Silver Linings Playbook

Before I start this, I know I seem to love every movie I see. This is a problem for a lot of people. One of the most often questions I get is "how do you not like a movie?" My response usually involves something about how I find the things I like about a movie and remember those. And for the most part I do like every movie I see, but nowadays it's even more true. Maybe it's because I know the movies I want to see and I don't settle for other movies or maybe it is because movies are simply getting better overall. 

Yes, there are still the awful movies (Twilight series among others), but I tend to avoid seeing those without any problem. Occasionally watching a bad movie is a lot of fun (see the Step Up series), but once you figure out how to spot the winners from the losers going to the movies is always an enjoyable experience. Silver Linings Playbook is almost a hidden gem only because of its limited release.

It has been receiving attention for awhile since it debuted at film festivals across the country, even some Oscar buzz. I was skeptical about the Oscar talks until I saw it for myself. This movie comes out of left field and just works.

When you take a mentally unstable person and another mentally unstable person and make them the main character of your movie (or book) you open the door for anything to happen. Bradley Cooper's character, Patrick, spent eight months in a mental hospital for various reasons that I will not mention here and Jennifer Lawrence's character, Tiffany, has her own issues as well. The two compliment each other perfectly.

The story is very relatable on many levels. Either you have come in contact with someone with mental issues like the characters or you have actually acted like the characters in the film (with or without the instability). It follows the ups and downs of bipolarity through the characters and the plot and it is great to watch. I feel that you really get a chance to understand the troubles of mental instability all while being able to laugh. There were very few moments where I wasn't laughing.

Cooper and Lawrence deliver one hundred percent. I believed both of their mental instability. Whether it was acting or just a regular actor's personality doesn't matter. They were both incredible. Definite Oscar contenders (first for Cooper and second for Lawrence and so far my favorites to win them, but Lincoln will probably change at least the Best Actor). Robert DeNiro is stupendous as the father set in his ways. Other than that most of the characters fall by the wayside since they have minimal screen time...With one exception: Chris Tucker. He was an huge addition to the humor and you'll understand if you see the movie.

Overall, this is a great movie for everyone. No matter who is watching he or she will definitely be able to find something to enjoy in Silver Linings Playbook. There are multiple meanings for many of the jokes and lines throughout this movie and you can read into them however you like. And therein lies the beauty of this film. I think this is an instant classic and a must-see. It will build Oscar buzz and hopefully take a few awards.

9.5/10

Wreck-It Ralph

In an age replete with constant references and homages Wreck-It Ralph fits right in. An incredibly fun take on video games, you cannot help but enjoy it.

Any fan of "older" video games will find something they recognize here. Whether it is something from Pac-Man or Qbert to Bowser or Sonic the video game references and cameos do not ever seem to stop.

The story is entirely engaging and delightfully fun to watch. Ralph and Felix are part of a fictional game named Fix-It Felix Jr. Ralph destroys a building and Felix has to climb the building and fix the building and save the people who live in it. Ralph is lonely because at the end of the day when the arcade closes everyone in the building shuns him and is afraid of him. From there it gets fun as we follow Ralph through different adventures so he can try and be a good guy for once.

Much of the humor comes from the references in the writing, whether they are from past video games or other "nerdy" allusions to movies or comics. Small details in the film are what made me laugh more than anything. One of my favorite instances coming from the beginning of a race sequence. For fans of the Mario Kart series of games it is obvious. If you push the 'A' button too soon you get a bad start and just like in the game a few racers don't start as quickly as the others.

Voice acting can be just as challenging as live-action acting and the actors nailed it. Ralph would not be nearly as likable if it were not for John C. Reilly providing the voice. Vanellope voiced by Sarah Silverman is perfect, starting out as an annoyance, but growing on you as the movie goes on, much like Silverman in real life (watch The Sarah Silverman Program if you don't believe me). There are many more great performances here, but Jane Lynch and Jack McBrayer as Calhoun and Felix respectively are awesome. Each bringing his or her stereotypical humor to their roles.

As a whole this is a great movie, fit for children and adults alike. Much more enjoyable than I had anticipated and I could not stop smiling except for a brief period of time. Definitely go see it this holiday season.

8/10

Skyfall

Let's cut straight to the chase: this was very closely my favorite movie of recent memory (aside from Cabin in the Woods). Less surprises than Looper, but still an excellent storyline and tons of excitement. James Bond is back, better and badder than ever before.

Bond has been a beloved character for years and whether you think Daniel Craig fits the bill or not, Skyfall should make the answer rather obvious. Aside from the occasional shots of his awkward running stride, Craig is a great Bond and if you haven't heard he has signed on for two more films as well.

