The Interview (2014)

If the North Korean Sony hack was just a marketing ploy on the part of the company, as some have suggested, than it was a brilliant one, because this movie was not worth any commotion. It may have a pretty risky premise, involving the assassination of North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un, but nothing that happens in the story is anything above silly, sophomoric hijinks resulting in a violent third act that misses the mark completely. James Franco puts in a somewhat earnest performance as a TV show host who Jong-un is a superfan of, and Seth Rogen, as Aaron, his producer and best friend, plays Seth Rogen (again). The two just ad lib their ways through a film that is mediocrity parading as political satire, but never really finds the appropriate rhythm to be effective as one. A couple of good belly laughs, and a wonderful performance by Randall Park, playing Kim Jong-un, keep this from being an absolute bore. Feel free to skip this movie. Despite how you feel about freedom.

Grade: C
3D: N/A
Easter Egg: Yes. And it was my favorite part of the movie.

Starring: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Randall Park
Director: Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg
Writer(s): Dan Sterling (also story with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg)
RT: 112 min
Rating: R for pervasive language, crude and sexual humor, nudity, some drug use and bloody violence

Two Scentences:

Annie (2014): This updated version is oddly charming in some ways, but deeply flawed in so many others: some actors can't sing, some of the new songs are boring, and the way they use the old songs feel like they're just throwing them away. Quvenzhane Wallis does manage to carry the film just fine, and makes her character very relatable.

Grade: B-

The Pyramid (2014)

I thought after "Willow Creek" that maybe my dislike for found footage films had finally subsided, and maybe someone had shown the world that they don't have to suck. I was proved so, so wrong. So wrong. "The Pyramid" starts with text explaining that the film is all footage found at the site, only to give up on the found angle half way through the film, and added more than the two established cameras. While taking a more traditional approach to the horror genre, it still spliced in the found footage. WHY?! The plot falls apart as soon as the characters get into the catacombs of the pyramid, and dialogue always feels like it was slapped together from a book of cliches that the writers found in a public library. The performances never feel involved, and most of the actors just seem bored. However, it never feels like it's bad enough to please the fan of the worst horror films in existence. This is just a forgettable dud.

Grade: D-
3D: N/A
Easter Egg: No

Starring: Ashley Hinshaw, James Buckley, Denis O'Hare

Diretor: Gregory Levasseur

Writer(s): Daniel Meersand and Nick Simon

RT: 89 min

Rating: R for some horror violence and bloody images

Two Sentences:

Are You Here (2014):  This is a very lukewarm dramedy that involves a lot of very talented people. There isn't much that is actually funny about it, and Owen Wilson is extremely unlikeable as the movie's lead.

Grade: C

The Theory of Everything (2014)

The very problem with trying to shove an entire life of such an accomplished person, is that filmmakers tend to focus on the most dramatic moments, and the audience doesn't often get something that feels like reality. Thus we end up with soap opera versions of well-known figures. James Marsh does very little with "The Theory of Everything" that hasn't been done in every biopic since the beginning of film: over-dramatic love triangles, blood coughed into handkerchiefs, sappy music, bad old age make-up. The writing is bland, and the pacing is so achingly slow. In fact, the only thing really worth taking from this film is the phenomenal performance of Eddie Redmayne, who embodies Stephan Hawking so well, some people may mistake his performance for the rest of the film. This is such a sadly underwhelming tale, and it only ever amounts to a retread of a retread.

Grade: D+

3D: N/A

Easter Egg: No

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, David Thewlis

Director: James Marsh

Writer(s): Anthony McCarten - Book: Jane Hawking

RT: 123 min

Rating: PG-13 for some thematic elements and suggestive material

Penguins of Madagascar (2014)

After three "Madagascar" films, and having their own show on Nickelodeon (which I will admit I haven't seen), the four super spy Penguins have received their very own silver screen feature. Thankfully, it was pretty fantastic. It starts with an origin of sorts, and picks up in the middle of "Madagascar 3", where we find our polar protagonists planning a heist on Fort Knox. From there we meet a host of new characters including Dave (Darren?) the super villain octopus, who was constantly passed over in zoos for penguins, and the North Wind spy team, who are sent to help animals in trouble (Wonder Pets?), and constantly end up in our heroes' way.

The Penguins were always the best part of the "Madagascar" series, so it isn't any wonder that they have continuously risen in popularity. The writing is better than any of the previous films, and they top the laughs from scene to scene with increasing absurdity, and crisp humor that are often surprising. A particular running joke involving Nicholas Cage comes to mind. There are a lot of jokes that flop, but the fact that they land a lot more than fail is impressive. John Malkovich is especially wonderful as Dave, and Benedict Cumberbatch (who is in everything this year) lends a wonderful straight man quality to Classified, the leader of the north wind, but they never distract from the main four, who carry the film wonderfully. Oh, and a Werner Herzog cameo never hurt anybody either!

Grade: B
3D: Not necessary
Easter Egg: Early credits sequence.

Starring: Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights
Director: Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith
Writer(s): John Aboud, Michael Colton, Bradon Sawyer
RT: 92 min
Rating: PG for mild action and some rude humor

Two Sentences:

To Be Takei: Jennifer M. Kroot documents her subject, Asian-American actor, and gay icon, George Takei, with great respect, and complete depth. Never does the film fell like hero worship, though it delves into the topic, but instead she allows those who know him best to discuss the flaws that they love him in spite of, or because of.

Grade: B+

Horrible Bosses 2: I am almost ashamed at how much I laughed at this movie (almost), because it doesn't tend to be very smart, and it retreads a lot of the same jokes that the first covered. Nonetheless, there is a lot of energy, and the cast seems to be having a lot of fun in spite of some of the stupid situations they have been put in by the writers.

Grade: B-

White Bird in a Blizzard: There are some really strong performances in this film: Shailene Woodley as a young girl dealing with the disappearance of her mother, Eva Green as her mother, slowly losing her mind, and Christopher Meloni as her spineless father coping with his own crippling loneliness. That aside, some of the dialogue is poor, and the characters are unlikeable, and yet, it somehow remains intriguing long after you think you found out what has actually happened.

Grade: C+