Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)

Directed by: David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

Overall Rating: 63.3

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1" begins the final chapter in the Harry Potter universe.  Being the final chances for Warner Bros. to get some extra Harry Potter revenue, the decision to split the final film into two parts comes across as unnecessary and forced.  The entire "Part 1" just feels like a filler-lead-in to the ultimate climax, but never delivers anything of major substance.

"Part 1"'s real plot involves the kids of Hogwarts dealing with the *SPOILER* death of the school headmaster, Dumbledore.  As the evil Voldemort continues his quest to find and kill Harry Potter, Harry and the gang attempt to remain hidden, while also tracking down and destroying the "Horcruxes" to weaken Voldemort.

The pace of the film is unabashedly slow.  Without being able to trust anyone, we're left primary 3 characters (Harry, Ron, and Hermione) traveling on their own, plotting their next move.  The only real action occurs when Voldemort's minions finally do corner the kids, only to have them slip away by the skin of their teeth over and over again.  The worst offense of just poor film-making occurs towards the end of the film when the kids are captured by a group of Snatchers and taken to Beatrix (Helena Bonham Carter) and the Malfoys.  Not being sure if the disfigured face is actually Harry, the last 30 minutes of the film is essentially the bad guys trying to figure out if it really is him.  Don't worry about the fact that this "unknown person" was travelling with the only 2 friends Harry has, or the fact that these baddies have shown no remorse for killing innocent people before but are now suddenly needing to be sure it's Harry before handing over to Voldemort.

The one area where the movie does shine is where the Potter series struggled early on: the visuals.  While early on, all of the visual effects seemed childish and out of place (mostly because they were forcing child actors to work with CGI/greenscreen effects), the later films in the series including "Part 1" have really refined how and when they rely on the CGI.  Everything feels much more realistic and blended in with the story, not forcing "cool" images just to have them in the film.

Not personally being a big Harry Potter fan, I can understand the attraction of the film for the die-hards out there waiting to see how their beloved Harry's story plays out.  But as someone watching the film as a standalone piece (although watching all Potter films in chronological order), "Part 1" just doesn't deliver.  Had they combined Parts 1 and 2 into one 3 hour film, it could have been an amazing experience, but the decision to split "The Deathly Hallows" into 2 parts hurts the integrity of Part 1 more-so.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 5
Dialogue: 6
Acting: 6
Direction: 8
Audio/Visual: 7

Week in Review (Jan 19 - 25)

New Ratings Added to Database

Zero Dark Thirty (2012) - 94.6
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) - 75.8
Real Steel (2011) - 69.3
Taken 2 (2012) - 58.4
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) - 56.3

New Reviews Added

Donnie Darko (2001)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Heat (1995) 
Taken 2 (2012)
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Donnie Darko (2001)

Directed by: Richard Kelly

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell

Overall Rating: 98.6

When sitting down to first watch "Donnie Darko", one should be prepared to be both incredibly confused and mystified.  Richard Kelly's debut full-length feature film is an intense sci-fi take on a troubled life of a high-schooler in the 80's.

As a troubled kid, Donnie Darko (Gyllenhaal) just doesn't seem to fit in.  In the height of 80's excess, Donnie refuses to buy in and leads his own life, despite it being considered "dark" by friends and family.  Things only get worse once Donnie meets a rabbit-figure who tells him that the world is going to end in 28 days.  To make matters even more complex, as the rabbit leads Donnie out of his house to warn him of the coming doom, a jet engine crashes through the Darko house and lands right on Donnie's bed.

Confused yet?  Well then hold tight, because the next 2 hours continue to showcase the relationship of Donnie and his imaginary rabbit friend "Frank", Donnie's continued slide into the darkness as the end of the world continues to approach, and the glimmer of light in his life in the form of a new girlfriend (Malone).

What makes Donnie Darko stand out so much (currently #176 on IMDB's top 250) is the unknown.  Who is this rabbit named Frank?  How is the world going to end?  Is time travel possible?  All these questions continue to pop up in the mind of both Donnie and the audience during his journey.

Despite it being set in the 80's, Kelly does a great job of keeping his world grounded.  Where most movies created after 1995 portray the 80's as nothing but neon colors and big hair, Kelly draws from his own experiences in that it wasn't that much different than how society is functioning today.

