be reckoned with between university pranks, literary and philosophical rants and the drug hazed, alcohol induced benders. It wasn’t until Lucien was arrested for David’s murder that the “Beat Generation” group unraveled, leaving Allen to piece the truth about the night’s event and uncover the truth about the nature of David and Lucien’s relationship. Will Allen be able to survive college, his family and his new inner circle of friends?

Anytime a film deals with notable or historical figures there is bound to be some stretching of the truth in terms to tell an interesting story. “Kill Your Darlings” is a quote by William Faulkner used in writing to expand on your creativity and not get too caught up in in using personal favorite elements.  This film delves into that creative genius using amazing cinematography, musical score and selections to help tell a complex story with convoluted emotions. The performances are fantastic as each actor delivers a powerful character to support the story. Parents be forewarned that this film is not for small or young kids as it does have strong sexual themes and scenes and heavy drug use. If you’re a fan of any of these literary figures, be sure to check out “Kill Your Darlings” when it opens at Harkins Camelview 5 starting Friday November 8, 2013.

Dallas Buyers Club Movie Review

Dallas Buyers Club  

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Denis O’Hare, Steve Zahn, Dallas Roberts

Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallée

Rated: R

Run Time: 117 mins

Genre: Drama

Opens November 8th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans! Opening this week is a film that should be up for a few awards this season as it has already racked up a few at this year’s Hollywood Film Festival, the San Sebastian International Film Festival and was nominated at the Gotham Awards.. Based on a true story, “Dallas Buyers Club” stars Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner. Will this role be McConaughey’s year for an Oscar? Read on to find out.

Back in the 1980’s when the AIDS scare was just picking up steam, there were so many misconceptions about how it was contracted in the public’s mindset that the mere mention of it sent people into a panic. A Texas man, Ron Woodruff Matthew McConaughey), at first glance would be an unlikely candidate for contracting HIV as he was heterosexual. If one would take a closer look at his hard partying, drug use and sexual reckless lifestyle, it comes as no surprise.

When Ron was issued his diagnosis, he was given only 30 days to live. Being the stubborn man he was, Ron refused to listen to his doctor, searching out his own methods and cures for AIDS. Another HIV positive patient Ron met while in the hospital, a transgender woman “Rayon” (Jared Leto), had access to the only drug that was in trials to treat HIV. Their relation started off rocky as Ron was severely homophobic, but was willing to team up with her to get access to the drugs he needed.

When Rayon’s drugs were no longer an option, Ron sought out other methods of obtaining these drugs. This led him down a different path, finding a better, more effective treatment and the establishment of the Dallas Buyers Club. This “Club” was to pay a monthly membership fee, and they get all the free HIV drug “treatments” covered under this membership.

When the Feds caught wind of Ron’s business, they did everything they could to shut him down. The trial drug was making people worse, but Ron’ “club” treatments, people that had HIV was thriving under. Will the shutdown effect Ron’s health or will he be able to overrule the unfair shutdown?

“Dallas Buyers Club” is not an easy film to watch between the dramatic physical transformations of McConaughey and the content of the story. Jared Leto is almost unrecognizable as the transgender Rayon and makes a really pretty woman. Matthew McConaughey's performance is so powerful, so well-done that this is probably his best role to date. This film packs a powerful punch between the story, performances and the visual direction that this will be one to watch for the upcoming awards season. It’s not a matter if this film gets nominated, it will be how many award it will rack up. Be sure to catch “Dallas Buyers Club” when it opens in theaters starting Friday November 8, 2013.

Movie Review for About Time

About Time  

Starring: Domhall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson, Lindsay Duncan, Richard Cordery

Directed by: Richard Curtis

Rated: R

Run Time: 123 mins

Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Sci-Fi

Opens November 1st

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  From the people that brought the world such films as “Notting Hill“, Love Actually” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral” comes a different type of British Romantic Comedy starring current Romantic Film Queen Bee Rachel McAdams. The film also stars Bill Nighy and Domhall Gleeson. Gleeson may look familiar, but you can’t quite place him?  He was one of the Weesley kids in the last two Harry Potter films, "True Grit" and "Anna Karenina". Can Gleeson holds his own sharing the screen with McAdams or Nighy? Read on to find out.

