Movie Trailer Sunday (297)

Here are this week's trailers.

Flatliners
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
Description: Medical students experiment on "near death" experiences that involve past tragedies until the dark consequences begin to jeopardize their lives.
Starring: Ellen Page, Nina Dobrev, Diego Luna, James Norton, Kiefer Sutherland,
Trailer: Trailer "Flatliners"
Comment: I don't know if this movie really needs a remake.

Jungle
Director:
Description: group of friends join a guide for a trek into the Bolivian jungle, searching for an Indian village. The men soon realize that the jungle is a difficult place to be.
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Thomas Kretschmann, Joshua Jackson
Trailer: Trailer "Jungle"
Comment: Looks interesting. I'm loving Daniel Radcliffe stepping further and further away from Harry.

Goodbye Christopher Robin
Director: Simon Curtis
Description: A behind-the-scenes look at the life of author A.A. Milne and the creation of the Winnie the Pooh stories inspired by his son C.R. Milne.
Starring: Margot Robbie, Domhnall Gleeson,
Trailer: Trailer "Goodbye Christopher Robin"
Comment: Nice to see the story behind Pooh bear.

The Only Living Boy in New York
Director: Marc Webb
Description:Adrift in New York City, a recent college graduate's life is upended by his father's mistress
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Brian Cox, Jeff Bridges
Trailer: Trailer "The Only Litte Boy in Texas"
Comment:Marc Wenn also did (500) Days of Summer>

To the Bone
Director: Marti Noxon
Description: A young woman is dealing with anorexia. She meets an unconventional doctor who challenges her to face her condition and embrace life.
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Lili Collins, Allana Ulbach
Trailer: The British do comedy better anyway!
Comment: This look really good.

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 147: Hell or High Water

Director: David Mackenzie
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Ben Foster, Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Dale Dickey, William Sterchi, Gil Birmingham, Keith Meriweather, Jackamoe Buzzell, Katy Mixon, Amber Midthunder, Joe Berryman, Taylor Sheridaon, Howard Ferguson Jr., Debrianna Mansini

Description: A divorced father (Chris Pine) and his ex-con older brother (Ben Foster) resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family's ranch in West Texas.

Review: We follow two brothers that want to keep their family ranch. To buy it back from the bank, they decide to rob banks. In the opening, Tanner and Toby rob two banks in a row and drive off. Their plans are pretty solid. But cop Marcus, who is almost retiring, is determined to find them.
Toby wants a better future for his ex-wife and kids. And he also tries to tame his reckless brother Tanner, who just got out of jail. On the other side there is Marcus and his partner Alberto, who are trying to find the robbers.
“Hell or High Water” is a modern western, that balances between violent scenes and chases, but also moments of awareness and and critical look on the American society. At one moment it’s a family drama and then it’s cynical humor.
The atmosphere sometimes reminded me of “No Country for Old Men”, but there is more room for optimism in “Hell or High Water”. The band between the two brothers is the heart of the film. With violence and tension added, there is still a little bit of hope left for a better future.
The acting by Ben Foster, Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges is phenomenal. All three of them perform equally as good, without overdoing it.
“Hell or High Water” is one of those movies tha gets a lot of praise, but it’s flying pretty much under the radar. Which is a shame, because more people really need to see this film.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 114: Runner Runner

Director: Brad Furman
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 88 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Justin Timberlake, Gemma Arterton, Ben Affleck, Anthony Mackie, John Heard, Bob Gunton

Description: When a poor college student (Justin Timberlake) who cracks an online poker game goes bust, he arranges a face-to-face with the man (Ben Affleck) he thinks cheated him, a sly offshore entrepreneur.

