The Rite (2011)

The Rite (2011)

Directed by: Mikael Håfström
Screenplay by: Michael Petroni

Genre: Drama | Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 114 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

You can only defeat it when you believe.

[IMDb]

Comments: Ugh. Where to begin? As a devout horror fan, I did want to see this film, despite the terrible reviews it received. As a devout atheist, I realized this film had to hit the right notes for me to be fully invested in the film and not think it's a giant crock of shit (I generally don't care if a movie's religious; it just has to be good). Throughout the first 30 minutes or so, I was actually invested and enjoyed the film. However, right around the time a possessed woman starts coughing up the nails from the crucifixion, The Rite became what I expected: a giant crock of shit. And it didn't get better after that, trust me. Doesn't Anthony Hopkins have better projects to pick from?

Please Give (2010)

Please Give (2010)

Directed by: Nicole Holofcener
Screenplay by: Nicole Holofcener

Genre: Comedy | Drama
Running Time: 90 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

[IMDb]

Comments: When renting this gaggle of movies for the weekend, I was informed at the counter that I qualified for a free rental of an 'older' new release. I was ready to go, so I grabbed the first film I recognized: Please Give, which was yet another Filmspotting recommendation. Granted, only one of the hosts really liked the film, but I figured I'd give it a shot. I was split throughout most of it, as there were parts I liked (mainly those with Rebecca Hall), but I really didn't empathize with any of the other characters. By the end though, I really enjoyed the film, and I felt like I was sucked in more to each character and the way the were portrayed. Please Give is a quirky little dramadey that hits its stride more often than not, so that was good enough for me to enjoy it.

Harry Brown (2009)

Harry Brown (2009)

Directed by: Daniel Barber
Screenplay by: Gary Young

Genre: Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 103 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

Every man has a breaking point.

[IMDb]

Comments: By default, I think everyone is reminded of Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino when looking at Harry Brown from the outside. But now that I've seen the film, I realized it's nothing like Gran Torino, with the exception that the main star is an old guy that's had enough with the ever-shittier world around him. Harry Brown is really reminiscent of a few '70s exploitation films, and I was reminded of Death Wish a few times throughout. It's a gritty, visceral experience that I enjoyed a hell of a lot more than I thought I was going to originally. There's several parts of the film that just feel dirty; the look of the film combined with the great score really make you feel like you are in this shithole that Harry Brown inhabits. The semi-'twist' at the end left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, but it did serve as a decent way to wrap up the film. Overall, however, Harry Brown is dark film that really met my expectations and exceeded them at times. Another solid recommendation.

The Kids Are All Right (2010)

The Kids Are All Right (2010)

Directed by: Lisa Cholodenko
Screenplay by: Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg

Genre: Comedy | Drama
Running Time: 106 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

Nic and Jules had the perfect family, until they met the man who
  made it all possible.

[IMDb]

Comments: The Kids Are Alright is a film I've wanted to see for awhile, but my interest was ratcheted up after the guys at Filmspotting praised it, and in particular the performances. I really agree on the performance aspect, and in particular Mark Ruffalo. I've always enjoyed him, but felt he's been wooden in several films (Collateral comes to mind). But he, along with Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are stellar (I can't forget about the kids, who were terrific as well). The story, even though it's about two lesbians, felt a bit familiar at times, and I thought the resolution occurred a bit too easily. But I'm certainly not complaining, as The Kids Are Alright is definitely worthy of the praise it's received. Definitely recommended.

Animal Kingdom (2010)

Animal Kingdom (2010)

Directed by: David Michôd
Screenplay by: David Michôd

Genre: Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 113 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Rental DVD - Family Video

A crime story.

[IMDb]

Comments: Thanks to my my new favorite podcast Filmspotting, I'm being exposed to a wealth of films I've only heard of in passing (now if I could take the time to start watching more films, I'd be set). Animal Kingdom is a prime example, and what a wonderful film it is, especially considering it's helmed by a first-time director. Actually, I think the direction is the aspect I like most; it's beautifully filmed and a pleasure to watch. The story in itself is excellent, and one really becomes immersed in this sociopathic crime family. Really worth the price of admission, or the free rental I used to watch it.

