2013-The Best (and Worst) of the Rest

G.I. Joe:  Retaliation- A surprisingly competent action sequel that far exceeds its predecessor.  Faint praise, I know.  The added star power of Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis provided some much needed charisma.  This Joe is watchable.
*** stars

The Call- Despite Halle Berry's bad hairdo and some really obvious contrivances, this is a shockingly decent thriller featuring a 911 operator's desperate attempt to stop a serial killer.  And it's produced by WWE which makes its decency even more amazing. The ending makes the film if you are a fan of vigilante justice.
*** stars

Movie 43- An all-star cast featuring Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Chloe Grace Moretz, Anna Faris, Johnny Knoxville, Sean William Scott, Emma Stone, Terrence Howard, and Naomi Watts (to name just a few) in a collection of comic vignettes.  It's adolescent toilet humor and nothing more.  But it did make me laugh...hard.  More than once.  This film was universally panned by critics and audiences alike.  I was entertained.  Take that however you will.
***1/2 stars

Oz, the Great and Powerful- James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Michelle Williams take us back to the magical land in this prequel to The Wizard of Oz.  It provides an explanation of how the background players in the original film came to be before they were discovered by Dorothy and her friends while still leaving room for possible sequels to further flesh out the backstory.
***1/4 stars

A Haunted House- A raunchy parody of Paranormal Activity co-written and co-produced by Marlon Wayans.  Has a few big laughs but doesn't come close to the brilliance of the first two Scary Movie films courtesy of the Wayans family.
**3/4 stars

Gangster Squad- An all-star cast with Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Giovanni Ribisi, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, and Sean Penn retelling the story of the elite police squad that took down gangster, Mickey Cohen, in 1930s Los Angeles.  Some of the dialog (sans swearing) and set pieces reminded me of old time gangster films.  Read; sometimes very corny.  But it has its charms and its fair share of head cracking.
*** stars

Parker- Jason Statham stars in the titular role as a principled thief who is double-crossed by his crew.  Adapted from a Richard Stark novel, Jennifer Lopez and Michael Chiklis co-star.  What struck me is how bored I was with the pacing of this film.  Say what you will about Statham, I never thought I would be lulled to sleep by one of his action movies.  Guess there's a first time for everything.
**1/2 stars

Side Effects- Jude Law, Catherine Zeta Jones, Channing Tatum, and Rooney Mara star in this trippy psychological thriller.  This film twists and bends, and then, for good measure, zigzags in such a pleasing way.  In this story of a psychiatrist whose career is ruined by a patient who may or may not be clinically depressed, nothing is as it seems.  One of the year's best movies.
****stars

Hansel and Gretel:  Witch Hunters- Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton star as the fairy tale siblings-turned-hunters in this extension of the famous Brothers Grimm story.  The siblings are witch hunters of the highest order, but it doesn't always translate to the screen as you see them getting manhandled by witches more than anything else.  Still, there are some nice action sequences that entertain.  Overall, it's enjoyable enough as you watch it, but instantly forgettable afterwards.
***stars

Snitch- Dwayne Johnson stars as an average, everyman father who goes deep undercover to bust a drug ring in order to help his son.  Johnson proves that he has some real acting chops in a performance that is almost purely dramatic.  The Rock has come a long way since The Scorpion King.
***1/2 stars

Dark Skies- Sci-fi horror thriller about aliens terrorizing a suburban family.  Creepy imagery is a plus.  Ends abruptly with no real resolution.
**3/4 stars

Pawn- Forrest Whitaker, Michael Chiklis, and Ray Liotta star in this crime thriller told from more than one viewpoint.  It twists, it bends, it retraces and yet, somehow, it all makes sense.  Very watchable.  Surprisingly enjoyable.
***1/4 stars

The Last Exorcism part II- Sequel to the credible 2010 horror film.  Didn't really think there was much to say after the seeming demise of the Reverend Cotton Marcus in the first movie.  And, I was right.  Totally unnecessary sequel that offers absolutely nothing new.
** stars

Jack, the Giant Slayer- Bryan Singer's take on this age-old fairy tale is wildly imaginative.  This one has a little bit for everyone:  romance, action, comedy.  Can't ask for much more.  Considering the recent glut of fairy tales that have been made for the big screen, this is a standout.
***3/4 stars

The Croods- DreamWorks' first animated feature of the year is a successful one following a family of cavemen learning how to survive in a changing world.  Very funny at times.  Touching at others.
***1/2 stars

Broken City- Crime thriller with a top flight cast featuring Mark Wahlberg, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Russell Crowe.  An ex-cop is manipulated by the mayor of New York. After finding out he's been duped, said cop tries to bring the politician down for his corruption.  The movie is mostly entertaining, but a little overlong.
*** stars

Bullet to the Head- Sylvester Stallone's hitman teams up with Sung Kang's police detective to avenge the loss of their respective partners in this action slugfest.  Some of the banter between Stallone and Kang works, and, at times, this feels like a roll-back-the-clock film that you could have seen in the 80s.  Might have worked a little better back then as Stallone was younger, but he looks tougher than shoe leather now.  Not a horrible movie, but not a great one either.
**3/4 stars

Texas Chainsaw- Yet another pre/sequel to the horror franchise.  It's formulaic at times and not necessarily a good movie, but I do appreciate the creators not turning this into a splatterfest only.  They do attempt to give Leatherface and co. a bit of a backstory.  Taking place immediately after the classic first movie, it does have some entertainment value.
**3/4 stars

12 Rounds 2:  Reloaded- WWE superstar, Randy Orton, stars in this sequel to the 2009 John Cena vehicle.  Standard action movie.  I think the creators want you to feel sympathy for the villain.  And he is wronged beyond belief, but some of his anger is so misplaced, you want to see him as dead as much as his victims.
**1/2 stars

Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor- A dark look by Perry into the world of infidelity and love lost.  I've often criticized Perry's movies for not picking a lane between comedy and drama.  Credit to the director that he does primarily stick to a dark, thought-provoking drama.  There's no Madea here at all, and, surprisingly, I recommend it.
***stars

Dead Man Down- This one I can't figure out.  Colin Farrell as a man out for revenge against Terrence Howard's gangster.  Should be the makings of something watchable at the very least.  But, surprisingly it's not.  The film gets bogged down in subplots no one cares about.  And, when you do get to the final gun blazing confrontation at the end, you're left with the feeling of, "eh."  Noomi Rapace just seems to be in the way and the plot meanders on for almost two excruciating hours.  Not what I thought it would be.
**1/4 stars

A Good Day to Die Hard- I'll say I went into this expecting very little.  It's a Die Hard movie.  You already know what's going to happen.  John McClane (Bruce Willis) battles impossible, overwhelming odds and comes out on top.  The only thing that's changed is the venue as ol' cowboy John is in Russia doing the incredible with his son who turns out to be a CIA agent.  It's all so contrived and corny.  But, in spite of everything, I actually found this one to be dumb (very dumb) fun.  It's instantly forgettable and Willis is really looking long in the tooth for this type of film.  But, it appears the franchise may be set to go on with his son taking the lead in the future (horrors).  And wouldn't you know, the son happens to be "John McClane, Jr?"
*** stars

