Sinister

3 STARS



So, there are some creepy horror movies made these days after all. I know we have all been disappointed with the state of the horror movie lately.  Even the awesome stereotypes of the past are being taken past their prime, way way back.  Then, of course, there are the remakes.  In the near future, there are remakes planned for The Evil Dead, Poltergeist, Carrie (which just released its trailer), Childs Play, Texas Chainsaw (yes, another one and this time in 3D), and so on and so forth.  In my opinion, there have been some good ones: The Amityville Horror (a remake I did enjoy), Paranormal Activity (1-3), Insidious, The Strangers.  I have to say I am looking forward to Carrie with -two great actresses starring in it:  Chloe Grace-Moretz and the always enchanting Julianne Moore.

Sinister stars Ethan Hawke as true crime writer Ellison Oswalt who had a bit of fame 10 years prior with a best selling book and is looking for his next great work.  Ellison likes to completely immerse himself into the stories he writes, often moving his family to the town where the particular crime occurred.   To investigate the disappearance of a young girl after the rest of her family is brutally murdered, Ellison moves his family to the town where the crime took place.  The girl's disappearance is one of the biggest unsolved crimes where and when Sinister takes place so he believes this will put his writing career back on top. After finding a box in the attic of his new house filled with old super 8 movies and an old projector, his life is turned upside down from a series of creepy supernatural events.

The word sinister is an adjective and is defined as "threatening or portending harm or evil."  I can say that there is plenty of that in this movie. I actually found myself jumping at a few scenes which is definitely a rare occurrence these days especially with the "horror" movies coming out now.  Another aspect of this film I liked was that it didn't take an hour for the story to get going (for example The Possession), it pretty much started within the first frame.  It has a steady eerie flow which I believe will and does keep the audience interested.  Ethan Hawke, who I consider a fine actor, portrayed his tortured novelist character in awesome form with just the right amount of intensity, which in regard to Sinister, a great amount was needed.  This is a solid horror movie in my opinion.  I mean, don't get me wrong, this film should not scare the complete bejeeses out of you, but it is enjoyable nonetheless.  Just keep the sinister feelings you may be experiencing after watching the movie to yourself.

Thank you and see you at the next blog.

Looper

 3 1/2 STARS
 

This evening I saw a movie that surprised me and I was proved wrong.  I will be the first to admit, I have never been a fan of the science-fiction, futuristic time-traveling genre.  I don't know why really, it is just a storyline that never really blew my skirt up.  It is the same with those, what me and some of my friends call, mindf#$&@ movies like Inception, which was a fine movie, it filled the void for a couple of hours one night in a movie theater, but I have no desire to make it a part of my DVD collection and watch it over and over again.  I did love the special effects though.

Today I saw Looper, which of course stars Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (see previous blog for entertainer profile), and Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada).  I went into this movie with low expectations because of the futuristic storyline shown in the trailer, even with such a stellar cast.  However, a few friends said it was really good so I decided to give it a chance.  I am so glad I did.  Even with the time traveling, there really was very little science fiction.  The plot and the characters were real (well, as much as they can be in these movies), raw, and actually had depth and soul.  The movie does take a little time getting off the ground but once it does, it is interesting and intriguing.

Looper takes place in the year 2044 where there are assassins called loopers who kill people sent to them from 30 years in the future, when time travel is illegal, by the mob.  These loopers are of course, paid handsomely for their job.  However, every once in a while, loopers are involved in a situation called "closing the loop" when the person sent back in time to be killed is the older version of themselves and then they collect a final, larger sum of money and forced to retire.  This happens to a young looper named Joe (Gordon-Levitt) when Old Joe (Willis) arrives unexpectedly.  The rest of the movie is a cat and mouse chase to close the loop but also kill someone who will put the future in danger.

This movie was written and directed by Rian Johnson (The Brothers Bloom, Brick).  The dialogue wasn't cheesy at all.  It didn't dwell on all the futuristic crap with conversations that utterly confuse the audience.  I not only could follow this futuristic thriller, I wanted to keep following it all the way through.  Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were awesome and the scene where they are talking face to face is an awe-inspiring act of writing.  The makeup used to make Gordon-Levitt look more like a young Bruce Willis was a primo example of how much detail the makers of this film focused on to make this as believable as possible.  However, his face was a little odd looking and the staring I was doing forced me to look away from the movie more than I should have.  I did read that he studied Bruce Willis mannerisms by watching his films to help him act more like and if you watch closely, you can totally see them in his face.  It also shows the lengths this great actor will go through to master his roles as much as possible.  The stand out in this movie was the lovely Emily Blunt, who was not prim and proper in the least.  She portrays Sara, a single mom running the farm young Joe comes upon because of a map stolen from Old Joe.  She is tough as nails, wielding a Remington like a pro, yet just the right amount of vulnerability when exactly as needed.  This character would probably drown other characters Blunt has portrayed in the past, like her breakout in The Devil Wears Prada, without any remorse.  I was so pleasantly surprised she could play someone so real who could wield a shot gun and an ax.  This movie also brings out a dark and wicked side of Jeff Daniels rarely seen.