While visually the film avoids 80's cliches, the soundtrack does not disappoint in its 80's glory.  With hits like "Head Over Heels", "Notorious", "Love Will Tear Us Apart", and "The Killing Moon", Kelly pulls from some of the classic songs of the era and intertwines them with his story magnificently.  "Darko" also contains a personal favorite in terms of songs used in film in the unbelievably moving rendition of  "Mad World" performed by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews.  This dark, somber take on the Tears For Fear hit never fails to gives goosebumps, regardless of how many times I hear it.

Doing a simple Google search for the phrase "Donnie Darko explained" will return a few hundred thousand stories and reviews, all different in their own respect.  I've personally always been one to not delve in to the "what does it all mean!?" mentality, but instead sit back and enjoy the ride of Donnie's life.  Sure, I have my own opinions on what the film means to me, but each person needs to come to their own conclusions.  With so very few films that are capable of making people think in such a way, it's no wonder how "Donnie Darko" became such a cult favorite seemingly overnight.  It's highly recommended, but be prepared for some head scratching.  In a good way.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 10
Dialogue: 9
Acting: 9
Direction: 10
Audio/Visual: 10

Heat (1995)

Directed by: Michael Mann

Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer

Overall Rating: 99.1

"Heat" manages to completely break the mold in terms of what it means to be a crime-drama.  While "The Godfather" may be the pinnacle of the crime saga, "Heat" manages to take the intensity of a crime syndicate into the modern era.  Despite coming out in 1995, it still holds up as one of the premiere films of all-time.

Set in Los Angeles, the story follows professional criminal Neil McCauley (De Niro) leads a team of men (Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Danny Trejo, Dennis Haysbert) through the high-intensity world of bank robbery.  On the opposite side of the law, a police lieutenant (Pacino) commits everything to tracking down the robbers and stopping them before they can strike again.

The beauty of "Heat" is the behind the scenes aspect of it.  It's not just a crime caper, but a look into the lives and mentalities of these men on opposite ends of the spectrum.  While McCauley is the best at what he does, he still has an end game in finishing that one final score and retiring with his love interest (Amy Brenneman).  For Pacino's Lt. Hanna, he struggles with the life of constantly chasing these bad people and not bringing that life home to his wife (Diane Venora) and step-daughter (a young Natalie Portman).

"Heat" also showcases director Michael Mann's signature style.  With a hint of shaky-cam tactics, and close up shots, Mann throws you right into the action.  His masterful use of the LA skyline as a backdrop worked so well, he found himself incorporating in to future films such as "Collateral".

The audio of "Heat" is some of the best sound design in any action film.  The realistic gun fire echoing off the skyscrapers through the streets of downtown LA are haunting (for those with access to the DVD, I strongly encourage watching the making of vignette).

The immediate draw of "Heat" is the action and bank robbery scenes.  What keeps you coming back for multiple viewings however, is the dialogue and character building amongst the amazing ensemble cast.  Even actors who have less than 10 minutes of screen time like Danny Trejo and Henry Rollins each leave their mark.  It was, and remains a paramount example of crafting a high-octane crime film, while keeping the drama at the heart of the experience.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 10
Dialogue: 10
Acting: 9
Direction: 10
Audio/Visual: 10

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Directed by: Mike Newell

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

Overall Rating: 75.8

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" takes the standard formula of the previous Harry Potter films and turns it upside down, but in a good way.  In "Goblet", Harry and pals learn of a wizardry tournament to be held at Hogwarts that includes the best students of three wizard schools.  While Hogwarts initially was represented by new character Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson), Harry's name is somehow entered into the tournament despite him not being of age.

Over the course of the film, we see the tournament champions participate in a series of 3 challenges meant to show their prowess as wizards.  Unsurprisingly, every single break that Harry could catch, he does.  Whether it's getting a sneak look at the first challenge, miraculously finding an herb that allows him to breathe underwater for an hour, or being right around the corner every time a friend is in need.  I know the films are designed for younger viewers, but after 4 films even a pre-teen has to be wondering how Harry always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

As the characters are growing older and now in their mid-teens, the romantic storylines are starting to take place.  Again, despite being seemingly the most famous wizard in the world and having girls constantly swoon over him, we get the "Harry is a nerd who can't get a date" storyline while the young students look for partners to attend a ball celebrating the tournament. 

"Goblet" also finally reveals Ralph Fiennes as the fully incarnated Lord Voldemort, a much needed character at this point in the series to help darken things a bit.  While the previous films all had their versions of villains, the storylines all felt a bit "Scooby-Doo" in their childlike plots.