21 & Over- Frat house comedy about three friends and their wild night out before one has a big interview the next day.  It has moments, but raunchy teen comedy has been done better in Porky's, American Pie, etc.
**1/2 stars

Kevin Hart:  Let Me Explain- Comedian, Kevin Hart, in his first big screen concert movie performed at Madison Square Garden.  Fans of the manic comic may think this is gold.  For me, I've seen him funnier, but he still gets a couple of good zingers in.
*** stars

Killing Season- Robert DeNiro and John Travolta go head to head in a battle of survival between a retired American colonel and a Serbian soldier in the American wilderness.  What I did like about it is that the conflict is believable. No impossible stunts, no unbelievable gymnastics.  It's hard to imagine either star as an action hero right now.  It's a story you've seen before, but it's well acted by both stars.
*** 1/4 stars

Beautiful Creatures- Now this is how a supernatural love story should be made.  This teen drama about the doomed relationship of a witch and a mortal has action, comedy, passion, and chemistry between its two young leads.  And, it boasts some star power in Jeremy Irons and Emma Thompson, both in supporting roles.  A recent movie-series-to-remain-unnamed could have learned a lot from this one.
***1/2 stars

Aroused- A photo shoot made documentary style featuring 16 of today's top adult female stars.  The film interviews each star during the shoot and reveals their motivations for entering the adult business, their reasons for staying in the industry, and their lives prior to porn.  The movie does a credible job of humanizing the performers.
*** stars

Grown Ups 2- In this Summer season of sequels comes the one that absolutely no one wanted.  The first Grown Ups was cute and had a few big laughs.  The sequel is a case of Adam Sandler getting his best buds together and saying "want a paycheck?"  Kevin James, Chris Rock, and David Spade return with Sandler.  Rob Schneider apparently came to his senses and said no.  More juvenile hijinks abound, but they're not as funny this time.
** stars

Mud- I know I've given a lot of glowing reviews this year, but, finally!  A candidate for worst movie of the year!!  Matthew McConaughey is Mud, a killer/drifter who is living off the land awaiting his true love, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon).  Two young teenage boys stumble across him by accident and inexplicably begin to help him in his crazy endeavors.  Mud and Juniper have a complicated history as they lie, manipulate, and put the boys in deadly danger.  Sounds like the makings for excitement.  It isn't.  Most of the film is spent with the boys engaging in addled, nonsensical conversation with Mud in the wilderness.
* star

Only God Forgives- And our second nomination for worst movie of the year goes to this train wreck starring Ryan Gosling.  This one was so disappointing because it had such a great premise and asks a great philosophical question; would you take vengeance for a slain family member if you knew the reason he/she was slain was just? Add to that a mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) who has absolutely no scruples and you should have the makings of something good.  This movie attempts to be artsy and metaphorical but it just comes across as muddy and nonsensical.  It gets a star only due to some nice kill sequences.
* star

Scary Movie 5- Again, was movie fandom just dying for another Scary Movie?  This franchise has never recaptured the magic since the Wayans left the series.  Even Scary Movie stalwart, Anna Faris, jumped ship on this one.  It's a hodgepodge parody of films over the last three years or so.  So, if you're ready for a jumble of Paranormal Activity, Evil Dead, Cabin in the Woods, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Inception, and Black Swan, I guess you've hit the motherload here.  The problem is it just feels like a string of parodies slapped together haphazardly.  There's no cleverness to the writing.  The other horror parody of 2013, A Haunted House, is no masterpiece, but it at least put some thought in its madness.
** stars

The Last Stand- The Governator returns in this noisy, action-filled melee from Kim Ji-woon.  Here, Schwarzenegger is an ex-LAPD Narcotics detective-turned-small town sheriff.  When a drug kingpin escapes FBI custody and makes a run for the Mexican border, Arnold's small town is the only thing standing in the way.  And the town makes its "last stand" against the kingpin's heavily armed thugs.  This one is about what you've come to expect from a Schwarenegger movie.  Not necessarily good, but fairly harmless dumb fun at times. 
**3/4 stars

Olympus Has Fallen- This film along with White House Down takes me back to the year Deep Impact and Armageddon were released.  Similar movies that approached the material differently.  Olympus is the Deep Impact of the pair trying to attack its premise with stern seriousness.  This one could have been titled "Die Hard-White House Edition", as Gerard Butler is a disgraced Secret Service Agent attempting to do the impossible; extract the President from a North Korean paramilitary group that has taken command of the White House.  Despite the implausible plot, the film does have a certain "rah-rah" factor as Butler disposes of the bad guys.
*** stars

White House Down- So, here's the Armageddon of the group.  White House Down is loud and preposterous and doesn't have the earnestness of Olympus as it does inject a certain number of laughs into the plot.  Jamie Foxx is the President.  Channing Tatum is a U.S. Capitol police officer who happens to be in the White House when it comes under attack from within.  Like Olympus, you find yourself cheering the good guys despite its corniness.
**3/4 stars

The Place Beyond the Pines- This one is a bit difficult to rate.  Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper star as a motorcycle stuntman turned bank robber and police officer whose lives become intertwined.  This connection has repercussions down the line for their children as well.  Slow moving movie that keeps you enthralled just enough to keep watching, but ultimately leads to a dead end.
**3/4 stars

42:  The Jackie Robinson Story- This film, based on Hall of Famer, Jackie Robinson's, first year in Major League Baseball, contains one of Harrison Ford's best performances in years as Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager, Branch Rickey.  It will inspire.  It will make you angry.  But, it does make you feel.
***1/2 stars

Rapture-Palooza-  End of times movies appear to be fertile ground for comedy in 2013.  Rapture stars Craig Robinson as Satan who presides over the Earth after the apocalypse.  He takes an interest in a young virgin played by Anna Kendrick with whom he wants to have several demonic babies.  It's goofy fun.  Robinson is great as a lewd, sex-crazed Satan.
*** stars

Trance- A Danny Boyle thriller starring James McAvoy and Rosario Dawson, Trance is the tale of an art auctioneer who conspires with a gang of art thieves to steal a valuable Goya painting.  When the auctioneer suffers a head injury during the melee and forgets where he stashed the painting, the thieves enlist the aid of a hypnotherapist to try and unlock his mind.  This one is the anti-Side Effects.  A movie that twists and turns in on itself so much, it leaves you scratching your head as to what is reality and what is fantasy.  This is the definition of being too clever for your own good.
*1/2 stars

