Mud

This is an instant classic. A combination of many of literature's finest and most intricate characters. Not only that, but the story is a perfect blending of various classic movies. Part Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, The Tree of Life, Deliverance. Even some Hardy Boys flows throughout. It is, however, completely unfair to compare this to past movies because it stands alone with imaginative characters and one of the best told stories I've seen in recent memory.

Two young boys encounter a mysterious man on a beach and as they learn more about him they grow increasingly closer with him and involved in his affairs. Think Stand By Me, but without the discovery of a dead body. Details run rampant during the film and if you lose focus for one second you may miss something from earlier. It evolves at its own pace and reveals pieces of the story in slivers, never more than one bit of information at a time, but it never loses focus or drags. Not only that, but the one thing that ties everything together is the idea of true love, whether it be the version the young boys in different home situations have, or the one Mud is pushing upon them.

My opinions of child actors has been expressed here multiple times, but these two young men carry their roles to near perfection. Tye Sheridan, previously in The Tree of Life, played the role of a teenager in a crumbling home looking for adventure, better than I could have imagined. Bringing the innocence of youth to life is something that isn't necessarily an easy thing to do and as Ellis does an outstanding job. Jacob Lofland as his sidekick, Neckbone knocks it out of the park. The two played off of each other better than a lot of adult actors do. Reese Witherspoon reminded me of her role as June Carter in Walk the Line. Just as well acted and sadly portrayed as then, her character Juniper was equally as mysterious as Mud.

Matthew McConaughey has proven again, what he did in Killer Joe in 2011, that he's actually a great actor with skills as perfect as anyone. His character in this movie reminded me of a lot of things and people. He was expertly written by Jeff Nichols and felt like a ghost of a pirate for much of the film, but the best part was McConaughey. He was a man of few words, but his actions did all the speaking needed. This is easily his best performance of his career.

While the story and acting are both strong, what ties the film all together and makes this one of the best times you'll have in a theater (without special effects) is the cinematography and music. Some of the most beautiful shots occur in this film. Of the river, island, and the surrounding areas. There is one sequence mirrored in the film and when it comes back around it is extremely important. A single guitar ties the montage scenes together and adds to the feeling of small town life.

Do yourself a favor and sprint, bike ride, roller blade, drive, walk, ride a Segway for all I care. Get to the theater and don't miss this gripping tale of childhood fantasy, crumbling love, and one of my favorite stories to date. It will easily be one of the year's best films and should be around for awhile. Mud is a classic and we should be seeing a lot of it come awards season.

This is a movie that reminds me why I want to make movies. It was fresh, fun, entertaining, surprising, gripping, and just overall fantastic. Please go see this! (And take me along!)

10/10

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

Looper

Have you ever had that movie experience where your mind is completely blown? Like Memento or Inception or even The Dark Knight (Heath Ledger's performance, whew!)? Would you like to have your mind blown again? Well look no further this year, for in the realm of science fiction, one movie reigns supreme: Looper. (My apologies to Christopher Nolan for not supplying pop culture with a mind destroying film this year)

Before this movie I could only fathom what seeing Blade Runner for the first time in theaters could have done to someone. It would have been mindjarring (my personal combination of mind blowing and bottling). As was my experience with this film. Rian Johnson has done what he did to film noir with Brick (2005): flipped it on it's head.

I thought I knew sci-fi movies and knew the kind of movie that Looper was, but whatever thoughts I had in my mind were changed because of this movie. The story begins with us following the life of Joe played by Joseph Gordon Levitt. His narration draws us in slowly and gently, but ever so subtly and we are transported to another world (or dimension depending on how you look at it). And after that we are given the conundrum: "if you were to meet your future self, should you kill him or her if you were a looper? "The sci-fi genre has not seen the likes of this movie since Alien or the aforementioned Blade Runner. The script is written so beautifully with subtle mentions of different topics that we never get a full explanation of, but have to fill in with our minds, and keeps reminding you that Bruce Willis is from the future. (Most of the movie I had to remind myself that he was)

But nobody likes a good story without a great ending. And Looper does NOT disappoint. Four little words in the film are all it took to blow my mind this time around. I walked out of the movie, drove home, and immediately asked my roommates if they wanted to see it tonight. The acting is incredible for the genre. And the special effects/make-up used to make Joseph Gordon-Levitt look different are unbelievable. He is transformed into a younger Bruce Willis with no visible changes at all. I could barely believe my eyes.

