DVD Releases!

 Frozen - This thriller received some very strong buzz after its debut at Sundance, but has died off significantly since then. I've been interested in this film since that premiere, and I'm glad to see it is finally getting a DVD release. While I hear the script and some of the acting leave much to be desired, the premise seems strong and worth checking out.
Rating: 5 out of 5

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky - Last year there was an interesting occurrence of two biopics about Coco Chanel being released within weeks of each other theatrically. This one is considered to be the lesser of the two, and since I don't have a strong interest in the life of Chanel or her relationship with Igor Stravinsky, I probably won't see this one.
Rating: 2 out of 5

Get Him to the Greek - I actually got to see this one in theaters, and while I felt it was funny, it seems ultimately forgettable. It is worth checking out, especially for P. Diddy's hilarious performance, but probably not for repeat viewings.
Rating: 3 out of 5

Iron Man 2 - I didn't see this one in theaters, mainly because I wasn't a big fan of the first installment. I've heard this is entertaining, but not as effective as its predecessor, which doesn't add much appeal for me. I will probably see this one eventually, mainly to indulge the comic-book-nerd side of me.
Rating: 3 out of 5

The Killer Inside Me - This is the movie Casey Affleck performed in to get funding for I'm Still Here, which basically caused him to go bankrupt. I've heard this movie is rather average, but I am a fan of Casey's acting. He was incredible in Gone, Baby Gone and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (which he should have won Best Supporting Actor for, in my opinion), and he has proven that he has the acting ability over his brother, Ben (who has shown he has incredible talent behind the camera). I've heard I'm Still Here has really put him in a bind; he used all his money to fund the film, which flopped, and he recently settled a sexual harassment case. He apparently hasn't been getting prestigious future roles in films, which is a real shame. Here's to hoping Casey can get it together and soon.
Rating: 3 out of 5

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse  - This is to appease all my comic-book-fan readers. This one seems interesting, mainly because I always like when Superman and Batman team up, they have an interesting relationship. There seems to be no word yet as to whether this is actually good or not, but it still seems fun.
Rating: 3 out of 5

New Releases!

Enter the Void (limited) - Since this week is full of movies that appear to be dissapointing, I decided to go with a small film that will only be showing in New York and Los Angeles. This is Gaspar Noe's follow up to his brilliant but incredibly disturbing film, Breathless. This one appears to have a sort of supernatural element, but is also apparently extremely tough to watch. While this one won't be for everyone, I think it has the chance to be a well-made film.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps - Recently, I've been more open-minded to the idea of this sequel. The most reedeming quality of the first film was Gordon Gecko, who will be featured in this film, and placing Gecko in the current economic crisis has the potential for an interesting premise. Unfortunately, this film does not deliver, according to the reviews. I will still see this one eventually, but probably not until the DVD release.
Rating: 2 out of 5

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole - This movie reminds me quite a bit of last year's animated film, 9. Both had interesting premises and amazing trailers, but like 9, this film appears to fall short when it comes to characters and story, which is dissapointing. The visuals are said to be incredible, and I did enjoy 9, so I think I'll still like this one.
Rating: 3 out of 5

You Again - Like my fellow blogger Carter said, the Betty White thing is getting old.
Rating: 1 out of 5



Buried (limited) - This film has been receiving great buzz since it premiered at Sundance. It features Ryan Reynolds as a man that has been buried alive with nothing but his cell phone. The premise sounds weak, but it is apparently quite thrilling. I would like to see this one.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Waiting for 'Superman' (limited) - This film has received amazing reviews, and it will likely at least receive a nomination for Best Documentary Feature at this year's Oscars. For me, I'm not much for the overly-political subject matter of the film, and this is the same filmmaker behind the 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, which I found to be shallow and very overrated. I still plan on seeing this eventually, though.
Rating: 3 out of 5

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (limited) - This is the latest from Woody Allen. While this got a lot of attention during its production, the final product seems to not live up to the previous expectations. I do like Woody Allen, especially after seeing Annie Hall, but he has made some stinkers in the past.
Rating: 3 out of 5

Like Dandelion Dust (limited) - The trailer for this film seems to bounce between two different tones, one of cheesy inspiration and one that is very dark. The film itself has received strong buzz around the festival circuit, so I imagine that actual product is good.
Rating: 3 out of 5

Hidden Gem of the Week!