Review: In 2011 director Brad Furman scored unexpectedly with “The Lincoln Lawyer”, a strong thriller that boosted Matthew McConaughey’s career. The follow up movie “Runner Runner” is ambitious, but misses inspiration and feels mediocre.
Richie Furst is an ambitious young student and is introduced to quick money, beautiful women and luxury. But off course he is not made for a world like that and it gets him into trouble. Richie is played by Justin Timberlake and the boss he has to face is Ben Affleck. To pay for his college Richie gets his money by gambling online. But one day, he gambles it all away and he feels like he was cheated. Richie decides to find the man behind the website, Ivan Block, who lives in Costa Rica.
The way the story goes is very farfetched and feels illogical. The movie does have a good pace at the beginning. But the movie collapses pretty quickly. The movie is filled with clichés. And the acting isn’t all that great either. Justin Timberlake is not a good actor, especially not for a leading role like this.Ben Affleck I was never a fan of and in “Runner Runner” he didn’t win me over. Gemma Arterton has the thankless job to play the woman between the two men, when she has so much more to offer as an actress. And Anthony Mackie is also underused.
With all that, “Runner Runner” is extremely predictable. You just know what’s going to happen and you don’t really care either. “Runner Runner” is a mediocre thriller, that I will forget in an instant. Forgotten!

Rating: 2/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 14: The Shop Around the Corner

Director: Ernst Lubitsch

Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Romance

Runtime: 99 minutes

Year: 1940

Starring: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan, Joseph Schildkraut, Sara Haden, Felix Bressart, William Tracy, Inez Courtney

Description: Two employees (Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart) at a gift shop can barely stand one another, without realizing that they're falling in love through the post as each other's anonymous pen pal.

Review: “The Shop Around the Corner” was the inspiration for the Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks movie “You’ve Got Mail”, where Ryan’s character works in a store called The Shop Around the Corner. Here it’s modernized and the two lead characters correspond through e-mail. In “The Shop Around the Corner” they send each other good old snail mail.

Klara and Alfred work in a shop in Budapest. They bicker a lot, can’t really stand each other. But they don’t know that they are pen pals.

The movie has some sharp dialogues and great characters. Like the grumpy store owner and one of the employees that runs away every time the boss asks someone for his honest opinion. Almost the entire film is set in the store. James Stewart is charming as ever and it’s a pretty fun film classic.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 133: Animal Kingdom

Director: David Michôd

Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama

Runtime: 113 minutes

Year: 2010

Starring: Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, Luke Ford, Jacki Weaver, Sullivan Stapleton, James Frencheville, Dan Wylie, Anthony Hayes, Laura Wheelwright, Mirrah Foulkes, Justin Rosniak

Description: A seventeen year-old (James Frencheville) navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective (Guy Pearce) who thinks he can save him.

Review: Director David Michôd gave his debut movie “Animal Kingdom” a bit of a misleading title. It sounds more like an accessible Disney movie of nature documentary, but instead it’s a film with themes like drugs, murder and crime. “Animal Kingdom” refers to the ‘beast’ in people and the hierarchy in the criminal world.

In the film we follow Josh “J” Cody, a seventeen year old boy who ends up under the pressure of his three criminal uncles. Josh gets into dangerous situations because of them and eventually has to choose between his loyalty to his family and the help of detective Leckie.

The story of “Animal Kingdom” is pretty simple and is about the choice between good and bad. This does give the movie some clichés and some choices and plot twist seem unrealistic. The movie does surprise though, there are some engrossing scenes that all have a great buildup. What makes “Animal Kingdom” special is the gloomy and dark tone that dominates. No bright colors, just cold hues. And then the contrast between the dark shadows and the bright lights. Sometimes when the ultimate bad guy Andrew ‘Pope’ Cody is in shot, he is in darkness surrounded by darker shadows. And the dramatic music also adds to that depressed atmosphere.

The film is also great because of the fantastic performances. Especially Jacki Weaver, as Janine Cody. Her charming yet devilish character draws your attention. James Frencheville, who plays J, plays his first role in “Animal Kingdom” and manages to keep up with the rest. Guy Pearce also gives away a solid performance.

“Animal Kingdom” is an acting film. The dramatic, sometimes cliché plot serves as a background for a grabbing performance by the cast. “Animal Kingdom” is not an accessible movie, but it’s a vibrant movie experience.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 132: Cat People

Director: Jacques Tourneru

Genre: Thriller/ Horror

Runtime: 70 minutes

Year: 1942

Starring: Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Tom Conway, Jane Randolph, Jack Holt, Alan Napier, Alec Craig, Elizabeth Russel, Donald Kerr, Dynamite

Description: An American man (Kent Smith) marries a Serbian immigrant (Simone Simon) who fears that she will turn into the cat person of her homeland's fables if they are intimate together.

