The Big Year

Q: What’s the movie about?

A:  Three guys compete in the Big Year competition, which consists of attempting to look at the largest variety of birds between January 1st and December 31st of any year.  You don't have to take pictures or have any kind of proof to win, you just have to say you saw them.  Very un-American.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A:  Jack Black, Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, Rachida Jones, Rosamund Pike, Diane Weist, Brian Dennehy, Joel McHale, Kevin Pollak, JoBeth Williams, Anjelica Houston, Jim Parsons, Paul Campbell, Anthony Anderson, Tim Blake Nelson, Cindy Busby, Steven Weber, Andrew Wilson

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A:  Stop!  This movie wrongly assumes that anyone cares about birds, or watching them.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A:  Well, Owen Wilson's nose does still look like a phallic symbol.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A:  I had a vulnerable moment around a baby's name, and that's how I remembered that I needed to stop by the store on the way home and pick up some feminine hygiene products.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A:  I remember reading that this story was set up at a studio and thinking, "Why?  How could that possibly be interesting?"  Then I read that Steve Martin and Jack Black and Owen Wilson were in it, and I thought, "There must be something I don't know about it that makes it interesting."  And then I read that it was based on a book, so I imagined that there had to be something interesting about the book that made them want to turn it into a movie...  Well after all that, I'd like to give myself the "I Was Right" Award. And that's why it's important to always go with your first instinct.

Q: How is the Acting?

A:  Nothing wrong with it... except that these people thought this film was a good use of their talents.

Q: How is the Directing?

A:  Really, David Frankel?  You're gonna go from The Devil Wears Prada and Marley & Me to a movie about people who ruin everything in their lives so they can run around looking at birds?  I have nothing more to say on the matter.

Q: How is the story/script?

A:  It's naively hopeful to think that a competition about looking at bird varietals across America could be relatable to anyone who isn't already a birder, so when these guys risk their relationships and jobs over it, they look pretty bird-brained-- and not in a funny way, just in an idiot way.  What I'm saying is that the stakes are terrible.  And normally before making a movie, producers look into the size of the built-in audience, but come on now, how many people in the world really care about birds that aren't marinated in a balsamic reduction? 

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

A:  Somebody please remind me not to see the movie formerly known as Everybody Loves Whales.   My gut instinct was the same when I read about that movie getting set up at a studio as when I read about this one.  I've seen the trailer for it now, too (currently -- and forgettably -- entitled Big Miracle), and I have a strong feeling that it's going to have exactly these same problems as Big Year, because  everybody doesn't love whales, either!

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: The Big Year Trailer

Back To Top

Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When a man's (Steve Carell) wife (Julianne Moore) asks for a divorce, he goes to a bar where he meets a womanizer (Ryan Gosling), who teaches him to get his manhood back.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Analeigh Tipton, Jonah Bobo, Joey King, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Spacey, John Carroll Lynch, Beth Littleford, Liza Lapira, Josh Groban

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! It's sweet and romantic, and Steve Carell will charm the pants off you -- quite literally if you're a woman who frequents that one bar he goes to.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Sure, there are some jokes, but it's also funny to think that Ryan Gosling's pickup lines could work on anyone, no less everyone. Film's Message #1: Women love to have one night stands with complete tools.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: What's depressing is Film's Message #2: You only have one true soul mate in life. Don't worry, if you lose that person, fate will eventually bring you back together. But if it doesn't, because you live in the real world and not fantasy land, you can always kill yourself, because what are you living for anyway, now that you will never love again? (Can you tell that I hate the theory of "The One," or am I being too subtle?)

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: From the opening shot on a pair of shoes that I absolutely must have, to the most beautiful men's wear line I have ever seen, this film absolutely must win a costume design award. More likely though, it won't be nominated, because it's not a period piece, and most voters are too dense to recognize that copying old designs from pictures of the past is way easier than creating a beautiful and original style within modern men's wear.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: While Steve Carell and Julianne Moore find the line between heightened reality and comic timing pitch perfectly, Ryan Gosling has some challenging character and dialogue improbabilities to overcome. Meanwhile, Emma Stone mugs a lot more than I would expect from an actress of her caliber, making this her first performance that I haven't enjoyed (not counting her cameo in Friends with Benefits, which exposed a similar problem). And Analeigh Tipton, in the role of the babysitter, has a nice awkward quality, but to quote the teenage girls I encountered in the bathroom, "Her acting is really weird."