Justice League:  The Flashpoint Paradox- Animated adaptation of the groundbreaking DC Comics mini-series that set the stage for the company's ambitious "New 52" project.  The feature has some strange looking animation at times.  But you'll forgive that when you see how twisted the DC Universe becomes when The Flash goes back in time to alter one event in his life.  Heroes become villains, The Dark Knight is dead (sort of), and Superman is no where to be found.  A very demented little tale.
**** stars

Pawn Shop Chronicles- This is a crazy, twisted co-mingling of related stories centered around a southern pawn shop.  How do white supremacist meth-heads, a bad Elvis impersonator, and a revenge-driven husband tie together?  Paul Walker, Norman Reedus, Elijah Wood, Chi McBride, Matt Dillon, Brenden Frasier, and Vincent D'Onofrio star in this Pulp Fiction-esque comedy-thriller.  This is another one that was universally panned on a critical level.  So, of course, I liked it.
***1/4 stars

Now You See Me- An all-star cast featuring Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Cain, Morgan Freeman, and Woody Harrelson tells the story of four off-the-charts magicians who are brought together by a mysterious benefactor to pull off thefts using illusion and misdirection.  But is there an underlying reason for these thefts?  That's the question that is asked.  Now You See Me is fast paced, jaw dropping, and more than a little convoluted.  Maybe that's the point.  It's also a lot of fun.
***1/2 stars

The Iceman- Based on a true story, The Iceman recounts the story of Richard Kuklinski, a quiet and loving family man.  And remorseless contract killer.  It was rumored that Kuklinski had killed over 100 men before his arrest in 1986.  The standout here is Michael Shannon who gives an award winning performance as the notorious killer.  This guy just looks frightening without trying.
***1/4 stars

Magic Magic- Don't believe the hype if you read advance reviews on this being a horror movie.  This movie starring Michael Cera is a psychological thriller following one paranoid girl's descent into madness.  It tries to be trippy, but ends up being a snoozer that makes little sense.  And, the abrupt ending gives you the feeling of "That's it?"  Easily one of the worst movies of the year.
* star

The Lords of Salem- Goth rocker-turned-horror director, Rob Zombie, tackles the subject of witches in his latest mind bender.  A radio DJ receives a mysterious vinyl record from a group called only "The Lords" and begins a horrifying journey that dates back to the Salem Witch Trials almost four centuries prior.  The film is filled with grotesque images that border on the comical at times.  I have a piece of advice for Zombie on his next feature.  Either throttle back on the crack pipe or let your audience have what you're taking so we're in on the gag, too!  This movie is sheer madness and not in a good way.
*3/4 stars

Admission- Tina Fey stars as a Princeton Admissions Director whose personal life isn't nearly as orderly as her professional life.  And that's about to go south as well.  Also starring Paul Rudd, Admission isn't nearly as funny as you might think considering the two leads.  Fey's character is supposed to be smart, yet she does one of the dumbest things imaginable.  Seriously, would anyone put their career on the line for someone you think MIGHT be related to you?  Wouldn't you want to know the truth first?  Call me kooky!
**1/2 stars

The Host- I have never read any of Stephanie Meyer's novels.  I should hope that they're better than the film adaptations of her stories.  Aliens have invaded and essentially taken over the Earth by taking over human bodies.  The Host follows one particular parasite called "The Wanderer" who rebels against its kind when the consciousness of the human host (Saoirse Ronan) refuses to be erased. It eventually becomes romantic claptrap as a love triangle develops among the main characters.  It's marginally better than Twilight, but that's not saying much.
**1/4 stars

Disconnect- A film that explores how people experience some negative sides of today's communication technology with three intertwining stories.  You have cases of identity theft, cyberbullying, child pornography, and falsifying identity.  The build up in each story is great.  But, ultimately, it's all sizzle and no steak when  it comes down to each climax. Jason Bateman, Paula Patton, Alexander Skarsgard, and Hope Davis star in this movie that has strong performances but a weak payoff.
**3/4 stars

Tyler Perry Presents Peeples- OK.  What's going on here?  Another movie associated with Tyler Perry that I'm giving a favorable review to?  Craig Robinson is Wade Walker.  A common man who tries to impress his upper crust girlfriend's family during their annual family reunion to disastrous results.  It's cute and has a couple of laugh-out-loud moments.  Co-stars David Alan Grier and Kerri Washington.
*** stars

The East- Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgard, and Ellen Page star in this thriller about a private investigator infiltrating an environmental terrorist organization.  It's a tight, suspenseful film that presents some unexpected ethical quandaries.
***1/2 stars

The Bling Ring- Based on actual events and directed by Sofia Copola, this film recounts the exploits of a group of teenagers who made a rash of burglaries against celebrity homes in California.  It has some funny moments.  It also made me a little angry seeing a group of well-to-do teenagers so vapid and materialistic resorting to burglary for kicks.  Some people don't know how good they have it.  Emma Watson co-stars.
*** stars

V/H/S 2- Sequel to the 2012 film, part two essentially follows the same anthology style as the first.  This time, two private investigators attempt to track down a missing college student.  They discover several V/H/S tapes in his last known residence depicting some of the strangest events possible that all end in some type of horrible murder.  I know it's a sequel, but I still couldn't help having the feeling of "been there, done that."  There's nothing wrong with part two, and, if you liked the first, this one is palatable.  It just wasn't quite as much fun this time around. 
**3/4 stars

I Spit on Your Grave 2- Sequel to the 2010 remake, part two is essentially the same story as the original.  A young woman is brutally tortured, raped, and left for dead.  She survives to seek bloody retribution on her tormentors.  The treat, if you can call anything a treat in this type of movie, is the creativity of the revenge killing.  For me, the sequel takes a little too long to arrive at this juncture, and the kills aren't as masterfully creative.  And, our protagonist is a bit of an annoying screamer.  But, if you like revenge-driven horror films, you could do worse than this one.
**3/4 stars

Hammer of the Gods- Here we have the story of a young Viking prince who must travel through treacherous Saxon territory with his small band of warriors to find his exiled brother.  How good is this film?  It's slightly better than a made-for-SyFy original movie if that tells you anything.
*3/4 stars

A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III- Charlie Sheen is Charles Swan, a successful graphic designer who becomes a total wreck after his girlfriend breaks up with him.  Charles' soul-searching odyssey followed a surreal path that made very little sense and bored me to tears.  We learn that Charles is an affable, immature jerk who deserves to be alone.  You know.  Pretty much like Sheen himself.  Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray co-star.
*3/4 stars

Captain Phillips- Tom Hanks stars as real-life merchant Captain, Richard Phillips, who, in 2009 was taken hostage by Somali Pirates who hijacked his vessel.  It's another great performance by Hanks who runs the emotional gamut from quiet determination to sad breakdown.  It moves a little slowly at first.  Survive the first 30 minutes and you will be highly entertained through the ending.
***1/2 stars

Welcome to the Punch-  James McAvoy and Mark Strong star as a London detective and retired thief who are forced to work together to unravel a conspiracy.  It's a bit disjointed.  It leaves you feeling absolutely nothing.  Not good, not horrible.  It just sits there. 
**1/2 stars

