Killing Them Softly (2012)

Killing Them Softly (2012)

Directed by: Andrew Dominik
Screenplay by: Andrew Dominik

Genre: Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 97 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

In America you're on your own.

[IMDb]

Comments: Halfway through Killing Them Softly, I really wasn't sure what I was watching. I thought many of the scenes were amazing, but as a collective the entire film was disjointed. As the credits rolled, I still felt the movie was a bit uneven, but I'll be damned if I didn't enjoy the hell out of it.

I'm really surprised Killing Them Softly was even shown in my theater, as I can't see the general film-going public (that's going only because Brad Pitt's name is on the poster) will really enjoy this movie. (My theater laughs at the idea of getting anything remotely independent.) I was reminded a lot of the George Clooney's The American, a film that I'm sure many went to see for Clooney alone only to find one of the most anti-mainstream films to get such a wide distribution. The American and Killing Them Softly are certainly different, but I felt the overall vibe was similar between them. And for what it's worth, I thought The American was fantastic.

Anyway, back to the task at hand. Killing Them Softly is surely going to divide critics and the public in general. The political commentary feels a bit forced at times, and there's a certain character that ends up being mostly irrelevant to the rest of the film. But the performances are great (James Gandolfini and Scoot McNairy being my favorite), the look is awesome, and despite my issues with the script and its unevenness I felt that Andrew Dominik's direction was pretty good. If you're interested, I'd definitely recommend Killing Them Softly. Just be aware what you're getting yourself into.

From Russia with Love (1963)

From Russia with Love (1963)

Directed by: Terence Young
Screenplay by: Richard Maibaum

Genre: Action | Adventure | Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 115 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

The world's masters of murder pull out all the stops to destroy Agent
  007!

[IMDb]

Comments: From Russia with Love, the direct sequel to Dr. No, is one of the more highly regarded films in the James Bond franchise. And while I certainly enjoyed myself, I felt that it lacked that certain charm that other Bond films have. Despite the stupendous fight scene on the train, I just never found From Russia with Love as enjoyable as the other Connery films I've seen before (namely Dr. No and Goldfinger). Plus, the ending was about as anticlimactic as possible. Bond versus a 65-year-old woman? It's a miracle he made it out alive...

Dr. No (1962)

Dr. No (1962)

Directed by: Terence Young
Screenplay by: Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, and Berkely
  Mather

Genre: Action | Adventure | Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 110 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Now... meet the most extraordinary gentleman spy in all fiction!

[IMDb]

Comments: I just watched Dr. No about a month ago when I was anticipating the release of Skyfall. I had hoped to watch a few more Bond films, but I never got around to it unfortunately. Now, I have no excuse as thanks to Amazon's Black Friday sale I own all twenty-two James Bond films on Blu-ray. Naturally, I'm planning on watching all of them in order, but I had to revisit Dr. No first in its restored and pristine glory. It looks great in HD, and is such a fun movie. Sure, the film feels a bit dated at times, but it's such an iconic picture that it's easy to ignore. And Ursula Andress...

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Screenplay by: Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan

Genre: Action | Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 165 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

The legend ends.

[IMDb]

Comments: I was pretty excited to check out The Dark Knight Rises for the first time since I saw it in theaters. And damn, if it isn't still freaking awesome. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Does it hold a candle to the first two films? In my opinion, no. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the hell out of myself, to the point where I got that giddy feeling when I popped in the Blu-ray. Speaking of which, Bane sounds so fucking cool even though he's about ten times louder than any other character in the film. Neighbors be damned!

Look, The Dark Knight Rises certainly has its issues, and I can honestly see why some people have real problems with it. But for me, it's an amazing film and an awesome way to end the trilogy. Movies like this make it easy to overlook the smaller stuff. Haters be damned too!

Wendy and Lucy (2008)

Wendy and Lucy (2008)

Directed by: Kelly Reichardt
Screenplay by: Kelly Reichardt and Jonathan Raymond

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 80 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

On the long road, friendship is everything.

