District 9

(Guest Review by Russ)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Aliens are forced to live in a militarized slum after their spaceship breaks down over South Africa; twenty years later, while being moved to a new detention area, things start to go terribly wrong.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James, Mandla Gaduka, Vanessa Haywood, William Allen Young

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! District 9 is the definitive science-fiction film of the new millennium. No cute ETs like Spielberg’s creation or ethereal space landings as in Close Encounters, the aliens of District 9 – better known as Prawns – are angry, weird, homesick, violent, caring, curious and maybe up to something. And it’s all presented as if watching a CNN Special Report with Anderson Cooper, once again out there in some foreign locale unveiling some sickening truth about who the real bad guys are.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Despite the relentless squalor, action and violence, District 9 has more laughs than you might expect, springing mostly from the antics of the Prawns and also the innate intelligence of the film.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you have any Prawn-DNA in your system you will not only cry, you might not make it through the movie. (This answer doubles as an inside-joke which you will get after you’ve seen the movie.)

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Let’s see, it is now more than midway through August and this is easily one of the best films of the year. So I won’t bet against it come awards time. (And no, I’m not talking about some made-up award like: Best Use of Cat Food In A Movie.)

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Even though District 9 oftentimes resembles a documentary (or docudrama) – and apparently almost all the dialogue was improvised – none of that takes away from the excellent performance of South African star Sharlto Copley. The emotional weight of the movie sits squarely on his shoulders (and it’s a lot of weight) and he really delivers in a believable performance that goes from weasely, nervous and unlikable at the start, to heart wrenching and heroic in the end.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Neill Blomkamp, welcome to the start of your massive Hollywood career. Everything works in District 9 thanks to the direction. The effects, humor, pathos, acting, story and design – everything is in such perfect harmony that it becomes seamless. Blomkamp makes this all look so easy you’ll wonder why every science fiction film can’t be this entertaining. Oh yeah, maybe it’s because not every filmmaker is as talented as Neill Blomkamp (and it can’t hurt to have Peter Jackson as a producer). Hey Neill, hurry up and get working on District 10.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: There is nothing revolutionary about this story, but it doesn’t really need to be. On the surface it’s simple, yet deceptively smart and extremely well executed. Underneath however is a not-so-subtle allegory commenting on South Africa’s sad history with apartheid. But really, that sort of history can easily extend to many countries and therefore District 9 is like a mirror being held up to the human race, reflecting back its tragedies when it comes to racial discrimination. It’s ugly and sad and soul crushing and makes you wonder if we’ll ever be enlightened enough to be capable of better. District 9 deserves as much credit for that thought-provoking question as it does for being a kick-ass entertaining sci-fi action movie.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/district-9/31920/trailers

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The Time Traveler's Wife

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A romance about a little girl who falls in love with a time traveling man (Eric Bana), and grows up to marry him, despite all the complications of building a life with a man who comes and goes at random. You know, put that way, it's not that different from a lot of regular marriages out there.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Ron Livingston, Hailey McCann, Tatum McCann, Michelle Nolden, Arliss Howard, Jane McLean, Brooklynn Proulx, Stephen Tobolowsky, Philip Craig

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Thinking about what you would and wouldn't know about the past, present and future is engaging, but the pace is often too slow, the tone too melodramatic, and you can tell from watching the movie that the book is more romantic.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Some say melodrama is a less subtle form of comedy, so you might laugh at all the intense stares, but I don't think they mean for you to.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Because we know the future, we are never caught off guard by the sad things that happen, but there is a moment or two that could induce tears in those of you who are emotionally unstable to begin with.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I'm giving it the award for the Most Predictable Studio Note of the Year. There is a moment so inauthentic and obvious, that even without reading the book, I could tell it was 100% pure Hollywood concoction. And without giving anything important away, I will tell you that it has to do with the Lottery, and the fact that any movie with time travel has to do this beat, even though we've all seen it a million times before... To quote my ex-boyfriend, misquoting Jay-Z, "So unnecessary."