Director Mike Newell makes his mark during his only "Potter" film, relying less on fancy wizard special effects as the previous films, and more on character interaction.  Some swooping shots through landscapes overdo it a little on certain instances, but in all, the film works visually.

"The Goblet of Fire" continues to take the Potter universe into more adult themes, and continues to help move the series in the right direction.  The youngsters still have their moments where they appear to be overacting, but the cheese factor from some of the earlier films is being limited.


Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 8
Dialogue: 6
Acting: 6
Direction: 7
Audio/Visual: 7

Taken 2 (2012)

Directed by: Olivier Megaton

Starring: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace

Overall Rating: 58.4

"Taken 2" seems to find the lowest common denominators from the original film and regurgitate them for the sequel.  It's got most of the same players, the same "don't mess with Liam Neeson" vibe, but is missing one key element that made the first film so memorable: a story.

"Taken 2" picks up shortly after the events of the first film, where Bryan Mills (Neeson) has safely recovered and returned his daughter (Grace) home from sex slave kidnappers.  However, in getting his daughter back Mills left a trail of dead bad guys along the way, and the family members of those baddies want revenge.  While on a job in Istanbul, Mills and his family encounter this new batch of baddies and another all out revenge-war takes place.

Mills uses his standard black-ops bag of tricks to evade, pursue, and defeat the poor schlub who happens to be standing in his way.  While in the first film, we learn just how deadly Mills can be and are regularly surprised by just how innovative he is, already knowing all of that makes the second film less exciting and more predictable.  The joy of the first film was seeing just how far a man could push himself to protect his family.  The main road block for a character in the sequel seems to be the daughter learning to drive (and seriously, how old is Kim supposed to be, 18?  Maggie Grace's actual age of 29? So many questions). 

Another part of the film that flops miserably is the dialogue and delivery from the actors.  Even bending reality to the point where Mills has a chance to call his daughter to deliver another "bad ass I kill people for a living" speech while 6 armed men point guns at him and don't bother to interrupt him at any point (what?), the effort put into the words spoken and the way they play out just feels forced and contrived. 

Despite seemingly having nowhere to go after the first film, I still feel that there was somehow plenty left on the table for "Taken 2".  It shills itself out as a film shamelessly cashing a few checks from the success of its predecessor, and ends up a pile of rubbish.

 
Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 5
Dialogue: 4
Acting: 5
Direction: 6
Audio/Visual: 6

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton

Overall Rating: 94.6

"Zero Dark Thirty", Kathryn Bigelow's drama detailing the world-wide manhunt for Osama bin Laden, jumps out at you from the very beginning and leaves you as one of the most intense, edge of your seat movie experiences of this generation.

To call this film an emotional ride is an understatement.  From the second the theater goes black, you hear 911 calls from the World Trade Center on 9/11, reminding you just what this manhunt that led to the ultimate finale was really all about.  From there, you're immediately thrown into the torture chamber....literally.  A lot has been made in the news about the torture scenes in the film, but as a viewer, they were a necessary uncomfortableness.  As the lead investigator Dan in the detainment camps, Jason Clarke comes across as one of the most memorable characters of the film.  His no nonsense, brutal honesty in relating to terror suspects is exactly what you would expect out of a CIA agent less than 2 years after 9/11.

Then there's Maya (Chastain).  When we first meet Maya, this beautiful, smooth skinned redhead, we expect her to be the conscience of the film, but her motives are the same and her lust for vengeance only grows as the movie goes along.  Chastain's performance is nothing short of powerful.  The pure emotion pours out when needed, and stoic emotionless expressions overcome her when appropriate.

The score to a movie like this can be essential to setting the mood, and Alexandre Desplat shines through beautifully.  It's his modesty in crafting the perfect sound for each scene that makes his score stand out.  At moments where you expect a grand percussion to take your heart away, there is silence.  His ability to stand back and let the action unfold without any accompaniment helps keep the illusion that what you are watching is a documentary, not a Hollywood blockbuster.

Admittedly, there are times where the bureaucratic scenes can slow the pace, but there's always an end-game in play.  Being historically accurate (as much as one can imagine), everyone in the theater knows how the film is going to end.  Despite that, Bigelow manages to create 30 of the most gripping, heart-racing moments ever put to film.  From the moment the announcement was made about the death of bin Laden and details of the raid began to come out, every human that heard those stories began playing them back in their head, trying to imagine what that scene may have looked like.  Through Bigelow's eyes, it was a team of highly trained professionals executing a mission, in the most complex situation with the most complex objective.  And as that is played out on film, don't be surprised to find yourself holding your breath for a very, very long time.