[IMDb]

Comments: I dug this.

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

Directed by: Colin Trevorrow
Screenplay by: Derek Connolly

Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi
Running Time: 86 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

Take the trip.

[IMDb]

Comments: The last of my $1 rentals was without a doubt my most anticipated, Safety Not Guaranteed. In all fairness, this was due to my recent infatuation with Aubrey Plaza after slamming through four seasons of Parks and Recreation. And even though her character is somewhat similar (which wasn't necessarily a bad thing for me), I still found that Safety Not Guaranteed to be a rewarding movie, even if it didn't quite meet my admittedly high expectations (due to the number of positive reviews I've read here). Overall, Safety Not Guaranteed is a fun little flick that despite its similarities to other low budget indie films still finds its own niche, and for that alone the movie is certainly worth a look.

The Campaign (2012)

The Campaign (2012)

Directed by: Jay Roach
Screenplay by: Chris Henchy and Shawn Harwell

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 85 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

May the best loser win.

[IMDb]

Comments: I honestly believe that Zach Galifianakis has the ability to be a great actor; one of those talents that transcends the comedy genre and goes on to more prominent and serious work. But I get worried when I see him in mediocre fare like Due Date, The Hangover Part II, and now, The Campaign. I don't want to see Galifianakis continue to churn out retread after retread like his co-star in the film, Will Ferrell, or even someone like Adam Sandler. Break from the mold, Zach!

I won't lie, I did find The Campaign to be pretty funny at times, but the longer the film went on the more I just wanted it to be over. Will Ferrell plays the exact same character he's played in 20 other movies, and despite the quality of supporting actors (Dan Aykroyd, John Lithgow, and Brian Cox), there's really not a lot to see here. This was another of my $1 rentals, and while I'm glad I finally got to see The Campaign, I feel like I only got $.50 worth.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

Directed by: Lorene Scafaria
Screenplay by: Lorene Scafaria

Genre: Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi
Running Time: 101 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

Nice knowing you.

[IMDb]

Comments: I'm a sucker for a good romantic film, and while Seeking a Friend for the End of the World isn't the best movie, it certainly won me over. Most of that is due to the leads, who despite their 23-year age difference, really had me intrigued in their budding romance (normally I would've just thought that it was creepy). There's a host a known actors in bit parts as well, and seeing familiar faces certainly helped in my enjoyment of the film. It certainly wasn't a bad way to spend $1. (I love cheap rentals!)

Life of Pi (2012)

Life of Pi (2012)

Directed by: Ang Lee
Screenplay by: David Magee

Genre: Adventure | Drama | Fantasy
Running Time: 127 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Viewed: Theater (3D)

Believe the unbelievable.

[IMDb]

Comments: I didn't have a great interest in catching Life of Pi, but it was one of those films where curiosity got the better of me. I had read some intriguing reviews (both here and from critics) that talked about how much they enjoyed the film, so I decided I needed to check it out. (It also looked like one of those movies that would benefit from being seen on the big screen, even though I don't particularly care for 3D.)

Life of Pi was both enchanting and frustrating for me. Ang Lee's direction and the overall look of the movie was spot-on. In addition, there were some truly great emotional scenes that reeled me in and had me totally invested in Life of Pi.

Unfortunately, all of those amazing scenes took place on the boat with Pi and the wonderfully named tiger, Richard Parker. Every time Ang Lee transitioned to present day and showed an older Pi speaking with a writer, my interest level lowered quite a bit. Combined with an overlong introduction, and an interesting, but somewhat saddening ending, I found that my love of Life of Pi started and ended with a fantastic story of a human and a tiger on a boat.

I still recommend checking the movie out though. Despite the faith-heavy dialogue (I'm not particularly religious) and a few other quibbles, I certainly wasn't upset with my decision to see Life of Pi this afternoon. The visuals and cinematography make it worth watching on the big screen.