Review: Val Lewton, the producer of this film, said ‘the power of the camera to generate suspense lies in its power to suggest’. You can definitely see that in “Cat People”. From the beginning of the movie there are little yet meaningful happenings that tell you that something bad is going to happen. And when it happens, it’s the suggestion of what’s happening that builds the tension.

The omen that something is wrong with Irena is that she has an extraordinary relationship with cats. A drawing of a panther, animals in a pet store that go wild when she enters, an aggressive cat and a canary that is afraid of her and dies. Irena’s house is also filled with cat related items and she enjoys the sound of the roaring cats in the nearby zoo. The movie tends to drag by paying too much attention to all those omens for a large part of the film. And the subplot of Irena’s marriage with Oliver not working also gets way too much attention. The movie is short, but it takes way too long before something interesting actually happens. Sorry to say, this movie is a little bit boring for a movie in the genre thriller/ horror.

When there is something exciting going on (which is in only three scenes), you don’t really see anything. Only through shadows and sound. This does work, because of the power to suggest.

“Cat People” has an interesting story, but it’s not executed that way. I can hardly call this a horror film. The movie takes too long to become exciting. The scenes that do have threat in them where filmed very well though, effective use of dark and light. I think a lover of classics will like it, a lover of horror probably won’t.

Rating: 2/ 5

Video of the Week (20)

It's Jimmy Fallon's 40th birthday and there is a big surprise waiting for him behind the blue curtain. And nothing anyone would expect. But, stay tuned, it's a double feature!

 

Movie Trailer Sunday (122)

Here are this weeks trailers.

 

The Face of Love

Description: Annette Bening, Ed Harris, Robin Williams, Amy Brenneman, Jess Weixler

Director: Arie Posin, Matthew McDuffie

Starring: Five years after losing the love her life, Nikki (Annette Bening) falls in love again...at first sight. Tom (Ed Harris) is an art teacher with a kind heart and a great zest for life, but what he doesn't know is that he's also a near perfect double for Nikki's deceased husband. Seduced by the chance to live as if her husband was never lost, Nikki spirals into a fantasy of the present as past, while Tom must unravel the mystery behind her immediate and unconditional love.

Trailer: Trailer "The Face of Love"

Comment: Nice to see Annette Bening in a romance movie, I'm really looking forward to seeing this.

Walk of Shame

Description: A reporter's dream of becoming a news anchor is compromised after a one-night stand leaves her stranded in downtown L.A. without a phone, car, ID or money - and only 8 hours to make it to the most important job interview of her life.

Director: Steven Brill

Starring: Elizabeth Banks, James Marsden

Trailer: Trailer "Walk of Shame"

Comment: I love the funny Elizabeth Banks.

 

The Quiet Ones

Description: A University physics professor assembles a team to help create a poltergeist.

Director: John Pogue

Starring: Jared Harris, Sam Claflin, Erin Richards, Rory Fleck-Byrne, Olivia Cooke

Trailer: Trailer "The Quiet Ones"

Comment: Creepy...

Adult World

Description: A recent college graduate (Emma ROberts) who believes she's destined to be a great poet, instead winds up working for an adult book store.

Director: SCott Coffey

Starring: Emma Roberts, John Cusack, Evan Peters, Cloris Leachman, Shannon Woodward

Trailer: Trailer "Adult World"

Comment: I just love John Cusack.... love him!

 

Cesar Chavez

Description: A biography of the civil-rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez.

Director: Diego Luna

Starring: Michael Peña, Rosario Dawson, America Ferrara. John Malkovich, Jacob Vargas, Yancy Arias, Wes Bentley, John Ortoz

Trailer: Trailer "Cesar Chavez"

Comment: This looks amazing.