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The vibrant color scheme is pleasant, but my problem with the directing is that I could tell it was shot in L.A., and the amount of coincidences in the story just isn't realistic in a city that big. They never show any landmarks or mention what city it is, so maybe they were hoping it would look like some non-descript small town where everyone has a plausible chance of running into each other all the time, and there's only one bar that anyone ever goes to, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who recognized the Century City shopping mall, or the smog covered Santa Monica Mountains... I'm just sayin', this is what Canada is for!

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Within the world of being a romantic comedy, it feels original because it revolves around a family, rather than young, unattached star-crossed lovers falling in love for the first time. But the coincidences get a little out of control. And if Ryan Gosling's character does exist, he's been cast on the Jersey Shore, and he's not falling in love ever -- not in that faithful way, anyhow.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Crazy, Stupid, Love. Trailer

Back To Top

Beautiful Boy

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: An estranged couple (Monica Bello & Michael Sheen) find out that their son (Kyle Gallner) has just opened fire on his classmates and then killed himself, and they have no idea how to deal with this information.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Maria Bello, Michael Sheen, Kyle Gallner, Alan Tudyk, Moon Bloodgood, Meat Loaf Aday, Deidrie Henry, Austin Nichols, Cody Wai-Ho Lee

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. After nobody saw either Rabbit Hole or American Gun, I guess these filmmakers took it as a sign that audiences want more movies about school killers and the loss of a child. Despite it being a completely misguided commercial effort, the movie is still pretty gripping-- in an independent way.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Only if you're demented.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Possibly the whole time.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I'm sure it will be up for all kinds of Spirit Awards, it's just the right mix of quality actors, low budget, and depressing.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: At the Q & A, Michael Sheen said that working with Maria Bello was, "Literally the best experience I've ever had working with another actor." Which is sweet to her, but kind of an insult to all the other brilliant talents he's worked with. Then again, I've seen a lot of movies with both of them, and I can't think of any time either of them was less than spectacular, so maybe they should just get married.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Listening to Shawn Ku describe his technique was more inspiring than watching it. But listening to the actors discuss how the technique opened them up to be in the moment got me thinking that maybe I should try it on my next film!

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Don't expect any answers as to why someone would shoot up a school, because we'll never know, so there's no point in speculating. What you get instead is a love story about how misery loves company, especially when there's no one else in the world who can relate to the kind of pain and confusion you're in after your kid becomes a monster... one who's never coming back to tell you if his becoming a monster was your fault.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Beautiful Boy Trailer

Back To Top

Potiche

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: An unappreciated trophy housewife (Catherine Deneuve), in the 1970s, has an opportunity to take over her husband’s company, and manages to turn the business around in three weeks, leading to her own and other women’s self-empowerment.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Catherine Deneuve, Gerard Depardieu, Fabrice Luchini, Karin Viard, Judith Godreche, Jeremie Renier

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. It’s French-style camp, but the humor doesn’t land.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Deneuve's attitude about her husband cheating is kind of charming.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: The photographs of how beautiful both Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu were in their youth, should make anyone on the wrong side of thirty-five cry— because whether we want it or not, this is the direction we’re all headed in.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Most Happily Dysfunctional Marriage ever portrayed on screen.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Sorry, I can’t focus on acting when there’s too much collagen in the lips. Is she pouting? Is she exasperated? Is that a smile? No I think it's a pout. But does she mean to pout? Or is it simply the only expression her mouth is capable of?... Oh, who cares.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: There is a ton of blurriness, especially in the first ten minutes. In some ways it helps to make the film feel old— as if the film had been left in someone’s wine cellar since the 1970s. In other ways, the blurriness helps the director seem like he needs to find a cinematographer who knows how to pull focus.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The story, relationships, and character motivations make virtually no logical sense, but Catherine Deneuve’s character is quite fun, and possibly the only reason to see this movie.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Potiche Trailer

Back To Top

Blue Valentine

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The two halves of a married couple (Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams) reminisce about how great their relationship used to be, as it quietly falls apart.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, John Doman, Ben Shenkman, Faith Wladyka, Jen Jones

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. If you've ever been in a marriage, you probably already know how this one goes. And if you haven't ever been in a marriage, it's probably because you think this is how it will go.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: They go to a motel for a sexy weekend and book the "Future Room," which is about the most depressingly funny place to try to make romance that I've ever seen.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: The great thing about not being in a marriage is that you don't have to cry about how lonely it's making you feel. Hey, I'm not the one writing these movies. I'm just picking up what they're dishing out!