Prison Break: The Final Break (2009)

Prison Break: The Final Break (2009)

Directed by: Kevin Hooks and Brad Turner
Screenplay by: Nick Santora, Seth Hoffman, Zack Estrin, and Karyn
  Usher

Genre: Action | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 89 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Owned DVD

Prepare yourself for the truth.

[IMDb]

Comments: The reason why Prison Break: The Final Break is probably one of the best things the show's done since the first season is that there's only so much you can do in 90 minutes. Had this been Season Five, the entire premise would have been stretched over 22 episodes, with at least 50 twists thrown in. Not that it made the show less fun, but like the last few seasons of 24, there were so many twists and turns throughout the show that the viewer (or at least I) became extremely desensitized to it all. The Final Break is a great sendoff to a pretty decent show. It's a shame others can't go out as good.

Prison Break - Season Four (2008-2009)

Prison Break (2005-2009)

Created by: Paul Scheuring

Season: Four (2008-2009)
Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller
Number of Episodes: 22
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Revenge begins now.

[IMDb]

Comments: Once you get past the ridiculous opener, Prison Break's final season is a generally entertaining (if far-fetched) send off. The asinine events that take place in the premiere, which only serve to set up the season, almost made me stop watching the season. Luckily, things pick up a bit afterward. As a whole, this season feels a bit like a bastardized version of 24, which isn't a bad thing. But the show isn't nearly as good as it was in the beginning, and I'm glad this is the final season. Farewell, buzz cut brothers.

Inception (2010)

Inception (2010)

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Screenplay by: Christopher Nolan

Genre: Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 148 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: On Demand HD

Your mind is the scene of the crime.

[IMDb]

Comments: Original review: Inception is pretty fucking awesome, as I expected it would be. I don't really want to go over the plot that much, since it's much more fun to simply experience the film. But I will say that I am extremely impressed with Christopher Nolan (again), as not only did he direct the film, but he wrote one intriguing top-notch script (I did find it hard to empathize with the characters a bit; there's not a lot of development and Inception could be considered a little cold to the touch). I did have a few issues with the logic of the film, particularly toward the end (such as limbo, and how characters come and go; many of these are discussed in the IMDb's FAQ section for the film). However, it's the "good" kind of issues/confusion, much like when I watched Donnie Darko for the first time and had no idea what happened at the end, other than I loved the hell out of the movie. Anyway, Inception is definitely one of the best of the year so far, and well worth your time. It's a film that is going to demand multiple viewings, so be prepared. But it's an awesome ride.

Ghostbusters (1984)

Ghostbusters (1984)

Directed by: Ivan Reitman
Screenplay by: Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis

Genre: Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Mystery
Running Time: 105 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

They're here to save the world.

[IMDb]

Comments: Now that I've upgraded to Blu-ray, I'll definitely be stringent when it comes to upgrading my DVD titles (at least at first). I have a pretty basic setup, and my TV isn't very large, so having upconverted DVDs will do the trick for now. I will make an exception for my favorite films, and that certainly starts with Ghostbusters. My love for this movie is never-ending; it was my favorite as a child and it's my favorite as an adult. Sure, it's silly at times, but it hits the mark for every genre it crosses into. I've always loved how realistically heroic everyone is at the end as well; they may be completely fucked, but they're going out fighting without being over-the-top prototypical action heroes. I was a little disappointed in the Blu-ray, as it's very grainy at times, but some scenes are really nice-looking. And why not release Ghostbusters II on Blu-ray? Sure, it's not as good, but I've always loved it as well and it really holds a soft spot in my heart. Now if only they release Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Blu-ray...

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Directed by: Edgar Wright
Screenplay by: Michael Bacall and Edgar Wright

Genre: Action | Comedy | Fantasy | Music | Romance
Running Time: 112 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

An epic of epic epicness.

[IMDb]

Comments: Awesome.

Legion (2010)

Legion (2010)

Directed by: Scott Charles Stewart
Screenplay by: Peter Schink and Scott Charles Stewart

Genre: Action | Fantasy | Thriller
Running Time: 100 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Starz On Demand

When the last angel falls, the fight for mankind begins.