After 2008's "The Hurt Locker", Kathryn Bigelow announced she was back with a vengeance.  Teaming up again with writer/producer Mark Boal for "Zero Dark Thirty", she's proven that she is one of the premiere film makers of our time.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 10
Dialogue: 9
Acting: 9
Direction: 10
Audio/Visual: 10

Week in Review (Jan 12-18)

New Ratings Added to Database:

Arbitrage (2012) - 78.8
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) - 72.4
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - 63.5

New Reviews Added:

Arbitrage (2012)
Contagion (2011)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) 
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Arbitrage (2012)

Directed by: Nicholas Jarecki

Starring: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth

Overall Rating: 78.8

In "Arbitrage", director Nicholas Jarecki takes you through the world of a "top of the food chain" hedge fund capitalist, Robert Miller (Gere).  After a string of bad luck, Miller is rushing to sell off his company when an unfortunate accident causes him to push even harder for the sale after the notion of jail time looms overhead. 

As Miller, Gere plays the role he plays best: a confident millionaire whose own personal demons are his biggest enemy.  His supporting cast helps take the audience into the world of high-finance, with Susan Sarandon playing his loyal wife, milking up the indulgent lifestyle and Brit Marling excellently cast as the do-good, ready to take the reigns daughter. 

Wanting to keep his troubles a secret from his family, Miller is surrounded by a cast of million dollar advisers and lawyers, but when he turns to an old friend outside of the circle, the issue soon becomes a moral dilemma.  Miller is constantly faced with a notion of falling on his own sword, or protecting an acquaintance he swore to protect.

It's this drama that is at the heart of "Arbitrage".  You keep expecting Miller to betray anyone and everyone in order to save his fortunes, but he masterfully tip-toes the line between shady and well-meaning.  Anytime the pace seems to slow, the inclusion of Tim Roth as the detective with tunnel vision for taking down the white collar criminals of wall street helps to ramp up the suspense and action.

In the end, Arbitrage is a solid financial thriller.  But don't get lost in the high-finance world, as it's the decisions the characters make that help unfold the drama set forth.  Gere is the star of the show in the tuxedo filled world, but Jarecki's supporting cast do enough to make it an overall successful film.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 7
Dialogue: 8
Acting: 8
Direction: 8
Audio/Visual: 7

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Directed by: David Fincher

Starring: Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer

Overall Rating: 97.6

As is always the case, David Fincher proves himself as the go-to director when it comes to telling a dark, psychological thriller with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".  From start to finish, "Dragon Tattoo" leaves you on the edge of your seat, captivated by the immense story and dark direction. 

Rooney Mara explodes off the screen as the troubled freelance hacker, Lisbeth Salander.  After casting her as the love interest in "The Social Network", Fincher says he fell in love with Rooney and easily saw her playing this intense, universally loved character.  He was right.  As Lisbeth, Mara shows the widest range of emotions, from fear and pain to all out ballsy confidence.  She makes you feel bad for her, fear her, and attracted to her all at the same time, a feat that very few but Mara could pull off.

The story follows a disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) who is hired by a man (Plummer) to help solve a 40 year murder mystery involving his family.  Along the way, Blomkvist brings on the young Salander to assist in his research and attempts to uncover the murderer's identity.

Based on the universally acclaimed Stieg Larsson novel out of Sweden, Fincher and company do a good job of keeping true to the source material, while still maintaining a uniqueness all their own.  They even include plenty of references to the original Swedish version of the film from 2009, including using the same location and house for shooting.

The sound design is essential to helping keep the suspense building.  Teaming up again with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Fincher uses the sound to not only startle you, but to unnerve you.  Certain scenes alone are tough to sit through, but with Reznor's industrial music in the background, it's enough to make you wish you could turn it off.  But you can't, and you shouldn't.

Visually, the snowy Swedish landscape again takes you to a place of non-comfort.  With the snow so pure, it's easy to get lost in the wintry wonderland, but instead are trapped in a murder mystery where anyone and everyone is a suspect.  Throw in an opening credits sequence that rivals any Bond opening, mixing industrial imagery and Karen O's cover of "Immigrant Song", and it's one of the more impressive visual films in recent memory.