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Rachel McAdams is as talented and beautiful as she always is, but I don't yet get why Eric Bana, was plucked off the streets of Australia to become the next big Hollywood star. He does nothing particularly wrong, but he's not super great looking, and I have yet to see him do any acting that answers the question "Why him?"

Q: How is the Directing?

A: From the first frame I was bored by both the music and the tone. Thankfully there were scenes that exceeded my low-set expectations, but still, this movie is more proof that first impressions can taint your whole experience.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: There are too many times when the young versions of Rachel McAdams say to the time traveling man, "You've never said that before." This is used to telegraph the rules of time travel to the audience, and it works, but it's way too on the nose. It's also a pretty good example of the level of finesse the rest of the script displays.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-time-travelers-wife/28722/trailers

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The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A master car salesman (Jeremy Piven) is called into a struggling car dealership to save them from bankruptcy, and there, he is forced to face his own difficult past.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, James Brolin, David Koechner, Kathryn Hahn, Ed Helms, Jordana Spiro, Tony Hale, Ken Jeong, Rob Riggle, Alan Thicke, Charles Napier, Jonathan Sadowski, Noureen DeWulf, Craig Robinson, Wendie Malick, Will Ferrell (uncredited)

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. If you can get past how incredibly stupid and ridiculous this movie is, it actually kind of grows on you.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: If you can get past how incredibly stupid and ridiculous the humor is, it actually kind of grows on you.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you can get past how incredibly stupid and ridiculous the emotions are, they actually kind of grow on you.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I see some Golden Popcorn in this movie's future. Mostly because they have a category called Best WTF Moment.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: This movie has the greatest smattering of B-level character actors to ever grace the screen at one time, in the complete absence of any A-listers... Or at least not any that are credited.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: They say casting is 90% of the director's path to success, and in this case the director got the cast 110% right. If my math is correct, 110% of 90% is 99%, which leaves only 1% of room for failure. Director, Neal Brennan takes full advantage of his margin for failure, as he uses it toward being off on the timing for some of the jokes.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: This story has got a lot more story than most of the stuff that Will Ferrell and Adam McKay have put out recently. Not only are there A stories, but there are even B stories and C stories. Nothing too deep, but all of it supported by specific backstories! I'm sure even they were surprised to find out that despite all that yucky story structure, sometimes jokes can still be funny.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-goods-live-hard-sell-hard/34811/trailers

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Post Grad

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A new college graduate (Alexis Bledel) has her whole life planned out. Unfortunately, the real world is not as easy to navigate as she had imagined. Not only is it hard to find a job, but now she has to move back in with her eccentric family.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Alexis Bledel, Zach Gilford, Michael Keaton, Jane Lynch, Carol Burnett (yes, you read that correctly), Bobby Coleman, Rodrigo Santoro, Catherine Reitman, J.K. Simmons

