CYRUS: AN UNEXPECTED SWEET AND QUIRKY FILM

Unexpectedly sweet but also funny and well done. I thought it was going to be a goofball comedy but it turned into a heartfelt drama with interesting characters. John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei and Jonas Hill all do a spectacular job. Lovely film.

DUE DATE: THIS MOVIE HAS EXPIRED!

As much as I love both Robert Downey Jr and Zach Galifanakis, both talents were lost in this weak remake of Planes Trains and Automobiles. Not one to watch. Downey must get home for the birth of his child, but is kicked off the plane and banned from flying after accidentally switching bags with loose cannon Galifanakis. Reluctantly, Downey takes a ride when he finds he looses his wallet with his money and ID. Let the road trip from hell commence. Once thing after another Downey is dragged, kicking and screaming through unbelievable circumstance and turns into more of an asshole. Galifanakis, while incompetent, shows he was a good heart, but that means little since he keeps messing everything up. A joke of a film, but no one is laughing. 

RED: REALLY ENJOYED this DVD

William Cooper: How's retirement, Frank?
Frank Moses: It's been a real blast.

Who wouldn't like a movie where Bruce Willis is a rogue ex-black ops agent who enlists old friends like Morgan Freeman, John Malcovitch and Helen Mirren while Mary Louise Parker hangs on his arm in wide disbelief while they fight with the bad guys? Did I mention that Helen Mirren wears combat boots?! This was more like a roller coater ride than a movie and I loved every minute of it. Willis plays a retired agent who is targeted for assassination, but his character could be anyone of his well known Die Hard type characters. The difference is that this time, these characters are "seniors" and have retired from "the life" until Willis asks for help. Not only do these "seniors" kick ass, they do it with style, grace and humor. It isn't the best film, nor the prettiest or and other superlative, but it was fun and a great romp and entertaining as hell and that should mean something.

BLACK SWAN: GOOD MOVIE, GREAT ACTRESS

Thomas Leroy: We all know the story. Virginal girl, pure and sweet, trapped in the body of a swan. She desires freedom but only true love can break the spell. Her wish is nearly granted in the form of a prince, but before he can declare his love her lustful twin, the black swan, tricks and seduces him. Devastated the white swan leaps of a cliff killing herself and, in death, finds freedom.

Although this film began as more of an independent film, Natalie Portman's acting was outstanding enough to catapult it a mainstream release. Obviously, Portman has swept all of the award ceremonies this year for best actress for a reason. What some people fail to understand, is that while this film showcases an outstanding performance, that in itself does not make for a outstanding film in itself. I think many people found this film to be too psychologically layered and found the sub story a little too complex and confusing. The movie is about a ballerina whose whole world is consumed with dance. She has a mother (the fabulous Barbara Hershey) who smothers her and has denied herself a balanced life in order to be a great ballerina. The combination, sets her up to be psychologically fragile and when put under the stress of taking over the prima ballerina position for Swan Lake she eventually cracks. We see her descent into madness, including a rivalry that doesn't exist. I found it an interesting portrayal of a naïve young woman searching for her own identity, but then again, I enjoyed more psychologically-based films. Plainly put, however wonderful Portman's portrayal of Nina is, it is not a film for everyone. It is a very dark film, and involves the less than pretty part of the ballet world.

THE TOURIST: CAUGHT IN A BAD ROMANCE

Frank Taylor: You're ravenous. Elise: Do you mean 'ravishing'? Frank Taylor: I do.

For romantic movie where both lead actors have absolutely no chemistry together, this film surprisingly did have some entertaining moments to it. Angelina Jolie is Elise, a sophisticated worldly woman who begins our movie at the target under the police's is watchful eye. She is being given instructions to meet her lover who just happens to have stolen a large amount of money before disappearing into thin air. It has been some time, and he has had reconstructive surgery so she isn't sure what he looks like now, but follows his directions blindly. While doing so, she befriends Frank (Johnny Depp looking much like Eddie Vedder) an unsuspecting tourist. Because the police don't know what her lover looks like, she uses the tourist as a smokescreen. The question is, or does he use her? From the beginning, I had extreme doubts as to the pairing of Jolie and Depp for this project. And, I was right, they have absolutely no chemistry with each other whatsoever. However, each in their own right give palatable performances. Depp has a sense of humor, however mild, while Jolie plays the femme fatale pretty much per the usual. The scenery is lovely, her costumes are beautiful, but the awkwardness between the two stands out like a sore thumb. The worst scene, perhaps, toward the end of the movie tries to have them dance with each other which is almost more painful to watch then them just interacting with each other. It is reminiscent of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, except it falls flat if not just looks plain old stupid. The ending I liked and although this wasn't the best work for either actor it was an entertaining movie. Or, it was something I could watch without being sick to my stomach. Not a glowing endorsement, but not to most terrible film I've seen.

THE FIGHTER: A KO ENSEMBLE

Mickey Ward: I'm the one who's fighting.

Not you, not you, and not you.

