Inglourious Basterds (2009) R - 4 Stars

I love movies that make you cheer for the little guy even if these little guys are a pack of Inglorious Bastards. This movie is not for everyone, especially if you can't stay up with subtitles, and graphic brutality. But, I found it to be much more entertaining than other Nazi movies like Valkyrie. Unlike Valkyrie, the best part of this movie is they actually speak GERMAN, French and English, making this movie much more believable even though a rather unbelievable story. Quentin Tarantino always finds a way to add his signature punch with a gasp, and in this case, adding that "in your face" realism of the bloody scalping of Nazi's and the bat of the "Bear Jew." Wars not pretty but Tarantino manages to bring a touch of comedy for his show of brutal retribution.

I wonder if Tarantino deliberately meant to have Pitt talking like a cartoon character but all an all the characters are consistent with their personalities. Even the evil German head of Security has a devilish edge to make him all so much more persuading, almost causing you to shed pity on.

Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent), watched her family slaughtered by Nazi's head of Security Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). Barley escaping with her life and her new devotion of hatred for the Germans, she flees to Paris operating a cinema. As her theater prepares for the French premiere of "The Nation's Pride," she has her own agenda to getting even with the Germans.

Lt. Aldo "Apache" Raine's (Brad Pitt), motto is "The only good Nazi is a dead Nazi." Now that Germany has occupied France and killing off the Jews, Lt. Aldo enlists the services of a few good men, all dead set of killing any Nazi they encounter. His small band of missionaries include, Bostonian Sgt. Donnie "The Bear Jew" Donowitz (Eli Roth), Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz (Til Schweiger), Lt. Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender), Pfc. Omar Ulmer (Omar Doom), Pfc. Smithson Utivich (B.J. Novak), Gen Ed Fenech (Mike Myers), and PFC Hirschberg (Samm Levine). Aldo's squad joins up with German actress Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger), to help infiltrate deeper with the Germans. But the squad is found out when they order drinks not knowing the proper hand symbol for three.

When German's Head of Security Col. Hans Landa, who would sell his mothers soul to come out on top, learns of their plot to kill Hitler as he attends the premiere, he negotiates with the gang to ensure his own asses security. But Aldo's gang will make sure he'll never be able to keep his secret.

Nominated for 8 Oscar's.

2010 - Academy Award Winner - Best Supporting Actor

Lawrence Bender Productions, Studio Babelsberg Motion Pictures GmbH, The Weinstein Company, Universal Pictures
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Producers: Lawrence Bender

I viewed 1/10

Avatar (2009) PG13 - 1,000,000 Stars

The only word I can think of to describe this film is In-Fuc*ing-Credible!!! I guess I haven't gotten out much to a movie theater lately to realize how far technology has taken us in 3-D. Awesome, truly awesome as the entire movie clings all around you. Even down to the smallest details of a spark or ash seeming falling into your hands. Visually stunning, I swear they looked inside my head and produced my magical places I go to in my head, and made them even better!! The seed pods look like jelly fish one of my extreme favorites. And the story is amazing too, as it reaches out and touches every sense of your being. I hope everyone walks away with it's powerful message. We can't continue to destroy all the natural beauty on this planet or any other planer or drive any type of life form to extinction for the sake of any mineral or ore.

I had a hard time catching my breathe and cried at the sad ending and I don't think I have ever been as entertained by a movie before. Bravo, James Cameron, Bravo. Everything you can want in a movie and more. Yes it was long, almost too long, but an Academy Award Winner hands down.

On the planet of Pandorra lies an extremely valuable ore that a mega corporation is trying to mine. The problems are, the air on this planet is not breathable to humans, the creatures will hunt you down and eat you and if they don't, the Na'vi, hunters of an indigenous tribe, will. Too disturbing and violent for young children to understand.

Ex war veteran Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), is wheel chair bound and offered the job of replacing his slain twin brother on the planet for a specific mission. The goal is to become an avatar on the planet and gain trust with it's people in order to relocate them from this precious commodity before the colonel goes in and takes it for himself. The tirck is to make avatars with DNA made from the humans so they can breathe the air and infiltrate the "enemy" for the purpose of production.