Frankenstein's Army- Well, what do I say about this one?  A squad of Russian soldiers invade Germany during the last stages of WWII and discover the Nazis are creating biological horrors based on the scientific discoveries of Dr. Victor Frankenstein.  Yep, it's about as good as it sounds.
* star

Drinking Buddies- Jake Johnson and Olivia Wilde are co-workers and best friends inside and outside of their jobs at a brewery.  Both seem perfect for each other except both are involved in another relationship.  That is, until a fateful weekend getaway the couples take together.  Johnson and Wilde have an ease with each other onscreen that's as casual as one would have with an old friend.  That's the good.  The bad is that very little is accomplished in the 90 minutes you sit through the film.  The two leads flirt, then drink.  They suffer through angst, then drink.  They argue, then drink.   Drinking Buddies is billed as a comedy, but don't be fooled.  What is supposed to be funny is mildly amusing, at best.  It's so mundane, you may want to reach for a bottle yourself.
**stars

RED 2- Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, and Mary-Louise Parker return as retired secret agents (and girlfriend) in the sequel to 2010's action comedy, RED.  This time the Retired, Extremely Dangerous agents are embroiled in a plot to recover a Weapon of Mass Destruction from the heart of Russia itself.  Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones join the mayhem this time around, as well.  A cute and harmless, but, utterly unnecessary sequel.
*** stars

Elysium- Wealthy humans have abandoned Earth for a sleek, self-sustaining environmental paradise on the space station, Elysium.  Meanwhile, the rest of humanity is left to hard living on the overpopulated planet with little hope of attaining the wealth or social status to reach the good life.  That's the premise of this Matt Damon vehicle directed by District 9 director, Neil Blomkamp.   An interesting premise is downgraded by its nonsensical inconsistencies.  For example, if medical pods are capable of curing leukemia and reconstructing a guy's face after it has been blown off by a grenade, shouldn't the machine be capable to cure what amounts to an aneurism suffered by the hero?  Maybe I'm expecting too much, but my suspension of disbelief can only be pushed so far!  Jodie Foster co-stars.
**1/2 stars

Adore- Robin Wright and Naomi Watts star as two mothers and lifelong friends who make some taboo life decisions.  They become sexually involved with each other's young, adult son.  Twisted stuff indeed.  But, as unseemly as this premise may be, the film actually works very well as these four individuals navigate the pitfalls of their unusual relationships.  Many times I thought the film would run out of steam, but it keeps you enthralled for the entire two-hour running time if only to see how it all plays out.
***1/2 stars

The Mortal Instruments:  City of Bones- So, there's this girl, Clary, right?  And she sees this cute guy kill someone in a club.  But she's the only one that can see him do it.  And she finds out later that he's a half-human, half-angel called a Shadowhunter.  And she finds out her mom is one and that she's one, too.  And her mom goes missing. And her mom was protecting her by having her memory erased every so often when she was a child for some reason.  And there's this cup that can turn humans into angels.  And there's an evil Shadowhunter that wants it. And Clary is the only link to it because her mom stole it many years ago. And...and...and yeah it's about as choppy and disjointed as this review.
**1/2 stars

Percy Jackson:  Sea of Monsters- The sequel to 2010's Percy Jackson and the Olympians:  The Lightning Thief.  It's the continuation of Rick Riordan's book series.  This time Percy finds himself on a quest to capture the Golden Fleece of Greek myth, and stop the resurrection of the Titan, Kronos.  Not bad.  Somewhat entertaining.  Might be big with the tweener crowd, but not much meat on the bone if you're over 15. 
**3/4 stars

R.I.P.D.- Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges star in this hybrid of Men In Black and Ghostbusters.  Reynolds and Bridges are undead law enforcement officers in the "Rest In Peace Department" who are responsible for capturing dead souls that escape Final Judgment.  One such soul played by Kevin Bacon has devised a plot to bring all the evil souls facing Judgment to Earth.  As a plot twist, Bacon just happens to be Reynolds' former Boston PD partner who killed him in a double cross.  Bridges gives another rendition of his Rooster Cogburn character from True Grit.  It has some laughs and  entertainment value, but it's another harmless, completely disposable film.
*** stars

Stand Up Guys- Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, and Alan Arkin star as three aged gangsters who enjoy one last hurrah complete with brothels and gunfights  in the span of a couple days after one of them is released from prison after 28 years.  The fun is watching the three actors riff through their scenes with reckless abandon.  And Pacino actually doesn't yell too much.  It's a fun if unremarkable film. 
*** stars

Girl Most Likely- Kristen Wiig stars as playwright, Imogene, who was once the next big thing in the world of stage and theater.  After losing her job and boyfriend, she is forced back into the custody of her eccentric mother (Annette Bening) after a failed "suicide" attempt.  It's a departure for Wiig who does some dramatic acting here and actually isn't bad at it.  The film isn't completely serious and does have enough comic moments to keep the scenes flowing.  Matt Dillon is hilarious as Bening's live-in lover who may be a CIA agent or a pathological liar.
***1/4 stars

The Kings of Summer- Three teenage boys tired of living by their parents' rules build a makeshift house in the woods to live life on their own terms.  Billed as a comedy, the film starts out as an amusing little farce through about half of its running.  Then, it becomes unexpectedly morose for no apparent reason as the boys' leader takes a bit of a dark turn.  In the final resolution, you're still not completely sure if he's learned anything.  The standout here is the character of Biaggio played with twisted glee by Moises Arias.  The kid is so weird he has to be seen to be believed.
*** stars

Redemption- Jason Statham is an ex-British Special Forces soldier who committed atrocities in Afghanistan.  He goes AWOL from his unit and returns to Britain as a homeless drunk.  He stumbles across an empty luxury apartment that he "borrows" from its absent occupant.  He straightens himself out, gets a job as an enforcer for the local Chinese mobster, falls for a nun, avenges a friend, and decides he hurts people less when he's a homeless drunk.  It's a 100 minute slog through a ton of minutiae that isn't very much fun.  I will say that Statham does give a committed performance as it's a more dramatic role than his fans are used to.  It just doesn't quite work as an entertaining action-thriller.
**1/2 stars

Don Jon- Joseph Gordon-Levitt writes, directs and stars in this film that follows a ladies man who has one tiny idiosyncrasy.  He loves his porn.  Loves it on a daily basis in fact.  When he meets a woman (Scarlett Johansson) who he thinks could be the love of his life, he will have to chose if he can give up his habit for the woman of his dreams.  Funny and thought provoking at the same time, it doesn't end the way you think.  Julianne Moore co-stars.
***1/2 stars