Also, I'm going to start selling tiger-taming kits with some chum, a whistle, and a stick. If Life of Pi teaches us anything, it's that you too can make friends with your very own tiger!

From a Whisper to a Scream (1987)

From a Whisper to a Scream (1987)

Directed by: Jeff Burr
Screenplay by: C. Courtney Joyner, Darin Scott, and Jeff Burr

Genre: Action | Drama | Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 99 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

Fear... times four.

[IMDb]

Comments: I got nothin'.

Coupling - Season Three (2002)

Coupling (2000-2004)

Created by: Steven Moffat

Season: Three (2001)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 7
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Up for a threesome?

[IMDb]

Comments: More of the same goodness with the third season of Coupling. I did find that the episodes tended to be a bit more serious at times, but overall the quality of the show was just as good. One more to go!

Coupling - Season Two (2001)

Coupling (2000-2004)

Created by: Steven Moffat

Season: Two (2001)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 9
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

More than just a one night stand!

[IMDb]

Comments: I quite like Coupling. It's a fun show that has great writing (the season finale was phenomenal) and a strong cast. There's certainly some issues here and there - like why anyone would want to hang out with Jane, who's ungodly annoying and never has any humanizing moments. Plus, the total lack of realism hurts at times (I'm mainly speaking of how characters act in the most bizarre way possible), but overall I've enjoyed my time with these six individuals. Despite those issues, it's completely hysterical and well worth a watch. Also, I'm totally phoning this review in if you couldn't tell.

Oh, and the teeth! I know it's sort of a stereotype about the British and their teeth, but some of the guest stars they had on the show were awful. Try to find someone on American TV with bad/dirty teeth. It doesn't happen! Even in the post-apocalyptic future when we're being attacked by zombies, those babies are pearly white.

Sorry for going off on a tangent. Teeth are just something I notice... and I noticed it a lot in Coupling.

Lincoln (2012)

Lincoln (2012)

Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Screenplay by: Tony Kushner

Genre: Biography | Drama | History | War
Running Time: 150 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

[IMDb]

Comments: To be honest, just from watching the trailer and previews, Lincoln didn't do much for me. I knew it would likely be a good film and that I would really appreciate the performances, but nothing about the movie screamed "get to the theater now, you don't want to miss this!" However, my friend wanted to go see Lincoln on Thanksgiving Eve, so I wasn't going to turn the opportunity down. In the end, I'm glad I went. Lincoln, if a bit long, delivers on just about all fronts. It paints the man as human and likeable, and also interjects some surprisingly well-done humor into the mix. I imagine that this film will be nominated for a number of awards, but I don't think anyone is as deserving as Daniel Day-Lewis - he completely steals the show (as expected). It's also Steven Spielberg's best film in years, though I haven't seen either The Adventures of Tintin (which I actually have on order) or War Horse (no desire to see that at all), but I don't think either would top this film. If you're interested in history and don't mind a two-and-a-half hour film with a lot of talking, then I strongly recommend Lincoln. At least then you'll have a understanding of what everyone's talking about come awards season.

Your Sister's Sister (2011)

Your Sister's Sister (2011)

Directed by: Lynn Shelton
Screenplay by: Lynn Shelton

Genre: Comedy | Drama
Running Time: 90 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

A comedy about doing the right thing with the wrong person.

[IMDb]

Comments: I'm not the biggest fan of the "mumblecore" genre, but in general what I've seen I've enjoyed (ranging from mediocre films like Cyrus and Baghead to ones I've really appreciated, like Jeff, Who Lives at Home). Your Sister's Sister falls a few notches above the middle, as it's a film I enjoyed despite a couple minor issues. One issue I don't have is Emily Blunt, who I completely adore. Opposite her is Mark Duplass, an actor (and co-director of all three mumblecore films I mentioned above) I generally like, but he comes off as whiny and annoying throughout the first half of the film (his character improves, however). In general, Your Sister's Sister is a nice little rom-com-dram, and one I approve of if you're interested.