Fincher's ability to alter your mood through a couple hours of film has always been apparent.  With "Dragon Tattoo", he completes his best work since 2007's "Zodiac".  It's a powerful performance by Mara that shouldn't be missed.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 10
Dialogue: 9
Acting: 9
Direction: 9
Audio/Visual: 10

Contagion (2011)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Starring: Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne

Overall Rating: 87.4

"Contagion" shows Steven Soderbergh at his best.  Very few directors can take a wide ensemble of A-list actors and have them each play their small roles to create a film that plays bigger than said actors.  Soderbergh has always been more interested in telling stories than showcasing celebrity. 

The story of "Contagion" follows the spread of an unknown and deadly virus, and the health officials racing to try and contain and vaccinate it.  After his wife returns from Hong Kong and dies suddenly, Mitch Emhoff (Damon) looks for answers while trying to protect his daughter.  The spread of the illness forces members of the CDC (Fishburne, Winslet) and WHO (Marion Cotillard) to race for a cure, while a blogger (Jude Law) tries to capitalize off the breakout in every way possible as the voice of the people.

Of all the actors, Damon shines as the overly protective father who has already lost his wife and stepson to the illness, and now must protect his teenage daughter.  While the world is crumbling down around him, Emhoff's primary concern is sheltering his daughter from not only the illness, but from the chaos that society has become.

Soderbergh is known for taking risks with his films, and with "Contagion" he harkens back to the days of "Traffic" with the style and quick editing.  The pulsating soundtrack during the quick montages bring the audience to the edge of their seat. 

With an incredible ensemble cast and intense plot, "Contagion" shows what can happen when actors come together for a great director: a great film.  Just be sure not to watch while under the weather, or you may have nightmares.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 7
Dialogue: 8
Acting: 10
Direction: 9
Audio/Visual: 7

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Directed by: Chris Columbus

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

Overall Rating: 63.5

The second film in the "Harry Potter" series, "Chamber of Secrets" sees the young wizards return to Hogwarts for their second year of wizardry school.  Ignoring warnings of death should he return, Harry Potter and the gang must unravel the mystery of the titular Chamber of Secrets, that is causing students to be petrified.

With "Chamber", however, the storytelling seems to take a back seat to wowing the audience with visual effects and what I like to call, the "kid at heart" moments, where the film focuses more on showcasing something that a 10 year old wishes were real.  These visual effects on their own are unique and entertaining for the younger audience, but takes away from the overall storytelling.

Following up on the first entry "The Sorcerer's Stone", "Chamber" falls into the same routine/pattern.  Show Harry's abusive adopted family, let the audience know what the mystery of the film is, have a quidditch match, then solve the entire mystery at hand in the final 30 minutes.  It worked for the first film where we are being introduced to the magical world of Potter, but seeing the same template unfold in "Chamber" left me feeling like I was watching a photocopied letter, only with different font.

Still being young into their acting careers, the children in the film appear to still be learning how to portray emotion.  It's easy to write them off as inexperienced, but when 85% of your cast are child actors, it affects the viewing enjoyment after a while if they don't have any range.  Whether it's Rupert Grint's constant look of open mouthed fear, Emma Watson's know-it-all smirks, or Daniel Radcliffe's amazed bewilderment, we don't get to see a wide range of character emotion.

As previously mentioned, what "Chamber" does do well is visually and aurally stimulate the audience.  John Williams' score uplifts the viewer to a heightened sense of wonder, as is so often the case with his work.  The CGI seemed sharper than in "Sorcerer's Stone", if by ever so little. 

All in all, "Chamber of Secrets" undoubtedly serves a purpose in the grand scheme of things in the Harry Potter universe, but as a standalone movie, it comes up short.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 5
Dialogue: 6
Acting: 6
Direction: 8
Audio/Visual: 8

Week in Review (Jan 5 - Jan 11)

New Ratings Added to Database:

Goon (2011) - 89.0
The Pianist (2002) - 87.7
Ted (2012) - 83.2
The Last Play at Shea (2010) - 81.4
Lawless (2012) - 76.7
The Mission (1986) - 63.7

New Reviews Added:

A Bronx Tale (1993)
Batman (1989)
Black Swan (2010)
Goon (2011)
The Last Play at Shea (2010) 
Lawless (2012) 
Looper (2012)
The Mission (1986)
The Pianist (2002)
Ted (2012)
The Way of the Gun (2000) 

The Last Play at Shea (2010)

Directed by: Paul Crowder, Jon Small

Starring: Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Alec Baldwin

Overall Rating: 81.4

"The Last Play at Shea" is a heartwarming documentary about two New York icons: Billy Joel and Shea Stadium.  The doc recaps the "lives" of both and the paths they led on their crash course to the final concert performed at Shea Stadium in July of 2008.