Whether you like sci-fi movies or not this is an absolute must-see. (Do you like Christopher Nolan movies? Yes? GO SEE THIS MOVIE TOMORROW!)<--Said in your Billy Mayes voice. This is a movie that could turn non-fans into die-hards (no pun intended Mr. Willis).

9/10

Dark Knight Rises

I have started this post at 3:54 am, the morning of July 20th. Or more accurately the day I've been waiting for for nearly a year, anticipating the glorious end to a great trilogy.

My previous favorite movie theater experience was a stereotypical event that many people would find irritating. I saw Wolf Creek in Mayfair mall at night. While at the theater the other spectators were yelling at the screen, which I loved! However this triple-feature at least tied that. In between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight we had trivia and between each of the movies we had a jolly old man come in and introduce the next film. It was also filled with some big Batman nerds, which made the experience that much greater. And I should say that midnight showings are nearly sacred to me. I LOVE midnight showings, the entire atmosphere is just better at these showings.

The third act of this trilogy is one of the better third acts I've ever seen. My opinion could be swayed due to my viewing of the entire trilogy in theaters. This was the first time I've ever done an in-theater movie marathon before and I'm happy this was the one I chose to see. The Dark Knight Rises tied in so closely and so well with the first two that having just seen them a mere six hours before the midnight premiere made the tie-ins that much more apparent. Many of the similarities were in the dialogue and a few flashbacks, but what set this apart in the trilogy was the cast.

The characters in every movie have had great performances (i.e. Joker/Heath Ledger). However, every character of this film has a perfect actor or actress who should have portrayed them and in true Christopher Nolan fashion each received his or her perfect fit. Whether it was newcomers Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) or John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) or old favorites Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) or Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) the actors were pitch perfect. Ladies and gentlemen we have a Catwoman that I actually liked! Not just a sex symbol, but a real character, Hathaway showed some grit in her performance as the jewel thief. For a comic book movie the characters felt real and not just like they were straight off the pages of a book.

What was really weighing on this film for many moviegoers was the villain, Bane. If you remember back to the first two trailers, his voice was nearly unintelligible and their best solution was to re-dub the film. It was the best solution and only strayed into the unbelievable and almost annoying once. Annoying may not even be the right word, but it got a bit high for a big guy like Bane. I simply cannot write a review without mentioning how Tom Hardy compared to Heath Ledger's Joker. Seeing as how the two villains are nearly polar opposites (one more physical and the other playing a more mental game) they were both great performances. Aside from Hardy's voice his performance gave me chills. I had to get picky to even think of this one incident.

As for the action, what would a Christopher Nolan Batman movie be without a lot of action? From the many new gadgets and the old ones he brought back were great fun to watch on screen. It was a terrific blend of action, character development, and story. So perfect that Nolan almost achieved something only two things have accomplished before: getting me to cry. I know I'm not the only one in the theater who was close to tears, and I don't care either. It was that good.

There are plenty of twists and turns that, while sometimes guessable, are much more fun to just let them happen. Replete with many jaw dropping, "aha," and "oh my god, did that really happen?" moments, Overall I thought it was a near perfect end to an outstanding trilogy. The Dark Knight Rises is the summer movie event I've been waiting for. I cannot wait to see it a few more times in the theaters. 

9.5/10

Prometheus

For the first time since Blade Runner I believe, the master of science fiction, Ridley Scott (in my opinion), returns to a world he created with Alien. This time it’s set a few years before the first Alien and it attempts to answer some of the questions that have haunted mankind since the dawn of time. Such as: where did we come from, where are we going, who/what created us? And the most important of all: why are we here?

This time around no expense was spared when it came to the ship, the Wexley corporation spent a trillion dollars on the ship: Prometheus. For the first time in Alien history the ship shares the movie’s title. That is as far I as I want to take the comparisons to the original because, though originally planned as a true prequel to the entire series, Scott decided to go the smarter route and create an entirely different storyline.

We follow captains and couple Shaw and Holloway, another first for the series, and their crew into space where they believe they have found a moon where life could survive. Obviously something doesn’t go according to plan and we get blood, action, suspense, and many fun surprises. It’s awesome!