The men in the Lake family share a wonderful yet burden secret. They can time travel.  Tim Lake found out at the ripe age of 21 from his father (Bill Nighy) after a disastrous New Years Eve party. To test his father’s ludicrous theory, Tim travels back to the start of the party to re-do the evening to work out in his favor. Deciding to use his newfound talent in his favor, one thing Tim wants is a girlfriend.

As Tim grows older, he moves to London to start his life and career as a lawyer. Being a time traveller has its perks in his career as he can manipulate the outcome to work in his favor. One night his wish of a potential girlfriend is granted as he meets the perfect girl at a blackout restaurant blind date, Mary (Rachel McAdams). Tim and Mary hit it off immediately, and as they part for the evening, Tim pulls  faux pas and does his time travel thing to get her back.

Tim knows Mary is the girl for him, so to win her in a non-stalkerish sort of way, he time travels to make the relationship work. As he sets the course for his future, each change that he makes has a ripple effect into other relationships in his life. Can Tim balance his life to make everyone happy or will the time traveling take it’s course where his actions are irreversible?

In one of the more clever romantic dramedies, this story is all about love and how each form of love takes shape in one’s life. The different types of relationships are explored between siblings, friends, a man and woman and lastly,  father and son. Beautifully written, performed and directed; the story is a unique take on time travel, doing without the fancy effects and relying on the viewer’s acceptance. It’s a simple story about love and all of it’s various forms. Just a quick tip: bring extra napkins or kleenex with you into the theater. I dare you not cry in this film as I tried to choke back the tears. Check out “About Time” when it opens in theaters starting Friday November 1, 2013.

12 Years a Slave Movie Review

12 Years a Slave  

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Lupita Nyong'o, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt, Alfre Woodard

Directed by: Steve McQueen

Rated: R

Run Time: 134 mns

Genre: Drama/ Biography/ History

Opens November 1st

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  Opening this week is a film that has racked up several awards at some of the recent film festivals such as the Toronto Film Festival, Hollywood Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival and even the BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards. Is this just a warm up to the Oscars or will this film have too much competition in the upcoming awards season?

The year was 1841. Based on a true story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) a free black man living in New York; a man who was an accomplished violin player and loving family man and by all accounts during that time was a free man. When his wife and children were out of town for a few weeks, Solomon thought he would take a gig traveling with some fellow performers down to Washington DC and be back before his family would return. It would be a surprise to have some extra income, or so he thought. While in D.C., Soloman was given too much alcohol, kidnapped and since he couldn’t produce any papers proving he was a free man, he was sold to a plantation owner Ford, who was a kind gentleman and appreciated Solomon for his many known talents. This did not sit well with foreman Tibeats (Paul Dano) and tried to punish Solomon every chance he had.

One day Solomon had enough of Tibeats abuse and attacked him, which put Ford in a precarious position. To save his life, Ford sold him to the only man who would take him, a stern plantation owner, Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender). There Solomon would face his greatest challenges being in captivity as Epps is of questionable temperament and character. Will Solomon be able to survive and become free or die trying?

In this film, the casting choices are not what you may think but end up surprising in the way that the characters are not as they appear. Benedict Cumberbatch, who in his recent films has been apt to play the villain role, but in this film is one of the more likable, sympathetic characters. Michael Fassbender’s portrayal of the conflicted, yet barbaric plantation owner, is disgusting human behavior, but it’s all in the context of the story and time period. It’s a difficult film to watch; as the beatings, hangings and other forms of violence look authentic. It was interesting to see the stature of Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character go from this regal, classy demeanor broken down to a shell of a man through his posture and mannerisms through the duration of the film.