13 Tzameti (2005)

Written and Directed by: Gela Babluani

Starring: George Babluani

Trailer 

Sebastian finds directions for and assumes the identity of a recently deceased man which leads to him participating in an underground ring of human Russian Roulette. 

I was first introduced to this film by the fantastic trailer, which is on the list of the best trailers I have ever seen. The film is a bit slow and can be hard to follow during the first part, but it really excels once it gets to the roulette scenes. From that point on, it is one of the most suspenseful movies out there, and the direction and shot selection is flawless. Unfortunately this film has been remade for American audiences, and now stars Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, and 50 Cent. I recommend seeking out this French original first, because I can't imagine the remake will be anywhere near as good.

Trevin's "What I've Been Watching"!

The American (2010) - Since its release, this movie has been oddly divisive in regards to its response, meaning people either love it or hate it when they see it. After seeing the film, I can see why it received such a reaction. I have previously described the movie as "intentionally tedious" to my friends. That means the film is slow at times, but in an intentional way. It is a character study of an assassin who is forced into hiding, and in order to convey his anxiousness of being stuck in a small town, the film feels slow so the audience can get the same feeling as well. I thought Clooney did an excellent job with the role, he was very subtle and subdued,  which is a very tough thing to pull off well. I can't say I recommend this film to everybody, but if you like what you have read here, I would check it out. If this doesn't appeal to you, you might want to skip this one.
Rating: 8 out of 10

I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006) - This is one I liked better the more I thought about it, and I think that has to do with being mislead by the trailer. From the trailer, you get the idea that this is a fun, indie-style romantic comedy, which this film is absolutely not. It's a very interesting comedy, and it is rather depressing throughout. The best thing I can think of to compare this to is the TV show "Louie" on FX starring Louis C.K.. Both have extremely depressing looks on life that they play for humor, and they both have this episodic sense of narrative, meaning it seems like the main character just goes around and has strange interactions with interesting people. It does work as a remake of sorts of a classic film called Marty, which is referenced throughout the movie, because it is being remade throughout the narrative. At the very least, this film is interesting, and if you like Jeff Garlin, you might want to see if this one is right for you.
Rating: 6 out of 10

Wall Street (1987) - This film does not age as well as Oliver Stone had likely originally intended. While it is an interesting take on the sudden rise and fall of a character, it is very cliched and very '80s. Unfortunately, Charlie Sheen was cast in the main role and, while I do like his comedic work, he is a poor actor when it comes to drama. The redeeming quality of this film, and the reason they are making a sequel, is Michael Douglas' portrayal of Gordon Gecko. That is one of the iconic film characters and acting performances of the '80s, and I am now semi-interested to see what Stone has to say about the current economic crisis through Gecko in his upcoming sequel.
Rating: 6 out of 10

Prodigal Sons (2008) - The less you know about this documentary going in, the more likely you are going to enjoy it. If I were you, I would absolutely avoid seeing the trailer (it gives away the two big reveals in the film) or even reading the IMDb plot summary. All you need to know going in is its about Kimberly Reed, the filmmaker, who is going to her 20 year high school reunion in her hometown where she hasn't been for years, and she is reuniting with her older brother, who she hasn't seen or heard from in years. This movie is much more effective if that is all you know. Overall, it is a very interesting character study of the older brother, and a good film overall.
Rating: 7 out of 10

"Weeds": Season 6, Episode 4 - Finally, we have some potential at the end of this episode! For the first time this season, I felt like there were some stakes revealed in the last shot. Is it just me, or has Mary-Louise Parker's acting been underwhelming this season? It seems like she's just floating around this season aloof, and not really committing to anything. I'm still skeptical, but we'll see what happens in episode 5.

Box Office Report (September 17-19 weekend)

Here is our top ten from this list weekend [source]:

1. The Town - $23.8 million

2. Easy A - $18.2 million

3. Devil - $12.6 million

4. Resident Evil: Afterlife - $10.1 million

5. Alpha and Omega - $9.2 million

6. Takers - $3 million

7. The American - $2.76 million

8. Inception - $2 million

9. The Other Guys - $2 million

10. Eat Pray Love - $1.7 million

The Town debuted this week as our new number one earning $23.8 million in theaters. So far, I have heard it is a great film and you should go see it, everyone else did already. Easy A debuted in the number two spot, I'm assuming because of Emma Stone. [She is hot]. I'm really glad that Devil debuted at number three and not number one because I think that movie looks really stupid. I mean really stupid. But perhaps it is better than Resident Evil: Afterlife, no I personally guarantee it is better than Resident Evil: Afterlife.