Another similarity with not only the Alien series, but all of Ridley Scott’s movies. The term here is used lightly because everything in the “series” paled in comparison to Alien and James Cameron’s sequel, Aliens. His ability to draw great performances out of all of his actors is incredible and it follows through in shining color here. Noomi Rapace, following her turn as Lisbeth Slanader proves that she can bring power and heart to a scientist, just like Sigourney Weaver did with Ellen Ripley in the original Alien.

Every single one of the supporting actors perfectly suited his or her roles. Aside from Rapace, Michael Fassbender as the agenda-running robot David creates a character arc not seen since Blade Runner. Throughout the movie he must endure digs against him and comparisons to what the crew are doing (i.e. searching for answers to the aforementioned questions) and he provides a nuanced performance. And finally an Oscar winner beautifully acts the character that proves to have the biggest agenda. I don’t want to make it too obvious.

The story here took “old” themes, but throws in new surprises, twists, and technologies, all while following a formula perfected by the great Ridley Scott. Absolutely spectacular and he follows through with great force. A definite must-see for the summer!

8/10

This is a picture of the theater seats. I love watching my movies loud and this theater did me proud. It was extremely loud and I loved every second of it. The one bad thing was the lighted seat numbers. I just covered them up with my hands which worked perfectly!

Marley

Bob Marley. A man and a legend who preached peace, love, and harmony above everything. Quoted as saying that his life isn't important unless he helps other people. An incredible man with a musical talent everyone could see and feel even when he was young.

Marley is a testament to his life. It takes us from his birth, through his life, and finally to his death and legacy. Being a documentary this could have easily fallen into a trap of only having "talking heads" on the screen, never turning to the man this film was about, but thankfully it didn't. Kevin Macdonald made this movie the way I think Bob would have wanted it. Leaving it open to public opinion. Should Bob do this concert? Should he skip it? He didn't care. He just wanted to play his music

Filled with music and incredible archive footage of Bob Marley himself, this movie has everything. A glorious life story to tell, fantastic music, and smart editing make this a documentary you can't miss!

Starting where he was born we get to see how Bob grew up. The groups he was a part of growing up and the music he created with those groups. I didn't know all the music he created when he was younger and that he started with Ska. The group he was a part of started out by copying white groups of similar sounds and then put a Jamaican twist usually with ska in the background. It was just great seeing him grow.

And learning all the influence he had all over the world. His country was in political turmoil so he went to London to keep trying his luck at playing his music all over the world. The people of Jamaica asked him to come back and perform. And he did just that! His style, Reggae, is one genre of music that can unify everyone. It's incredible and it's shown throughout the movie.

One of my favorite parts of this movie was the archive footage. I obviously had never seen Bob Marley live before. I hadn't even seen footage of him live, even though I know now that I could have found it pretty easily. He was a great performer and the spliced in footage is proof of that. A man who died too young due to a lack of medical checkups and staff on tour, his legacy lives on in his music and now in this documentary

If you love his music and what he stood for, even if you just like his music and don't know everything he accomplished see this movie. It's a documentary you must see!

8/10

The Avengers

Last year was my self-proclaimed year of Ryan Gosling. This year it seems that it is the year of Joss Whedon. So far having two huge movies in the theater: Cabin in the Woods and The Avengers. Both are incredible and worth multiple viewings. The Avengers had an advantage having the full process of prequels before it so it didn't need to be riddled with backstory of the main characters, but could enjoy having the ability to create a memorable story filled with action, comedy, and energy.

Dating back to 2008, with Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk (with Edward Norton), the Avengers series of movies began with a bang. An argument could be made that it dates back to 2003 with the garbage that was Hulk with Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly, but it's really not even worth watching. Then came Iron Man 2 and then last year we got Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger. Each of the four character's solo films are definitely worth watching, but not needed before seeing The Avengers. It does however add lots of depth to the characters allowing the movie to flow and focus on character development and an enthralling storyline.

It opens with the Tessarect, a mysterious cube of energy, being studied by S.H.I.E.L.D., a dark matter and intelligence division of the government and the re-introduction of our villain: Loki, Thor's brother. This leads into the action throughout, with bouts between Thor, Captain America, the Hulk, and Iron Man. The time these four spend fighting each other makes for some of the most entertaining parts of the film and when they begin to work together the combinations we get to see are outstanding!