The upcoming awards season will be an interesting one to watch as this film may be up against other films that have racism as the core theme, such as “Fruitville Station” and “The Butler”. Out of the three films, this one packs the strongest performances by the cast as a whole as the pain and struggle of the characters radiates off the screen.  Be sure to keep this one on your awards watch list for the upcoming awards season. “12 Years a Slave” opens on Friday November 1, 2013.

Last Vegas Movie Review

Last Vegas 

Starring: Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline , Mary Steenburgen, Jerry Ferrara, Romany Malco, Joanna Gleason, Michael Ealy, Bre Blair

Directed by: Jon Turteltaub

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 105 mins

Genre: Comedy

Opens November 1st

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Another film opening this week is a comedy for the older generation but hopefully will be able to attract the younger crowd. Can the combination of four amazing actors be the right formula for box office success?

Billy(Michael Douglas), Paddy (Robert De Niro), Archie (Morgan Freeman) and Sam (Kevin Kline) have been best friends since childhood. They have been through thick and thin, even dubbing themselves the “Flatbush Four” and no one messes with the four. As kids, Billy and Paddy were in love with the same girl, Sophie. Paddy eventually won the girl and Billy remained a bachelor until now.

Realizing his own mortality, Billy proposed to his much younger girlfriend Lisa (Bre Blair) during a friends funeral. This event  has been 58 years in the making, so Sam and Archie were not about to let Billy get hitched without having a bachelor party of his own, especially when he’s getting married in Las Vegas?!

Getting Paddy to agree to attend Billy’s bachelor party will be a much more difficult task for Archie and Sam to achieve. Paddy has been angry with Billy fr the past year for not showing up to his late wife’s funeral. Over the past year, Billy has been the angry old man that sits at home in his robe, pining away for his deceased wife. Archie and Sam pretty much drag him to Vegas under false pretenses.

When Billy and Paddy come face to face, the tension is thick but will a mishap at the hotel be the saving grace of the weekend? A beautiful lounge singer named Diana (Mary Steenburgen) may be the one to bring the two men back together, but will the group be able to behave themselves in one last weekend in Sin City?

It’s always fun to see dramatic actors take a turn in a comedic role, and with these four legendary actors, this film is no exception. Kline (A Fish Called Wanda, In & Out) and De Niro (Meet The Parents) have done comedic roles with pizazz, but to see Douglas and Freeman in such relaxed, light-hearted roles is such a delight to partake.  For those that have traveled to Vegas, you may recognize the familiar sights such as the street flyer distributors, the drunken college students, bachelor and bachelorette parties, the extravagant pool parties and club goers. What this film does well is mixing the older generation’s memory of Vegas and incorporating the younger crowd, mixing them so that both generations will be entertained. The best ways to compare this to as if “The Hangover” meets “Space Cowboys” and “Old Dogs”. Be sure to catch “Last Vegas” when it opens in theaters starting Friday November 1, 2013.

Movie Review for Ender's Game

Ender’s Game 

Starring: Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis, Nonso Anozie, Stevie Ray Dillmore, Andrea Powell, Moises Arias, Conor Carroll, Aramis Knight, Brendan Meyer, Jimmy "Jax" Pinchak, Suraj Parthasarathy, Khylin Rhambo

Directed by: Gavin Hood

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 114 mins

Genre:Action/ Sci-Fi/ Adventure

Opens November 1st

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Another film opening this week is also based on a book written back in the 1980’s that stems from a short story written by Orson Scott Card. Movies that are based on books usually are not as great as the book, but now with the technological advances in special effects, how does the story fare?

Earth has changed a lot in the future. Aliens invaded and now fast forwarding 70 years later, all the children are prescreened into military training at a very early age. What were you doing when you were thirteen? Ender Wiggins (Asa Butterfield) is a unique boy; he shows all the signs of being the one that can save Earth from the next alien invasion. How did anyone figure this out? Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) was the first to spot him and has been keeping tabs on him ever since.