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 15: The Host

Director: Andrew Niccol
Genre: Science Fiction/ Thriller/ Romance
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Diane Kruger, Max Irons, Jake Abel, William Hurt

Description: When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over their bodies and erasing their memories, Melanie (Saoirse Ronan) will risk everything to protect the people she cares most about, proving that love can conquer all in a dangerous new world.

Review: After the Twilight saga ended, author Stephenie Meyer had one more book that could be turned into a movie. Andrew Niccol, who we know from “Lord of War” and “In Time” was given the task to direct “The Host”.
The story is set in the future where mankind is taken over by parasites called Souls. They mean well and are convinced to help people in times of war and hunger. Melanie Stryder is one of the last humans, but is also taken over by one of the Souls. But the human in her is still very strong and she finds a way to work together with the Soul.
Like “Twilight” the young actors have the biggest roles in the story and a love triangle is present. That makes this movie more like a paranormal version of “Twilight’. The storyline is like “Invasion of the Body Snatcher”, but it never grabs you like the 1978 movie did. The movie is slow at times, because they are trying to create some character development. They never succeed in making us love the characters.
Saoirse Ronan plays her role well, but that annoying voice-over in her hear is a real burden. Unfortunately it’s necessary for the story. Diane Kruger and William Hurt don’t disappoint either, but the rest of the actors are forgettable.
“The Host” is the victim of a badly executed scenario, which already wasn’t strong as a novel. There is absolutely no tension and this movie feels like it takes forever to end. At some points it was so boring and ridiculous, I just wasn’t entertained.

Rating: 1,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Movies from 2008

The most recent year so far for my top five of movies from a certain year. It’s 2008. An what a great year it was for film.

5. In Bruges
It’s Colin Farrell surprising me in this fast paced black comedy, about two assassins who’re laying low after one of them mistakenly kills a young boy instead of his mark. And Ralph Fiennes is fantastic as the coldhearted boss. I laughed so hard!

4. Happy Go Lucky
Sally Hawkins shines as Poppy, a London schoolteacher who is probably the happiest person on Earth. Some will hate her for it, but I loved her and this witty comedy.

3. The Wrestler
Mickey Rourke was nominated for an Oscar and took home the Golden Globe. His best performance so far and there is no single misstep in Darren Aronofsky’s drama.

2. Pineapple Express
When I first heard about this I thought it would be silly. Well, it is, but it’s a good kind of silly. Seth Rogen and James Franco are an awesome duo and how loveable was Franco as stoner Saul Silver?

1. Gran Torino
Clint Eastwood played the most miserable SOB on screen that year (a racist Korean War veteran), but he turns into an unlikely hero worthy of tears shed. That's a stunning accomplishment. I love this movie!

They Almost Made the Top 5: Cloverfield, Untraceable, Definitely Maybe, The Other Boleyn Girl, Horton Hears a Who, Get Smart, The Dark Knight, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Burn After Reading, Slumdog Millionaire, Frost/ Nixon, Marley & Me, Wall E, Milk

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 14: Goats

Director: Christopher Neil
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: David Duchovny, Vera Farmiga, Graham Phillips, Keri Russell, Justin Kirk, Anthony Anderson, Ty Burrell, Alan Ruck, Dakota Johnson

Description: As Ellis (Graham Phillips) prepares to leave Tucson for his freshman year at an East Coast prep school, he also faces separating from his flaky, new age mother (Vera Farmiga) and the only real father he has ever known: Goat Man (David Duchovny).

Review: In this strange coming-of-age-comedy the young Ellis has to deal with a lot of things: a new school, his new age mom, his estranged dad and the Goat Man. The man who has been like a dad to him, more than his actual father. All these freaky and quirky characters make this a fresh and light dramedy.
Graham Phillips is touching as the young adult struggling with all the people in his life. David Duchovny makes you laugh with his vague character. Vera Farmiga is the weirdest one of the bunch, but she never overdoes it. The other characters don’t have enough depth to even care about them.The story is interesting, but it never seems to go towards an actual ending, which leaves you with an unsatisfied feeling.
“Goats” has heart, it’s a fun film when you’re in the mood for something that’s a bit strange. But a good kind of strange.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 13: The Watch

Director: Akiva Schaffer
Genre: Comedy/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, Richard Ayoade, Rosemarie DeWitt, Will Forte Description: Four men who form a neighborhood watch group as a way to get out of their day-to-day family routines find themselves defending the Earth from an alien invasion.