Even not being a New Yorker, the documentary has plenty of moments that give you goosebumps.  Taking a look back at Billy Joel's life and performances, intertwined with the social change occurring in New York through the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's through the performances at Shea Stadium during those times make you feel nostalgic in all the good ways.  Getting a glimpse into the life of one of music's most iconic performers in Joel (his marriages, drinking abuse, inspiration for songs, etc) would be enough on its own.  Add in the chance to relive seeing the Beatles arrive in America, the Who's memorable '82 performance, and many more are just add to the power of the documentary as a music lover.

The entire film is a steady build until the final performance with Paul McCartney returning last minute on stage to perform with Joel which brings the house down.  If you're a lover of music or New York, the film is a no-brainer for a viewing.  Director's Crowder and Small put together some amazing interviews and really get Joel to open up about his memories.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 8
Dialogue: 7
Acting: n/a
Direction: 7
Audio/Visual: 9

Goon (2011)

Directed by: Michael Dowse

Starring: Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill

Overall Rating: 89.0

"Goon" achieves something quite extraordinary for this day in age: it's a funny, realistic sports movie that is actually good.

Doug Glatt (Scott) is a bouncer who makes waves with his knockout power punch, enough so that he earns a tryout with a local hockey team as an enforcer.  As the enforcer, Glatt's role is to protect his teammates by brute force.  Through his intense fights, Glatt becomes infamous and earns his way to the farm team of an NHL team.

The beauty of "Goon" is the modest comedy that comes out.  Scott delivers his lines with a sweet charm of a dumb-witted Northeasterner.  When offered weed, he simply responds "Oh, gosh, no but thank you so much for asking.  Just beer and soup for me."  As he meets a sweet girl in a bar (Pill), the charmer comes out with the same dumb-witted mentality.  It's a constant humor that lasts throughout the entire film.

 Most times with a movie involving sports, the sports aspect of the movie gets overlooked.  In the case of "Goon", the hockey action actually comes across as realistic.  Not so much that if you didn't know anything about hockey that you wouldn't be able to follow along, but hockey fans will be able to notice a number of small details that enhance the realism.

Considering the small sample size, it may not seem like much to say "Goon" is the best hockey movie since "Slapshot", but it is.  Not only that, but as a standalone movie, it's got plenty of memorable quotes to be considered a great comedy.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 9
Dialogue: 9
Acting: 7
Direction: 7
Audio/Visual:  7

A Bronx Tale (1993)

Directed by: Robert De Niro
Starring: Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato

Overall Rating: 91.6

As someone who grew up in Southern Indiana, I can only imagine what it was like growing up in a big city.  If I had to imagine what it was like in a city like New York during the 1960's, I'd like to imagine it being an awful lot like the setting of "A Bronx Tale".  In it, Robert De Niro (making his directorial debut) tells Chazz Palminteri's amazing story adapted from his own one-man play.  It's a gripping look at life for an Italian family growing up in a diverse city during a time when diversity was a hot-button issue.

The story follows young Calogero (Francis Capra/Brancato), or "C" as he's referred to.  As a young boy, "C" witnesses a murder and keeps his mouth shut when questioned by the police.  Doing so gets him in the good graces of the local gangster boss, Sonny (Palminteri).  Fearing for his son's safety and moral future, "C"'s father Lorenzo (De Niro) works to keep "C" away from the gangsters, despite the seemingly glamorous lifestyle they lead.  As "C" grows up and becomes a teenager, he finds it easier and easier to slip from his father's grasp and becomes very involved with Sonny's gang, becoming somewhat of a son to Sonny.

This dilemma for "C", of having two father figures at polar ends of the moral scale is what drives the film.  He respects his father for being a hard worker, but also wants Sonny's fast-paced, easy money lifestyle, even if it means breaking a few laws.  As a "gangster" movie, that's what makes "A Bronx Tale" stand out.  It's not about the gangsters, but the decisions one makes to become a gangster.

The acting in the film is all top notch, including the child actors.  Palminteri shines as Sonny, playing a neighborhood boss on par with a Corleone.  De Niro makes you feel the pain of a father seeing his son slipping into a morally ambiguous life, while at the same time Lillo Brancato (teenage "C") makes you want to hate De Niro for not understanding his relationship with Sonny.