Ender climbs the ranks quickly, partly from his off- the charts strategic intelligence, stealth physical capabilities and compassion for his enemy. Major Gwen Anderson (Viola Davis) has been keeping tabs on Ender’s temperament and state of mind using a game on his tablet that is controlled by cognitive functions. Even though Ender is a brilliant strategist, Col. Graff constantly looks past the fact that Ender is still a child, easily influence by approval of his superiors.

When Ender’s promotion is on the line before the next alien invasion is set to attack, he starts to fall apart. Will Ender be able to pull himself together to get his promotion or will the whole program be too much for one boy to handle?

Embedded within this special effects driven visual feast is a contemplative message about warfare, technology and the effect of both on our children. The film is a type of “top Gun” meets “Space Camp” for kids but with way better visual effects. The story in entertaining, much of it feeling like the viewer is in a videogame, but the last third of the film has a deeper message that is conveyed.  The cast assembled is fantastic as the younger actors can hold their own against veteran actors such as Ford, Kingsley and Davis. If you’re a fan of the book, just go along for the ride of the film as it’s a visual experience like no other. Check out “Ender’s Game” when it opens in theaters starting Friday November 1, 2013.

Blue is the Warmest Color Movie Review

Blue is the Warmest Color 

Starring: Adèle Exarchopoulos, Léa Seydoux, Jeremie Laheurte, Catherine Salée, Aurélien Recoing, Sandor Funtek

Directed by: Abdellatif Kechiche

Rated: NC-17

Run Time: 179 mins

Genre: Drama/ Romance

Opens November 1st

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  You may have heard about this film being talked about from different circles, mostly from the Cannes Film Festival.  The lead actresses, Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux both took home the Palme D’Or, for the first time the prize was also officially awarded to two of the actors. With all the buzz and rare festival accolades, how does the film stack up for American audiences?

Chronicling the early teen and development into adulthood, we first meet Adèle  (Adèle Exarchopoulos) as an awkward 15 year old girl, not sure of her place in the social food chain. She tries to date a fellow classmate Thomas but can’t seem to connect with him emotionally. When she bumps into an androgynous blue haired lesbian on the street one day, Adèle can’t stop thinking about her.

Not knowing the blue hair girl’s name, Adèle wanders into a lesbian bar one night and runs into the object of her mental obsession. This mystery woman is named Emma (Léa Seydoux) whom Adèle  takes to instantly. Not quite sure where this relationship is going, Adèle  and Emma become inspirations for each other in ways neither could ever imaging. Emma is an art student, and Adèle  inspires her art to reach new levels; Adèle  finds a newfound power in her sexuality, albeit she keeps this side hidden from those closest to her.

As Adèle matures and enters into an adult relationship, her foolish childish ways as she tries to break free from, lands her into trouble with Emma which may jeopardize their future together. Will Adèle be able to survive this turbulence in her relationship with Emma or will her actions cause more damage than harm.

Since this film is of a controversial nature, let’s break this down into a few different arguments:

Story. This story is nothing new or original about two people falling in love and navigating the ups and downs of a passionate relationship. Digging a little deeper and playing devil’s advocate on the subject, there is a philosophical nature to this film, which is discussed in long detailed lengths between sex scenes. The ethics behind it of an older woman between a high school girl is a questionable, but it’s just semantics at this point.

Acting. The performances were solid. Both women gave emotionally profound depths to characters that could have been otherwise bland.

Directing. This is where I have an issue. The length of the film is clocking in at 3 hours. There is no way that the amount of eating, sleeping and mundane everyday actions gave any more depth to the story that the extra hour or so gave to this film. I understand that every director has his own vision and what exactly was the vision he was trying to convey, other than making an “artsy” film? There are ways to shoot sex scenes without being as detailed in shots as this film gets, which leads me on to the main gossip surrounding the film.