The Way Way Back- This dramedy stars Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Rob Corddry, and Amanda Peet among others and follows a teenage boy's summer odyssey with his mother and her new boyfriend in Cape Cod.  The boy, Duncan, doesn't want to be there, of course, particularly due to the boyfriend's (Carrell's) overbearing and condescending attitude.  He's befriended by the manager of the local water park and begins to come out of his shell when he secretly begins working at the park with its ragtag group of colorful characters.  It has a couple of hilarious moments and a particularly great performance by Sam Rockwell as the water park manager.  However, the ending doesn't really resolve much for me as I can't really get behind the mother's decisions at the end.  This film marks the directorial debuts of Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.
***1/4 stars

Passion- Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace star in this Brian DePalma thriller following two woman who work at the same advertising agency.  Christine (McAdams) does everything in her power to destroy Isabelle's (Rapace) reputation and relationships when Isabelle has an affair with Christine's lover.  Isabelle has a nervous breakdown and Christine is found murdered.  But has Isabelle really suffered a breakdown?  That is the question.  The answer is trippy, misguided, and most of all, confusing. 
*3/4 stars

Out of the Furnace- Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Zoe Saldana, Willem Dafoe, Forest Whitaker, and Woody Harrelson star in this thriller about revenge and family loyalty.  Russell Baze (Bale) goes on a quest to mete out justice for his slain brother (Affleck) against the ruthless crimelord (Harrelson) who killed him.  Disappointing.  This film could have been very good if it didn't waste time with meaningless drivel.  For example, at least a quarter of film is about Bale's stint in prison.  This story doesn't really tie into anything meaningful to main plot.  I will give recognition to Harrelson here for his evil and scuzzy performance .  The movie suffers when he is not onscreen.
**3/4 stars

Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas- I've already given two Tyler Perry movies favorable reviews in 2013.  Could Madea make it three?  Unfortunately, no.  I can't believe I'm saying this as I've usually panned Tyler Perry movies for not having enough Madea, but I think maybe my fascination with the character is coming to an end.  I laughed at her antics a few times, but not with the same zeal.  This time Madea accompanies her niece on a surprise visit to her niece's daughter.  Comic hijinks and smaltzy drama ensue.
**1/2 stars

Anchorman 2:  The Legend Continues- Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner and Christina Applegate reprise their roles in the sequel to the 2004 screwball comedy.  The cast tries its best, but, much like The Hangover 2, the jokes are practically the same as they are in the
 first movie.  Not that it's a bad thing, but who needs to see the recycling of the same old material.  It's almost as if all involved with the production tried too hard at the comedy as the audience is continually beaten over the head with  the news crew's ridiculous personalities.  This time Ron Burgundy and company unleash their antics at the first 24-hour news network. 
*** stars

Ain't Them Bodies Saints- Casey Affleck and Roony Mara star as a Bonnie and Clyde-type couple in the beginning.  Cornered by sheriffs in an abandoned house, Bob Muldoon (Affleck) and Ruth Guthrie (Mara) give themselves up.  Bob admits that he is the one who shot one of the present officers and not Ruth.  Bob is sent to prison for a 25 to life stint and Ruth gives birth to their child while he's on the inside.  He escapes and makes a harrowing journey back to his family.  It's a standard plot, but that's not the problem.  This movie jumps up and down on one of my pet peeves.  Don't take two hours to tell a story that can be told in 90 minutes!  Brought my enjoyment down big time.
**1/2 stars

The Hunt- Mads Mikkelsen stars in this Danish film about a teacher falsely accused of sexually assaulting a young child.  It's a tremendous character study of how a mob mentality can take over a community.  Mikkelsen gives a great performance as the accused teacher who is left with no where to turn.  This film is subtitled so be warned.
***1/2 stars

The To Do List- Aubrey Plaza stars as an overachieving, but, socially awkward teenager who decides to learn all she can about sex over one summer after her inexperience scares off a boy she likes.  It's a crude and raunchy comedy that takes the teenager's education to extremes that sometimes amuse and sometimes don't.  It still has enough laughable, awkward moments to give it a try.  Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Rachel Bilson, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse co-star.
***stars

Oblivion- Tom Cruise stars in this post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure as a human "Wall-E" of sorts.  Well, maybe not.  He's a repairman to deadly battle drones that patrol the Earth in search remnants of the Scav(enger) Army that was instrumental in the almost total annihilation of the planet.  Oblivion is a bit of a mind-bender when the audience is clued in to the punchline.  And, we have to be clued in by Morgan Freeman's character over an hour and a half into the film if that says anything.  Even after you're clued in, you don't care.
** stars

The Wolf of Wall Street- Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese team up once again for this black comedy based on the memoir of real-life stockbroker and mogul, Jordan Belfort, who was imprisoned for securities fraud in the '90s.  Funny and irreverent, DiCaprio gives a wonderful performance as Belfort.  And, I even liked Jonah Hill in this film.  It's a little longer than it needs to be, but it's still a great watch.
***3/4 stars

Paranoia- Liam Hemsworth is caught in corporate espionage between two technology moguls (Gary Oldman and Harrison Ford) and the stakes become increasingly dangerous as the plot thickens.  The film plods along and offers nothing original with only mild excitement.  It's not a horrible movie, but the cast does seem like they're going through the motions.
**1/2 stars

Dallas Buyers Club- Finally!  A 2013 Matthew McConaughey movie that I can recommend.  In this true biography, McConaughey is Ron Woodroof, an AIDS patient who began selling unapproved pharmaceutical drugs in Texas to other AIDS patients when he found those drugs improved his condition.  It's a noteworthy performance by McConaughey.  He makes a Christian Bale-type body transformation similar to the one Bale made in The Machinist.  McConaughey is so gaunt and sickly looking that I worried for his health at times.
***1/4 stars

Ender's Game- In the future, Earth is attacked by bug-like aliens.  They're defeated at great cost.  Earth's future safety rests in the hands of  gifted young military cadet, Andrew  "Ender" Wiggin.  Ender's Game has nice special effects and an interesting look at military life in the future, but the ending leaves a little to be desired.  It foreshadows a possible sequel that garners very little interest on my part.  Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, and Abigail Breslin star.
**3/4 stars

Last Vegas- Michael Douglas, Robert DeNiro, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline are a 70-year old Wolfpack set loose in Las Vegas for a bachelor party.  Old feuds are rekindled and older men behave badly.  Well, mischievously, at least.  And, the bond of friendship rises above all.  It's hokey and very clichéd.  It's one of those movies that ties every conflict in a nice, neat little bow at the end.  It's a watchable comedy if not a memorable one.
**3/4 stars

Concussion- Robin Weigert is Abby.  Abby is a lesbian who becomes disillusioned with her lover and domestic life after suffering a mild concussion courtesy of her son's baseball.  So, what is a disillusioned housewife to do?  Why she becomes a high-end prostitute to put some spark in her life, of course.  Some of the film's awkward situations are mildly amusing, but you never get the sense the events are actually going anywhere.  There's very little consequence to the lead character's actions and you don't get the feeling she actually learns anything on this journey.  If you're into lesbian soft-core porn, this movie might be for you.  Otherwise, there's not much to go on.  In addition to Weigert, fellow Sons of Anarchy alum, Maggie Siff, co-stars.
**1/2 stars