The Fighter, is a drama about boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's unlikely road to the world light welterweight title while dragging behind him his half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer whose life is impacted by living a less than angelic existence. While this film appears to be another in a long line of local boy makes good, it goes deeper than that in making it more personable and giving a look at the family as a whole and how this quest for greatness effects them all. Mark Mark (yes, I will forever call him that until he asks me not to) Wahlberg delivers a solid performance as the fighter with a dream and a pain in the ass family who simultaneously drag him down and pull him up. The two greatest offenders being his mother played by Melissa Leo, brash and abrasive, and his drug addicted, jail time serving brother seamlessly portrayed by Christian Bale. In fact, it is Bale who takes the spotlight away from Wahlberg not only with his acting, but by the story itself. At the end of the movie (and during the awards show season) we were introduced to the real pair of brothers and Bale is spot on in his recreation of Dicky, as also attested to by the slew of awards he received. The only real difference I found in this film was the focus on the family rather than just the man doing the actual fighting; like the family was fighting in the ring with him. It is a solid film carried well by Wahlberg but crafted by Leo and Bale. Amy Adams also did a top notch job as Mickey's girlfriend.

NEVER LET ME GO: SCI FI BRONTE

Kathy: We all complete. Maybe none of us really understand what we've lived through, or feel we've had enough time.

Kathy, Tommy and Ruth, (Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Kiera Knightly) three young friends in an idyllic boarding school in England where children are raised to be good and healthy; emphasis on the healthy. Like Stepford, instead of being created, these children are being raised to be demolished for parts until they "complete". They function like home schooled children in the real world while they wait patiently to be called upon for their time to be harvested. It all plays out much like a period piece with a sci-fi twist. The rain soaked gray English countryside is almost as sad as the muddied relations between these children as they make their way blindly to adulthood, their lot firmly established. It's a rather dreary piece if also poetic commentary on life and living it no matter the length. Solid performances by all the cast.

FOR COLORED GIRLS... FROM TYLER PERRY?!

Jo: Save your "sorry." One thing I don't need are anymore apologies. I got sorry greeting me at the front door. You can keep yours. I don't know what to do with them... I can't even... I have to throw some away. I can't even get to the clothes in my closet for all the sorries. I'm not even sorry about you being sorry.

Based on Ntozake Shange's play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf," this film, packed with star power and breathtaking performances, is a different kind of movie. It is a mix of poetry, Broadway play and film that while strange at first, blends into a lovely and unexpected product. Many of these women are raw, clinging to desperate lives and their actions and what they react to is not always pretty. In fact, because it is so real and happens every day, it almost becomes more scary to watch than a Wes Craven film. They deal with abuse and abusers of all kinds and still manage to find the strength within themselves to navigate through. It is not your average Tyler Perry film and won't be for everyone. But it is beautiful and poetic and lovely all in itself. Be sure to watch the bonus on how they gave each character both a name and a color of the rainbow through wardrobe. Lovely.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK: LIKE

NOT a full review

One of the best films of the year... the story of how Facebook was born, depending on who you believe. Criticised for being too "young" when really it's just a story about a guy who wanted to fit in and found a way to do it. Stellar performances from all involved, sharp story and compelling writing. A must see.

127 HOURS: 94 GRIPPING MINUTES

You know, I've been thinking. Everything is... just comes together. It's me. I chose this. I chose all this. This rock... this rock has been waiting for me my entire life. It's entire life, ever since it was a bit of meteorite a million, billion years ago. In space. It's been waiting, to come here. Right, right here. I've been moving towards it my entire life. The minute I was born, every breath that I've taken, every action has been leading me to this crack on the out surface.

It's hard to believe that a movie that has been credited with making people faint and sending them to the hospital after viewing a particularly gruesome scene, could be called life affirming and uplifting. This movie is closely, and I mean very closely, based on the story of Aron Ralston (brilliantly portrayed by James Franco) who despite being an excellent guide and hiker gets himself stuck in a canyon pinning his arm with a large boulder rendering him unable to move. Over the next five days Ralston videotapes himself chronicling his experience, the very material that was shown to Director Danny Boyle upon which the movie was true to. There aren't many films where an actor can keep you engaged while being stuck in one place, but this is certainly one that does. It is heart wrenching to listen to the messages he thought might be his final words to his parents. It is tragically funny to watch him make light of his situation and his stupidity of venturing out alone without telling anyone. And it is extremely difficult to watch him suffering both in physical pain and emotional pain as he reaches the crucial point where he has to decide to what lengths he will go to to live. Franco is able to show Ralston's zest for life and the despair he feels about losing his. Yes, the amputation scene is quite grueling and one of the most difficult things I have viewed on film. You would think with movies like the Saw series we would have become used to blood and guts, but when you know that something really happened you can almost feel the pain yourself and to imagine having to go through that is terrifying. If Colin Firth were not such a shoe in for best actor this year I think that James Franco would have scored it. This was an absolutely awesome film that I think everyone should see.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2: A SILLY MOCKUMENTARY

Although I really didn't want to put that much thought into this, I guess this is a prequel to Paranormal Activity. So much time has passed since I saw the first one, I didn't even recognize the couple from the original. So basically this young couple has a baby and after a year or so their house is broken into so they install security cameras. We are lucky enough to get to watch the cameras as they focus on one room until something moves, or wiggles or the dog barks at nothing or the baby looks at nothing and so on. Then of course we have the bickering back and forth what these things mean or if they mean anything. They are are are many allusions made to a haunted past and stuff "we don't talk about". It's pretty predictable, and like in the first one all of the action pretty much happens in the last 15 minutes. Note to self, never see a movie with a dog in it. The thing that I don't like about these movies is that there is no explanation as to why this is happening. There is no conclusion, nothing that makes sense, not even blaming it on the devil. Once more, there is a Paranormal Activity 3 planned, which is not surprising after watching the ending to this one.