A story to detailed to spell out in a review as I would never do it justice, it's just that good and a must see for yourself. Excellent casting also starring, Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), Trudy Chacon (Michelle Rodriguez), Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi), Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore), and so many more. If you see no other movies in your lifetime, you must see this one.

Nominated for 9 Oscar's, Awards include:

2009 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Director
2009 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Picture - Drama
2010 - Academy Award Winner - Best Visual Effects
2010 - Academy Award Winner - Best Cinematography
2010 - Academy Award Winner - Best Art Direction



Lightstorm Entertainment, 20th Century Fox
Director: James Cameron
Writer: James Cameron
Producers: Jon Landau, James Cameron

I viewed 2/10

The Desperate Hours (1955) NR - 3½ Stars

Many people may not consider watching an older movie made from the 1950's, but I have to say this is one of the great ones. I just love watching the good old days where there is respect for your fellow neighbor and the family sits down to the table actually communicating. The men, wearing their nice suits and hats, go off to work while their wives glamorously send their families off to school after a full breakfast complete with conversation. Here we have the stereotypical family of the 50's, good proper people who must stand up to desperate ill mannered escapees, while not giving up their dignity. Dad rises to the occasion to protect his family from these three criminals after they forcefully take shelter in the Hilliard home, holding the family hostage as they await finances for the bad guys to leave. Starring Humphrey Bogart, and in B&W it totally looks like it's filmed on the back lots of Paramount Studios.

Dan Hilliard (Fredric March) has just enjoyed a wonderful breakfast prepared by his wife Eleanor (Martha Scott). He enjoys sharing the morning paper with his daughter Cindy (Mary Murphy), and talking with his young son Ralphie (Richard Eyer), who has just declared he would prefer to be called Ralph, before heading off to work. As Dan and Cindy head off in the car, Ralph joins his friends to walk to school, leaving Eleanor to start her morning chores.

Meanwhile, Glenn Griffin (Humphrey Bogart), his brother Hal (Dewey Martin), and Kobish (Robert Middleton), has just escaped from prison. Looking for the first place they can seek refuge at, they show up at the Hilliard's door. As Eleanor opens the door the men barge in immediately take over, forcing Eleanor to wait on their every need until her husband returns. Now the family must try to carry on with their normal activities and not draw any attention to themselves while they await the arrival of Glenn's girlfriend who's arriving with their cash to make a clean getaway. But when she is delayed, their plans start to unravel driving everyone to many desperate hours of survival.


Awards Include:

1955 - Edgar Allan Poe Awards - Best Screenplay
1955 - National Board of Review - Best Director

Paramount Pictures
Director: William Wyler
Writer: Joseph Hayes
Producer: William Wyler

I viewed 2/10

Julie & Julia (2009) PG13 - 3 Stars

Bravo to Meryl Streep for her performance as Julia. She obviously did her homework as many times you could shut your eyes and think Childs was standing right before you. Though the movie slows a bit from time to time and I was never a big fan of Julia Childs mainly due to her accent and quirkish methods, this movie was still enjoyable giving a good insight of the woman behind the name. Adams also does a great job as the amateur chef who decides to write a blog, 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, cooking everything in Julia Childs cookbook in just one year. I liked how the movie switches between the two time periods.

Julia Childs (Meryl Streep), and her adoring husband Paul (Stanley Tucci), are a happy well to do couple living in Europe. Though they are very happy together, Julia is looking for her niche and after struggling in a man's world of French chefs, she refuses to give up eventually becoming famous as she cooks her creations in from of a television audience.

Decades later, Julie Powell (Amy Adams), and her husband Eric (Chris Messina), have just moved into a tiny new apartment. Julie is restless and finds that baking brings her happiness as she settles into the new space. After sitting down with a copy of a cookbook by Julia Childs, she decides not only their names are similar but with both their passion for cooking, they might be more alike then she knew. Julie makes a commitment to bake everything in the Julia's cookbook in the course of a year. As she cooks her way to satisfaction and write religiously on her blog, she too struggles with her obsessions, paralleling her idol.