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Michelle Williams is up for an Independent Spirit Awards, but Ryan Gosling is the one who would've had a chance of winning.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The performances are the main reason to see this film. Both Gosling and Williams show complexity and depth as they display their youthful joie-de-vivre in the scenes when they first meet and fall in love, and contrast that with their tired, worn-down married sides, in all the rest.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: It almost looks like they shot on film and then tried to make it look like poor quality video. That seems a little moronic to me, but the only other possibility is that they shot on video and then used special effects to make the "print" look scratched. Which, I'm sorry, is equally moronic.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The story somehow manages to hold your attention despite the nagging feeling that it won't ever amount to anything more than one random couple's rise and fall from love. Which it doesn't.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

Blue Valentine Trailer

Back To Top

Barney's Version

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Based on a book by Mordecai Richler, Barney's Version is the story of some guy named Barney (Paul Giamatti), as he partakes in life, loves, and possibly the murder of his best friend. It's a character piece.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Dustin Hoffman, Scott Speedman, Minnie Driver, Bruce Greenwood, Rachelle Lefevre, Saul Rubinek, Mark Addy, Jake Hoffman, Anna Hopkins, Macha Grenon

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. The first two hours are very compelling, even though the final extraneous 20 minutes, meanders around until it became clear that the rest of the movie isn't really about anything either.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Paul Giamatti plays his usual slightly lovable curmudgeon, so there are a fair number of laughs from that, but my favorite humor comes simply from the names of the places. You see, he works at Totally Unnecessary Productions, and drinks at Grumpy's bar. And you even believe these locations are real, because the movie takes place in Canada... Oh, those silly Canadians!

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: The extraneous 20 minutes at the end are pretty sad, but I would've rather just cut that part altogether. Why? Because it's extraneous.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It's currently in a one week Oscar qualifying release in Los Angeles, so that it can be considered for Academy Awards even though it's really coming out in a month, after it's too late to be considered for 2010. So obviously they think they have something.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Dustin Hoffman is fantabulous. His son, Jake, while much better looking than his father, seems poised to follow in the footsteps of John Ritter's and Tom Hanks' sons, by not even deserving to carry the same last name as a man whose shoes he will never come close to filling. Minnie Driver plays the most annoying character in the world, and yet, this may be the most attractive she's ever looked on screen. (Kristen Bell may want to take some pointers from her.) And Rosamund Pike, when her hair is dyed brown, looks indisputably half-Asian.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Most of the time it is fast-paced and engaging, and then suddenly, in just one or two places, it slips into photographic montages that don't match the style of the rest, and therefore come off like fixes to parts of the film that probably weren't working.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: If you've been reading along with me, you already know my feelings about why biopics rarely work. So what kind of person makes a biopic about a made-up person who's not even real or famous?

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OBd5jPBzOI

Back To Top

Eat Pray Love

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Book writer, Elizabeth Gilbert's (Julia Roberts), memoirs about the time when her life and marriage fell apart, and she lost all of her money, but somehow had enough left over to take a year off so she could travel to Italy to eat, to India to get religion, and to Bali to do-- God knows what her plan was there, but luckily she fell in love, so that her book could have a title that comes full circle.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Viola Davis, Javier Bardem, Billy Crudup, Richard Jenkins, Mike O'Malley, Hadi Subiyanto, Tuva Novotny, Luca Argentero, Giuseppe Gandini, Christine Hakim, Anakia Lapae