Review: It’s a very noble deed: starting a neighborhood watch to help de police out. Evan is the initiator, but only three other people in Glenview want to help him. Soon the four men stumble upon something that’s bigger than any of them: extraterrestrials. That’s basically the story and you shouldn’t take it too seriously. It’s a simplistic comedy with jokes that pass you in warp speed. Occasionally they will make you laugh, but they’re mostly juvenile sex jokes.
Although we’re dealing with a cast who has lots of experience with the comedy genre, they don’t lift “The Watch” to a level above average. Ben Stiller is just being his silly self, Vince Vaughn is overly loud and outspoken and Jonah Hill is constantly proving that he’s not a loser. The one that made me laugh the most was Richard Ayoade, who’s just starting to make a name in Hollywood. But then again he’s British and their humor is almost always better than American humor.
Time goes fast while watching this movie, but when it comes to humor the makers were aiming for quantity instead of quality. “The Watch” isn’t a movie you should expect much from, it’s simple and easy to watch.

Rating: 2/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (121)

Here are this weeks trailers.

The Right Kind of Wrong

Description: Leo Palamino (Ryan Kwanten) is a failed-writer-turned-dishwasher made famous for his many flaws and shortcomings in a blog called "Why You Suck," a huge Internet success written by his ex-wife. Then Leo meets Colette (Sara Canning), the girl of his dreams... on the day she is marrying the perfect man. And so, the ultimate underdog story begins as Leo, a fearless dreamer, risks all to show Colette and the whole wide world all that is right with a man famous for being wrong.

Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik

Starring: Ryan Kwanten, Sara Canning, Will Sasso, Catherine O'Hara

Trailer: Trailer "The Right Kind of Wrong"

Comment: Probably awfull, but I do love Catherine O'Hara. She's funny!

 

Don Peyote

Description: We follow a man's decent into perceived madness as he goes on a journey to unravel the fabric of status-quo society. Fogler's leading character, Warren Allman, dives deep down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, secret societies, and counter culture to try and figure out what's really happening in our world and who is pulling the strings.

Director: Michael Canzoniero, Dan Fogler

Starring: Dan Fogler, Anne Hathaway, Jay Baruchel, Dean Winters, Josh Duhamel, Daniel Pinchbeck, Yang Miller

Trailer: Trailer "Don Peyote"

Comment: What the hell is this? This is either briljant or terrible.

Small Time

Description: Al Klein (Christopher Meloni) and his longtime friend, Ash Martini (Dean Norris) own a used car lot. These two know every trick in the book when it comes to selling cars. Martini is a good time charley, who never settled down. Klein, however, still pines for his ex-wife Barbara (Bridget Moynahan) who left him years ago for a more successful man. After their son, Freddy (Devon Bostick,) graduates high school, he decides to forego college in favor of selling cars with his old man. Klein is thrilled when Freddy moves in with him, it's the first time these two have lived under one roof since Freddy was kid. Barbara, on the other hand, is very far from thrilled. But what's good for Klein might not be the best thing for Freddy, as Freddy quickly transforms from innocent young man into a seasoned car salesman, leaving Al with a tough decision to make.

Director: Joel Surnow

Starring: Christopher Meloni, Dean Norris, Devon Bostick, Bridget Moynahan, Kevin Nealon

Trailer: Trailer "Small Time"

Comment: Nothing special.

Summer in February

Description: A true tale of love, liberty and scandal amongst the Edwardian artists' colony in Cornwall

Director: Christopher Menaul

Starring: Dominic Cooper, Emily Browning, Dan Stevens

Trailer: Trailer "Summer in February"

Comment: I always like stories like this.

The Stag

Description: A bachelor party weekend in the great outdoors takes some unexpected detours.

