What happens you create a global phenomenon? You are allowed more time and money to build a cohesive story, and construct characters that people may actually want to root for. Francis Lawrence, taking over for Gary Ross, got a little more room to breathe from the studio, and it showed. The characters were more lush, the stakes felt higher (a big problem with the first), and I actually didn't want Peeta to die. And boy, did I really want him to die in the first one. Jennifer Lawrence is even better in this installment. Her character Katniss, suffering from PTSD, stays a compelling emotional anchor to the story. The compassion and resilience she exudes almost makes the audience want to join in the revolution against the capital that she has become the symbol of. The only major criticisms of the film I had was how, at times, some of the conflict seemed a forced, which took you out of the scenes, and the cinematography was a little less then ideal for some of the action scenes. It was all forgiven by the performances of a tight ensemble, and some beautiful scenic design.
Grade: B+
3D: N/A
Easter Egg: No
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Donald Sutherland
Director: Francis Lawrence
Writer(s): Simon Beaufoy & Michael Arndt - Novel: Suzanne Collins
RT: 146 min
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images, thematic elements, a suggestive situation and language
Though it starts in an emotional fury, and ends with a few flashes of brilliance, first-time director, Peter Landesman's "Parkland" loses a bit of its luster after roughly thirty minutes. It starts with John F. Kennedy's assassination, and moves through the traumatic hours (and days) following at Parkland Hospital, and with the people who were directly effected by the president's murder; including Robert Oswald, Abraham Zapruder, and James Hosty, the FBI who was previously keeping tabs Lee Harvey Oswald. The cast is decent ensemble of faces you recognize, and some you know, but may not. However, Paul Giamatti, playing Zapruder, turns in the best performance of the piece. His shock and despair throughout the dealings hits you hard, and gives you an instant reaction to Kennedy's death, even though you never see it happen. He and Kat Steffens, as Jacqueline Kennedy, set the somber tone of the film perfectly. Which may dissipate slowly after the first act, but it never quite leaves you. Through this, you almost get the feeling as if you were there, which makes it a little tough to watch at times.
Grade: B
3D: N/A
Easter Egg: No
Starring: Marcia Gay Harden, Zac Efron, Billy Bob Thornton
Director: Peter Landesman
Writer(s): Peter Landesman - Book: Vincent Bugliosi
RT: 93 min
Rating: Rated PG-13 for bloody sequences of ER trauma procedures, some violent images and language, and smoking throughout
"Thor: The Dark World" was a lot of fun, and had some great action pieces to tie it together. It is now officially the best sequel they have produced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though the two Iron Man sequels aren't hard to beat. The chemistry between Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston is the best their characters have had in the three films they've been featured in. Natalie Portman, as Jane Foster, becomes a more dynamic character in this film, and strays from just being the typical love interest. At this rate she will have her own film in Phase three. If we're lucky. Christopher Eccleston joins the cast as the main villain, Malekith, and is a very welcome addition. His menacing demeanor and lack of overacting may possibly have made my favorite villain in the universe so far.
Every moment spent in the other realms is grand and dangerous. Director Alan Taylor, taking the reigns from Kenneth Branagh, keeps a dazzling pace in these scenes. Unfortunately, while on Earth, Taylor and his writers get stuck with Kat Dennings' character, who is a waste of screen time, and gets far too much of it. Why couldn't they have traded her for more Chris O' Dowd, or a longer prologue with the Dark Elves? They even managed to screw up Stellan Skarsgard, making him a pantsless buffoon with little to no explanation. Though, I will say, when the "comedic relief" isn't on screen (which they could have just put that title squarely on Hiddleston, who was really a major delight), it is easy to forget about them with all of the action taking place elsewhere. Not my favorite MCU film so far, but it was one hell of an achievement!
Grade: B+
3D: Not necessary
Easter Egg: 2! You get two!!!
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston
Director: Alan Taylor
Writer(s): Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely - Story: Don Payne, Robert Rodat - Comics: Stan Lee, Jerry Lieber, Jack Kirby
RT: 112 min
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content
I have watched many of the horror films released this year, and not one of them was as tense or frightening as J. C. Chandor's "All Is Lost". Every moment is terrifying, the film starts with a yacht colliding with a floating container 1700 knots offshore, and every scenario following is as thrilling as the last. Robert Redford, playing a character simply known as "Our Man", is the only face seen in the entire film, and it may be one of his finest roles to date. He barley speaks, you don't get any back story on him, and yet, you feel like you know him so well. There aren't many men who could pull this off, but Redford does it without missing a beat. I haven't felt this afraid of water since "Open Water", and I couldn't have enjoyed it more.
Grade: A
3D: N/A
Easter Egg: No
Starring: Robert Redford
Director: J.C. Chandor
Writer(S): J.C. Chandor
RT: 106 min
Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language
I am a fan of the "Jackass" franchise. I find some sort pleasure in the simplicity of grown men pranking each other, doing inane stunts, and handling copious amounts of fecal matter in various ways (do you like how I tried to make that sound a little more classy?). However, "Bad Grandpa" tried to do something that none of the other films had, inject a plot, and failed. There are maybe two or three really good scenes in the film (the diner scene with the farting contest, the beauty pageant, the vending machine), but overall the film falls flat in so many ways. Some scenes aren't funny (the fishing scene), some scenes have bad concepts (the funeral scene), and in one scene I actually feared for the life of an actor (the bar scene with the bikers). There really aren't many times when I'll say that simply having plot ruined a film, but even with Spike Jonze's help, this is definitely one of them.
Grade: C-
Easter Egg: Extra footage through the credits
3D: N/A
Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Jackson Nicoll, Greg Harris
Director: Jeff Tremaine
Writer(s): Johnny Knoxville & Jeff Tremaine
RT: 92 min
Rating: R for strong crude and sexual content throughout, language, some graphic nudity and brief drug use.
In "Captain Phillips", Tom Hanks proves to the world that he is still a commodity, and deserves not only the accolades he has already received, but any that may be coming his way as well. This is his finest performance since 2000's "Castaway". Paul Greengrass should also be given great praise for the tense, evenly-paced thriller he has laid out. His handling of the story of ship Captain being taken by Somali Pirates is as expertly made as his 2006 docu-drama "United 93". Once the action is kicked off, it keeps your heart rate up, and your breath in short supply. Barry Ackroyd's cinematography is gritty and in the moment, while Henry Jackman's score is perfect companion to the action on screen. Though, with all of these professionals on board, the one thing that stood out to me was the performance of rookie actor Barkhad Abdi, playing the leader of the Pirate crew. He plays Muse with a stunning bravado undercut with tortured sadness, and actually manages to outshine Hanks in much of the film. This is seriously not a film you should miss.
Grade: A
3D: N/A
Easter Egg: No
Starring: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi
Director: Paul Greengrass
Writer(s): Billy Ray - Book: Richard Phillips & Stephen Talty
RT: 134 min
Rating: PG-13 for sustained intense sequences of menace, some violence with bloody images, and for substance use