Nominated for 1 Oscar, Awards include:

2009 - Boston Society of Film Critics - Best Actress
2009 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actress
2009 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Sony Pictures Releasing
Director: Nora Ephron
Writer: Nora Ephron
Producers: Amy Robinson, Nora Ephron, Eric Steel

I viewed 1/10

Crashing (2007) NR - 2½ Stars

The coming attractions looked good for this movie and the erotic concept drew me in however, unfortunately it fizzles out. I do enjoy when a creative writer is colorfully narrating the movie as the characters play it out and that's what probably kept me drawn at first. After all, his ideal fantasy to be with two young college students, is about to take place and how could that not be verbalized erotically. Yawn!

The story starts to take shape when the young writers, Kristin (Izabella Miko), and Jacqueline (Lizzy Caplan), ask one of their writing idols to stay on their couch after his wife just locked him out. They learn what it takes from this master writer Richard McMurray (Campbell Scott), who helps bring all of their fantasies to life. At times, you don't really know if it's happening for real or on tablet so that part keeps you interested. But it then went downhill when the actual "dirty deeds" start taking place. They weren't erotic and looked more like some old dude taking advantage of two sexy women while trying to recapture his youth. If you're looking for a sexy Ménage à Trois, this ain't it, as it's boring and looses it's total eroticism however if you'd like a little insight on creative writing, you might enjoy some of the dialog.

Pendragon Film, Existential Films
Director: Gary Walkow
Writer: Gary Walkow
Producer: Alain Silver, Gary Walkow

I viewed 2/10

Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009) PG - 4 Stars

No matter what you thought of Michael Jackson as a person, no one can ever say he wasn't of our greatest performers. Even with the quirky behavior, accusations of child molestation, numerous rumors of plastic surgeries, I don't know we will ever see another man of his kind bless our planet in the same way. "This is It," is a lovely tribute to the tragic ending of Michael's short life. It gave me a little more perspective into the man and yes he was anal. Anal to the critical aspects of making everything he did, a performance.

Michael wanted every one of his songs to perfectly tell it's magical story the way he intended it. Extreme attention to specific detail is what made his concerts more visual art shows. If you have ever seen him in concert, you'll have to agree with me that it was one of the best concerts you've ever seen. I saw the "Bad" concert series and at first I was embarrassed to tell friends I went to a Michael Jackson concert. After experiencing Michael live, from some pretty great seats, I can home bragging about how awesome it was. The guy sure could dance. Every song took you somewhere, not with just the lyrics, but as he acted out the entire story before your eyes.

Michael wasn't just a great singer and songwriter, but a true professional with a specific ear tuning his songs into remarkable works of art. With a birds eye view, "This is It" gives you front row seats of the preparation it takes to make a great performance. It's a must see, at least one time, for a glimpse into the men we really never knew.

I don't think Michael was the kind of guy to take no for an answer. I think his brain was a turning wheel 24 hours a day making sleep impossible as he articulated and obsessed every detail of his musical life. I'm not a doctor and don't know anything about the drugs Michael was giving inducing his death. I certainly don't condone what Dr. Conrad Murray gave to Michael and yes he should have been a better professional in his field to be able to say no to Michael. But I think the fame and fortune of being involved in Michale's life, got him caught up into loosing his professionalism of doing what was best for his patient, Michael and instead doing what was best for Dr. Conrad Murray. A sad tragedy as Michael was about to take back the stage of his live.

Sony Pictures Releasing, Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI)
Director: Kenny Ortega
Producers: Paul Gongaware, Kenny Ortega, Randy Phillips

I viewed 2/10

Stateside (2004) R - 3 Stars

Based on a true story, Stateside is about the coming of age of a two young psychologically troubled teens. Cook plays a singer / actress gone schizophrenic, drowning deeper into her shell while Tucker plays a young man in need of a reason to live. Kilmer plays the tough Sargent that's drills Tucker into turning his life around. On leave, Tucker will stop at nothing to be with the girl he loves, because no matter how unstable she's become, their unique romance completes and saves them from their solitude.

My favorite quote from Kilmer, "You are here because you could not by trained by the mothers of America." The movie is not award winner and wasn't shown in a lot of theaters but a good rent for a romance drama as it goes to show you there is someone out there for everyone.