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. This is the kind of movie you can't turn off when you catch it on television. It's cute, it's predictable, kind of mindless, but with some interesting-- if not over the top-- characters... come to think of it, this movie would've made a great sitcom.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It starts out looking like it'll be fun for the whole family, but then the laughs start to be just for the kids in some places, just for the adults in others, and in some spots, they may be just for the writer.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: The character played by Catherine Reitman could make anybody cry. And not just because you're jealous that she got to be related to director-producers, Ivan and Jason.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: They're not quite Bette Davis eyes, but Alexis Bledel has eyes so big and blue they look like they've been photoshopped in every frame. Like an Alien. Based on this film's measly $15 million budget, I'm gonna assume the eyes are hers. And if we had been in high school together, I definitely would have voted for her for Prettiest Eyes in the senior poll. Instead, I had to vote for my friend Jenny. She won. But she's not on Facebook, so we're not really friends anymore. Mostly because I have no idea where she is. If you see her, tell her to call me.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Despite my earlier crack at her nepotistic advantages, Catherine Reitman gives a damn solid performance as a strong and confident total biatch! You will hate her so much, you won't know what to do with yourself. Aside from that, we're reminded why Michael Keaton used to be a big star, as he gives the kind of comic performance that I had forgotten he was capable of. It's nice to see Jane Lynch playing a family woman. Partly because we haven't seen her do that yet, and partly because it's just nice to see Jane Lynch. And did you see that part about how Carol Burnett is in this? She's a whole mess of funny.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The film starts out with some interesting visuals involving a vlog and some instant messaging, but it soon works its way into being fairly pedestrian. Perfectly fine, just not up to the level that it promises in the opening scenes. There is one moment where the dad has a big build up to showing us something that we already know what it is, and the main character rolls her eyes, mirroring what the audience feels. I wish the director had left that bit on the edit room floor, but aside from that, Vicky Jenson, in her first stint as a live-action feature film director, shows that she's ready to take things up a notch.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: As you can see from the logline, there's not much to this movie. But the wacky family gives way to some cheery dialogue. And emotionally, there's one character you feel for so much that you don't know whether to hate Alexis for not noticing how sweet, beautiful and loving he is, or to hate him for pining over her for so long with such obviously negative results. It's also hard to believe that she would be able to resist his charm and be "best friends" for so long, or that he wouldn't get fed up with her rejections, and quit her long before this movie even begins.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: The soundtrack is pretty decent, if you like girl singers and mellow guy singers who sound like they're singing to girls.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/search/post%20grad/trailers

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My One and Only

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When a high-class woman (Renee Zellweger) walks in on her husband (Kevin Bacon) cheating, she takes her two sons (Logan Lerman & Mark Rendall), and goes on a road trip across America to find a new husband who can support her.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Renee Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Mark Rendall, Kevin Bacon, Chris Noth, Nick Stahl, Troy Garity, J.C. MacKenzie, Eric McCormack, Molly C. Quinn, Steven Weber, Robin Weigert, David Koechner, Phoebe Strole

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. This is one of those movies that carries you along at a lukewarm clip, without too much suspense, but pays off in the last two minutes, when you find out who it is about. The ending is satisfying, but more so if you don't already know whose true story it is, and you're old enough to put that person's name to their face. So my advice, if you want the best possible experience, is don't read anything about this movie before you see it.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There is one big belly laugh, and it's about a car, and where you take it when it breaks down. Why are you still reading?

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: You're still reading?! That means that either you've already decided not to see this movie, or you've figured out that I'm not going to give anything away. In either case, you're much too intellectual to be moved by the slight emotional moment at the end of the movie.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Since you're still reading, I'm gonna give you the award for biggest knucklehead. Unless you've already seen the film, in which case, I invite you to put all the spoilers you want in the comments section.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Logan Lerman is the hearthrob of the future, so you may as well get used to him. I guarantee this kid will soon be starring on the cover of magazines, as well as the majority of movies you try to see in the next decade. (He hasn't been cast in them yet, I'm just warning you, it's his destiny.)

Q: How is the Directing?

A: It's fun to see the styles and sets of the 1950s, and they are well highlighted in this film, but the passage of time, especially how much of it has gone by from one scene to the next is very hard to follow.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: If you can get past Renee Zellweger's giant face, and the bizarre fact that everyone continually tells her how beautiful she is, here are three things that might stand out about the script. 1. She has the cutest little sayings about stuff, and you'll wonder where they come from. 2. It feels like it would make a better book than a movie. 3. The main character has an uncanny knack for running into rich ex-boyfriends the moment she sets foot in any big city in America. I mean, sure, that happens to me all the time, but-- who are we kidding, that doesn't happen to anyone!

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/myoneandonly/

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Cold Souls

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Actor, Paul Giamatti (Paul Giamatti), finds out that there is a technology by which you can extract your soul from your body, and decides that he should try that so that he can play the role of Uncle Vanya without having to feel any of that heavy pain.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Paul Giamatti, Dina Korzun, David Strathairn, Emily Watson, Katheryn Winnick, Lauren Ambrose, Armand Schultz, Boris Kievsky

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Stop! First of all, the premise is illogical. If you don't want to feel the pain of another person, you shouldn't extract your soul, you should quit acting . But more importantly, I don't think the filmmaker understands the soul's role in vitality; i.e, that without one, you're a motionless vegetable, who's usually considered to be dead.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Maybe if you're not sleeping AND you have a very esoteric sense of humor.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No. But if you had any understanding of what a soul's purpose was before you saw that movie, that will be completely erased. Just in case you still see it, I've taken the liberty of printing Merriam-Webster's definition here for your future reference. "Soul: The immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life."