Alpha and Omega also debuted at number 5. The American seems to be falling quickly, to the number seven spot with only $2.76 million in earnings. Somehow, Inception rose two spots to number eight even though it has been out for ten weeks [it has now earned $285.178 million, nice]. Even more shockingly, Eat Pray Love has a deathgrip on the ten spot. Seriously, who is still seeing this movie? Probably them.

DVD Releases!

The Secrets in Their Eyes - This is the film that controversially won the Oscar for Best Foreign film over favorites such as The White Ribbon and A Prophet. While I have heard that it was a travesty this film won over the two that were far superior, this film is still quite good, and worth checking out.
Rating: 4 out of 5

The Experiment - Here we have an interesting straight-to-DVD release. This is a remake of The 2001 German film Das Experiment, which is a re-imagining of the infamous 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment. While I've heard this film doesn't quite work, it does feature a cast of Adrien Brody, Forest Whitaker, and Clifton Collins Jr., which is enough to keep me interested. The German original seems more interesting based on the trailer, though.
Rating: 3 out of 5

Ondine - I've heard some good things about this film, especially in regards to Colin Farrell's performance, who has recently turned into a decent actor. It's a fairy tale of sorts, which seems like it resembles Pan's Labyrinth in many ways.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Robin Hood - This film seemed to much like Gladiator, especially since it has the same director and lead actor combination. I wasn't impressed during its theatrical run, and I'm not terribly inclined to check it out on DVD.
Rating: 2 out of 5

What are you checking out this week?  

New Releases!

The Town - My one complaint about this film was the trailer. It seemed to give away the big reveals in the movie, even though I have not heard if that is the case. Some may be put off by the fact that this film was directed by Ben Affleck, but his directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone, was quite impressive. Jeremy Renner also looks great in this, and the reviews were nearly unanimously positive, so I'm anxious to see this.
Rating: 5 out of 5

Easy A - The reviews were surprisingly positive for this one, comparing it to Mean Girls by many. I do secretly love that movie, and I am very attracted to Emma Stone, so I might have to see this one. It probably won't be until a DVD release, though.
Rating: 3 out of 5

Devil - This one is supposedly "from the mind of M. Night Shyamalan", even though he didn't write or direct it. That may be a good thing, though, according to his latest track record. However, I've heard this one isn't very good, so I'll pass for now.
Rating: 2 out of 5

Alpha and Omega - The one good thing about this year in film has been the strong animated films that have been released, but this one appears to be an exception. There seems to be little to like here for people older than 8, so I would avoid this one.
Rating: 1 out of 5

Never Let Me Go (limited) - The one issue I'm hearing about this film is that it is a very loyal adaptation to it's critically acclaimed novel, which may more or less hurts it as a film. This one seems like The Road, which was a well-done adaptation of a great novel, which made it easy to appreciate, but hard to enjoy. I still think this will be a very good movie, and I'm excited to see it.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Jack Goes Boating (limited) - This is the directorial debut of Philip Seymour Hoffman, who is one of the two best actors working today, in my opinion (the other is Daniel Day-Lewis). While I heard the movie itself is flawed, the acting and characters are very well done. So I'm looking forward to this one.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Catfish (limited) - This film has been quite controversial since its appearance at Sundance as to whether or not the events of the film were staged. The filmmakers insist everything that is shown is genuine. I've heard good things from this film, and the trailer seemed interesting, so I will see this one when I can.
Rating: 5 out of 5

Leaves of Grass (limited) - This film, which features Edward Norton in two roles as an Ivy League professor and his pot-head brother, was supposed to be released in April but was pushed back. The trailer seems funny, and Edward Norton appears to give a strong performance, so I'm curious to check this one out.
Rating: 4 out of 5

So, it appears we have a strong weekend in film, especially in regard to the limited releases. What do you think?

Hidden Gem of the Week!