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Everything about the book that works works better in the book.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There's a funny scene where Julia Roberts and her Swedish friend realize that they've eaten so much in Italy, and put on so much weight, that they can no longer zip up their pants. The funniest part about the scene is how skinny they both are.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Boy does this film have a lot of sentimentality in it.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Let me smile in my liver on it and get back to you.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Julia Roberts is still a movie star who lights up the screen without even trying. Javier Bardem and James Franco are duly sexy in their respective love interest roles. But Richard Jenkins, as the unlikely friend who's unlikely to be in an ashram, is totally miscast. For one thing, he doesn't look enough like an all-American Texan good-ol' boy, by which I mean he's not fat. And more importantly, he looks like a Democrat.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: It's hard to go wrong in such colorful places as Italy, India and Bali, so it looks beautiful, but I wish the meditations had been more visually inventive... Although I admit that based on the description in the book which describes the meditations as indescribable, that was a losing battle from the moment the director signed up for this job.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Any adaptation is a challenge because there are things that work on the page which don't translate well to the screen, and this adaptation is no exception to the rule proven by my personal, made-up statistic that an average of 1 out of 18 books succeeds as a movie. This adaptation, along with the other 17 out of 18, fails on several levels. Things that are described in the book come off staged and monolgue-y when they're said out loud as dialogue. Also most of the angst that works as a starting point for Liz Gilbert's inspiring transformation from a depressed mess to a well-balanced woman with an undeniable joie de vivre is invisible on the screen. In the book, being inside her head keeps the audience attuned to her ever changing emotional level. But it would be ridiculous to hear her every thought throughout the movie-- hey, I just got a good idea for a Will Ferrell comedy!

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/eat-pray-love/27799/trailers

Back To Top

Cyrus

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A desperate man (John C. Reilly) meets the woman of his dreams (Marisa Tomei) and finds out that she has a grown son (Jonah Hill) who doesn't want to share her.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener, Matt Walsh

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! It's small, intimate, short, and not particularly complex, but winning in all its simplicity.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Be warned, this is more of a dramedy than a comedy. This grouping of highly talented comedic actors get to show off their dramatic acting chops in between the rare but strong zingers.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: I went in with definite opinions about who a parent should favor between their lover and their child in step-relationships, and this movie got me questioning what the right balance is. So I do feel a little sad about having my opinions shaken... But then again, the mother-son relationship seen here is extremely unusual, and not in a good way.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Definitely the Independent Spirit Awards. I would wager on 3 acting noms, a best screenplay, best feature, and possibly even a directing nomination.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Every one of the actors rises above expectation in this piece. And some of them started out pretty high in the expectations department, to begin with.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Jay and Mark Duplass have always been regarded as innovative directors in the indy scene, so it's interesting to see that they're still reinventing their style with little quirks like showing the actors not talking as we hear them talk. While the technique works surprisingly well, it still looks to me like an editing choice born out of necessity when they realized that they didn't have the footage they needed to tell the story they'd hoped for.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: There is a raw, lack of subtlety in their dialogue that is at once refreshing and totally unrealistic... Unless you were to enter an alternate universe where everyone completely forgot how to silence the rude and off-putting parts of their inner monologue. Like France.

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

A: Despite the green light, the movie has a number of notable flaws. First, I didn't see the reason for the great love that these two people supposedly share, outside of the fact that they're both weird and desperate. And why, after 7 years, is the main character still so co-dependent with his ex-wife, that he confides everything in her, and she tries to set him up with new women?

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/cyrus/10023901/trailers

Back To Top

Why Did I Get Married Too?

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: This dramedy recruits Tyler Perry's same old crew of happily married couples, to go on their annual retreat together, where they can once again discover how messed up their relationships are. And guess what? This time, they have a whole new set of problems.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Tasha Smith, Sharon Leal, Michael Jai White, Malik Yoba, Richard T. Jones, Lamman Rucker, Louis Gossett Jr., Cicely Tyson

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! I'm talking to you white people. First of all, because the Black people have already seen it. But mostly because you people probably haven't ever seen a Tyler Perry film, and it's time you found out what all the hype is about. Yes, I said, "You people."

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Hype point number 1: Tyler Perry is funny.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Hype point number 2: Tyler Perry is insightful.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Hype point number 3: There's a reason Tyler Perry has almost as much money and power as Oprah.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: If this weren't seen as a "Black movie," Janet Jackson would be up for an Academy Award. Yes, I just played the race card, without even being Black. (It was fun, by the way) But what is especially weird about my above comment, is that at the beginning of this movie I hated Jackson's performance so much, I was pretty sure I was going to rip her shreds, right here, in this section. To my surprise, later in the movie, I realized that her terrible acting was a character choice.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Tyler Perry deserves to have all the TV shows, movie deals, studios, and creative control that he gets.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It is overtly clear that Tyler Perry comes from a theater background, as all of his self contained talking scenes are strung together in a play-like structure. But it's also clear that he is a good theater writer, as his conversations about overdone things, like what makes up a good relationship or marriage, still manage to cover new points of view. Or at least hold your interest as if you were sitting around talking and laughing with your own best friends.

