The Boys Are Back

(Guest Review by Tempany)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When a globe trotting sports reporter (Clive Owen) loses his wife to cancer he is forced to finally become accountable as a father.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: The very handsome and talented Clive Owen, an astoundingly brilliant child actor called Nicholas McAnulty, George MacKay, Laura Fraser and Emma Booth.

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! If you need a good cry and a chance to relive any abandonment issues as a child, this is the flick for you! Much cheaper than therapy and unlike the couch, The Boys Are Back actually leaves you with hope that the world isn’t such a horrible place after all.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: The kid has some excellent one-liners that will most definitely make you grin through your tears. Out of the mouths of babes and all that jazz.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Yes, yes and more yes. If you don’t cry you may just be a sociopath. (BTW, Monique didn't cry.) But the crying is a satisfying weep filled with hope and the promise of a happy ending.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: The Australian Film Industry will no doubt give this a big nod for independent awards and hopefully the rest of the Indie Prizes around the world will follow suit.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Fantastic. The two boys in the film are so utterly convincing as lost and confused kids that you may just forget you’re watching a film. Clive Owen does a great job at keeping things understated and believable and we soon grow to love the whole family.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Scott Hicks, who directed the wonderful Shine, does not disappoint. His picturesque sun drenched Australian landscapes do not distract from the families’ cloudy journey through the grieving process. In a perfect world we could have done without the ghostly visits from the deceased wife but luckily they don’t bug you too much.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Pretty damn incredible. Based on Simon Carr’s memoir, screenwriter Allan Cubitt creates some of the freshest and funniest dialogue in years. Fatherhood gets a thorough examination, warts and all. Although the subject matter of the film is tragic, the story moves along with inspirational jolts the whole way.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/the-boys-are-back/trailer

Back To Top

G-Force 3D

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: After finding out that their covert branch of the FBI is being shut down, a group of special agent guinea pigs must escape the FBI agents who want to exterminate them, while preventing a plot to destroy the world.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Sam Rockwell, Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz, Tracy Morgan, Jon Favreau, Steve Buscemi, Zach Galifianakis, Will Arnett, Bill Nighy, Kelli Garner, Niecy Nash, Justin Mentell, Jack Conley, Gabriel Casseus

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. While the plot is multi-faceted and the guinea pig point of view is original, the cheesy one-liners-- all of which have been used in at least 6 different movies before this-- are enough to snap you right out of the miniature action.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: When the characters aren't spouting out cliches like, "If you mess with the bull, you're gonna get the horns," (in the complete absence of anything resembling a bull, I might add), there are a few opportunities for jokes you haven't heard before, some of which are even funny.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Its efforts at sentimentality are valiant, but they never reach through your thick skin to where your heart is.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Last weekend it won the number one spot at the box office... Well, my friends, after paying to see it in 3D, I understand why. There is a $4 surcharge for 3D, which is a $2 increase since the last time I saw a 3D movie, only a few short months ago, and which shot my $11.50 ticket up to $15.50 in seconds flat. At that rate of inflation, even a Japanese language film about gay lovers committing harakiri could get to number one. And let me tell you something about the 3D. It wasn't worth it.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The voice actors are pretty wonderful. Penelope Cruz and Tracy Morgan are a great team. And I didn't even recognize Nicholas Cage's voice, from the weird affectation he was doing with it.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The action is all pretty easy to follow, which is nice, but there are a few moments, I would've liked to indulge in a little longer. Like when they set off all the fireworks in a fireworks show at once. I've always wondered why they don't do that on the 4th of July. It would be so much cooler, than the slow build up of crappy explosives that lead to the non-spectacular ending that we usually get. Just blow 'em all up at once! That's what I'd suggest.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Aside from the dialogue sucking, there is a fair amount of action, and some interesting allusions to what life must be like for guinea pigs-- or at least the ones that have the brains of a human. There is one plot turn that seems out of place in a similar way that the conclusion of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull seemed like it didn't belong in that movie, but because this is an offbeat animation about guinea pigs that talk and fight crime, I'm more likely to accept that sort of non sequitur here.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/g-force/31271/trailers