Replete with mind-blowing action sequences ranging in span and scope, many times leaving me leaning forward in my seat, or sitting with my mouth agape. Every sequence was so well done even though I knew much of it was fake. I didn't care. My palms, which usually only sweat in movies dealing with climbing, were sweaty the whole time. Probably due to my excitement. Seeing it in a nearly full theater helped a lot too. People were cheering and yelling at the screen. It was exactly the way everyone should see it. AND it was in 3D, making it even that much better. I raised my hands in disbelief or excitement far too many times and was probably overly hyped up, but it is a fantastic movie.

Not only were there a lot of action scenes, but the script had many shining moments, from Hulk's one-liners, to Iron Man's clever retorts, and the always enjoyable Thor/Captain America not understanding references. That's one of my favorite things about this movie. The small details in the script make this movie for me. Keeping Thor speaking like he is straight out of a Shakespeare play and keeping Captain America speaking like he's from the 1940's, which he is.

One thing that plagued the Hulk part of the Avengers was the actor. He hasn't been played by the same actor in any of the films of the last 10 years, previously played by Eric Bana and Edward Norton. Now they finally found the right guy for the job: Mark Ruffalo. Things have changed now. He signed on for six movies, playing the role of Bruce Banner/the Hulk. This means that besides the 2013 sequels Thor 2 and Iron Man 3 and 2014's Captain America 2, we can probably count on seeing a(nother) reboot of the Hulk. This would be amazing because I think Ruffalo's Hulk was by far the best Hulk.

The acting by everyone is incredible. Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Nick Fury, Black Widow, Agent (Phil) Coulson, and Loki, among a few others all being reprised by the same actors. Loki was especially convincing as the villain and really upped his game this time around. The banter amongst Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), and Bruce Banner is hilarious. I was in stitches from many different lines. My absolute favorite line was given by Banner towards the end of the movie, when he finally reveals his secret for not turning into the Hulk.

Samuel L. Jackson is as great as ever playing Nick Fury, bringing honor and heart to this character. He puts his trust in the Avengers and keeps the audience on track when we may take a small dip in the action. And Scarlett Johansson is perfect as Black Widow, a spy with an interesting and entertaining interrogation technique. I can't not talk about Jeremy Renner as Hawk Eye was stellar as well. The acting on all accounts proves that even superhero movies can have some of the best acting even though much is left to special effects in these movies.

The Avengers was completely full of awesome special effects and camera angles. Oftentimes showing us a canted angle of the characters. Just a joy to watch. The special effects for each of the Avengers were perfect. Especially the Hulk. Thanks to motion-capture technology the Hulk seemed more real and lifelike than ever before. I can't go into much more detail without giving things away. And one final camera technique only used towards the end of the film were sporadic zooms similar to mockumentaries. It brought out details that otherwise may have gone unnoticed or forgotten.

I'm not sure if I did this movie justice in writing. Just see it. If you're looking for a standalone movie to see in the theaters see Cabin in the Woods, but if you're looking for the best superhero movie of all time, and maybe one of the coolest action movies of the past ten years go see The Avengers.

Sin City

Today is What to Watch Wednesday and continuing my list of must-see movies here is Sin City. Another one of my all time favorites.

A story of violence, corruption, and life in Basin City, this movie is the definition of a graphic novel adaptation to me. It follows three different characters: Dwight (Clive Owen), Marv (Mickey Rourke), and Hartigan (Bruce Willis). There are overlapping characters in each of the three men's stories and it helps you make sense of it all.

The acting is tremendous and every actor brings his or her own little quirks to the screen that make this so enjoyable to watch. Bruce Willis plays a tough, thick-skinned cop on a mission to save a girl, Nancy Callahan played exquisitely by Jessica Alba. He brings his natural grit and gusto to his character and becomes one of my favorites. Mickey Rourke, known for his comeback in The Fighter a couple years ago, should have been recognized earlier for this performance, but is in too much makeup to even come close to distinguishing him. My favorite character is Dwight, played by Clive Owen. A funny, intelligent, strong character, Owen fit this role perfectly.

Not only are these three main characters great, but the supporting roles equal the acting of those three better than expected. The list of actors is rather extensive, but here are some of the highlights you will see when you watch it: Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Rosario Dawson, Benecio Del Toro, and even Nick Offerman (of NBC Parks and Recreation fame) makes a brief appearance.