Aim High - Season One (2011)

Aim High (2011-????)

Created by: Heath Corson and Richie Keen

Season: One (2011)
Genre: Thriller
Number of Episodes: 6
Episode Running Time: 10 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

After school jobs are a killer.

[IMDb]

Comments: For a web series that consists of only six episodes and runs for less than one hour total, Aim High was a pretty decent little idea. It's certainly something I'd watch if it was an actual television series (especially given my predisposition to storylines of this type), and I think it would work on a grander scale. I hadn't even heard of this series until earlier in the week when I saw the DVD released online. I did a little research, made a mental note that I might have to check it out later, and then immediately bought it when I saw it for sale at Walmart this afternoon. I don't know if it was worth the $10, especially when you take into account the short runtime, but I enjoyed enough that it won't bother me. I'm sure you can find this online somewhere, so give Aim High a look if it interests you.

Coupling - Season One (2000)

Coupling (2000-2004)

Created by: Steven Moffat

Season: One (2000)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 6
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

The naughty new comedy about nothing... but sex!

[IMDb]

Comments: Fuck me. Sarah Alexander, where have you been all my life? You are just about the goddamn cutest thing I've ever seen. And those "Nude Practice" skits you used to do on that Armstrong and Miller sketch show? Jesus fucking Christ. Why don't they release those on DVD? You are just so... oh, right. We're here to talk about Coupling.

Coupling has often been described as the British version of Friends, and that's certainly true to an extent (though it's also not giving Coupling enough credit). The show also has some definite Seinfeld influences as well, given the nonsensical relationship rules and phrases that come up over the first season. But the biggest reason why this show exceeds Friends is the writing of Steven Moffat - he of Doctor Who and Sherlock fame. As dumb as the comedy is in Coupling, it's also always smart and the episodes are well-conceived. It's a fun show, and I'm looking forward to watching the following seasons.

Also, have I mentioned Sarah Alexander?

Flight (2012)

Flight (2012)

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Screenplay by: John Gatins

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 138 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

[IMDb]

Comments: I wasn't planning on doing much today, given that I'm off for Veteran's Day, but at the last moment I decided to go catch Flight - the third film I've seen in theaters in the last five days - as it's one that really had me intrigued.

- Despite being somewhat long during the second act, I found Flight to be a compelling character study, mainly due to the compelling acting of Denzel Washington. He's great at portraying the anti-hero, and comes through again here. The film itself hits familiar notes throughout (except for one nice John Goodman appearance toward the end), as pretty much everything I expected to happen did in fact happen. But Washington throws Flight on his back and once again carries it to the finish.

- I can't short-change the fantastic plane crash sequence, though. Even though you knew mostly everyone was going to survive, the tension Robert Zemeckis created was amazing. It's almost worth seeing the movie for that aspect alone. Oh, and Nadine Velazquez in the opening scene, all nekkid and stuff. Ay, Mami.

- It's also nice to see Zemeckis back directing live action films, with Flight being his first since 2000's Cast Away (a personal favorite). He's directed a number of movies I've adored over the years, so here's to some more in the future.

- Despite a couple of issues with the relatively by-the-numbers script, I really enjoyed Flight. It's one that won't be an award winner, but it will surely grip and enthrall its audience. After worrying about the noise level in my theater during the trailers, not much was heard once Flight began. That's almost always the sign of a solid movie, and fortunately, this one's a good one.

Parks and Recreation - Season Four (2011-2012)

Parks and Recreation (2009-????)

Created by: Greg Daniels and Michael Schur

Season: Four (2012)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 22
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Because parks don't grow on trees.