This film is not for everyone as it does have a high level of mature content; if you can handle it emotionally, more power to you. It does raise a few questions such as, where does the line cross between art and pornography, women's rights and the intimate relations between two people? Do we really need to get so intimate with the characters on film to the point it borders on voyeurism or some things should really be left to the imagination?  You be the judge when “Blue is the Warmest Color” opens at Harkins Camelview 5 on Friday November 1,2013.

The Counselor Movie Review

The Counselor 

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Brad Pitt

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Rated: R

Run Time: 117 mins

Genre: Crime/ Drama

Opens October 25th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans! Opening this week is “The Counselor”, directed by Ridley Scott, written by Cormick McCarthy, best known for his novels “All the Pretty Horses” and “No Country for Old Men”. This is McCarthy’s first crack at writing a feature film screenplay which as most writers can attest to is very different from writing a novel.  How does the film fare? Read on to find out.

As a man that appears to have it all; a beautiful fiance named Laura (Penelope Cruz), a high powered career as a criminal lawyer and a long list of clientele, why would the man known as the “Counselor” (Michael Fassbender) voluntarily enter into the high stakes world of drug trafficking? Under the guidance of club owner Reiner (Javier Bardem) and Westray (Brad Pitt), both whom vehemently advised against getting involved in this line of work, help guide the Counselor into the shady underbelly of the drug trafficking world. The key is to trust nobody, especially women like Reiner’s latest girlfriend Malkina (Cameron Diaz) who has a hidden agenda of her own brewing beneath the surface of her otherwise cold exterior.

When the Counselor’s first deal goes awry(like most deals do) from an informant’s beheading, everyone’s life is at risk. Will the Counselor be able to get out of this unscathed with his life, love and money intact or will he meet a worse fate that is common among the drug world?

Don’t be fooled by the impressive billing of director, writer and actors assembled for this rather unimpressive film. To be fair, there is a great deal of dialogue that is profound, memorable and a few unique plot points. What the film is lacking in is a clear direction of a storyline with enough back story to make it understandable to the viewer. The first 30 minutes or so is underdeveloped, focusing more of the relationships between men and women rather than why a lawyer was getting involved with people within a questionable industry. There is not clear protagonist or antagonist but rather a grouping of stories that when cut together make for interesting vignettes, but in the overall plot, make no sense to the purpose of the story. The performances were strong and deliver intensity; the cinematography is gorgeous, but the story is not strong enough to make this a concise, solid film. You be the judge when “The Counselor” opens in theaters nationwide starting Friday October 25, 2013.

Phoenix Film Festival looking for interns

2014 Phoenix Film Festival Internships

The Phoenix Film Festival is looking for interns for the 2014 festival. The internships are unpaid but include festival passes and can be done for school credit. Multiple interns are accepted for each position.

Festival Administrative Intern

This internship will provide the candidate a wide variety of experience working on all aspect of the festival. This will give the intern extensive experience in hospitality and event planning.

• Work directly with the Festival Director on planning of the Festival and other events associated with it. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Work with Filmmaker Relations in planning travel to Festival including air, hotel and ground transportation.
  • Correspond with filmmakers to ensure their needs are all met and that the festival receives all needed materials from them.
  • Work with Events Department on execution of all four major festival parties including entertainment, vendors and logistics.
  • Build web content for films selected to the festival to market the event.
  • Become assistant editor for the printed Festival Program which is a 72 page booklet about the event.
  • Work with Guest Relations on creation of ticketing process including online sales, passes and printed tickets.
  • Coordinating sponsorships with Sponsorship Director including getting materials to and from sponsors.
  • Manage events leading up to the festival that promote the event.

Production Intern

This internship will provide the candidate a wide variety of production experience working on video production aspects of the festival. This will give the intern experience in video production.

• Work directly with the Festival AV Director on execution of production needs for the event. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Capturing video from short films selected to play at the festival from video files on discs, drives and submitted electronically.
  • Assist in producing compilations of the short programs on BluRay.
  • Involved in building BluRays for the opening trailer for the festival programs.
  • Serve as crew for production of video spots broadcast during the festival.
  • Involved with preparing the online video spots for the website.