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Of course it will. Don't you know that when a movie is boring and pretentious and has an out-there concept it means it must be brilliant? This is the kind of movie that award givers don't want to admit they don't get, for fear that it will make them look stupid. But pretending to get it is a lot more stupid to me.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: I was expecting Being John Malkovich, in which an actor playing himself takes on the role of John Cusack, and that of Cameron Diaz, and that of Catherine Keener, and he's so good, that you completely forget that you're actually watching John Malkovich. In this film, Paul Giamatti acts more and less animated, but regardless of whose soul he's wearing, he still always acts like Paul Giamatti.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: I blame the director for the lack of versatility in Giamatti's performance, mostly because we know he's top notch and could've done anything she asked him to do.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The script is disappointing, mostly because the rules of what a soul can and can't do to your personality are never established, so the fun in the concept is completely missed. Also, the characters regularly make choices that go against who they are, and what they know to be true. For example, Paul Giamatti tells the soul extractor that what he's proposing is crazy. And not five minutes later, he's letting him extract his soul. Then, the soul extractor (David Strathairn) confesses that the Russians he works with are dangerous, and not 5 minutes later he gives Paul vital (traceable) information about who they are and how to find them. Even the soul mule (Dina Korzun), who knows first hand how dangerous her bosses are, betrays them without thinking twice, which leads me to believe that maybe they're not that dangerous after all.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/cold-souls/36222/trailers

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Julie & Julia

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Aspiring writer, Julie Powell (Amy Adams), decides to cook her way through all of Julia Child's (Meryl Streep) recipes, and blog about her and Julia's love of great food and great husbands.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, Linda Emond, Helen Carey, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jane Lynch, Joan Juliet Buck, Vanessa Ferlito, Casey Wilson

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. The main characters are charming and highly watchable, but as they repeatedly make boeuf bourguignon, you begin to wonder, "Where's the boeuf?" This story has no meat.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There is a Saturday Night Live sketch in the piece where Dan Aykroyd does a funny send up of Julia Child. It beckons back to a time when both Saturday Night Live and Dan Aykroyd were funny.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It will definitely make you hungry.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Meryl Streep is in it.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Meryl Streep is in it.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Nora Ephron smoothly transitions back and forth visually between the story of Julia Child in the 1950s and that of Julie Powell in 2002, and also smoothly differentiates between the two stories with happy bright lighting in the 50s, contrasted with grittier, darker lighting in present day... Begging the question, why don't we get to live during the happy lighting time?

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Maybe following Julie Powell's neurosis in blog or book form was intriguing, but a movie still needs conflict, and more than anything, that's what is missing from this story of perfect women with perfect husbands who cook perfect little meals making them perfect little housewives.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Don't go on an empty stomach.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/julie-and-julia/26129/trailers

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Paper Heart

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A pretend documentary asking the question, "What is love?" from the point of view of a girl (Charlyne Yi) who doesn't believe in it.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Charlyne Yi, Michael Cera, Jake M. Johnson

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. The concept of figuring out what love is to different people around America is heartening, but as my friend Greg says, "It comes off more like 3 characters in search of a story." To prove his point, let me quote some of the dialogue shared between the filmmaker, Nick (played by Jake M. Johnson) and Charlyne: Nick, "What's the movie going to be about? It has to be about something." Charlyne, "I don't know, I guess we'll just get there, and see what happens." Nick, "Did you prepare anything?" Charlyne, "No." Nick, "Charlyne!!!"