[IMDb]

Comments: As I mentioned before, I really dig Parks and Rec. The show has to be one of the most kind-hearted shows on television (in addition to being one of the funniest). And I'm not saying that as a bad thing - I love that all of these characters are inherently good and always try to do the right thing to each other. That just tends to resonate with me, and as a result I genuinely care about them as if they were my friends.

I wish my job was like this.

Prometheus (2012)

Prometheus (2012)

Directed by: Ridley Scott
Screenplay by: Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof

Genre: Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 124 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

The search for our beginning could lead to our end.

[IMDb]

Comments: Here's my original thoughts, because it's late and I'm lazy:

I tempered my expectations of Ridley Scott's Prometheus after the film received a solid but not outstanding reception on its opening weekend (I previously mentioned that I was more excited to see it than The Dark Knight Rises; that perception was a little off). This was for the best as I think I would have been disappointed if my expectations were higher than they were. This pseudo-prequel to Alien is a solid if flawed film, but it definitely was worth the watch.

- The film's scope is so fucking grand that it's hard to latch onto one aspect. The reason Alien worked so well is because behind all of the space suits, evil corporations, and questionable-intentioned androids, the film was a horror story at heart. Man versus beast. And people were down with that. Prometheus has so many ideas and themes crammed into the two hour runtime that there's never one aspect to fully get involved in. (The fact that Prometheus was co-written by Lost showrunner Damon Lindelof feels natural, doesn't it?)

- The film looks GORGEOUS. Granted, I saw it in glorious 2D (as 3D is the worst thing to re-happen to movies in years), but this planet that the crew is on feels so alive. The cinematography and landscapes are awesome, and the ship's design is top notch.

- Michael Fassbender owns. That should come as no surprise, but he was above and beyond everyone else in Prometheus. The only character I enjoyed as much was Idris Elba's. I really didn't like Guy Pearce as the elderly Peter Weyland. I like Pearce, but any time a recognizable actor plays an older person by way of prosthetics and make-up I don't buy it. I didn't here.

- I know I make jokes often about actresses that qualify as #motherofgod material, but there are not many higher than Charlize Theron. Jesus fucking Christ. The woman is made of pure gorgeous. And she seems like an awesome person too if you've ever seen any interviews with her.

- Even though I have my share of complaints, I really liked Prometheus. I was hooked for the entire two hours, which surprised me because I'm usually passing out early Friday nights from the work week. It's worth seeing on the big screen as well, even if it's not as good as it should be. At least that didn't try to force Sigourney Weaver's iconic "bitch" line from Aliens (like the "get to the chopper" line in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem), because nothing ruins a prequel/sequel more than shoving ideas from the other movie down the viewers' throats (see: The Hangover Part II). Wow, I really went off on a fucking tangent there. Anyway, go see Prometheus. It's solid.

Skyfall (2012)

Skyfall (2012)

Directed by: Sam Mendes
Screenplay by: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and John Logan

Genre: Action | Adventure | Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 143 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

The threat is not from above, but from within.

[IMDb]

Comments: As I've mentioned previously, I'm not incredibly well-versed in the Bond universe (though I know enough to pick up on some of the great throwbacks in Skyfall), but I've been a big fan of the "new" Bond films with Daniel Craig. OK, so Quantum of Solace wasn't the greatest, but Casino Royale was fantastic and Daniel Craig's take on the super spy is top notch. With all the great press Skyfall was receiving, I was incredibly eager to check it out.

One of the main things I noticed was how stylish and effective Sam Mendes' direction was. I know many worried how a director of mainly dramas would fare in an action driven thriller. I think it was a great success (said in my best Borat voice), and I really enjoyed the look of Skyfall (the lack of the shaky cam was a nice touch too).

Everything falls into place nicely for Skyfall. Despite being a tad long in the first two acts, the film flows nicely and has both a solid story and great action. Plus, everything is set up nicely for future installments, so hopefully that's a go (preferably with Mendes at the helm). If you've enjoyed the Daniel Craig-led Bond films, I can't recommend Skyfall enough. It's rather fun.