Draft Day (2014)

Ivan Reitman has directed many a great film, but seems to be on bit of a dry streak. There was hope that "Draft Day" would have pulled him out of it. Unfortunately, its melodramatic formula got in the way of what could have been the football equivalent to "Moneyball". Scott Rothman and Rajiv Joseph's script focuses too heavily on the personal problems of Kevin Costner's Sonny Weaver, Jr., the GM of the Cleveland Browns, and a lot less on the problems with the team. It never feels like you are in the moment with the draft, and the actual draft itself is only in about a quarter of the film. A few solid performances, from Costner, Chadwick Boseman (playing a potential draft pick), Frank Langella (as the Browns owner), and Ellen Burstyn (as Costner's mother), keep the film afloat and watchable. The dealings, however, become a little outlandish, and final resolution is too neat for such a chaotic concept. "Draft Day" amounted to nothing more than a fluff piece.

Grade: C+
3D: N/A
Easter Egg: No

Starring: Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, Frank Langella
Director: Ivan Reitman
Writer(s): Scott Rothman & Rajiv Joseph
RT: 109 min
Rating: PG-13 on appeal for brief strong language and sexual references

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Sure, this film had a couple of story issues, but what film doesn't? It is the most solid, most thrilling, and most overall well-made film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Anthony and Joe Russo took the Marvel formula, and flipped it to create a spy thriller with great action sequences (including my new favorite car chase), and a stellar script that is a little transparent, but ultimately tense and funny. They were given a great leading cast, which they used to full advantage; not wasting a single talent on screen like a few others in the franchise have managed to do.

Chris Evans is utterly charming as Steve Rodgers (Captain America), he displays a idealistic innocence, even after surviving WWII and the "Battle of New York" from "The Avengers", that makes you instantly like him, and want to root for him at every turn. Samuel L. Jackson took his Nick Fury to a whole new level of badass, and Scarlett Johansson keeps making Black Widow one of the most well-rounded and intriguing characters in this universe. The addition of Anthony Mackie as the Falcon was very welcome. He has been the only interesting comic relief in the three Phase II films (the kid in "Iron Man 3" and Kat Dennings in "Thor 2" were unbearable).  The Russo Brothers even snagged a great performance out of Robert Redford, who is playing Nick Fury's mentor, and head of the World Security Council, Alexander Pierce. And any time I see Cobie Smulders on screen, I instantly melt... so, there is that. Did I mention this is my new favorite Marvel film?

Grade: A
3D: Meh. Not worth it.
Easter Egg: Two seems to be the new norm for Marvel Studios

Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie
Director: Anthony and Joe Russo
Writer(s): Christopher Markus & Stephan McFeely - Story - Ed Brubaker
RT: 136 min
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, gunplay and action throughout