World's Greatest Dad (2009)

Written and Directed by: Bobcat Goldthwait

 Starring: Robin Williams, Alexie Gilmore,

and Daryl Sabara

Trailer 

Lance Clayton is a failed writer and an unpopular high school teacher with a questionably faithful girlfriend and a nightmare of a son. When his world is turned upside down, Lance must figure out the importance of fame versus true friendships.

This is another movie that is not for everyone. The entire premise makes light of a very serious situation and continues down that path. If you are able to handle that, this comedy successfully pushes the boundaries and is very funny. Robin Williams delivers arguably one of his best performances in this film, and I even thought he gave one of the top three acting performances last year. If you can handle some very dark material, I highly suggest you check this one out.

Trailer for The Fighter!

This is the trailer for the new film starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams and directed by David O. Russell (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees). This one is called The Fighter.



This one already has a bit of Oscar buzz around it, but I'm not sure if I'm buying it at this point. Russell doesn't have the best track record, so I'm not sure if the film will be that strong. That being said, Christian Bale looks very promising in this role. He lost quite a bit of weight, which his will have to turn around and put back on for the new Batman film, and he appears to have a strong performance. Maybe this will be the film that gets him the Oscar I believe he will win some day.

What do you think?

Sacha Baron Cohen gets his first dramatic role!

According to CBS News, Sacha Baron Cohen has signed on to play Freddie Mercury, the late lead singer of Queen, in a yet-to-be named biopic. The screenplay is being written by Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Last King of Scotland, Frost/Nixon) and no director has been chosen as of yet.

I think this is a great opportunity for Cohen to show his actual acting talent. He obviously has the look, and he has appeared in a musical before (Sweeney Todd), so apparently he can sing. I'm interested to see what comes of this.

What do you think?

DVD Releases!

My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done - Here we have a film I have been looking forward to for a while now. This is a collaboration of sorts from two of the great filmmakers: David Lynch (who produced) and Werner Herzog (who directed). While a producer can normally have little to do with the project itself, this one seems to have Lynch's fingerprints on it. It has hints of his style and a few of his regular cast members, combine that with Herzog's interesting use of animals, this one seems to be something worth seeing. The cast is also incredible: Michael Shannon is coming off a few great years as of late, and Willem Dafoe, Michael Pena, and Chloe Sevigny are also talents. I can't wait to see this one.
Rating: 5 out of 5

Casino Jack and the United States of Money - This documentary about Jack Abramoff and his shenanigans (I apologize, I'm not the most politically educated person) is said to be very effective and one that could potentially end up in the Oscar race for Best Documentary Feature. Even though I know very little on the subject, I still plan on checking this one out.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Just Wright - Now we go from a political documentary to a Queen Latifah comedy. While this one looks terrible, there's still a bit of appeal to me, mainly because Dwight Howard shows up in the trailer and I'm curious to see if any other NBA players make cameos. I won't go out of my way, nor make any effort to see this one, but I wouldn't mind watching it.
Rating: 2 out of 5

Letters to Juliet - This, on the other hand, I would mind seeing. I will say, this did have one of the (albeit unintentionally) most entertaining trailers I have seen in a while; I remember Carter and I in the theater almost falling out of our seats laughing at the part where the old man rides up on the horse. However, I really do not want to sit through this movie.
Rating: 1 out of 5

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - And finally, we have a very expensive reason to show Jake Gyllenhaal without his shirt on for 2 hours.
Rating: 2 out of 5
 

Trevin's "What I've Been Watching"!

Winter's Bone (2010) - I had heard great things about this movie, so I decided to see it even though it didn't initially appeal to me, and I am very glad I did. Some might say this movie is a bit slow, but I would have to completely disagree. This film sucks you in from the brilliant opening scene all the way throughout the film. The way the director set up the setting and the tone of the film was pitch perfect, as was the acting, notably from relative newcomer Jennifer Lawrence and veteran character actor John Hawkes. There were a few editing mistakes in my opinion, mainly scenes lasting a second longer than they should have, but if I'm being that picky, that means the movie is very successful on every other aspect. I highly encourage everyone to find this movie and check it out, because I would expect this to be high on my end of the year top 25 list.
Rating: 9 out of 10

