The Fighter

(Guest Review by Valerie)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Based on a true story, The Fighter is not as much about boxing as it is about the journey and struggles of Micky Ward, and his brother, Dicky Ecklund, as boxers, sons, brothers, and town heroes.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Mickey O’Keefe,
Jack McGee, Jenna Lamia, Frank Renzulli

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! Even if, like me, your first thought is, “Not another boxing movie,” you do not want to miss this one. While there are some graphic fight scenes, it is really about family, and if you have one, or even just a group of friends that are like one, you will relate to this story.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Mostly as a coping mechanism.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you’re a sucker for personal transformations that DON’T involve beauty
makeovers, you have a shot at some tears.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: You mean, other than “Most Likely to Harm the Lowell, MA Tourist Industry, While Doing Wonders for its Crack Industry?” Actually, it's already up for four well-deserved SAG awards, as well as some Golden Globes, and it will likely be nominated for some Oscars, too.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Consistently great. They thoroughly convinced me never to go to Lowell, MA, if I'm determined to avoid the types of people these performances are advertising. I don't mean to sound like a snob, but even the ones with decent personalities have no sense of style!

Q: How is the Directing?

A: David O. Russell does a great job of making you feel totally anxious and claustrophobic whenever the family is in the shot. It rang pretty realistic to me. After all, I may or may not be related to Monique.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Surprisingly nuanced, given that it’s just “another boxing movie.” The moments
of epiphany and transformation could have easily been very trite, but are instead kept fresh with writing that truly captures the duality of situations.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: The Fighter Trailer

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The Karate Kid

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When an American boy (Jaden Smith) moves to China with his mother (Taraji P. Henson), he is bullied by the local boys, so he learns Kung Fu from a broken master (Jackie Chan).

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P. Henson, Wenwen Han, Zhenwei Wang, Rongguang Yu, Shijia Lu

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! I'm sorry Ralph Macchio, but there is truly no longer any reason to ever watch the original again. Though it's the same story, everything in this new one is of a higher quality.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Not too much, but Jackie Chan's expression when he sees what Jaden Smith's character decides to do for his final fight makes up for all the laughter that was lacking throughout the rest.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: There's a scene that's supposed to, but that was the one part where I found myself thinking about other things, like what I'm gonna eat for lunch tomorrow. Maybe I should've gone to the grocery store instead of the movies.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Best Fight on MTV. You know how bad guys in movies often say things like, "I'm gonna beat you up with that guy's fist!"?... Well, in this movie, Jackie Chan actually does that.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Jaden Smith is such a ham! He regularly mugs too much for the camera, but you forgive him because he's just so adorable when he does.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Going to China for this remake was such a good idea. The beautiful scenery and landmarks and culture make you wonder how there ever could have been a version of this film that took place in America. We are taken to the Great Wall and the Forbidden City and the Dragon Fountain, where we get to see the mountainous scenery on the way. And I learned a few new ways to use a crane shot in the process.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: There is not one line of corny dialogue in this remake. Despite repeating the beats of the original, everything feels real, natural and surprisingly new. I was also impressed with how well defined Jaden Smith's character is. He is goofy and cocky around people he likes, but shy and scared around people he doesn't. His blind courage is well set up in the first fight (or should I say "beating"), so it's believable that he would make bold choices by the end.

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

A: As a consolation to Ralph Macchio, we still love The Outsiders and My Cousin Vinnie.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-karate-kid/35823/trailers

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Invictus

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The true story of how President Nelson Mandela of South Africa used the national rugby team to unite whites and blacks after the emotional scars that were left by Apartheid.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng, Matt Stern, Julian Lewis Jones, Adojoa Andoh, Marguerite Wheatley, Leleti Khumalo, Patrick Lyster, Penny Downie

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! If any of the words in this script were actually spoken, Nelson Mandela was easily the smartest, most honorable, strongest, most peaceful, most spiritual, inspiring man of unwavering integrity who ever lived. And we all need to be led by a good example more frequently.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: I didn't see any actual attempts at humor, but there is some unadulterated cuteness near the end that might get you giggling.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It's an inspiration... I only wish Obama and Fox news would sit down and watch it together.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Neither Clint Eastwood, nor his films, seem to be able to avert them.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: When you're dealing with actors like Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman the only thing you're gonna have to worry about is whether or not their South African accents are convincing. They were to me (though a native may beg to differ), but Damon seemed to always be slightly paranoid about the authenticity of his, for some reason.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: I will say this, I left the theater wanting to form a women's rugby league. Luckily, when I went outside, there was a guy in front of the doors waiting to hand me a flyer about a women's rugby league that already exists, so that should save me the trouble of having to start one up. P.S. If I stop supplying you with reviews any time soon, it's because I broke my fingers, arms, or neck indulging in my newfound passion pastime.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: I must've liked it, because I walked out of the theater smiling so wide that I was hit on by a plethora of male suitors, each of whom had obviously assumed that my smile was meant for them. Oh, why am I so hard on myself? It might have had nothing to do with the complex talents of the screenwriter. It might have simply been because I looked really hot.