NOWHERE BOY: KICKS ASS

John: Why couldn't God make me Elvis?
Julia: 'Cause he was saving you for John Lennon!

There are not many times when I would describe a movie chronicling John Lennon's formative years the birth of what would be the Beatles as "kick ass" except for the fact that the actor who plays John Lennon was indeed Kick Ass himself. Although, as John Lennon, he did kick ass. Aaron Johnson portrays an adolescent John Lennon growing up with his Aunt (Kristin Scott Thomas) in Liverpool. He finds out that his mother who is a bit unstable lives very nearby and he tries to mend the relationship with her. There are many traumatic events in Lennon's early life and at times he is shown to be a bit of an ass. I don't think anyone could have done this film and gotten away with out some criticism. I think that the director was right in casting not for the looks but for the actor's ability to portray their character. Kristin Scott Thomas does an amazing job as aunt Mimi, having to be both stern and loving at the same time. Anne Marie Duffe plays Lennon's biological mother , Julia, who is a free spirit and a little mentally unstable. Beatle enthusiasts most likely will pick this film apart, however I too am Beatle friendly, and I thought they did a very respectful job with this film.

THE TOWN: BOSTON IS THE PLACE TO BE

Driver's name is Arthur Shea. Former Metro Police officer, fifty-seven years old. Soon as his partner leaves with the coal bag, Artie cracks a Herald, and he don't look up 'til the guy gets back. Marty Maguire. Cummins Armored courier. Five-ten, two-twenty, fifty-two years old. Picks up every Wednesday and Friday at exactly 8:12, makes a hundred and ten dollars a day, carries a Sig nine. And he's about to get robbed.

Ben Affleck has single-handedly put Boston on the film making map. Although I didn't find this film to be terribly original, it was done very well and had me up until the last cheesy moment. Basically, it's about a couple of local boys who do a very good job of robbing armored cars and or banks. They are precise and know what they're doing. However, like in similar films somebody always gets too cocky and somebody else gets too involved and they end up making mistakes that cost them. Affleck did an excellent job directing and a decent job acting, but Jeremy Renner seems to be getting all the credit for his participation. Blake Lively pleasantly surprised me as the well-worn townie girl. The supporting cast was particularly strong as well. There is a lot of action, violence, and tension until the very end of the film when it did get a little bit cheesy with the romance aspect. All in all, it was an entertaining film and I enjoyed it.

CONVICTION: AMAZING VERDICT

I love my brother so very much, but even with some college already under my belt, I am not so sure that if he were convicted of murdering someone that I would go to law school, become a lawyer and fight for his innocence. However, that's just what our lead character does in this film. Betty Ann Waters (played by Hilary Swank) finds herself on a roller coaster of victories and defeats as she does her best to free her imprisoned brother Kenny (played by a fabulous Sam Rockwell). Both actors give very strong performances and the rest of the cast is outstanding. Juliette Lewis is mesmerizing. There are no small parts just small actors. While the story inspiring, feels more like a Lifetime movie of the week than it does a feature film. It was well done, just didn't grab me.

EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP: ENTER WITH THIS MOVIE

Banksy: Uhmmm... You know... it was at that point that I realized that maybe Thierry wasn't actually a film maker, and he was maybe just someone with mental problems who happened to have a camera.

For those of you who are not familiar, Banksy is an artist who began showing his work on the streets of London through graffiti. Not only is he a clearly defined artist, but he has a sense of humor and an understanding of politics and society that makes his work very relevant. Not only has he been able to place his work in galleries (even when they were not asked for as he would sneak in and paste his pieces to the walls himself) eventually he has had many of his own very successful gallery showings. So, it was no surprise when amateur camera man, Thierry Guetta, got involved in capturing the underground world of graffiti art in Los Angeles, Banksy eventually let this man film him doing his thing while in LA. Thierry went to England to further document Banksy's work. After a while however, Banksy became suspicious when all of this filming was taking place and no documentary was put together. Eventually, Banksy knew that this man was incapable of making a documentary himself so he took over the work. Meanwhile, Thierry was becoming more distracted by actually starting to make art himself and found himself dazzled by the spotlight placed upon him. This documentary turns out than to be about Thierry, not Banksy, made by Banksy about Thierry. Confused yet??? Now the documentary becomes the documented. It is a true blessing for this to be among the many really good documentaries as of late. It takes a very in-depth and interesting look at urban art while it also follows this odd Frenchman in his quest for who knows what. A must-see movie.