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

A: I don't want you to get your hopes up too high, the movie's not perfect. The structure meanders and it sometimes feels too long. I just want you to see it because I think you may be underestimating Tyler Perry, and his seemingly effortless ability to get across a good, clean message about good, clean people.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/tyler-perrys-why-did-i-get-married-too/37010/trailers

Back To Top

The Last Song

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A rebellious teen (Miley Cyrus) is forced to spend the summer at the beach with her dad (Greg Kinnear), where she meets a boy (Liam Hemsworth) and falls in love. Whoa, tough life.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Bobby Coleman, Liam Hemsworth, Hallock Beals, Kelly Preston, Nick Lashaway, Carly Chaikin, Kate Vernon, Melissa Ordway

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Stop! This ain't no Hannah Montana. And whatever you may think about the double-life-living Disney character, at least her stories don't make you regret having wasted your time watching them.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Miley's turn as a serious actress might.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: I want to say no, but for saps like me, there is a ray of light that could move you to the point of having to be embarrassed about it. (Sometimes I wonder if I have any standards at all...)

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: If Miley Cyrus wants to win awards, I'm gonna highly recommend that she stick with Hannah Montana, and continue aiming for Kid's Choice.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: When I was a teenager I believed deeply in love at first sight. But this movie helped me realize that it's a concept that can only exist when all parties involved are drop dead gorgeous, since naturally, "first sight" implies that nobody cares about the other's personality. I wasn't particularly sold on Liam Hemsworth's acting, but I have to give him credit for trying to sell the idea that he could instantly be attracted to Miley, despite the fact that she's acting like a rude, angry, little female dog. Unfortunately for her, this kind of selfish, bitter character makes her look both ugly and dumb. Bring back the blond wig and the fake teeth!

Q: How is the Directing?

A: My first directing teacher once said, "Directors are judged on their taste in material." So while Julie Anne Robinson's directing is perfectly passable, I'm still giving her an F for the day.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The drama manages to be both superficial and contrived. Shame on you Nicholas Sparks, for not taking your name off this unoriginal story, which was obviously written by a ghost apprentice, who was trying unsuccessfully to imitate your work in Dear John.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-last-song/37683/trailers

Back To Top

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Can an estranged Manhattan couple (Hugh Grant & Sarah Jessica Parker), who have been separated for 3 months, survive the Wyoming countryside together, when they are forced to hide out, as part of the witness protection program?

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen, Elisabeth Moss, Jesse Liebman, Kim Shaw, David Call, Wilford Brimley, Michael Kelley, Gracie Bea Lawrence

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Stop! What is it about movies that have question marks in the title?

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Did you hear about the one where the city dwellers have to go to the country and are fish out of water amongst gun-toting, rodeo-riding, God-fearing simple folk? Hahahahahaha! Just Kidding.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Does it make you sad when you know what's going to happen in a movie before you hear about it?

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Did you hear about the Razzies?

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Did you hear about Sarah Jessica Parker's career choices? Don't you hope she's less annoying in the Sex and the City sequel?

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Did this director hear some kind of dirty little secret about Hugh Grant that he holds over him when he wants to force him out of retirement, so that he can have a big star in his movie? Does Hugh Grant hate his job as much as he seems to?

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Did you hear about how people think romantic comedies are the basest type of Hollywood dreck? Does the writer understand that this is the kind of cleverlessness that makes people think that? Did you hear about how upsetting it is to me, and other lovers of the genre, to see it done without passion or originality, only reinforcing its bad reputation to nay-sayers?