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone- Steve Carrell and Steve Buscemi are a popular Vegas magic duo, the Incredible Burt and Anton, who are challenged for supremacy by upstart (dangerous) street magician, Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), after the duo has a falling out.  Does it inspire?  No.  Is it sentimental and predictable?  Yes.  Is it damn funny?  Oh, Hell yes!  Jim Carrey hasn't been this funny in years as he returns to the physical comedy that made him popular.  Alan Arkin, Olivia Wilde, and the late, James Gandolfini co-star.
***1/2 stars


Prince Avalanche- Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch star as two laborers, one the brother of the other's girlfriend, assigned to paint street lines down the length of a country highway that has been ravaged by wildfires.  Dim bulb Lance (Hirsch), and stern Alvin (Rudd) paint, argue, paint, speak to the few (very few) people who cross their path, paint, gradually learn to respect each other, paint...you get the idea.  This indie comedy is anything but that.  It gets especially low marks from me because director, David Gordon Green, has done something I didn't think possible.  He made Paul Rudd unfunny.
* star

Runner Runner- Justin Timberlake is a Princeton student who loses everything when he is cheated on an internet gambling site.  His friend discovers the probability alterations that beat him and he does what any normal college student would do.  He tracks the owner of the site to Costa Rica.  There he meets the fabulously wealthy, Ivan Block (Ben Affleck), the owner of that site and dozens of other gambling sites.  After confronting Block, Richie (Timberlake), is actually offered a job to oversee Block's businesses.  But, Richie soon learns that this new job might not be all it's cracked up to be.  Ben Affleck seems to have a good time as the ethically questionable Block.  But this is a standard, by the numbers thriller with no real nuance or twist.  In other words, it's kind of ok.
** 3/4 stars

Would You Rather- Now here's a killer dinner party.  Literally!  Brittany Snow is Iris, a young woman taking care of her cancer-stricken younger brother after their parents die.  With no money and her brother needing an expensive bone marrow transplant, she is introduced to the obscenely wealthy Shepard Lambrick (Jeffrey Combs of Re-Animator fame), who runs a charitable organization that could help her brother.  The catch?  She has to participate in a little game with several other participants in dire straits in their lives.   As Iris discovers, it's a game of survival orchestrated for the  sick, twisted amusement of one man.  It's a bit game show meets Saw and I loved every minute of it.  The film explores what we are willing to do to our fellow man for money and out of desperation.  And, it has a twist ending to boot.  You know how I love those!
***1/2 stars

Empire State- Based on a true story, a pair of friends decide to rob the armored car company one of them works for.  After the snatch, a relentless cop is placed on the case.  The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Liam Hemsworth, and Emma Roberts.  And, it went straight to video if that tells you anything.  It's not a particularly engaging thriller and there's not enough Johnson who is the only watchable character.  Unfortunately, it's not his character's story.
**1/2 stars

The Spectacular Now- A coming-of-age teen comedy-drama starring Miles Teller as a hedonistic and charming high school senior who has made a life of drinking, attending parties, and never taking the world seriously.  When he's dumped by his girlfriend, he goes on a bender and wakes up sans car on the lawn of his classmate, Aimee (Shailene Woodley).  In spite of himself he becomes drawn to the sweet, innocent girl and sets the stage for much teen angst and drama.  My only question is why doesn't this girl run for the hills when everything hits the fan?  Seriously, he is charming, but, damn he has issues.  Sorry, but I can't really relate to the shabby treatment of a girl that likes you for some strange reason in the interest of trying to protect her.
**3/4 stars

Inside Llewyn Davis- Sometimes I think reviewers are programmed to like  whatever film is released by certain artists.  And, that's certainly the case with the Cohen brothers' latest melancholy offering that is supposed to resemble a comedy.  In 1961, folk singer, Llewyn Davis, is broke.  He freeloads with friends and acquaintances, plays in a local Greenwich Village club for little compensation, and has impregnated a friend's wife.  He's been adrift in life since his former partner committed suicide.  His solo album has sold next to nothing.  Oscar Isaac does what he can playing the pathetic Llewyn.  But he's fighting a losing battle because there isn't much in the character to like or root for.  He's a bland lifeform.  I suppose there is supposed to be some type of beauty in the fact that he's an uncompromising artist, but, I wanted to scream "Get up 'ya bum, and get a job!" about halfway through.  Carey Mulligan at least has a screen presence as the angry, pregnant wife of Llewyn's friend who pretty much blames him for everything bad in her life.  There's some comedy there, but, the remainder of the film flops around aimlessly.
*1/4 stars

Her- A lonely, divorced man (Joaquin Phoenix) falls for his highly advanced operating system (OS) and learns to live his life again.  The film does have some funny moments as Phoenix interacts with his software.  It gets weird in a scene where the OS adopts a surrogate to be intimate with him.  And, then it makes little sense at the end.  My thoughts were this is the beginning of some real Terminator...I won't swear, don't worry.  Her is sweet in its own way even if it does become a little bewildering at times.  Scarlett Johansson voices Samantha, the advanced OS. 
***stars

Escape Plan- Sylvester Stallone is Ray Breslin, a former prosecutor-turned-security expert.  Ray co-owns a company that tests the security protocols for maximum security prisons with Ray, unknown to the staff, posing as an inmate in the selected prison.  When he is betrayed by an associate and illegally incarcerated in a state-of-the-art prison under the guidance of a sadistic warden (Jim Caviezel), Ray teams with inmate Emil Rottmayer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to concoct an elaborate plan to escape.  Escape Plan is pretty much what you would expect from a movie given the two main stars complete with  groaner one-liners, intense action, and implausible plot.  Some of the verbal interaction between Stallone and Schwarzenegger made me grin a few times, but don't expect much here.  If you're a fan of either star, you'll probably like it.
**3/4 stars

Bad Milo!- Let me get this out of the way.  This is NOT a good movie!  Not at all.  No way, no how.  In fact, I know I dropped a couple of IQ points after watching it.  The premise?  Oooooookay, here goes.  A stressed out family man with a boss from Hell and an overbearing mother develops a monster in his digestive tract.  Said monster pops out from...well, I'm sure you can guess, and proceeds to kill the people that annoy its host like a pink, feces-covered little Hulk.  I suppose the message here is that we should all embrace and control our dark sides before they kill us (or at least the people who piss us off).  Yeah, that's it.  This wreck of a movie does get some high marks from me for embracing its idiocy and embracing it fairly well.
***stars

Byzantium- Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan star as mother-daughter vampires on the run in director, Neil Jordan's, third foray into the land of the undead.  And, for as much as I loved Jordan's Interview with the Vampire, I disliked Byzantium just as much.  With a plodding storyline that goes on for almost two hours, there isn't much bite here.  Tortured, teenage vampire love is not for me.  I drifted on this one more than once...make that two...or three...maybe four...suffice to say it was a lot!
*1/2 stars


