Hanna

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A child (Saoirse Ronan), trained from birth to be an assassin, goes on her first mission to kill her father's (Eric Bana) nemesis (Cate Blanchett). While her skills are superb, the thing that may do her in is her unfamiliarity with modern-day society and all its trinkets... like electricity.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hollander, Jessica Barden, Olivia Williams, Aldo Maland, Jason Flemyng, John MacMillan, Sebastian Hulk, Joel Basman, Vicky Krieps, Mechelle Dockery, Mohamed Majd, Gudrun Ritter, Marin Wuttke

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. From the opening scene which reeks of child abuse to the closing scene which leaves you with very little hope for the future to the middle scenes which lack in logical character motivation, this movie is chock-full of problems. But aside from all that, it really works!

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: An English family that Hanna encounters is quite hilarious. In fact, I would've rather seen a whole movie about them. It would've been called, "Little Miss Sunshine: The English."

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Don't be an animal lover if you don't want to cry. There are several gruesome dead animal shots... But maybe if you had to live off the land, like Hanna does, you would care a little less about the animals, and care a little more about what's for dinner tonight.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: The Chemical Brothers' score is reminiscent of a video game score, which matches both their own style of music and the tone of the scenes in which their score is used.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Saoirse Ronan is a child actor who deserved her Academy Award nomination, and will prove what I'm saying by getting nominated for many more in the years to come.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: As far as I'm concerned, with this piece, Joe Wright cements his reputation as a "look at me" director. On the other hand, his ability to pick music for the score is unmatched.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: What kind of action script has the bad guys find the heroine but then wait around for a few days, to give her time to realize they're there, when they could have just taken her right away? A bad action script. Possibly the same kind of action script where the final moment, which will determine who wins the final battle, hinges on a mishap that is completely accidental, and therefore inactive on the part of both the hero and the villain. I'm thinking somebody needs to freshen up on the basics of screenwriting.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Hanna Trailer

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Unknown

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: After an accident that causes a concussion, a man (Liam Neeson) has to prove that he really is the person he claims to be, without any verifying identification.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones, Aidan Quinn, Bruno Ganz, Frank Langella, Sebastian Koch, Olivier Schneider, Stipe Erceg, Rainer Bock, Mido Hamada, Clint Dyer

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Not enough action. Not enough intrigue. No final "Ah-ha" moment to be felt when all is said and done.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: I think it's funny that the simple act of casting Frank Langella in a role gives away the fact that the character is gonna be a bad-guy, even when there's nothing in the action that would indicate that we should be suspicious of him.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It makes me sad that there are articles in the Hollywood Reporter that are already discussing whether or not there should be a sequel. I'll tell you what, make a great movie first! Something I might want to see the continuation of. Then we can talk about sequels, you greedy bastards.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Most Unconvincing Love Story: Lifetime Achievement Award. It's the worst developed romantic conclusion I can recall in my lifetime, anyway.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: I have a hard time buying Liam Neeson as an American. Maybe because his name is Liam?... Nah, it's that pesky British accent, when he talks.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: This is the closest I've ever come to going to Berlin, and even as someone who loves to travel, I can honestly say that I have no desire to ever go back... Unless, of course, it's because someone is forcing me to go on a date with that hunky Sebastian Koch.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: To plagiarize someone I don't know, who was exiting the theater at the same time as me, "It ain't no Bourne Identity!" Then again, for all I know, he was coming out of Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Unknown Trailer

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State of Play

(Guest Review by Jack)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: After the brutal murder of the assistant/mistress of a junior U.S. Congressman (Ben Affleck), who serves as the chairman of a committee overseeing defense spending– an obvious Blackwater stand in--, buried secrets come tumbling out, inciting a reporter (Russell Crowe) and a political blogger (Rachel McAdams) to begin their quest for the truth.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Viola Davis, Michael Weston, Harry Lennix

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! This is a movie genre that they just aren’t making enough of anymore – adult thrillers. Psychological thrillers are hard to sell in a trailer, because they can't instantly knock your socks off without giving everything away, but ultimately, this is two hours of solid entertainment.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Ben Affleck's attempt at acting might. But that's not special, since the same could be said for any Ben Affleck movie.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Only when you think about what this movie could have been with a real actor instead of Ben Affleck.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Two words as to why it won't: Ben Affleck.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Have I mentioned Ben Affleck? Oh, I have? Then let's move on... Russell Crowe is always good and this is no exception. Rachel McAdams starts out well as the doe-eyed starter reporter, but kind of drops the ball in the one emotional scene she has.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Outside of some casting issues (I know I said we'd move on, but you have to admit, Ben Affleck is in the movie), Kevin MacDonald does a good job at keeping what could have been a tirelessly meandering plot within the confines of a tightly knit thriller.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Based on a UK miniseries, it wants to be today’s All the President’s Men. But because it is not a true story, it starts out at a disadvantage. The entire movie takes place over maybe three days, not the multiple-months of Watergate, so the investigation is not quite as buried at ATPM, but there are a few twists and turns that should keep you guessing ‘til the end. And the basic “Blackwater” conspiracy is eerily plausible. Also keep an eye out for a great scene in a parking garage.

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

A: An interesting thru-line concerns the state of newspapers in this country. The digital age has not been kind to them, but you have to admit that there is something about seeing a newspaper headline that makes an event more real than seeing a computer browser headline. Maybe that is my age talking (and the fact that I am one of the dwindling numbers of daily newspaper readers), but I think that the makers of State of Play are as curious as I am to see what investigative journalism looks like in 10 years. I do not think it will be the same if it is exclusively online…

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/state-of-play/27010/video/state-of-play-trailer-no-1/2372618

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