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There are some laughs, but often times it feels like the characters are on the verge of a joke, we think they're setting one up, and then they lose steam, give up, and cut to another scene. It's sort of like a sneeze that won't come out.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, but this review kind of makes me cry, when I pretend I'm Charlyne Yi... Well, let's hope she doesn't read it!

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It won some screenwriting award at Sundance. Which especially blows your mind when you find out that the script was just a five page outline with a few scenes described in detail, and a few sections described like, "Drive across America and see what happens."

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Michael Cera does mumblecore. Still magic. But watching him pretend to fall in love with his real life girlfriend makes you wonder what he sees in her. She's not nearly as charming and quirky as she thinks she is, and she's way too self aware to sell the concept that she's worried about not having the right genes to fall in love-- even with him, one of the nicest, most lovable people to grace his generation. He's even from Canada! Meanwhile, Charlyne's best quality seems to be her ability to create 2-dimensional cardboard cutouts, which she uses to stage re-enactments of the true love stories of the real people she meets. They are cute... But why isn't Michael Cera using all his money and fame to land some of the hotties on Gossip Girl or 90210, like a normal person?

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The style of filming is reminiscent of what happens when you take a kid who came up with a 3 minute YouTube video that for some incomprehensible reason went viral, and you give him a deal to make a really long YouTube video. The problem with YouTube videos is when they go on for more than a couple of minutes, you start to realize that they're not going to have a point. And then you remember that's because they're made by complete amateurs.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Charlyne Yi, a girl of less than average looks and personality, uses every ounce of her energy to resist falling in love with an A-list actor who's crazy about her, even though he's way out of her league. It's really confusing. Which is only intensified by the thought that they're a couple in real life, and this film is pretending to be a documentary. Interestingly enough, the best parts of the film are the truly documentary parts, where they interview real people across America, about how they would define love, how they found it, and how they lost it.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/paper-heart/36299/trailers

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Funny People

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A famous actor (Adam Sandler) is diagnosed with a fatal disease, so he goes back to his stand-up comedy roots and hires an aspiring comedian (Seth Rogen) as a joke writer, but we all know that secretly, he's really hired this assistant to be his only friend.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, Aubrey Plaza, Maude Apatow, Iris Apatow, RZA, Aziz Ansari, Torsten Voges

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! This realistic comedy about a serious subject matter is not as funny or broad as Apatow's usual fare, but it's not meant to be. In fact, if it weren't for all the jokes about male genitalia, this might almost pass for a movie by James L. Brooks.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: A lot more than a movie that some people are calling a "drama" should. And strangely, some of the biggest laughs come from easy listening singer, James Taylor.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Probably not, but Rogen has a pretty funny crying scene at The Palm restaurant. He ruins The Palm.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: If Apatow is truly trying to follow in the footsteps of James L. Brooks-- which I believe he very consciously is-- then Academy Award nominations are definitely in his mind's eye. The only thing standing in his way now is his inner teenager. You know, the one who insists on using every male character to describe all the facets of having a dingaling and every imaginable thing that can be done with it. Audiences like those jokes, but the Academy has a hard time taking them seriously.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Back for seconds, the Apatow sisters, Maude and Iris, once again steal every scene they're in. Everyone else pretty much repeats their usual shtick-- which is a good thing, since we all seem to like it so much. And there's something about Jason Schwatzman in this one that isn't quite so abrasive. You still won't like his character, but it's not as easy as it looks to hate him.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: In the opening scenes, you can tell that Apatow is trying to step up his game and be seen as more than just a comedy guy. But his existing success has put him in a position where the studios can no longer tell him to keep his movies under 2hrs, which is too bad for him, because at 2 1/2 hours, it would have been a better film if someone had forced him to rein it in.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The portrayal of the loneliness of being a rich and famous person is touching and relatable, even to those of us who are not famous. But the extended running time comes from having an indulgent story structure, which tells one story, and just as we think the film is going to wrap up, launches into a whole second story, introducing several important new characters, and going in a direction that is interesting, but not necessary. Had these two stories been intertwined, the film would have been both shorter and stronger.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/funny-people/33221/trailers

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