Many people may look past this movie because it's in black and white, but believe me it totally works for this type of a movie. A few things are in color throughout the film and you'll have to see it to figure out why they are in color, but it's definitely worth it. The writing is incredible and that's in part because Frank Miller the author of the graphic novels this movie is based on wrote the script and helped direct the movie so he knew what he wanted where. It worked out very well.

If you enjoy movies with social commentary, action, violence, and intelligent dialogue and plot, this is right up your alley. I wouldn't say you have to be a fan of all of these, but you'll be able to make the decision yourself if you just watch it!

9.5/10

Cabin in the Woods

There is always a stigma with horror movies that come out on Friday the 13th, which is there will be lots of blood, gore, and killing. The Cabin in the Woods has all three and plenty more than just blood and gore. It has a story. One of the most imaginative, breathlessly entertaining, and fantastical stories I've seen in years! Think Inception combined with "Lost." It was pure genius.

We've heard the setup of this story many times before: five friends going on a getaway to a secluded "cabin in the woods" (HAH!). A dumb blonde, a jock, an egghead, a pothead, and a virgin. Everything is going according to plan...until they go into the cellar. They believe they are behaving of their own free will, but someone or something is manipulating them. To say any more would ruin the story and the enjoyment value, so I'll stop there.

The acting is surprisingly great all around! The two best performances easily going to Marty (Fran Kranz) and Dana (Kristen Connolly). Playing people who are scared and actually making it believable is something not many people can do and these two were absolutely brilliant. Kranz has been in a lot of other movies, a surprising amount actually, such as Donnie Darko, Training Day, and The Village. Granted he didn't have a lead role, but I'm sure he was just as good as he was in this movie. Connolly was in the bomb of a 2008 movie The Happening, but she was a very minor person. Either way she was deserving of the role she had in this movie.

Drew Goddard, one of the most creative minds of our time, behind such movies as Cloverfield and TV shows as "Lost" and "Dollhouse," proves his genius with this movie. Absolutely incredible! Believable characters in absolutely ridiculous situations is something he is used to, having produced and written "Lost" and he does it here again. Also similar to "Lost" is the crazy mind-fucks that happen throughout the movie. So many twists and turns and exciting situations. The way Goddard wrote it and directed it pulls you into the story world and makes everything seem like it could happen.

My one qualm was that this wasn't a very scary movie. It's more of a thriller, which once I realized that I sat back and truly enjoyed everything. Easily in my top 5 movies, it may have even tied for number one or two. It's SO GOOD. One of the most original movies in years and will easily be the most original movie this year.

After seeing this a second time I can confirm my love of this movie. It was equally as good this time around and maybe even more enjoyable because I could see things coming and see foreshadowing that I had missed the first time around. Just a GREAT movie!

GO SEE IT NOW!

10/10

Chronicle

Every now and then a movie comes along that actually pulls off the found footage style of filming. In 1999 it pretty much began with The Blair Witch Project a movie that changed the way horror films were produced. And it continued in 2008 it continued with Cloverfield. After those, Paranormal Activity happened and everyone seemed to be jumping on the "found footage" bandwagon. Chronicle was another success from this genre.

After finding a mysterious object in the ground, three friends, Andrew, Matt, and Steve, for some reason acquire a somewhat telekinetic ability. They learn fast that it is much like a muscle and the more they work it out the more they can do with it. Quickly one of them becomes much better at the whole telekinesis thing than the others. His ability allows the found footage idea to take flight...literally.

I really enjoyed this movie. I found it intriguing and extremely entertaining. The three main actors in this movie were outstanding! Incredibly compelling from start to finish, portraying the angst, heartbreak, and power that comes with responsibility. I think a big part of a found footage movie is the use of "unknown" actors. It always makes the illusion much better. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Here it works perfectly.

The story was awesome. I just ate the plot up. It was so great to see a creative movie. It was fantastic. The way it is shot is obviously a big part of this, but either way it is a very interesting movie. Great acting all around, I think this provides the found footage genre with more credibility than it previously had. Absolutely a must-see for anyone who enjoys this genre, sci-fi, or fantasy movies. Don't knock it until you try it. I thought it was going to be a movie that I had seen all the best parts in the preview. I was wrong. Go see this in theaters if you still can.

"What are you capable of?"