Mildred Pierce (1945) - I found this Joan Crawford film to be quite entertaining. It is part film-noir type murder mystery, and part melodrama, and it is no secret that the noir segments work much better. When watching this film, one must take into account the time it was made and the effect that has on the acting, story, and not-so-subtle racism. If someone is able to overlook that, I think they would find a movie that is quite enjoyable, especially if they enjoy films from this era.
Rating: 7 out of 10

Chloe (2010) - There are a few things in this film that work well, and quite a bit that doesn't. The character of Chloe has the beginnings of a very interesting character, but it doesn't seem fully developed. I thought Amanda Seyfried handled it well overall, and she was gorgeous (which is quite a bit of the role), it just seemed as if she didn't have too much to work with. The relationship between Chloe and Julianne Moore's character came across as not quite believable, and I think this film had the potential to be more interesting. I still enjoyed aspects of it though.
Rating: 5 out of 10

 

Box Office Report (September 10-12 Weekend)

I am going to try a new format for the box office reports. Instead of just saying there is an article here which can show you the report, I will put the full top ten list to give you more to look at here on the blog rather than having to click all over cyberspace. Any feedback would be nice as to format, etc. of this segment as well. Here is this weekend's top ten with their respective earnings [source]:

1. Resident Evil: Afterlife - $27.7 million

2. Takers - $6.1 million

3. The American - $5.9 million

4. Machete - $4.2 million

5. Going the Distance - $3.8 million

6. The Other Guys - $3.6 million

7. The Last Exorcism - $3.5 million

8. The Expendables - $3.3 million

9. Inception - $3.0 million

10. Eat Pray Love - $2.9 million

You can still click the "source" link for more in depth information such as total earnings and weeks release for each of these films but I will highlight just a few points that I find interesting as usual.

It is apparent from this list that very few people actually went to the movies this weekend. Unfortunately, enough people went and saw Eat Pray Love that I have to type the words "Eat Pray Love" and after six weeks of release I am becoming more and more annoyed about the lack of commas between these verbs. I am also somewhat annoyed that this movie exists, but that is a different story. The video game-based Resident Evil: Afterlife debuted at number one earning almost $28 million. I am not too big on movies based on games, but this just really gets me excited for the movie Madden 11 which I believe is shooting on location in Canton, Ohio. If my sources are correct, then I believe Vince Vaughn is slated to portray Jim Thorpe.

Takers, the number one from two weeks ago, jumped over last week's number one, The American and two, Machete to come in at number two this week with only $6.1 million. New release The Virginity Hit did not crack the top ten even with these tiny earnings this week; this does not bode well for this movie. Inception is still in the top ten and number nine in its ninth week of release. As we can see, this summer has many movies that hardly make a blip on the radar screen (Scott Pilgrim anyone?) and a few others which have much staying power like Inception due to the overall weakness of the films that have been released.

New Releases!

I'm Still Here (limited) - If you remember, I previewed this film on my movies to look out for feature way back on the blog. The reviews for this one have been mixed so far, but I'm still interested. From what I hear, it doesn't really answer the question as to whether this was all a joke or if Joaquin Phoenix really had a meltdown, but most critics feel like the evidence points to the latter. I think this one looks to be very interesting, and I will see it the first chance I get.
Rating: 5 out of 5

Resident Evil: Afterlife - Of all the movies based on video games, this series probably does it the best, unfortunately that's not saying much at all. These movies can be entertaining, but they are far from being of quality, and the reviews suggest this one is more of the same.
Rating: 1 out of 5

The Virginity Hit - This movie had a slightly interesting premise, but horrible execution based on the reviews. I tend to get into cheesy teen comedy moods at times, so I may eventually see this one in the distant future.
Rating: 2 out of 5

Heartbreaker (limited) - I have been hearing quite a bit from this French romantic-comedy for a while, and apparently it's pretty good. I might see it now.
Rating: 3 out of 5

The Romantics (limited) - I posted this trailer about a week ago, not knowing whether or not this movie would be any good or not. Apparently, it's pretty bad.
Rating: 1 out of 5


Bran Nue Dae (limited) - This is an Australian movie musical about an aborigine who escapes from his boarding school (run by Geoffrey Rush) in an attempt to get back to his hometown. This one is so bizarre, I'm not sure how to react, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.
Rating: 3 out of 5

Legendary (limited) - This is the latest from former wrestler John Cena, only this one is more of a drama rather than a "Cena-without-his-shirt-action" movie. I would give this a 1, but I subscribe to the idea that Danny Glover's presence makes every movie better.
Rating: 2 out of 5

So, do you want to see any of these this week?