[IMDb]

Comments: I'm not exactly sure why I chose to watch Legion over other great films I could have watched On Demand (A Prophet, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus), but it probably has something to do with me sucking at life and being a glutton for punishment. Anyway, as expected, Legion's pretty laughable. When I've imagined fights between the Angels Gabriel and Michael, I've always pictured them using machine guns and a giant death mace. Parts were entertaining, but as a whole the film was a mess. I don't know what else I was expecting, but I guess Legion passed the time. Is this what my life's coming to? That I pass the time on a Saturday night by watching Legion?

Prison Break - Season Three (2007-2008)

Prison Break (2005-2009)

Created by: Paul Scheuring

Season: Three (2007-2008)
Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller
Number of Episodes: 13
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Prisons were made to be broken.

[IMDb]

Comments: After bitching about the length of the past two seasons, I finally got my wish as Season 3 was a strike-shortened 13 episodes. However, the story arcs still feel drawn out (and a bit re-hashed). Parts of the show are still good, like the escape scenes, but I was mostly uninterested in the season. The addition of Jodi Lyn O'Keefe is laughable, particularly when she tries to be a bad ass. T-Bag is generally wasted as well, and the only characters I really enjoyed were Mahone (William Fichtner) and Bellick (Wade Williams). I know I said last week I was going to hold off on this season, but I figured I get through the 13 episodes rather quickly. I was thinking of holding off on Season Four as well, but I might as well finish 'er out.

Prison Break - Season Two (2006-2007)

Prison Break (2005-2009)

Created by: Paul Scheuring

Season: Two (2006-2007)
Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller
Number of Episodes: 22
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Breaking out was easy, getting away will be hard.

[IMDb]

Comments: It took me about a month to get through the second season of Prison Break. That's not to say it's bad, but along with being busy as hell, the season was never that involving where I needed to watch the next episode. There was entirely too much manufactured drama, and the plot of the season was really drug out, and certainly could have been shortened by a few episodes. Those were also problems with the first season as well, but it's a lot more apparent with its successor. But I still enjoyed the show despite all of this, and it was entertaining, if completely ridiculous. I may hold off on Seasons Three and Four for awhile, as there's a lot of other stuff I want to watch, but I will finish the show out soon enough.

True Grit (2010)

True Grit (2010)

Directed by: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
Screenplay by: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen

Genre: Adventure | Drama | Western
Running Time: 110 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

Punishment comes one way or another.

[IMDb]

Comments: I'm feeling pretty lazy, so this won't be long. True Grit was much more darkly comedic than I expected, especially with how serious the trailers looked (I guess you could say it's very Coen-esque). But it worked, and it's certainly one of the better films of 2010. I was really impressed with Hailee Steinfeld, who was amazing and completely owned whenever she was onscreen despite being only 14 (at least that's how old she is in the film; I'm unaware of her actual age). True Grit is a great film, and is certainly deserving of the praise it's received so far.

Black Swan (2010)

Black Swan (2010)

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Screenplay by: Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, and John J. McLaughlin

Genre: Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 108 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

[IMDb]

Comments: As a film fan, especially one that hasn't been able to watch many since moving/starting a new job, there's not much more of a Christmas present that one could ask for than a new Darren Aronofsky film. I've been a big fan of the man, giving five star reviews to his last three films (one of my all-time favorites, Requiem for a Dream, the criminally underrated The Fountain, and my favorite film of 2008, The Wrestler). I didn't find Black Swan to be as quite as good as those three, but goddamn this was a great film. Natalie Portman has to be the leading candidate for Best Actress at the Oscar's; simply put, she was phenomenal. Aronofsky's direction was stellar, and the story was one great mind fuck. So yeah, Black Swan was a great Christmas present. And it's about to get better, because True Grit will be mine Christmas night.

The Town (2010)

The Town (2010)

Directed by: Ben Affleck
Screenplay by: Peter Craig, Ben Affleck, and Aaron Stockard

Genre: Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 125 Minutes (Theatrical Cut)
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Welcome to the bank robbery capital of America.