Director: John Butler

Starring: Andrew Scott, Hugh O'Conor, Peter McDonald, Brian Gleeson, Michael Lugge, Andrew Bennet

Trailer: Trailer "The Stag"

Comment: This looks hilarious!

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 12: The Place Beyond the Pines

Director: Derek Cianfrance
Genre: Drama/Crime
Runtime: 140 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Bradley Cooper, Rose Byrne, Ray Liotta, Dane DeHaan, Bruce Greenwood, Ben Mendelsohn

Description: A motorcycle stunt rider (Ryan Gosling) turns to robbing banks as a way to provide for his lover (Eva Mendes) and their newborn child, a decision that puts him on a collision course with an ambitious rookie cop (Bradley Cooper) navigating a department ruled by a corrupt detective.

Review: We follow the stories of Luke and Avery. Luke is a motorcycle stunt rider, who finds out he has a son. He wants to be a part of his life and he decides to rob banks to support his son and the mother Romina. Luke is confronted with the idealistic cop Avery. One decision changes their lives completely.
The movie is divided in three parts: Luke, Avery and their sons. It’s a pretty long movie, which you only feel in the last part of it. Especially the first part is fantastic. The part with the sons is a good addition to the story, but it could have been a bit shorter.
We know director Derek Cianfrance from his intenste drama “Blue Valentine”. Ryan Gosling had a strong performance there and in “The Place Beyond the Pines” he shows that again. He’s the best part of the film. His character Luke is an anti-hero, with a body full of tattoos and who keeps people at a distance. The combination of his vulnerability and his tough image make his character interesting. Bradley Cooper has been doing some great things too, although his performance isn’t as memorable as in “Silver Linings Playbook”. Eva Mendes gives away her best performance so far, as the mother of Luke’s son.
“The Place Beyond the Pines” is a beautiful drama about choices, fathers and sons. Derek Cianfrance confirms with this movie that he’s an exceptional filmmaker.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 11: I Give It a Year

Director: Dan Mazer
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Rose Byrne, Rafe Spall, Simon Baker, Anna Faris, Minnie Driver, Stephen Merchant, Olivia Coleman, Jason Fleyming

Description: Newlywed couple Nat (Rose Byrne) and Josh (Rafe Spall) are deliriously happy despite their differences, though friends and family aren't convinced that they can last. With their first anniversary approaching and attractive alternatives in the mix, can they last?

Review: After a short romance, Nat and Josh decide to get married. That there are many big differences between them doesn’t bother the couple. Their family and friends do question the marriage.
“I Give It a Year” starts where most other romantic comedies end. The film tries to flip the genre upside down by showing us what happens when two people in love get married. It’s an interesting starting-point, but it still has many romcom clichés in it. For example that the leading characters discover that someone else is the one for them. It does have a cynical tone to it, but some of those jokes are a big miss. Especially some situation, that are meant to be funny, just aren’t. The film is one big akward moment.
Rafe Spall, who plays Josh, was only a supporting actor so far. His somewhat immature character is really sympathetic. Rose Byrne has the unfortunate task the play the most uncongenial character: the perfectionistic and ambitious Nat. It’s a lot like Helen, who she portrayed in “Bridesmaids”. Minnie Driver on the other hand is hilarious as Nat’s crude sister. Olivia Coleman, as the weird therapist, really overdoes it. She totally lost herself in the role, which makes it over the top. As a viewer you are more drawn to the charming Josh then the up stuck Nat.
“I Give It a Year” tries to give the term romantic comedy another dimension to go a little further. The makers didn’t achieve it and is missing its balance. One missed shot.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 10: People Like Us

Director: Alex Kurtzman
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Pfeifer, Olivia Wild, Philip Baker Hall, Jon Favreau

Description: While settling his recently deceased father's estate, Sam (Chris Pine) discovers he has a sister (Elizabeth Banks) whom he never knew about, leading both siblings to re-examine their perceptions about family and life choices.