Palminteri's script is superb, making you laugh at appropriate moments, and feel heartbroken at others.  The dialogue and words out of every characters mouth just scream 1960's Bronx.  With the setting playing just as much of a role in the story as the individual characters, the stoops, Cadillac's, and big collared suits all transport the audience to a simpler time.

With a solid soundtrack featuring some top hits of the 60's ("Nights in White Satin", "Come Together", "A Beautiful Morning", etc), viewing "A Bronx Tale" will undoubtedly watch the film quickly shoot up your list of favorite gangster movies, and if you're like me, favorite movies period.


Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 9
Dialogue: 10
Acting: 9
Direction: 8
Audio/Visual: 7

Batman (1989)

Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger

Overall Rating: 98.1

There's a reason Tim Burton's "Batman" was the fastest grossing $100 million dollar movie ever when it debuted in 1989:  The grand set design, incredible marketing campaign, and the first true superhero movie since "Superman". 

"Batman" shows both the origins of Bruce Wayne (Keaton) and Jack Napier/The Joker (Nicholson), and follows the two as both try to hold their own power over Gotham City.  While Batman struggles to maintain order, The Joker is set on widespread panic by trying to kill/deform all the citizens.

Being only 5 when the film came out, I can still remember the mass-marketing campaign that went along with the film.  The big yellow buttons with the bat symbol emblazoned on them, the backpacks, the lunchboxes, the action figures, the video game tie-ins.  Warner Bros. went all out to make people know that this film was a spectacle, and the substance of the film did not disappoint.  For its time, "Batman" was the biggest thing on earth, and continued to carry it's weight as the premiere superhero movie until the 2002 when Sam Raimi came along with "Spider-Man".

Michael Keaton's take on the Dark Knight was legendary for its time.  Before Keaton, the association the general public had with Batman was "pow", "zing", and "whap" from the Adam West TV show.  Keaton brought the brooding, darkness that we've come to expect from an orphan of murdered parents turned vigilante.

 

Nicholson's performance as The Joker is timeless.  Many tried to compare his performance to Heath Ledger's in "The Dark Knight", but in my mind it's impossible to compare.  Nicholson brought a playful humor to his anarchistic antagonist.  Whether dancing around gleefully while destroying a museum or using gag props to eliminate his foes, Nicholson finds ways to make you fall in love with the Joker, despite his sadistic side.

Another genius marketing move by Warner Bros. was to have one of the biggest musical artists of the time in Prince create the soundtrack.  With his own original tracks meant to highlight the Joker, interwoven with Danny Elfman's amazing score, the soundtrack is incredibly memorable.

What Tim Burton did with this film was usher in a new era of superheroes and film in general.  Movies were no longer just movies, they were a part of culture.  Studios could now look at big-budget movies as a source of  incredible income, should they be properly marketed. 

Undoubtedly one of the most memorable movies of my childhood, "Batman" will always hold a special place in my heart.  Removing all sentimentality, it still holds up as an amazing film, let alone superhero film.  At any point, going back and spending time with the 1989 version of Bruce Wayne and the Joker feels like the first time.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 10
Dialogue:8
Acting: 8
Direction: 8
Audio/Visual: 10

Lawless (2012)

Directed by: John Hillcoat
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce

Overall Rating: 76.7

"Lawless" is the story of 3 moonshiner brothers in Kentucky during Prohibition.  Following the story of "The Wettest County in the World", the brothers run a simple outfit in a county with an understanding with the local law to look the other way.  When a new special deputy (Pearce) comes to town to get a cut of the action, most of the moonshiners play ball, except for the Bondurant brothers.

Led by eldest brother, Forrest Bondurant (Hardy), the boys use the tactic of fear to ensure their safety.  As the runt of the pack, Jack (LaBeouf) continues to try to push himself to live up to the legend of his older brothers.  This chemistry pushes the film through the slow beginnings and ultimately to the climax, which actually ends up satisfying.

The 3 brothers are all played very well, but it's Hardy who comes off the screen as the impossible-to-kill leader.  His brawn and deep Kentucky accent make you feel at home in the 1930's.  Gary Oldman, who plays outlaw Floyd Banner also steals every scene he's in.

With classic 30's Fords aplenty, the set design is quite realistic.  Each character's progression in clothing also is well crafted.  As the brothers increase in wealth, you see their clothes go from backwoods-ratty, to dapper.  Surprisingly, the least realistic aspect of the film comes from arguably the best actress in Jessica Chastain.  Her role as a Chicago dancer, turned Kentucky barkeeper just seemed out of place. 