Hidden Gem of the Week!

In the Company of Men (1997)

Written and Directed by: Neil LaBute

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Matt Malloy,

and Stacy Edwards

Trailer 

Chad and Howard, two men who have recently been burned by women and who are on a six month corporate assignment out of town, mutually decide to both begin dating the same woman and dump her on the same day in order to re-establish their dominance over women. Things become interesting when the woman they have chosen turns out to be deaf.

This black comedy satire works on many levels. On one level, it is a commentary on gender roles in the corporate landscape, on the other, it is the absolute most misogynistic film out there, ridiculous to the point that it plays with that mindset. Unfortunately, Neil LaBute didn't improve after this film; he went on to direct such gems as Nurse Betty, Nic Cage's The Wicker Man, and the infamous Chris Rock version of Death at a Funeral. Don't let that sway you from this one, where he was on top of his game. Eckhart stands out in this film with his performance, where he portrays one of the most evil men I've seen in film history. This movie is not for everyone; it is incredibly anti-feminist (satirically) and offensive, but it is well made and very interesting.

DVD Releases!

 

Solitary Man - This film got some pretty decent reviews during its brief theatrical run, especially about the performance of Michael Douglas. Many critics have said this is one of his best performances, and with a great supporting cast including Susan Sarandon, Danny Devito, Mary Louise-Parker, Jesse Eisenberg, and Jenna Fischer, this is one I look forward to checking out.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Killers - Here we have yet another failed attempt this year at the action romantic comedy. This one, featuring Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl, looks especially bad, so I plan on skipping it.

Rating: 1 out of 5

MacGruber - Believe it or not, I was actually a bit sad I missed this one in theaters. While I hear it's far from actually good, it's still quite entertaining and much better than most SNL movies. I'll probably rent this one when I get a chance.

Rating: 3 out of 5

So what are you renting this week?

Box Office Report (September 3-5 Weekend)

We had a long weekend this past week but it doesn't look like many people went to the movies [full report can be found here]. The American debuted at the number one position grossing a paltry $13.2 million. This film, despite mixed reviews, seems to have a lot of potential, with Anton Corbijn directing and a relatively unknown actor named George... Something in the lead role. Machete, with $11.4 million in earnings this weekend came in at number two in its debut.

The creatively-named Going the Distance debuted in the five spot with $6.9 million behind last week's number one, Takers, and The Last Exorcism, respectively. In other news, enough people went and saw Eat Pray Love to earn it another $4.8 million and give it the number eight spot. That's right. Somehow that movie is still allowed to be shown in theaters.

Human rights advocates applauded moviegoers this weekend as Vampires Suck dropped out of the top ten as the ritualistic suicide of cinema faded away, for now. [Don't drink the kool-aid = don't watch Vampires Suck].

Trevin's "What I've Been Watching"!

Get Low - While this was a very small film in scale, it was quite an achievement. The praise must begin with Robert Duvall, who gave an incredible performance that should get some attention come awards season. While most actors could have easily ruined this character, Duvall perfectly captured the humor of the character along with the struggles and emotions. Bill Murray once again proves he is arguably the best character actor working today with his subtle yet hilarious performance as a struggling owner of a funeral home. The film even found a role for Lucas Black, who normally gets on my nerves, but he more or less held his own throughout. If you get a chance to see this, you must. It's quite good.
Rating: 9 out of 10

The Princess and the Frog - It really is a shame they've almost completely gone away from hand-drawn animation, and this film shows why. The animation is beautiful, and I still believe hand drawn animation allows for another level of creativity than computer animation. I also found this film to be very clever, and quite fun to watch. I'm also glad to see a Disney movie that's not afraid to explore some darker tones, which they did back in the day, but have gone away from as of late. In closing, you should see this one, I think they're something for everyone to enjoy.
Rating: 8 out of 10

"Modern Family": Season 1 - I started watching this show due to the critical acclaim it's been receiving, culminating in it's big night at the Emmy's, and I am glad I did. While there are some episodes that drag, and there are slow moments here and there, this show is one of, if not the funniest show on television currently. I recommend getting into this one before the new season picks up.
Rating: 9 out of 10

"Weeds": Season 6: Episode 3 - This show continues to develop some potentially interesting ideas, but the jury's still out on whether or not they will work. It is still a far cry from what the earlier seasons were, but there is a bit of potential going forward, enough to keep me watching.
Rating: 7 out of 10

New Releases!