Review: Director Alex Kurtzman is known for his production work, this is the first movie he directed. And it’s one to be proud of.
We meet Sam, a salesman with talented and he lives a happy life with his girlfriend. When his father dies, whom he never really connected with, he has to face his mom again. While settling his father’s estate Sam finds out that he has a sister, Frankie, and he wants to get to know her. Sam’s view on life changes and he soon realizes what the important things in life are.
Chris Pine always was an actor who was just nice to look at. This movie changed that for me, because his performance is strong, convincing and heartfelt. Same goes for Elizabeth Banks, who has a fantastic connection with Pine. Michelle Pfeifer, one of my favorites, is very solid and proofs that she still belongs with the best.
The story sounds a bit mundane, but it’s very well executed. Because of the interesting characters, you can relate to them and you are with them every step of the way. The ending scene gave me goose bumps, in a good way.
“People Like Us” is an overlooked movie, I don’t think many people have seen it. It’s definitely worth watching.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Will Ferrell Moments

Will Ferrell always makes me laugh and he doesn’t even have to make an effort. Here are my five favourite Will Ferrell moments.

5. Dust in the Wind (“Old School”)
When one of their fraternity brothers dies (he was very old you know), Frank the Tank decides to sing at the funeral.

4. Excting elf (“Elf”)
Buddy the Elf is a character you just simply can’t dislike. When he hears Santa is coming to town, he is overly excited.

3. On fire (“Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”)
Ricky Bobby crashes during a race and he thinks he’s on fire. He has a breakdown and this is what he says: "Help me Jesus! Help me Jewish God! Help me Allah! Help me Tom Cruise! Tom Cruise, use your witchcraft on me to get the fire off me! Help me Oprah Winfrey!"

2. Glass case of emotions (“Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”)
Another breakdown, this time it’s as Ron Burgundy. After his dog died, he calls up his friend and he tells him he’s in a glass case of emotions. You really have to see this to know it’s funny.

1. Doing gymnastics (“Old School”)
In order to get his fraternity to win, all the guys have to participate in a sport. Frank does gymnastics, with a ribbon. It’s freakin’ hilarious!

They Almost Made the Top 5: Bunk beds (“Step Brothers”), What is love? (“A Night at the Roxbury”)

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 8: All Good Things

Director: Andrew Jarecki
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Romance
Runtime: 101 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Frank Langella, Philip Baker Hall, Nick Offerman, Kristen Wiig

Description: Mr. David Marks (Ryan Gosling) was suspected but never tried for killing his wife Katie (Kirsten Dunst) who disappeared in 1982, but the truth is eventually revealed.

Review: Today the American Kathleen Durst is still missing. On January the 31st of 1982 the student from Manhattan, who was 29 at the time, disappeared. Thirty years later Andrew Jarecki makes the movie “All Good Things”. The movie is inspired by the life of Kathleen and her husband Robert Durst, son of an influential real estate agent.
The two main characters, Katie and David, are very well introduced and the movie has a strong start. The bond between them and the viewers is developed, so you can easily relate to the characters. The young David Marks meets student Katie. Very soon a passionate and tender romance develops. The natural chemistry between the actors Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst makes it all very believable and their relationship looks very real.
After David decides to work for his father, things start to go downhill for them. And even David’s behaviors changes and not in a good way. David is no longer the man Katie fell in love with.
From that moment on, and the moment where Katie disappears, the movie is going in a different direction. It gets a bit confusing and I find it hard to keep my attention. I loved the beginning, but disliked the last part of the movie.
The fact that we never find out what really happened to her makes the ending a bit more bearable. This movie could have been so much better.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 7: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Mystery
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Hurt, Mark Strong, Tom Hardy, Toby Jones, Stephen Graham, Ciarán Hinds

Description: In the early 1970s during the Cold War, the head of British Intelligence, Control (John Hurt), resigns after an operation in Budapest, Hungary goes badly wrong. It transpires that Control believed one of four senior figures in the service was in fact a Russian agent - a mole - and the Hungary operation was an attempt to identify which of them it was. Smiley (Gary Oldman) had been forced into retirement by the departure of Control, but is asked by a senior government figure to investigate a story told to him by a rogue agent, Ricky Tarr (Tom Hardy), that there was a mole. Smiley considers that the failure of the Hungary operation and the continuing success of Operation Witchcraft (an apparent source of significant Soviet intelligence) confirms this, and takes up the task of finding him.