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

A: As usual, Clint's movie is over 2 hours and therefore too long. The parts that dragged were easily identifiable as occuring during the World Cup section. The crowds, the build up, the games, we get it after two seconds, we don't need 20 minutes of it.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/invictus/30532/trailers

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The Blind Side

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The true story of how offensive tackle, Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) was plucked out of the projects and invited to live with a well-to-do family, and go to a fancy private high school, where he learned that he was a naturally gifted football player.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Jae Head, Lily Collins, Ray McKinnon, Kathy Bates, Kim Dickens, Tom Nowicki, Adriane Lenox, Melody Weintraub

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! When sports movies aren't focused on the sport, but rather on the growth of the characters, they can be as heart-warming as a baby hugging a puppy. This one is, and somehow I came away with some interesting knowledge about football, too.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Quite a bit actually, especially at the visual of the giant-sized Michael being led around by his new little brother and best friend, who is hilariously cast with the smallest possible kid they could find for the part.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Several times.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: They don't give awards to feel good movies.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: At some point, I actually forgot I was watching Sandra Bullock. Tim McGraw plays possibly the most perfect (read non-existent) husband I have ever seen-- even for the fictional world. And Jae Head, as SJ, is the Jonathan Lipnicki of the new millenium (i.e. weirdly cute kid with all the good lines in a movie about sports).

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The football action is sometimes difficult to follow, but drama-wise even the slightest of important subtle expressions to cross a person's face is captured to convey everything the character is thinking. Also there are a lot of interesting shots using reflections on glass and in mirrors, which manage to be beautiful, without distracting from the story or the emotion.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Oh my God, white people are awesome! They're so nice and pretty and perfect and Christian that it's sometimes a little hard to believe. Aside from that little suspension of disbelief, the script has it all, from the one liners to the touching.

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

A: It never gets boring, but it does start to feel like it's over 2 hours, which it is.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-blind-side/37685/trailers

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Sugar

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Miguel “Sugar” Santos, an aspiring professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic tries his hand at making it to the American Major Leagues.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Algenis Perez Soto, Rayniel Rufino, Andre Holland, Michael Gaston, Ellen Porterfield, Richard Bull, Ann Whitney, Jaime Tirelli

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. It’s an interesting perspective on one particular type of immigration, but the story takes an unexpected left turn, which on a positive note makes it less predictable, but on a negative note makes it less gratifying. None the less, there’s some fun to be had in the efforts of a foreigner trying to acclimate himself to certain strange American customs, like eating French toast covered in sugar sauce, and the concept that just because an American girl dances with you, it doesn’t mean she wants anything else.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: One thing I thought was funny, was that the kid from the Dominican Republic was so impressed with the size of his Minor League paycheck, that he went ahead and sent most of it home. (For those of you not familiar with how badly Minor League players are paid, his proud smile came from a paycheck just slightly over $500.)

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It’s sad to be reminded that no matter how fun your hobby is, when you make it your job it starts to feel like a tedious chore. No matter if it’s baseball, painting, or writing movie reviews.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance last year, and a Best Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards this year, but that was probably only because it's by the writer-directors of the previous years' winners for Half-Nelson.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The directors found the main cast by going around to the different baseball academies in the Dominican Republic asking players if they wanted to try out for a movie. So it’s no wonder the guy they cast in the lead was the 429th person they saw. That said, their patience paid off, because his performance is very strong. The down side is now this poor Dominican kid is determined to pursue an acting career. Hopefully, he'll get as excited about a $500 paycheck as his character does, because he's likely to be able to make at least that much as a busboy.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: : In a continued effort to make their work look “indy,” Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden avoided showing any close ups of balls hitting bats and gloves. This unfortunately makes it difficult to follow the majority of the baseball plays, and you are forced to find out how the plays are going by watching the expressions on the actors' faces.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The filmmakers, who were already baseball fanatics, were inspired to tell this story when they found out that most of the teams in the MLB have Academies in the Dominican Republic, because most of the kids in the Dominican Republic have dreams of becoming baseball players. And hey, their system isn’t half stupid considering this is how they found David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, and Sammy Sosa.

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

A: Did you know that there are families that host these players, giving them free room and board in their homes when they come to play in the US? It goes to show that our love of our National pastime supersedes our hatred of foreigners crossing our borders.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/search/sugar/trailers

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