Lone Survivor- Mark Wahlberg stars in this film based on the true story of four Navy S.E.A.Ls who are dropped behind enemy lines in Afghanistan on a reconnaissance mission.  Due to bad intel and worse luck they end up in the fight of their lives attempting to escape back to their base.  As the name implies, they don't all make it back.  Gut-wrenching, sad as all get out , and inspiring at the same time, Lone Survivor is one of the best films of 2013. 
**** stars

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2- Sequel to the 2009 surprise hit (especially with me), Meatballs 2 follows brilliant, but naïve inventor, Flint Lockwood (voice of Bill Hader), in his further adventures to corral the living food created by his invention, the Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator (or FLDSMDFR), from the first movie.  The art direction is superior.  The vivid colors and clever graphics depicting food as animal replications, or "Foodimals", are even more fantastic in the sequel.  The humor kind of sneaks up on you at times as you sometimes don't get the joke as it happens.  A few seconds later you feel, "Wow, they really went there."  Extremely enjoyable and visually amazing, this is in the same conversation with Despicable Me 2 and Monsters University for best animated movie of the year.
**** stars

Romeo and Juliet- Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth are the star-crossed lovers in this 999th adaptation of Shakespeare's famous tragedy.  Of course, I'm being facetious regarding the number of times this play has been adapted.  It's a passable attempt, although I will freely admit I am not the best authority on critiquing Shakespeare.  I've never been much of a fan.  Hark, do I hear the villagers with their torches and pitchforks at my door now? 
*** stars

Blue Caprice- Inspired by the Beltway sniper attacks that occurred in the Washington D.C. area in 2002, Blue Caprice stars Isaiah Washington and Tequan Richmond as John Muhammad and Lee Malvo, a twisted "father-son" combo.  John finds Lee as an abandoned teenager and slowly molds the boy to his own distorted view of the world.  Through harsh training and "tough love", Lee becomes the model soldier for John's guided attacks from the trunk of their blue Chevy Caprice.  It's a heart-wrenching tale of the human need for acceptance and love no matter where those needs may come from.  It's well acted by the two leads.  It does leave some holes that have you scratching your head.  For example, the two are on their killing spree, and then they're caught.  It's not a smooth transition.  It reminded me of what I vehemently disliked about No Country for Old Men.  But, the saving grace of Blue Caprice is it doesn't overstay its welcome after this gaffe and soon ends.
*** stars

Fruitvale Station- Based on the true story of the 2009 shooting of Oscar Grant by BART police officers on New Year's Day in Oakland, California, the film follows the events of the last day of Grant's life.  While the pacing of the story is a little dull until the fateful shooting, Grant's happy moments are made more gut-wrenching as you watch his destiny unfold.  Let's make note.  Grant was not necessarily a good guy.  He's a convicted felon, but, as the movie suggests, he was attempting to change his life.  Whether this is true or not, I don't know.  I mention this because the film has been accused of being heavily slanted to one point of view.  What I do know is the officer who shot grant was convicted (involuntary manslaughter) and the other officers on the scene were let go by the BART police.  You decide.  Michael B. Jordan stars as Oscar Grant.
*** stars

August: Osage County- A family that fights together, well, fights I guess.  Adapted from a Tracy Letts play, August:  Osage County does not lack for established actors with Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch, Abigail Breslin, Margo Martindale, Juliet Lewis, Dermot Mulroney, and Sam Shepard.  The Weston family is a dysfunctional one in the extreme.  They come together when patriarch, Beverly (Shepard), disappears.  Family secrets are let of the bag in sometimes comical, but always screwed up ways.  It's well acted by all involved, especially Streep and Roberts, as the venomous matriarch and her oldest daughter.  It's a bit slow moving, but a decent watch if only to see how these people seem to one-up each other in torpedoing their lives.
*** stars

We Are What We Are- Father knows best.  Or, maybe not as patriarch, Frank Parker, rules his family with an iron fist of religious fervor.  Meanwhile, he also harbors a generations-long, horrific secret that makes his family outcasts.  There are some true gross-out moments here.  It builds suspense slowly (and, I do mean slowly).  The ending makes this one worth sitting through if nothing else. 
*** stars

A Single Shot- Sam Rockwell is John Moon, a poacher down on his luck in the hills of West Virginia.  While on a morning hunt, he accidentally shoots and kills a young woman wandering the forest.  Desperate to not get into even more trouble (he already has a police record for poaching), he attempts to hide the body in a cave and stumbles onto a huge amount of cash.  Keeping the cash for himself believing he can woo back his estranged family, trouble follows John every step of the way as it belongs to some unsavory criminals who want it back at all costs.   Other than William H. Macy's horribly bad toupee, there isn't much more entertainment in this bland thriller.  Rockwell does his best to carry the plot, but it's a meandering snoozer.  Clocking in at almost two hours, 30 minutes of needless film could have easily been trimmed away here.
**1/2 stars

The Great Gatsby- Baz Luhrmann takes his big budget stab at the F. Scott Fitzgerald literary classic.  It's bright and colorful. Lavish to a fault.  Sort of like Gatsby himself.  It does a competent job of examining the excesses of the rich and powerful including the cowardice that sometimes comes with that station of life.  It's well acted. I was never a big fan of the novel itself, but this adaptation is worth a look.   Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan star.
*** stars

In a World...- Lake Bell stars and directs this indie film of a young woman trying to break into the male-dominated world of voice-overs.  Slyly funny at times, it gives a glimpse at the surprisingly cutthroat side of the profession.  Not magnificent by any means, but a cute, fun venture that's a pleasing watch. 
*** stars

Nebraska- Bruce Dern stars as an elderly man who believes he has won $1,000,000 in a magazine sweepstakes despite protests to contrary by his acerbic wife and incredulous sons.  His younger son decides to take a road trip with his father from Billings, MT to Lincoln, NE to claim the "prize" when dad keeps wandering out on foot get what's his.  It's an allegory on what we are willing to do for family and also a cautionary lesson in the dangers of humoring another's delusions.   It is mildly amusing at times with one moment of true comedic gold.  It ends on a sweet note, but it's not necessarily smooth sailing in the almost 110 minutes sitting through it.  It has enough decent moments to almost give it a favorable review, but not quite.    Bob Odenkirk, Will Forte, June Squibb, and Stacy Keach co-star.
**3/4 stars

Cold Comes the Night- Bryan Cranston and Alice Eve star in this crime thriller.  A semi-blind criminal (Cranston), takes a struggling motel manager (Eve) hostage when his original driver runs into some bad fortune.  Cranston is proving to be a versatile actor.  He does a convincing Russian accent.  That's not an easy thing to do.  Ask Harrison Ford.  Eve gives a good performance as well.  It's not a special thriller, but it's an entertaining one.
***1/4 stars