[IMDb]

Comments: Original review: Ben Affleck has been the butt of many jokes over the years, mainly due to the fact that he has made some poor career choices (and that Matt Damon was the actual talented one of the two). I've never had a problem with the guy, mostly because I enjoyed him in the several Kevin Smith films he did. But Affleck set out to change the public perception a few years ago when he directed the excellent Gone Baby Gone, a film I really enjoyed. The Town is his second directorial effort, and as soon as I saw the trailer for The Town, I knew I'd be seeing it in theaters (Warner obviously didn't trust Affleck's reputation either, as they failed to mention his name when stating the film was "from the director of Gone Baby Gone"). The Town certainly didn't disappoint. While the film isn't perfect (the very end of the film is certainly clichéd), it is right up my alley in terms of the plot and entertainment value, hence the five-star rating. I was hooked for the entire two hours, as was the rest of the packed house (during a moment of silence toward the end of the film you could've heard a pin drop in the theater). At times, I was reminded of Michael Mann's crime classic Heat (which isn't a bad thing), and I would favorably compare the two. The Town is everything I want when I go to the theater, and I really couldn't have asked for more. Kudos, Ben.

Centurion (2010)

Centurion (2010)

Directed by: Neil Marshall
Screenplay by: Neil Marshall

Genre: Action | Adventure | Drama | History | Thriller | War
Running Time: 97 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Fight or die.

[IMDb]

Comments: Centurion is a pretty decent movie; it's beautifully shot (thanks to director Neil Marshall of The Descent fame), it's reasonably well acted, and there's some great violent battle scenes. But the story's a bit uneven, and I found it incredibly hard to really root for anyone. Both sides (the Romans and the Picts) can both be assholes and sympathetic, so beyond Michael Fassbender there's really not a clear likeable person or group. But I did enjoy Centurion and it's certainly worth a watch if you're into this type of film. Just not the $20 I spent on it.

Monsters (2010)

Monsters (2010)

Directed by: Gareth Edwards
Screenplay by: Gareth Edwards

Genre: Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 94 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Online

Now, it's our turn to adapt.

[IMDb]

Comments: I had heard a bit about Monsters here and there, so I jumped at the chance to watch it tonight. The aliens are really the backdrop of the film, as it's much more of a drama with romantic undertones. It's amazing how good the film looked considering it was made for around $15,000. Gareth Edwards' directing is great, and the cinematography is wonderful and often breathtaking. There were a few moments where I was expecting more action or something more intense to occur, but I guess the budget handcuffed Edwards a bit. Still, Monsters is a solid film that I'll definitely look to pick up in February when it comes out on DVD.

Unstoppable (2010)

Unstoppable (2010)

Directed by: Tony Scott
Screenplay by: Mark Bomback

Genre: Action | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 98 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

1 million tons of steel. 100,000 lives at stake. 100 minutes to impact.

[IMDb]

Comments: Take a look at that poster. How terrible is that? Chris Pine looks animated. Anyway, Unstoppable continues Tony Scott and Denzel Washington's descent toward mediocrity. I'm not saying that Unstoppable is bad; it's certainly an entertaining film. But of their four collaborations in the last decade, I'd rank Unstoppable right along with 2009's The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 in the mediocre category (I found 2006's Déjà Vu to be pretty good, and I think 2004's Man on Fire is awesome). I'd call Unstoppable a solid rental for a Friday night, but not much more.

Grown Ups (2010)

Grown Ups (2010)

Directed by: Dennis Dugan
Screenplay by: Adam Sandler and Fred Wolf

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 102 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: On Demand

Boys will be boys... some longer than others.

[IMDb]

Comments: There's really not much to say here. I ended up watching the film with some family yesterday, and it's very... bland. Sure, there's some funny scenes, but there's a number of obviously improvised parts that felt like outtakes much more than usable dialogue. Also, it seemed extremely evident to me that Kevin James' part was written for Chris Farley, even though he's been dead for well over a decade. I could just see him in that character, and even though he was never a great actor, he did well with the physical comedy. And Rob Schneider is awful. That is all.