Beginning with an outstanding opening chase scene and an exciting and impressive opening credit sequence paired with Adele's single. I was hooked from the start. Following Bond into a story full of a perfect balance of old and new (revamping classic characters and reviving the playfullness of older Bond movies) was incredibly fun this time around (as opposed to whatever you'd like to call Quantum of Solace).

As for the story I won't give anything away, but look forward to a witty candor amongst characters that is refreshing and relieving at times. Little side glances from characters and quips about age coarse through the veins of this film and make it a memorable experience. Watch for the symmetry in many of the shots, though I feel it's hard to miss. It just adds to the subtle beauty of this Bond movie.

There are three things, among others, that are hard for me to believe in movies: fear, sadness, and cold. Check (✔) the first one off for Skyfall with Bérénice Marlohe's performance as Sévérine, one of the Bond girls. Then there's Q played by Ben Whishaw. He was excellent playing the brainy, young character opposite Daniel Craig's "old" Bond. And the mere fact that Craig turns on the waterworks, however brief, should be another ✔ off the list. Judi Dench is as impactful as ever as M, giving a beautiful performance of a snippet of a Tennyson poem swelling with the music. Naomie Harris who you might remember from 28 Days Later or the Pirates of the Caribbean series brings a rapport with Bond to the screen that hasn't been seen from a Bond girl in years. And Ralph Fiennes (aka Voldemort) shows his always skillful acting ability as Gareth Mallory.

Javier Bardem stands alone here. Both literally and figuratively. While his performance was both powerful and frightening, it felt familiar, reminiscent of the Joker from The Dark Knight. Bardem is always an incredible actor at the top of his game here. Still not as scary as Anton Chigurh (did you remember his name?) in No Country for Old Men. And many critics are claiming that he is the scariest villain of any Bond movie, but it's almost too easy to claim that once you learn his motive...Possible spoiler

Anything can be scary if it's made personal. And is only amplified when his malevolence is directed towards a main character.

However, the malicious and sadistic tones he conveys are incomparable to previous villains and his performance as Silva is not one to be forgotten.

Two things did bother me in Skyfall: Daniel Craig's awkward running and the CGI breath to show just how cold it is (✔? Only thanks to the snow and frozen water).  Why does his running bother me? Because he looks like he is a person in Minecraft living in an hi-def world. The CGI verges on annoying simply due to just how fake it really looks. It's nit-picky, oh well.

Skyfall joins a special tier of films, and in my opinion is one of the best Bond films to date. It will surely create new fans of the series and should impress any die-hard fan.

9/10

Argo

Movie posters can tell prospective viewers a lot about a movie. They let you know who is in the movie, the tagline, and often give hints to smaller details in the film. What does the poster for Argo tell the average movie-goer? All of the above, but on top of them one thing reigns supreme: Too. Much. Ben. Affleck.

Anyone who is a history buff (or saw a preview) knows that this story revolves around the rescue of six American diplomatic personnel trapped in a hostile Iran. Sorry, that should be rephrased, it revolves around the CIA operation, not the people, which is the major downfall of this film.

Overall, the acting is superb. Special mention to John Goodman and Alan Arkin for stellar performances in their roles. And for the small amount of time we actually get to see the six Americans they are impressive. They really wring out as much empathy as they can with the little screen time. Bryan Cranston has become more and more of a household name again thanks to his time on "Breaking Bad." Fans of his earlier work on "Malcolm in the Middle" may be happy to see a resurgence of his bumbling character Hal save for a few shining moments.

Then there's Mr. Affleck. It's true that his acting is good, excluding the atrocity that was Gigli. But it's also true his directing is better. (See Gone Baby Gone  or The Town and tell me otherwise). Here it becomes a story not about the operation or the six Americans, but rather Affleck parading around on screen, his character lying (and drinking) at every turn. It's certainly not a bad performance, but the one thing about it that really sticks with you is his ability to grow a great beard.

Being based on a true story Argo has a lot of things going against it (familiarity with the plot), but it does a good job of making it all feel novel and exciting. It builds tension well and keeps us on the edge of our seats for a large part of the film. But what good is a rescue plot if you ignore the development of the people who are supposed to be rescued? Exactly what happens in this film: little to no empathy for any of the supporting characters.

I will say that the amount of positive reviews Argo was receiving definitely affected my viewing, but either way I would have walked away feeling like I just sat through 120 minutes of watching Ben Affleck's beard grow while he chases down the necessities for his operation. If you enjoy history (or Affleck) see this movie. Otherwise it can wait until DVD.

6.5/10