9/10

The Hunger Games

There have been a lot of book adaptations in the past ten years, from the entire Lord of the Rings series, Harry Potter, Twilight (though I think of this more as a child's experiment in adapting books to screen), the Swedish Millennium series, and others in there along the way. Some have surpassed expectations (LOTR), others have merely met them and sometimes performed below what fans wanted to see (HP), and others like The Hunger Games leave you nearly completely satisfied, but just need a bit more to them.

Don't get me wrong, this book series is easy and fun to read, much like Harry Potter, however this film adaptation was much better than the first Harry Potter. And when you have a much more enthralling character base and storyline as opposed to the Twilight series, it's relatively easy to make a smooth transition from book to film.

Set in a futuristic world where the Capitol controls the 12 districts and forces them, every year, to offer up a male a female tribute to fight to the death in The Hunger Games, compelling characters and acting are what keep this movie rolling.

Comparing Katniss Everdeen to Bella Whatshername in Twilight is just plain stupid to even attempt as many critics have. And the same goes for the actresses. Jennifer Lawrence, most known for last summer's hit X-Men: First Class, is a powerhouse actress. She bring Katniss to life with strength, passion, and intelligence. She can only go up from here and will be an actress to watch for a long time because I think she has a great chance at receiving another Oscar nomination (Winter's Bone 2010) in the future.

The other actors surrounding her bring their own charm to the screen. Stanley Tucci as the MC for the games is brilliant, bringing some underlying malice and heart to his character. Woody Harrelson is consistent as always playing the drunkard, Haymitch with style and humor. Elizabeth Banks brings life to peppy and seemingly affectionate, Effie Trinket. Even Lenny Kravitz as Cinna proves his more than just a musician.

Overall the script follow the book relatively well, providing the viewer with explanations along the way and sometimes just laying out what is going to happen, more often than not a big problem for book-to-film adaptations. There was a pacing issue towards the end of the film, but that's more the novel than the film and the end could have been stretched out a little more in my opinion.

My absolute favorite part of this movie was how they were constantly shifting perspectives with the camera. The camera would follow Katniss for awhile, but then in one scene in particular, would shift to others perspectives. If they were under the influence of something the camera got fuzzy and couldn't focus. It was genius and very fun to watch!

This helped to create the atmosphere held throughout the film. You really get immersed in the world. A big part of this happened during the days just after the "reaping" and the parade. I felt like I was in a Lady GaGa music video. Everything was strange, weird, and just didn't make sense, but in this world it definitely worked!

If you liked the books, you'll obviously love the movie, and for the many people who haven't read the books yet, you'll still enjoy the movie. Entertaining from beginning to end (minus about ten minutes just before the climactic end), just sit back and enjoy it. Definitely a must-see of the first quarter of the year. Let yourself become immersed in this unique futuristic world and remember, may the odds be ever in your favor.

7.5/10

Crash

Best Picture winner in 2005, "Crash" is an incredible experience. It's not just a movie, but one of the most accurate accounts of social commentary today. Some of my favorite stories are of colliding lives and interweaving relationships and stories. Mainly because they seem more real. You don't only interact with a handful of people, you run into different people everyday, whether they are friends or strangers doesn't matter. What matters are the connections between you and them.

Following four or five different plot lines occurring in Los Angeles, "Crash" makes you think about how you live your life and how your reactions, decisions, and even body language, affect the people around you. Among many other themes, the stories revolve around racism, loss, and redemption.

The screenplay itself is one of the best of the 2000s. The oftentimes simple, yet surprising ways that characters come into contact are great. And the emotional impact of these differing situations, while many times complicated, are some of the most difficult scenes to watch. I found myself very involved and connected with some of the characters, a few I didn't think I'd share a connection with. But that's the beauty of a great script.

The acting all around is some of the best in recent years. Every actor/actress brings a powerful performance. The changes they all go through is the best part of this movie and the most touching thing to watch. It's just an incredible experience that if you haven't seen it, you should as soon as you can!

8.5/10

Singin' In The Rain

In light of "The Artist" most likely sweeping the Academy Awards this year, let's go back to 1952 with a similar story: "Singin' In The Rain." An early form of meta-filmmaking "Singin' In the Rain" takes us on the journey from silent films to movies with sound. It follows a Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly), a silent movie star and his "sidekick" Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor) through the tough transition silent movie stars and makers had to endure in the 20s and 30s.