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/did-you-hear-about-the-morgans/35588/trailers

Back To Top

It's Complicated

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: 10 years after her husband leaves her for a younger woman, Jane (Meryl Streep) finds herself having an affair with her ex-husband (Alec Baldwin), behind his new young wife's back.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, John Krasinski, Lake Bell, Zoe Kazdan, Hunter Parrish, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Mary Kay Place, Rita Wilson, Alexandra Wentworth, Emjay Anthony

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. While most good romantic comedies leave you a feeling like you want to fall giddy in love, this one instead, leaves you feeling like you want to fall giddy into bed with someone, so you can feel giddy the next day about how you fell giddy into debauchery.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There are some funny set pieces having to do with old people smoking pot, old people being naked, and old people getting caught being bad. Yeah, old people are pretty funny when they do young people stuff.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you're from a family of divorce, you may be as moved as I was to see how loving it can feel to have all the scattered pieces of your original brood, back together around the lunch table, like it was old times.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Meryl Streep is competing against herself for the Golden Globe. Unfortunately for this gourmet chef, the other one is probably going to win.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Let's skip over the people we already know are great, and get right to the fact that the 3 children they supposedly conceived together are terrible. From the first frame to the last, every reaction they have is over the top and seems fake-- like they were plucked right out of their beginning acting classes to do this film. Only Hunter Parrish gets a pass, for being so cute, and reminding me of a young Ethan Hawke (minus the acting skills-- don't want to offend Ethan).

Q: How is the Directing?

A: As guest reviewer, Russ, pointed out to me, Nancy Meyers' directing is like an add for Williams-Sonoma. Although Meryl Streep has a beautiful and large kitchen, she dreams of having (--and is finally hoping to get in this movie--) a beautiful and large kitchen. As Russ put it, "It's like rich people's problems." I imagine it's easier to shoot a family of five (plus an ex-husband) in a beautiful and large kitchen. I imagine that's why she didn't choose to shoot the multiple kitchen scenes in an ugly and small kitchen. But I can't imagine how the renovations she's making on her house will do anything besides give her a smaller backyard.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Nancy Meyers clearly goes to a lot of trouble to make her two main characters somewhat likeable in the midst of their despicable act of cheating. I also respect and admire that she's telling original stories about older women in modern times. I'm learning so much about what is to come for me, although by the time I'm that old, modern times will be different than they are now, so I may need to learn entirely new lessons at that point. I also want to applaud her for several moments where the characters' reactions to a situation are not what you'd expect. The one thing I feel dissatisfied by, however, is why does Steve Martin's character have to be so damn dull? It certainly doesn't make you root for him to win the girl.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/its-complicated/34200/trailers

Back To Top

He's Just Not That Into You

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Dating sucks, and the long term relationships that it leads to are even worse.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Ginnifer Goodwin, Justin Long, Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson, Kevin Connolly, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Connelly, Busy Philipps, Drew Barrymore, Sasha Alexander, Brooke Bloom, Hedy Burress, Wilson Cruz, Kris Kristofferson

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. This movie is cute in exactly the way you'd expect it to be, but it's not particularly romantic. Probably because it attempts to uncover the realities of dating, rather than rehash the usual romantic movie fantasies that we all know and love, which ultimately, are the culprits in creating our misguided dreams of fairy-tale romance. You know, the ones that lead us to being constantly disappointed in real life.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It's got enough laughs to not be a disgrace to its genre, like some of the movies that call themselves romantic-"Comedies."

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It could be a bit of an embarrassment to its genre, after all. It is supposed to be a "Romantic"-comedy.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Best Film based on a book that's based on an episode of a TV show. The competition was nobody.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Of the entire ensemble, nobody really stands out or stretches outside of their comfort zone. But Ginnifer Goodwin, the least famous of the bunch, is actually the star of the film both in screen time and in her ability to be complex, quirky, and interesting.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Interchangeable, inoffensive and unremarkable. The simple shots and standard coverage will play very well on the small screen. Which is a very good thing, since this film will likely do most of its business on DVD.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Ensemble movies are tough, but the writers do succeed at keeping all the stories compelling and interconnected-- in some cases a little too conveniently. The tone is consistently light-hearted, even when certain people's words (the men's) are harsh. And even some of the saddest moments get laughs. But when you're trying to expose the realities of dating, happy endings are both hard to come by and hard to buy.