The American - Don't let this movie's rotten tomatoes rating fool you. While it only stands at 60% (which isn't terrible, but not great), the reviews have been very divisive. Critics who like the movie apparently love it, and those who don't seem to be strongly against it. While I haven't seen the movie, and I'm not sure why the reviews have turned out this way, I'm still intrigued to see this one. Anton Corbijn is a strong director (his film, Control, was our hidden gem of the week), and Clooney's work of late has been very strong, so I'm very excited about this one.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Machete - Now here's a movie that is getting mostly positive reviews across the board. It is apparently very gory and cartoonish, which is exactly what it needs to be. This one looks like a lot of fun.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Going the Distance - This movie has been getting poor reviews so far, and it looks to be bland, but this is another example of a movie I want to see for no reason at all. I can't explain why, but I would like to see this eventually.
Rating: 3 out of 5

The Tillman Story (limited) - This documentary based on the apparent cover-up by the military about Pat Tillman's death has already been praised about, even to the point that some are saying it's a two film race between this and Restrepo for best documentary feature at the Oscars. The trailer is very interesting, and director Amir Bar-Lev has handled conspiracy documentary quite well in the past with his film, My Kid Could Paint That.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Mesrine: Killer Instinct (limited) - You may recall last week I previewed the first part of this film in my new release section. This week, they are releasing part 2, one week after they released part 1. Again, this still looks interesting, and I really like Vincent Cassel, but learning that this culminates into about a 4 hour viewing experience makes me less inclined to watch either film.
Rating: 3 out of 5

The Winning Season (limited) - This seems to be a strange follow-up for James C. Strouse after his 2007 drama Grace is Gone. I am a fan of Sam Rockwell, and I get the feeling that this movie is a lot better than the trailer makes it out to be, but that remains to be seen.
Rating: 3 out of 5

A Simple Noodle Story (limited) - This is a Chinese remake of the Coen Brother's Blood Simple. If that sounds interesting to you, by all means check it out. Not for me, though.
Rating: 2 out of 5

White Wedding (limited) - This South African wedding comedy actually looks to be quite sweet and entertaining.
Rating: 3 out of 5

Last Train Home (limited) - This is a documentary about 200 million Chinese migrant workers all trying to go home for Chinese New Year. It seems like it would be a good film if that falls into your level of interest, but unfortunately it doesn't appeal to me.
Rating: 3 out of 5

So, a pretty mixed bag coming out this week. What do you want to see?
  

Hidden Gem of the Week!

Control (2007)

Directed by: Anton Corbijn

Written by: Matt Greenhalgh

Starring: Sam Riley, Samantha Morton

and Joe Anderson

Trailer 

Control is based on the life of real life 80's punk rock band Joy Division's Ian Curtis, and follows his quick rise to fame, his broken relationships, and his drug problems which all accumulated into his sudden death at age 23.

While most people would argue that I may have spoiled the movie there, I would disagree for many reasons. First off, since it's based on a true story, that is widely accessible information, but that is not my only reason. This movie is made in such a way that it is arguably more powerful if you know his fate throughout the film. Corbijn does a wonderful job depicting Curtis' life and struggles honestly, and Sam Riley gives a perfect performance as a young man who is not ready to handle all the pressure put on him. Samantha Morton is also perfect as Curtis' wife, who is the person that continues to be affected by Curtis' decisions. Shot in beautiful black and white, this film not only looks incredible, it is also a movie you must see.

Trailers!

First up for today, we have a romance drama of sorts with an interesting cast (with people I don't necessarily like save Anna Paquin) and a seemingly Indie style to it. I'm not sure whether this one will work or not (my bet is on not, but that remains to be seen), but here is the trailer for The Romantics.


And second, we have a movie I'm now interested in. It's directed by and starring Katie Aselton, who gave a great performance in The Puffy Chair, and also starring Dax Shepard, who seems to be getting positive reviews for his role. This one is The Freebie.


So, do any of these appeal to you?