Saving Mr. Banks- Tom Hanks is the legendary Walt Disney and Emma Thompson is author, P.L. Travers in this biographical account of the making of Mary Poppins.  Whimsical, sentimental, deceptively funny, and surprisingly dark at times, the film is as much about Travers' personal journey of accepting the pitfalls of her own childhood as it is about Disney shooting the movie.  It's an entertaining watch. 
***1/4 stars

12 Years a Slave- Director Steve McQueen's unflinching look at slavery in the United States through the eyes of Solomon Northrup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man in New York kidnapped and sold into slavery for 12 years.  This biographical tale is a both a tearjerker and anger-inducing.  It's hard and ugly much like slavery itself.  It's not particularly special in its storytelling, but, ultimately, it's story that needed to be told.  Paul Giamatti, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch, Alfre Woodard, Lupita Nyong'o, Sarah Paulson, and Brad Pitt co-star. 
***1/2 stars

Oldboy- Josh Brolin stars in this remake of the 2003 South Korean film as a businessman who is mysteriously placed in solitary confinement for 20 years, and, then just as mysteriously released by his captor.  It's an elaborate, violent tale of revenge and ickiness.  And the big reveal has a giant "ick" factor.  The ending is a little questionable, but it's an enjoyable roller coaster prior to that.  Elizabeth Olsen and Samuel L. Jackson co-star.
***1/4 stars

The Counselor- Ridley Scott directs this thriller that is sometimes brutally violent and often stuck in neutral with needless exposition.  A lawyer (Michael Fassbender) tries his hand at drug trafficking to horrific results.  Did this film have something to say?  About anything?  Meaningless conversations that aren't witty or plot-driven ensue throughout.  When characters die, you feel nothing.  Which is what this movie is.  A great big nothing.  Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, and Brad Pitt co-star. 
*1/2 stars

Rush- Ron Howard directs this biopic chronicling the rivalry between Formula 1 drivers, James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Nikki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl), in the 70's.  Great compare and contrast between party boy Hunt and the acerbic no-nonsense Lauda who developed respect for each other after a tragic accident on the track.  Two very good performances by Hemsworth and Bruhl make this one more than worth watching.  Surprising for me since I have zero interest in race car driving. Olivia Wilde co-stars.
***1/2 stars

Philomena- Stephen Frears directs this true-life story based on Philomena Lee's 50-year search for her lost son who was forcibly taken from her while she worked at a convent as a young girl.  Philomena enlisted the aid of disgraced journalist, Martin Sixsmith, to investigate.  It's a harrowing, yet, ultimately, sweet tale of Philomena's journey through church corruption to be reunited with the child she lost so long ago.  Definitely a tug-at-your-heartstrings type of movie the Academy loves.  And, in this case, they were at least right to like it.  Steve Coogan and Judi Dench star as Martin Sixsmith and Philomena Lee, respectively.
***1/4 stars 

Blue Jasmine- Cate Blanchett gives what the Academy considered an Oscar-winning performance in Woody Allen's comedy-drama about a New York socialite who loses everything when her husband is jailed for fraud.  Was her performance truly Oscar-worthy?  I have to think about it, but it was pretty good as her character goes from tightly wound to not wrapped very tightly at all, sometimes in a matter of seconds.  The movie itself isn't spectacular, but it does have its amusing moments.  Alec Baldwin, Andrew Dice Clay, and Oscar-nominee, Sally Hawkins co-star.
*** stars

Baggage Claim- Paula Patton stars as a flight attendant who goes on a 30-day manhunt to find a date for her sister's upcoming wedding, and, possibly, the man of her dreams in this by-the-numbers rom-com.  While it does have a few hearty laughs, it's also the same clichéd story of the protagonist not seeing what's right in front her and inexplicably going on an unnecessary man search because she feels pressured by her mother.  It's not bad.  But, it's not special either.  Derek Luke, Jill Scott, Taye Diggs, and Boris Kodjoe co-star. 
**3/4 stars

Free Birds- Cute animated movie featuring the voices of Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, and Amy Poehler about two hapless turkeys who time travel to take their species off the Thanksgiving menu for good.  Not the worst way to spend 90 minutes, but, it definitely pales in comparison to some of the better animated features of the year like Monsters University and Despicable Me 2.
***1/4 stars

Lee Daniels' The Butler- A historical drama loosely based on the life of Eugene Allen, Forest Whitaker stars as Cecil Gaines, an African-American White House butler who is eyewitness to many key events in the Civil Rights movement over several Presidential administrations.  It's yet another anger-inducing film (for some) that depicts man's inhumanity to man.  But it does inject glimmers of hope throughout.  It's a good movie, but another that you will only want to sit through once. Oprah Winfrey co-stars.
*** 1/2 stars

Turbo- Cute animated feature about a common garden snail and racing enthusiast (Ryan Reynolds) who acquires Indy car speed through accident.  Somewhat better than Free Birds, but not quite as engaging as The Croods.  Ken Jeong does provide some laughs as the voice of a female salon owner.  Features the voices of Snoop Dog, Samuel L. Jackson, Paul Giamatti, and Maya Rudolph among others.
***1/4 stars

Sweetwater- January Jones (of Mad Men fame) stars as a one-woman wrecking crew in the Old West who takes revenge against all who have wronged her.  Jason Isaacs is great as a creepy, conniving preacher who is far less than holy.  Ed Harris (who co-produced) shines as a slightly unhinged, eccentric sheriff investigating a different set of murders that converge with the main storyline.
***3/4 stars

Frozen- Disney's Oscar-winning animated 3D spectacular about two royal sisters, one with the power to create ice and snow.  Disney goes a little old school as this the first one of their features that I noticed has had this much song in a while.  Cute enough and has some animation that would probably be quite impressive in 3D.  But, ultimately, more of a children's movie than probably any other animated movie I saw this year.  That's not a bad thing.  The kids will love it.  But, if you're expecting a Shrek-like feature to keep mommy and daddy engaged as well, this isn't the one for you.
***1/4 stars

Hell Baby- Horror-comedy (way more comedy than horror) featuring an expectant couple (Rob Corddry and Leslie Bibb) who move into a haunted fixer-upper in New Orleans.  Crazy shenanigans ensue including an unwanted houseguest (Keegan Michael Key) and expectant mother, Vanessa, exhibiting strange and demonic behavior.  Stupid doesn't begin to cover this film, but the laughs are steady if not always spectacular.
*** stars

Mandela:  Long Walk to Freedom- My there have been a ton of movies in 2013 based on true events.  Idris Elba stars as the late South African President.  It's a nice performance by Elba, but, again, nothing happens here that is unexpected if you somewhat know Mandela's place in history.  I realize that since it's based on true events (from his younger days, to his imprisonment for decades by the South African government, to his inauguration), there's only so much creative license that can be taken, but, like 12 Years a Slave, it's a poignant film while not a particularly special one.
***1/2 stars



Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.