The acting is just fun to watch. Watching Gene Kelly is always a pleasure. His dancing is as good as ever and Donald O'Connor is a perfect counterpart on the screen. Making a great impression with his song "Make 'Em Laugh," one of the best and most entertaining dance sequences in all of Hollywood films. Of course the title song provides the iconic moment of Kelly, literally singing in the rain hanging on a light post.

Kathy Selden played splendidly by Debbie Reynolds is Don's love interest and she is a great singer and dancer. How these three actors came together on this movie is perfection!

This is one of my favorite stories to see unfold every time. I'm never bored find myself humming along to the songs and getting them stuck in my head. Like "Citizen Kane" it is a semi-historical film and shows how movie making was forever changed by the invention of talking pictures. The story would be much less entertaining if it weren't for all of the dancing throughout. Gene Kelly, one of the great dancers of all time, choreographed many of the dances and all three of the actors did all of their own dancing.

The best scene in the movie occurs at a late night brainstorming session when the characters realize that it is no longer a late night, but rather an early morning. Cue "Good Morning." Putting everything they have into every dance scene really pays of and makes this a classic.

Simply put, this is the best movie musical ever made.

10/10

Citizen Kane

Friends of mine always ask what movies they should see or ask me to make them a list of movies they absolutely should see and every time I say I'll give a list, but it's tough trying to tailor a new list for everyone. So these posts will work as a list and more reviews!

A great place to begin is atop the American Film Institute's Top 100 movies of all time. "Citizen Kane" is a cinematic masterpiece...for its time. Orson Welles did a lot of incredible things with the technology available to him. Many techniques were pioneered by Welles and used in this movie. That is why it's atop this list.

A publishing tycoon, Charles Foster Kane, is dead and news reporters struggle and scramble to understand his final word: "Rosebud." This story is loosely based on the life of William Randolph Hearst. The acting throughout is outstanding! Of course when you are the lead actor and the director you know exactly what you want the movie to look like and how characters should respond to certain situations.

If you are at all interested in cinema history this is a must-see. Orson Welles uses camera angles and simple things like depth in staging to bring us into the world of Charles Kane. Even for people who are not cinephiles, this movie is entertaining and fun to watch. But everyone can learn something from seeing it. Television shows oftentimes reference this movie and reward viewers who know movies with film-related humor.

An important historical film, "Citizen Kane" is outstanding. Not because of its story, which is actually pretty slow, or its acting, but because of the technological advances made on this movie. Techniques that are still used today and will be used for years and years to come.

7.5/10

Drive

In recent years, Ryan Gosling has proven that he is a great actor and Drive is no different. A thrillingly brutal drama about a daytime stunt driver who moonlights as a wheelman who seemingly has nothing really to live for.

Ryan Gosling makes the movie and literally becomes the Driver. The violent acts he commits, while stylized, are very well done. Gosling's lack of emotion is what makes his performance believeable. Only slight tics of emotion are shown aside from his aggression, which makes him an anti-hero of sorts. Every move he makes is precise and articulated beautifully. Armed with a hammer, his boots, gloves, and most importantly his car, the Driver has all the tools he needs to take care of what needs to be done.

The acting all around is incredible. Carey Mulligan definitely should have been utilized more because whenever she was on screen with Gosling we got a bit more emotion, making the Driver seem more human. Aside from that she was perfect for this role. Innocent beauty at its' finest. Bryan Cranston pulls a 180 from his character on Breaking Bad and is not tough, but rather a weak little man trying to work his way up in the world. The supporting acting was great, but Gosling steals the show, not that he really has to steal it since the whole film revolves around him. Every little thing he does has a purpose.

A nameless main character always makes a huge impression on the audience. It makes the character seem like more than just a person, but a symbol and the Driver is a great example. The choice to have silence and minimal dialogue throughout adds to the persona of the nameless anti-hero. Just as in The Dark Knight silence adds an eerie effect in Drive. Many movies of this genre include far too much dialogue which ends up getting repetitive and boring so the lack of dialogue was refreshing.

The brutality the Driver uses when fighting is outstanding. The most memorable and arguably one of the most brutal scenes occurs in an elevator directly after one of the most tender moments of the movie. The Driver is an enigma that is sure to bring many homemade sewn on scorpion patch jackets to Halloween this year.

Hands down one of the best movies of the year!

9/10