Mark Deloach (Jonathan Tucker), is a well to do but extremely bored teenager. He meets Dori Lawrence (Rachael Leigh Cook), a rock singer at a club, and falls in love with her rebellious attitude. So much so, he pulls a prank on Sue Dubois (Agnes Bruckner), that results in a deadly drunk-driving accident. Now in order to not face prison, Mark's sent to join the Marines for rehabilitation. Staff Sgt. Skeer (Val Kilmer), is determined to make a soldier out of him. Meanwhile, Dori is admitted into a mental hospital as she falls deeper into her depression.

Mrs. Hagen (Diane Venora), is the head of Dori's halfway house and she believes that Mark seeing Dori only drives her deeper into herself and she lies to keep them apart. But the opposite is true and only Marc can touch Dori in a way that unlocks her inner self. The two will stop at nothing to be together.

Cinerenta, First Look Studios, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Seven Hills Pictures, Independent Distribution Partnership (IDP)
Director: Reverge Anselmo
Writer: Reverge Anselmo
Producers: Reverge Anselmo, Robert Greenhut

I viewed 11/09

Defiance (2008) R - 4½ Stars

There was a time when I hated to tell anyone my ancestry was German as I didn't want to be compared to a Nazi or be related to anyone who could be so revolting. After seeing movies like this one, based on a true story, I question my ancestry once again. A very touching story of three Jewish brothers living in Nazi occupied Poland. They barely escape death as they're away from the village when Nazi's come and kill it's occupants, along with their parents. But they refuse to role over and play dead, and vow revenge on these killers. With no where to go, they head deep into the woods to plot their next move. As more Jews learn of their defiance to the Nazi's, they travel to the woods to join up with the brothers. Even though they have no means to support this new community, more keep showing up. I love at the end when they kick butt and make the Nazi's run the other way. Beautiful cinematography and the acting is well done. A near perfect movie in my book.

It's 1941, the middle of WWII, and the Nazi's have begone invading Belarus, Poland where three brothers, Tuvia (Daniel Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber), and Asael Bielski (Jamie Bell), live. While the two older brothers are away, the younger brother, Asael, narrowly escapes death as the Nazi's come into their village killing everyone in sight, including their parents. As the older brothers return and witness the emotional scars left on Asael, they vow to get their revenge on the every Nazi responsible. No one will chase them from their land.

With only a few bullets for protection, they will seek revenge on the Nazi's directly responsible for killing their village. As word gets out of these brave hero's, other Jew flock to the woods where Tuvia evokes their pride as he teaches them to protect and fend for themselves so their culture can survive. He becomes a leader of this new community while Zus see these new settlers as intruders. The brothers will have to come to term with doing the right thing.

Awards:

2008 - Las Vegas Film Critics Association - Best Score

Paramount Vantage
Director: Edward Zwick
Writers: Clay Frohman, Edward Zwick
Producers: Edward Zwick, Pieter Jan Brugge, Roland Tec

I viewed 12/09

Two Lovers (2009) R - 3½ Stars

This is a pretty good romantic drama I wouldn't consider a "chick flick." I think men will relate to the movie as it is usually the male who desires the unpredictable wildness over the marital state of normality. Strong performances from both Phoenix and Paltrow, I felt compassion for Phoenix as if almost in an arranged marriage before he has the chance to flap his wings.

Leonard Kraditor (Joaquin Phoenix), in a major depression after a recent heartbreak, moves back into his childhood home with his parents, Ruth (Isabella Rossellini), and Reuben (Moni Moshonov). His parents try to play cupid with Leonard's love life, matching him with a long time family friend's daughter, Sandra Cohen (Vinessa Shaw). Sandra's parents, Michael (Bob Ari) and Carol (Julie Budd), also agree with the arrangement and welcome their families coming closer together. The Cohen's will be buying and taking over Leonard's family run dry cleaning business. And although Sandra is a truly loving, caring and adoring girl, his eyes are focused on the exciting new girl, Michele (Gwyneth Paltrow), he's discovered living in his same building, Seemingly so much out of Leonard's league, Michele keeps calling out her window to him and running into Leonard that he finds himself becoming completely infatuated with her lifestyle. So much so, that even when he finds out Michele is dating an older married man who's ripping her heart out, Leonard still continues to passionately fall in love with her, while valuing just being her friend.