If you're interested in either of these internships, please contact Jason Carney at 602-955-6444 or jason@phxfilm.com

Ways to Live Forever Movie Review

Ways to Live Forever  

Starring: Robbie Kay, Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, Emilia Fox, Greta Scacchi, Ella Purnell, Phyllida Law

Directed by: Gustavo Ron

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 90 mins

Genre: Drama/ Family

Opens October 18th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  Opening this week is an award winning film based on the novel of the same name by Sally Nicholls. “Ways to Live Forever” stars Ben Chapin, Emilia Fox, Gretta Scacchi, Robbie Kay and Alex Etel.

Like any 12 year old boy, Sam (Robbie Kay) has wishes and dreams that he wants to accomplish in his life. Blessed with a curious mind, Sam is fascinated with information and wants to explore all that life can offer. Only catch is that his life span is at risk for being cut short since he was diagnosed with leukemia and his doctors don’t give him much time to live. His best friend Felix (Alex Etel) he met while in the hospital and together they plan out how to full fill Sam’s “bucket list” before he dies.

From breaking a world record, to doing teenage things, to seeing the stars in a spaceship, those closest to Sam help him record his thoughts on life before his illness can get the best of him. Will Sam be able to accomplish his list or will life get the best of him?

Not since “My Girl” has a film about childhood death been so poignant in the way life is seen through a child’s eyes. Truly a heart-warming film with such  tough subjects, this one is a tearjerker that will also bring a smile to your face. Not only are the child actors fantastic in this film, the story is so touching that I recommend bringing a box of tissues to the theater. The best way to sum this film up is to compare it to “My Girl” meets “The Bucket List”.

In a very cool promotion to see this film, the distributors of this film are teaming up with numerous health organizations, hospitals, and cancer foundations throughout the US (including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Johns Hopkins, and more) to promote the film, and will be donating a portion of the box office proceeds back in support of their efforts (for the complete list, visit http://waystoliveforevermovie.com/home/index.php/supporters. Be sure to catch “Ways to Live Forever” when it opens in theaters starting Friday October 18,2013.

Carrie Movie Review

Carrie 

Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore, Judy Greer, Gabriella Wilde, Portia Doubleday, Ansel Elgort

Directed by: Kimberly Peirce

Rated: R

Run Time: 100 mins

Genre: Horror/ Thriller

Opens October 18th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  Opening this week is a remake of the 1976 horror classic, also based off a Stephen King novel. Can you guess what is it? If pig’s blood sounds familiar, then you probably know what it is. Director Kimberly Peirce  gives audiences a modern take on the horror classic, but how does it compare to the original?

Leading a sheltered life and using her faith as a shield to reality, Margaret White (Julianne Moore) births a baby girl at home, thinking it was some sort of cancer imposed on her by the devil, and it was a test by God to sacrifice this child. Some sort of rationality kicks in and she saves the baby girl, naming her Carrie.

Fast-forward to her high school years, Carrie (Chloë Grace Moretz) is a shy recluse who is on the receiving end of bullying by a popular girl and her friends. One of the girls, Sue (Gabriella Wilde) takes pity on her after a prank gone awry and tries to make amends with the poor girl. Carrie, during this tumultuous time, discovers her extrasensory ability in the form of telekinesis.

As the bullying and her overbearing mother grow worse, Carrie’s abilities become stronger. Will Carrie be able to control her abilities or will those who have done her wrong pay the ultimate price?

The danger in remakes is the loss of uniqueness and surprise. What makes this film unique is that a female director throws her hat in the ring to re-envision this horror classic and does a decent job. The real problem lies in the casting of the characters. Chloë Grace Moretz does a decent job as the troubled Carrie as does the high school bullies, but Julianne Moore as the overzealous, religious freak mother is a hard sell. Out of all the characters that Moore has played over the years, from a roller skating porn star, Sarah Palin to FBI Agent, this character is just not strong enough to believe that she is this deranged religious mother. What made Sissy Spacek so entrancing in the first film is that she sold the audience on being the lonely, homely Carrie. Moretz is easier to accept as the outcast/ misfit, but easily transforms into a pretty teenager that looks normal. The important note to figure in while watching that this is a “Reimagining” of the classic film so don’t be quick to judge on content comparison.