Review: John le Carré is without a doubt one of the masters of spy thrillers. The author of this story once worked for the MI6, so he knows how things work around there. His writing style criticizes the successful stories of James Bond. His characters are a bit less heroic, but because of their weaknesses they are more human. Take for instance George Smiley, the main character of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”. Smiley is a modest, middle-aged man, who wouldn’t reach for a gun but purely trusts on intelligence. He sounds dull when you compare him to James Bond, but George Smiley is a very intriguing figure. Especially when you let Gary Oldman portray him.
The writers stayed very true to the novel. John Hurt plays Control, the boss of MI6, who sends agent Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong) on a secret mission to Budapest. He has to persuade a Hungarian general. It appears there is a spy in MI6, who hands out crucial information to Karla, the biggest spy in Russia. The general knows who it is, but Prideaux never lives to tell the tale. George Smiley, who’s just retired, has to find the mole.
It sounds like an average whodunit scenario, but there is more to it than meets the eye. The atmosphere and the characters are so interesting. The way director Alfredson filmed it, with the raw glow and different shades of brown, makes you feel like you are in the seventies. And there is a tension throughout the entire runtime of the film.
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” proves that you don’t need an actionhero to make a good spy thriller. This is a breathtaking movie.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (120)

Here are this weeks trailers.

 

Veronica Mars

Description: Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) has put Neptune and her amateur sleuthing days behind her on the eve of graduating law school. While interviewing at high-end law firms, Veronica gets a call from her ex-boyfriend Logan who has been accused of murder. Veronica heads back to Neptune just to help Logan find an attorney, but when things don�t seem right with how Logan's case is perceived and handled, Veronica finds herself being pulled back into a life she thought she had left behind.

Director: Rob Thomas

Starring: Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Chris Lowell, Ryan Hansen, Krysten Ritter, Percy Daggs III, Tina Majorino, Francis Capra Ken Marino, Enrico Colantoni

Trailer: Trailer "Veronica Mars"

Comment: Never watched the show, so why not start now.

 

A Most Wanted Man

Description: Present day Hamburg, Germany. A mysterious, tortured and near-dead half-Chechen, half-Russian man on the run arrives in the city's Islamic community desperate for help and looking to recover his late Russian father's ill-gotten fortune. Nothing about this young man seems to add up; is he a victim or a thief or, worse still, an extremist intent on destruction? Drawn into this web of intrigue is a private British banker and a young female lawyer determined to defend the defenseless. All the while, they are being watched by the brilliant, roguish chief of a covert German spy unit (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who fights to put the pieces together as the clock ticks.

Director: Anton Corbijn

Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright, Willem Dafoe, Daniel Brühl

Trailer: Trailer "A Most Wanted Man"

Comment:

 

Rob the Mob

Description: A couple targets the Mafia for heists and stumbles upon something big at an underground club.

Director: Raymond De Felitta

Starring: Michael Pitt, Nina Arianda, Andy Garcia, Ray Romano Trailer: Trailer "Rob the Mob"

Comment: Looks like a funny mob movie.

Brightest Star

Description: After the heartbreaking end of his first love, a recent college graduate sets out to win back the girl of his dreams only to discover a greater journey awaits him.

Director: Maggie Kiley

Starring: Chris Lowell, Allison Janney, Clark Gregg, Rose McIver, Jessica Szohr

Trailer: Trailer "Brightest Star"

Comment: This movie will probably be overlooked by everyone, but it caught my eye.

A Fall For Freedom

Description: The first comprehensive film to reveal the long and sordid history of the captive whale and dolphin entertainment business. Many of these marine parks and aquariums are directly or indirectly responsible for the death of thousands of the very animals they use for public entertainment. Premature deaths. Trainer injuries. Illegal practices. Educational misrepresentation. Government incompetence. Secret deals.

Director: Stanley Minasian

Starring: -

Trailer: Trailer "A Fall For Freedom"

Comment: Just the trailer alone breaks my heart.