WELCOME TO THE RILEYS... NOT YOUR TYPICAL FAMILY

James Gandolfini is a talented actor. He can portray the tough mobster who could kill you for messing up his sandwich order just as easily portray the grieving father who, when meeting a young woman who reminds him of his deceased daughter, decides to give her some guidance and help while asking nothing in return. Kristen Stewart is that young woman who is of course young, naive and a "dancer" who entertains men like him to make a living. She's typically hardened at a young age and obviously skipped her adolescence in order to survive on the streets. Like a feral animal, she reluctantly accepts his help and then grows to enjoy both the company and the improvement he brings to her life. Oh, did I mention he's married? His wife (Melissa Leo) has been mentally fragile and house bound since her daughter's death but finds the strength to find her husband at his out of town "conference" only to find he ditched it in order to help the girl. Rather than storm out and accuse him of wrongdoings, she decides to stay and help and gets to use her dusty mothering techniques. They all need each other and get their needs filled just enough to continue on in this game we call life. Strong performances by all. Broken people trying to put themselves back together. Married people working together rather than attempting to deal with their grief separately. A strong film, unexpected and attention grabbing.

BURIED:  OPEN THIS ONE FIRST!

Dan Brenner:

that your ransom video already has 47,000 hits on YouTube.

 I always thought hell was being stuck on a phone tree or waiting in line at the supermarket while somebody has to do a price check, but it's not... hell is waking up in a plain wood box having been buried alive after having been taken captive in Iraq. Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) is an American truck driver working in Iraq in 2006. He's taken and buried in a shallow grave with a cell phone, lighter, a flask of booze, flashlight and little else. He soon finds out the specifics of how and why he is there and has to come up with a million "money" to pay his random. Along the lines of 127 hours, this is a one man show and Reynolds does a fantastic job with it. This time, however, Conroy is able to use his cell phone and reaches out to many different people, bringing both humor and more terror to the situation. What makes this more scary than a slasher flick to me is that it could really happen. Needless to say, claustrophobics need not apply! The most suspenseful are the last 10 minutes, which I will not elaborate in order to keep some surprises secret. I almost didn't watch this one, but I'm glad I did. It was well done.

THE KING'S SPEECH: (one of the) BEST FILM 2011

King George VI: If I'm King, where's my power? Can I form a government? Can I levy a tax, declare a war? No! And yet I am the seat of all authority. Why? Because the nation believes that when I speak, I speak for them.

But I can't speak.

Oscar award winner for the best film of 2011, the King's speech has everything that a movie of this caliber could ask for. It is hilarious and tender all at the same time, focusing on George VI (Colin Firth in the absolutely flawless performance) who, for lack of a better phrase, needed to step up to the plate and lead his country in their time of need. His headstrong wife, also played to perfection by Helena Bonham Carter, after numerous attempts to cure the King's persistent stuttering problem, finds, for lack of a better word, a commoner embodied by Geoffrey Rush, who uses an orthodox measures to get the King settled in his role as commander of a country. These two men, embark on a journey together and although Carter is along for the ride, a partner to her husband as any strong wife would be, at its heart this is the story of a man who must overcome more than just a studder and in the wake he builds a lasting friendship, both men showing that they have both wise hearts and minds. This film has it all, drama, comedy, tension, suspense, and a triumph of the human spirit. This was perhaps the safer choice to win best picture of the year over The Social network,but do not let that take anything away from such a masterpiece of a movie. I think my only criticism, is that Geoffrey Rush was robbed of this Oscar-winning performance. He is magic. However, there is no doubt that this is Colin Firth's film. However stodgy it may appear, this movie is certainly not, and is one definitely not to miss.   

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS: NOT YOUR AVERAGE JIM CAREY FILM...

Steven Russell: Love sure is a funny thing. Makes you happy, makes you sad, makes you do all sorts of things you never thought you'd do before. In fact, love's the reason I'm laying here dying.

I'm the one who liked Cable Guy and Man on The Moon. I did not like Ace Ventura. That should give you a point of reference for this review. Based on the real life story of Steven Russell (Carey) who while married, has a life revelation, decides to come out of the closet and start living a fabulous life, even if it involved fraud and looming jail time. While in jail he meets Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor) who is a soft spoken southern gentleman who Russell falls head over heels for. While Russell's antics to get out of jail and elude the law are humorous, their relationship is not. In fact, it is touching and lovely and well played by both men. It doesn't mean that Jim Carey isn't just a hoot to watch. This kind of based on reality no one could pen. It's gay and flamboyant while also being meaningful and touching. I looked forward to this movie for some time just to see how it would play out and they did a wonderful job. Not a film for everyone, especially those who like to watch Jim Carey talk out of his butt.