Other than the casting, the special effects are rather good, giving the telekinesis abilities new depth and thrills. You be the judge when “Carrie” opens in theaters nationwide starting Friday October 18, 2013.

The Fifth Estate Movie Review

The Fifth Estate 

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Brühl, Anthony Mackie, David Thewlis, Alicia Vikander, Peter Capaldi, Carice van Houten, Dan Stevens, Stanley Tucci, Laura Linney

Directed by: Bill Condon

Rated: R

Run Time: 128 mins

Genre: Drama/ Biography

Opens October 18th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Film Fans!  Another film opening this week is one that has been in the headlines over the past few years and based on a book by one of the people portrayed in the film. The man which the film is about, Julian Assange, wasn’t too keen that a film was being made about him and even wrote an email to the actor who plays him, Benedict Cumberbatch about the role expressing his displeasure. Aside from behind the scenes drama, how does the film fare in terms of entertainment?  Read on to find out.

If you ever heard of a little website called Wikileaks mentioned in the news, chances are you have heard of its creator Julian Assange (Benedict Cumberbatch). Picking up the story in 2007 in Berlin, Germany, Assange teamed  up with a young tech geek/hacker type, named Daniel Berg (Daniel Brühl) to take Wikileaks to a new level. Assange has a past of hacking crimes yet has turned humanitarian by using his hacking past to expose those who cause crimes against humanity. Wikileaks is a platform where whistleblowers can, leak data, sources, exposing documents, governments and corporate crimes under a veil of anonymity.

In theory, this works in favor of Assange, his volunteers and their sources but when a “leak” so huge against the American government is exposed, how far will Assange go to defend his actions when he puts so many lives at risk all in the name of justice?

Not since the Pentagon Papers were released, has there been such a groundbreaking journalistic event for the media to partake in. Where the argument lies, is 1.) Blogging a form of journalism? And 2). With this amount of potential damaging information, what should be released and what gets redacted?    The problem with this film isn’t that it is a compelling story or that the protagonist/antagonist dynamic is lacking, but the artistic vision of the story seems a little lackluster. Several scenes of the film try to explain the complexities of the mindset of Assange and Berg with intercuts of “visualizations” of the inner workings of Wikileaks which seem out of place. The amount of information flying back and forth is fascinating, and if they focused more on the subjects of Assanges “leaks” would have made for a more exciting story. It was as if Director Bill Condon was trying too hard to get the “Twilight” crowd to have a “Matrix” dreamscape experience to explain the complicated character that is Julian Assange. You be the judge when it opens in theaters nationwide starting Friday October 18, 2013.

Movie Review for We Are What We Are

We Are What We Are  

Starring: Bill Sage, Ambyr Childers, Julia Garner, Wyatt Russell, Jack Gore, Kelly McGillis

Directed by: Jim Mickle

Rated: R

Run Time: 105 mins

Genre: Horror/ Thriller/ Drama

Opens October 18th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Hey Phoenix Horror Film Fans! You know it’s that time of year when the horror films are being released in full force and this week is a film that will give the updated version of a horror classic a run for its money. Opening this week as a Harkins Camelview exclusive is the horror film “We Are What We Are” starring  Bill Sage, Julia Garner and Kelly McGillis. This horror film touches on a subject that is not as oversaturated in the horror market, cannibalism. So how does it fare? Read on to find out.

When family matriarch of the Parker clan, Emma Parker (Kassie DePaiva) dies at the young age of 47 of what seems to be an early onset of Parkinson's Disease, the rest of the family is shaken to its core. Eldest daughter Rose (Julia Garner) is expected by her father Frank (Bill Sage) to step in her mother’s role and to fulfill her duties in taking care of the family and learn of the ways of their heritage, which are practicing Cannibalism.