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

A: If they were going to have an all white cast, why did they place the movie in Baltimore, Maryland, which is 80% Black? They really could have told this story anywhere... Or cast a few Black people. Take your pick.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/hes-just-not-that-into-you/29704/trailers

Back To Top

The Secret of the Grain

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: In this French indy, a French-Arab man (Habib Boufares) gets laid off after 35 years of work on the docks, and decides to try to open a restaurant on a boat, in the hopes of leaving something behind for his family.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Habib Boufares, Hafsia Herzi, Farida Benkhetache, Abdelhamid Aktouche, Bouraouia Marzouk, Alice Houri, Leila D'Issernio, Abelkader Djeloulli, Olivier Loustau, Sabrina Ouazani, Mohamed Benabdeslem, Bruno Lochet, Cyril Favre, Sami Zitouni, Hatika Karaoui, Henri Cohen, Jeanne Corporon, Viloaine de Carne

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. This film is an intimate and accurate portrait of what family life looks like for a French family of Arab descent. Culturally, the way Arabs fit into French society is not dissimilar from the way Black people fit into American society.  So much like a Black-American film, this story is filled with subtle depictions of racism, as well as cultural inside jokes and lingo. It's unfortunate that it takes over half the film before anything starts happening story wise in this 2 1/2 hour long piece, because when the drama gets going, in the final hour, it's gut-wrenching and painfully suspenseful.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: If you've never been privy to the French child rearing style-- which consists primarily of publicly humiliating your child with yelling and insults, until he is shamed into doing as you please-- then you will get an insightful glimpse into this humorous, yet deeply disturbing form of love.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If the child rearing style doesn't make you laugh, because you recognize it for what it really is-- a not-so-subtly veiled form of child abuse-- then it could also make you cry. But joking aside, the film does grow to be pretty sad, and I imagine it gets even sadder, were we to see what happens after the screen fades to black.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It has won all but 2 of the 19 Awards it's been nominated for, including several Cesars (the French Academy Awards), and several from the Venice Film Festival. Currently, it's in competition for its 20th nomination for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The acting is reason alone to go see this film (and for the record, I don't generally believe in seeing films just because the acting is good). There is not a remotely false moment to be found, as the actors argue, talk over each other, and have emotional meltdowns for hours at a time. Amazing. Who are these people?

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Whether at a large family gathering or the extravagant party for 100 people that goes on for the last hour of the film, the director, Abdellatif Kechiche, manages to capture every little moment with quick cuts and a hand held verity cam that puts both Rachel Getting Married and The Hills to shame.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Once again, this is the problem. While the dialogue is so true it almost takes your breath away, the plot points (which do ultimately lead to something compelling), come out more slowly than a guy writing his memoir by blinking his left eye. (If you don't get that obvious reference to French film, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, then you have not seen one of my most highly recommended movies of 2007, and you should rent it.)

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY1xuBEpa80

Back To Top

Nothing Like the Holidays

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Another ensemble holiday movie about the drama that ensues when families get together for Christmas. Only this time, the family is Puerto Rican!

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Alfred Molina, Elizabeth Pena, John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, Freddy Rodriguez, Vanessa Ferlito, Jay Hernandez, Luis Guzman, Melonie Diaz, Ramses Jimenez

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. If you've ever been home for the holidays, this movie will feel familiar to you. It will also feel familiar if you've ever seen The Family Stone, This Christmas, or Home for the Holidays. Hey, it's nothing new, but it will satisfy your annual craving for holiday-themed films about a family that's almost as messed up as yours.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It will certainly try.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Also an A for effort.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Well, it's got the Latin thing going for it, which qualifies it for some awards that films of other ethnicities might not be in the running for. But if you're into Latin hotties, you're probably just gonna want to give it the Best Eye Candy Award.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Surprisingly, Alfred Molina is not up to his usual amazingness. His acting is fine, but his accent goes from White to Scarface and everything in between, depending on the scene. Elizabeth Pena, playing his wife, does the cooking, the cleaning, and the good acting in this one.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Clearly the work of someone looking to have an illustrious career in TV. Hey, TV has gotten very fancy these days.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It does a great job of capturing that eerie way in which being around family brings your emotions from the happiest highs to the angriest lows and back in the most unpredictable and instantaneous ways. But every time the story tries to deal with the son who has just returned traumatized from Iraq, the dialogue becomes trite, corny and cliche, like, "Why'd it have to be me and not him?"  While I'm sure that survivors guilt is a common pain that veterans suffer, there's something about it that just seems to come off cheesy in films about Iraq vets. (Which is not to take credit away from Stop Loss, which is the only film that I've seen capture those feelings well, so far.)

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

A: My friend left the theater wishing she was Puerto Rican, so they must've done something right!

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/nothing-like-the-holidays/33265/trailers

Back To Top