Back To Top

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Where did Wolverine come from? How did he get to be the way he is? You will find out, but he won't.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Will.i.am, Lynn Collins, Kevin Durand, Dominic Monaghan, Taylor Kitsch, Daniel Henney, Ryan Reynolds

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. After resisting seeing this movie, I have to say, it's not nearly as bad as you think it's going to be. I'd even go so far as to admit that it's a lot of fun-- so long as you don't require any elements that you've never seen before in a film.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There are several efforts made, but none of them are successful.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: I hope you don't mind fingernails on a chalkboard, because in a movie featuring so many characters with remarkable nails, you're bound to get a lot of them scratching up things... and the flesh is almost easier to take than the metal.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: How great is Weapon XI? Best bad guy ever! Talk about having it all!

Q: How is the Acting?

A: As good of an actor as Hugh Jackman is, I sometimes have a hard time getting past his total thespianism. His posture in the the way he walks, and stands, and glares is so actor-y to me, that I don't always see a tough guy-killer, but rather a sweet, family man, who likes to take on interesting roles. And I love Danny Huston, but the mere fact that he's cast in a role, gives away who the bad guy is going to be. He needs to play some nice guys soon, to bring back that element of surprise.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The directing is fast-paced and move-y. So much so, that it inspired me to make up a word... only to realize that the word already exists, and it's spelled, "movie." But, yeah, I thought the directing was great.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The fights, the superpowers, the special effects, are all there. And the story is absolutely adequate, too. They kind of had it easy though, since we already know that Wolverine doesn't remember his past, from the X-Men movies we've already seen. So the writers could basically do anything, because they have to erase his memory by the end, for continuity, so this story is ultimately irrelevant to the rest of the lore.

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

A: Do not stay for the little scene after the credits. It's not nearly interesting enough to justify sitting through approximately 17 minutes of visual effects credits.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/x-men-origins-wolverine/30722/trailers

Back To Top

Seven Pounds

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: After killing 7 people in a car accident, Ben Thomas (Will Smith), decides to find 7 deserving people whose lives he can save.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper, Elpidia Carrillo, Robinne Lee, Joe Nunes, Bill Smitrovich, Tim Kelleher, Gina Hecht, Judyann Elder, Madison Pettis, Fiona Hale

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! Much like practicing yoga, the process of doing it isn't all that enjoyable, but you feel really good once it's over.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: About as much as yoga does.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Yoga can be very cathartic.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I'm inventing the Eleanor Rigby Award, and giving out the first annual one to this movie because none of the characters in it seem to have any friends. Ahhh, look at all the lonely people. But that's L.A. for ya'. People would rather be totally alone than have to get in their cars and drive anywhere.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The acting is fine, but Will Smith's character lies and sneaks around so much that he starts to come off like a sociopath. Which in turn makes it hard to understand why Rosario Dawson is so into him. Maybe because she doesn't have any friends.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: There are a surprising number of shots that aren't in focus, and I can't think of any artistic reason for that to be the case, so I don't think it was a choice. Also in the beginning of the film the lighting is often too dark or too bright, causing your pupils difficulty adjusting. And in my case, even causing my eyelids to have to close a little bit.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It starts out really slow and confusing (especially if you don't know what it's about), but soon builds to a bittersweet, yet inspiring tale of romance and redemption. Does it have a million holes? Sure it does. But if you go along with the good feelings it imparts, you might not care.

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

A: The score combines melodrama with a lullaby, which rocks you to sleep. Probably not the best choice, since I doubt the filmmakers want the audience sleeping. This is yet another similarity with yoga, because sometimes I find it hard to stay awake when I'm lying in Savasana,  too.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/search/seven%20pounds/trailers

Back To Top