Middle daughter Iris (Ambyr Childers) and Rose have grown weary of their family’s practices.  She has been searching for a way to break free now that their mother is gone.  Frank has grown more oppressive with each passing day in an effort to deal with his own health issues and grief over losing his wife.

As private the Parker clan have been, there has been a number of disappearances in the area that remain unsolved. One of those family member of the disappeared is the town doctor, Doc Barrow (Michael Parks) who treated Emma Parker while she gave birth to her third child Rory (Jack Gore) and exhumed her body before being laid to rest. Doc Barrow knew there was something odd about Emma’s condition, and with some keen observations, decides to dig a little further into the health history of the rest of the Parker family. Will Doc Barrow be able to help the Parker children before it’s too late or will he become their latest victim for dinner? Although this is not necessarily a scary film, it is more disgusting than frightening to make the viewer squeamish, the content of the film is delivered in such a way that it makes it tolerable to view. One may expect with a director such as Jim Mickle (Stake Land, Mulberry Street) helming this film that a particular level of expectation of horrific thrills will be met. Which if you’re going in with little or no expectations, this film is suitable for getting in the Halloween mood. The young actresses playing the daughters are fantastic as is Bill Sage as the deranged, over zealous head cannibal.  You be the judge when “We Are What We Are” opens at Harkins Camelview starting Friday October 18,2013.

Movie Review for A.C.O.D

A.C.O.D.  

Starring: Adam Scott, Richard Jenkins, Catherine O'Hara, Amy Poehler, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clark Duke, Ken Howard, Jessica Alba, Jane Lynch

Directed by: Stuart Zicherman

Rated: R

Run Time: 88 mins

Genre: Comedy

Opens October 18th

By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com

Another film opening this week features a large cast of comedic characters in a story loosely based on the experience of Director Stu Zicherman’s life. “A.C.O.D.” (Adults Children of Divorce) stars Adam Scott, Jane Lynch, Catherine O’Hara and Richard Jenkins.

When the divorce rate is hovering somewhere around fifty percent, you have a whole generation growing up in a unusual living situation. Some divorces end well, but for Carter (Adam Scott) his parents decided to drop the d-bomb on him on his 9th birthday and have hated each other ever since.

Now that Carter is an adult, he has managed to keep the peace between his parents until his younger brother Trey (Clark Duke) announces his engagement. Now Carter is put in the middle of his feuding parents about how to plan this wedding.

As Carter  fights for his sanity, he seeks out the therapist that helped him as a child, Dr. Dr. Judith (Jane Lynch).  Carter discovers that she’s not really a psychiatrist but a state funded researcher that wrote a book, “Children of Divorce” that he was a subject of.  As Carter talks to Dr. Judith, filling her in on the last decade or two on his development, she gets the brilliant idea to do a follow up book on the children in the first book to see how they turned out as adults. Carter wants to clear his pseudo name from the book, so he sees this as an opportunity to show everyone that he is a functioning adult.

As chief family peacemaker, Carter gets his mother, Melissa (Catherine O’Hara), and his father Hugh (Richard Jenkins) both to the same restaurant, forcing them to work out their issues about their son’s upcoming nuptials. As good of intentions Carter had, this ends up being a disaster, for the very reasons his parents broke up have brought them together putting everyone’s present and future relationships at risk. Can Carter get through these new found revelations or as an Adult Child of Divorce will his adulthood and romantic relationships follow the same path as his parent’s doomed relationships?

With such a strong assembly of comedic actors, interesting subject material and back story one would expect non stop hilarity to ensue. The comedic elements are there, but this film lacks a certain snark that the actors in the cast are known for. The performances feel a little soft and the build up to the resolution is not as fulfilling as the viewer may expect. If you’re a child of divorce, you may resonate with some of the themes in this film. You be the judge when “A.C.O.D.” opens in theaters starting Friday October 18, 2013