Meanwhile, Leonard's parents are pushing him into this ideal relationship with Sandra, forcing him to make an impossible decision between Michele, the one who has reignited his lust for life, or Sandra, who will offer him comfort, love and security while possibly sending him back into the massive state of depression from his boring former life.

Awards:
2009 - National Board of Review - Best Independent Film

2929 Productions, Wild Bunch, Tempesta Films, Magnolia Pictures
Director: James Gray
Writers: James Gray, Ric Menello
Producers: Anthony Katagas, Donna Gigliotti, James Gray

I viewed 11/09

Revolutionary Road (2008) R - 3½ Stars

Based on the 1961 novel by author Richard Yates, I liked this movie with it's great cast, Bates, DiCaprio and Winslet. Winslet does a good job playing a head strong woman so set in her dreams, it will drive her mad if she has to comply with society. DiCaprio, always good in his roles, plays the loving supportive bread winning husband of the 50's. Even though they are defiant to live the "Leave it to Beaver" stereo-typed family, they end up finding themselves living that it anyways.

Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio), and April Wheeler (Kate Winslet), are a young married couple from Connecticut. While everyone else lives in conformity to the 1950's life styles, Frank and April have never thought of themselves as complying to any ones standards but more, the couple that sets the bar. They move to their new home on Revolutionary Road, and soon find out that co-existing with the other "perfect yard - white picket fence" neighbors becomes stifling. As Frank and April try to fit into this, "ideal environment," they find themselves feeling suffocated. Vowing to break up the monotony, they pledge to friends their move to Paris, France. The couple finally feels alive again as they plan their move. But Frank is offered a large pay bonus to stay put and he decides to take the financial stability over the unstable risk. That doesn't go over well with April who now feels she must do it to stay alive.

Awards include:

2008 - Revolutionary Road - Alliance of Women Film Journalists - Best Actress
2008 - Revolutionary Road - St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association - Best Actress
2008 - Revolutionary Road - Vancouver Film Critics - Best Actress

Neal Street Productions, Evamere Entertainment, BBC Films, Paramount Pictures
Director: Sam Mendes
Writer: Justin Haythe
Producers: Sam Mendes, John Hart, Bobby Cohen

I viewed 9/09

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) PG - 3½ Stars

Yet another cute and well animated adventure from Sony Pictures Animation. Though sometimes I swear these cartoons are made with the adult in mind as there as subtle sexual innuendo that hopefully go right over a child's head. The characters are fun and quirky and the one thing that bothered me just a bit was Sam the girl looked a lot like the girl from Monsters vs. Aliens, who don't get me wrong I loved, but thought possibly this girl could have been animated a little differently.

Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader), has been tinkering with things since he was a young boy. Though many of his inventions go bust, like his spray on shows, he still thrives inside knowing someday he will be a great inventor. It seems only his mother Fran (Lauren Graham), believes in him as the town has seen his ideas backfire before. After his mother dies, his father Tim (James Caan), wants Flint to work for him in his Sardine Bait and Tackle Shop and give up these crazy ideas that just make the town turn on him. But Flint is determined to come up with something that will make his late mother and father proud.

Sam Sparks (Anna Faris), is the local weather girl that her television station doesn't take serious. Time and again, she has been flustered in front of the lens that end up making her look bad. As she strolls to the edge of a pier to throw her mic into the water, she stumbles upon Flint, who's been feeling sorry for himself too. When the two meet, Sam is excited to learn about Flint's inventions and seems to understand every scientific reason behind them. It's love at first sight to Flint. With their town on the verge of starvation, Flint is determined to come up with a way to solve their hunger needs. His inventions turns to be a sweet success to Mayor Shelbourne (Bruce Campbell), who now can customize his request to include all of his favorite foods. But when the machine overloads, over sized foot starts falling from the sky putting the town at risk. If Flint is to accomplish any worthy goal in his life, and win over the girl, he must stop his machine before it's too late.

Sony Pictures Releasing, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
Directors: Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Christopher Miller
Writers: Christopher Miller, Judi Barrett, Phil Lord
Producer: Pam Marsden

I viewed 2/10