The one downfall of the film comes in the slow build.  At a 2 hour run time, it takes a solid 45 minutes until I felt involved.  The final hour all comes quickly and at a relentless pace, but building the characters and setting the stage in the backwoods just dragged on a bit too long.

All in all, "Lawless" does a decent job in putting out an entertaining film.  If you want to compare it to TV, think "Justified" meets "Boardwalk Empire". 

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 7
Dialogue: 7
Acting: 8
Direction: 8
Audio/Visual: 7

Black Swan (2010)

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel

Overall Rating: 97.0

With "Black Swan", Darren Aronofsky's 5th film, the prolific director creates one of the best psychological thrillers in years.  While the core matter of the film is the beautiful art of ballet, Aronofsky adds layers within the film intended to frighten the audience to the core, and he succeeds at every turn.

Natalie Portman goes above and beyond to earn her first Oscar for her performance as Nina, the newly crowned lead in the "Swan Lake".  The sweet and innocent Nina is perfect for the role of the "white swan" portion of the play, but lacks the life lessons necessary to effectively play the darker "black swan".  Over the course of the movie, her own psyche attempts to transform her into the black swan to ensure she performs the role perfectly, but as Nina is not yet ready to go into those depths, she (and the audience) are left terrified when her mind slowly begins to fade into the darkness.

The atmosphere that Aronofsky creates is a dark, intense world where a simple reflection can haunt your dreams.  It's moody, yet remains artfully enchanting.  Inside the ballet studio, Aronofsky finds a way to make you completely forget you're watching a movie.  With sprawling 360 degree shots surrounded by mirrors, the dancers fill the screen, making the fact that you don't see any cameras or film crews despite your 360 degree viewing angle all the more visually impressive.

To accompany the intense visuals, the film is equally as psychological with its sound design.  Not just the soundtrack of the ballet pieces, but during Nina's moments of fear, the movie echoes the voices in her head so well that it feels like you are going along with her down the rabbit hole.

The central theme of "Black Swan" is transformation.  It's not just for Nina, but for you the audience.  As you finish viewing Aronofsky's masterpiece, you're left in a different state of mind than when you begin. 

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 10
Dialogue: 9
Acting: 10
Direction: 10
Audio/Visual: 10

Ted (2012)

Directed by: Seth MacFarlane
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane

Overall Rating: 83.2

"Ted" is Seth MacFarlane's first foray as a feature film actor.  In it, he tells the story of what happen when that magical teddy bear you wished came alive actually did, and grew up 25 years later.  It's got the typical Seth MacFarlane humor, but in a non-Family Guy ripoff kind of way.  It's fast paced with plenty of pop-culture references that his generational audience can enjoy.

Sure, there are plenty of timely jokes that fall flat, but all-in-all, "Ted" does a good job of keeping things going throughout the course of the movie.

The acting is all passable.  Walhberg's jokes come across as sincere and MacFarlane continues to be one of the best comedic voice actors today.  While Kunis plays essentially the same role she's played in every movie other than "Black Swan", when she had her spots to make the audience laugh, she did a decent job.

I always try to give movies credit when they try to do something original, and with "Ted", you definitely get original.  One of the better comedies in recent years.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 9
Dialogue: 8
Acting: 7
Direction: 7
Audio/Visual: 7

The Mission (1986)

Directed by: Roland Joffe
Starring: Jeremy Irons, Robert De Niro, Liam Neeson

Overall Rating: 63.7

Overall, I was left quite disappointed by "The Mission".  Prior to watching it, I had known of its awards history and had been referred to as a powerful film.  Unfortunately, I just wasn't as moved as I had hoped to be.

The story follows a Jesuit priest (Irons) who builds a mission in Spanish controlled South America in the mid 18th century. After converting a hostile mercenary (De Niro), all seems to be going well for the mission, until Spain sells their colony to Portugal who plans to turn the colony into a slave settlement.  The priests and tribesmen must then face a moral dilemma as to whether or not to turn to arms or God to fight for their settlement.

The direction and visuals of the South American tribe is very well shot.  It is undoubtedly a beautiful movie, with cascading landscapes and panoramic views.

The story just leaves more to warrant a 2 hour movie.  It's too one dimensional, with not a lot to keep the audience engaged.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 4
Dialogue: 5
Acting: 7
Direction: 8
Audio/Visual: 8