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED: HANG ON!

What on the surface appears to be a low budget silly B movie turns quickly into something along the lines of Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. A pair of uber slick, but still low rent criminals prepare for something dubious which leads up to the abduction of our heroine Alice Creed (Gemma Arterton). Soon we discover she was targeted for this crime in efforts to gather a ransome from her rich father. What we come to discover is the 6 degrees of separation between the criminals and the victim and oh, what a delightful discovery it is. These are wicked twists and turns that just can't be predicted. Considering there are only three actors in this film, it is a wonder and fun to watch. Not much else to share without giving away the unseen surprises. Be sure to watch the rarely provided bonus gag reel on this type of film. Well done!

TWELVE: A DOZEN TOO MANY

This kid driven film has been compared to Less Than Zero, a better version of spoiled teenagers using drugs and drinking and carrying on far too young. This one follows drug dealer, White Mike (Chase Crawford) as Kieffer Sutherland's throaty voice narrates the action. It's hard to watch as these children try to act like adults... sad actually. There are several other story lines including a murder but nothing is outstanding. The only thing I really enjoyed was the voice over with Sutherland. It's bad enough watching adults try to act like adults.  I wish these kids had waited to walk around in their mom's heels. Not a good film.  

WINTER'S BONE: A HARD KNOCK LIFE BUT A GREAT MOVIE

For her role as Ree Dolly, Jennifer Lawrence had to learn how to skin squirrels, chop wood, and fight.

Ree (Jennifer Lawrence) lives in the Ozarks and with an absent father and mentally absent mother, she raises her two young siblings while battling the harsh world around her. Lawrence gives the performance of a lifetime for such a young woman, and we hope it will not be her last. So poor that they have to depend on eating squirrels to survive, she sets out on a journey to find her absent father in hopes of saving the house put up for bail foreclosure.In the Ozarks, she finds a tight knit group of people, who won't talk to strangers, nonetheless even a stranger they know. Her journey is not an easy one, and is at sometimes painful both physically and mentally, but luckily Ree is tough enough to win to her what she must in order to help her family survive. This film isn't exactly easy to watch, but it is so well done and compelling that it is also hard not to watch it.This was definitely one of the best films of 2011.   

SKYLINE: AND THE WORLD ENDS YET AGAIN

"Jarrod: What are you going to do when all the blinds fall down? It's not exactly like we have a lot more bedsheets!"

However, this time it can be missed. Jarrod and pregnant girlfriend Elaine travel to LA to visit his old and living large friend Terry and his wife Candice. Isn't it just like LA to go and get invaded by aliens just when the party's getting good!? So the movie is mostly everyone running around trying to get away from the aliens, but wait, there is a twist. This movie shows us what happens once one is consumed by the aliens and boy is it far fetched and just plain dumb. A total silly waste of time.

HEREAFTER: NOT AS PEACEFUL AS EXPECTED

Not as magical as I anticipated, this film begins on a vivid and realistic note with a tsunami disaster scene and doesn't brighten up from there. Matt Damon is a reluctant psychic who is brought into the lives of other characters who are meant to cross paths. This could have been a mystical and moving film, but instead, fell flat and trite. Not my favorite film. 

THE SWITCH: GUY BASED ROM-COM

Based on the New York Times magazine story called The Baster... I dislike Jennifer Anniston but adore Jason Bateman, who steals the movie. A man (Bateman) drunkenly switches his spearm with another man's donation meant for his best friend (Anniston) who uses it to impregnate herself. Many years later, Bateman meets this child and the similarities are bountiful. Jeff Goldblume and Juilette Lewis are the best friends and do fine jobs respectively. How many romantic comedies have you seen involving head lice?  Lovely film.

LET ME IN: WELL DONE REMAKE

Director Matt Reeves stated the main thing he loved about the novel 'Let the Right One In' was the fact that Abby wasn't a scheming 250-year old woman inside a 12-year old body. She was very much a child emotionally and has had to protect herself from getting too close with anyone. He believed Abby was testing Owen to see if he would show he cared for her and stay or if he would get scared and stop seeing her.

I loved Chloë Grace Moretz in Kick Ass as Hit Girl. This will be one actress to watch as her career develops. In this remake of the Swedish film Let The Right One In, she is Abby, a "modern day" vampire who befriends awkward Owen. The remake is much more violent, bloody and graphic than the first, but as equally well done. I might be tired of teenage vampires, but the young ones are still cute as a button. Really gives a nice viewpoint of the outcast and ill fitting youth.

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.