I can definitely say go over to the movies and take a chance on this futuristic thrill ride.  It's a strong, original plot like, which all of you know I am really into these days.  You will not be disappointed and if you are, then try not to go back in time to fix the problem, you might get whacked for it.

Thank you and see you at the next blog.

Entertainer Profile - Joseph Gordon-Levitt

JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT

We have watched him grow up over the years and Joseph Gordon-Levitt has gone from that skinny,  long-haired Tommy Solomon on 3rd Rock from the Sun to established indie staple to an enigmatic leading man.

2012 has already been an unprecedented year for the actor with a role in the one of the years' (or should I say decades') most anticipated, critically acclaimed blockbuster, The Dark Knight Rises.  There is also a starring role in Premium Rush and co-starring in the thriller Looper as the younger Bruce Willis character.  Later this year, Gordon-Levitt co-stars alongside Oscar winners Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, and Tommy Lee Jones in Steven Spielberg's highly anticipated Lincoln.

He was born in Los Angeles in 1981 and was acting by the age of 6 in commercials and some feature films, like an appearance in A River Runs Through It (1992).  His breakthrough role came in 1996 in the form of a little show called 3rd Rock from the Sun.  The show had a successful 6 year run winning many awards.  After it ended, he co-starred in a string of critically acclaimed independent film roles before moving on to now bigger blockbusters like Inception and The Dark Knight Rises.

CST'S FAVORITE JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT ROLES 

Angels in the Outfield (1994)
3rd Rock From the Sun  (TV series 1996-2001) - Some may just see this show as another sitcom.  I see it as one of the most imaginative, best-written, smartest sitcoms ever airing on television. 

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Mysterious Skin (2004)
Brick (2005)
The Lookout (2007)
Stop-Loss (2008)
(500) Days of Summer (2009) - The first of his 2 Golden Globe nominated roles.  He played the adorable boyfriend every girl in America wanted in a movie audiences are still eating up even to this day and will for years to come.
G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra (2009) - the movie of course, was not that great which is what many of you would agree but his role was something truly different for the actor and I think he did a fantastic job with it.

Hesher (2010)
Inception (2010)

50/50 (2011) - see my review
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) - see my review 

 I definitely see an extremely successful future for this versatile actor and I know audiences and critics see the same thing, it's hard not to.  If he doesn't have an Oscar nomination or three under his belt in the next several years then the people doing the nominating are blind.  I also believe that alien kid will soon be a distant memory, if he hasn't already been swallowed by the amazing roles he has conquered.

Thank you and see you at the next blog. 

The Words

3 STARS!

I recently saw a small movie in my local theater that was certainly a sweet, sweet cinematic surprise.  I can remember seeing the trailer some months ago, and again, like many movies, knew instantly it was something I wanted to see.  However, there was no way I expected some an acting tour-de-force.  I was definitely drawn to the storyline being a writer myself.  I could tell I was in store for a simple, yet fine American drama.  What I saw was simply a fine American drama!

The Words centers mostly on struggling writer Rory Jansen (Bradley Cooper) who finds an extreme amount of critical and financial success with the creation of the next great American novel.  Except Jansen did not write the novel and the real writer, portrayed brilliantly in a spellbinding Oscar caliber performance by Jeremy Irons, arrives in his life to let him know the real story behind his book.  The Old Man, which is simply what Irons' character is called, takes the audience into a whirlwind love story taking place in 1940's Paris. This movie doesn't stop there with these two interloping story lines, we are also taken to the near future with Dennis Quaid playing Clay Hammond, a successful author who writes a book based on the tale of Rory Jansen and the Old Man.

This movie is smart, intriguing, and so very engrossing.  It is not filled with blow em up action scenes, raunchy sex, and f-bombs, just to let the people who only look for those factors know.  The story itself is something new and fresh which is always awesome after a summer filled with sequels and remakes.  The dialogue is intelligent with a script full of meaning without cheesiness.  Along with the three leading men, there are two actresses who also hold their own.  Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Star Trek) really releases some acting chops as Rory's stand by your man wife, Dora.  She is sympathetic, sweet, and shows all the emotional range needed for this intense role.  Olivia Wilde (TRON Legacy, Cowboys & Aliens) is seductive as usual in a small, but pivotal role romancing Quaid's Clay Hammond.  Many of you know from reading my other entries is that when needed, I like to point a stand out performance and in The Words, that award goes to Jeremy Irons.  His performance of The Old Man is gut wrenching and poignant at the same time while also being just the right amount of sinister and cold.  He almost doesn't need to use words in some scenes, just his awesome facial expressions and that coldness in his eyes, which his character deserves to feel.

If you are looking for a great, adult drama with an intelligent plot, then this film is definitely for you.  You certainly won't have to read too much into this early fall gem, just sit back and enjoy The Words and you will forget about that novel you are reading, at least for 96 minutes.

Thank you and see you at the next blog.

The Dark Knight Rises

**Just a quick note, this is a review of The Dark Knight Rises but I am also calling this an extended review.  I will also include reviews and comparisons of the other two movies in Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and also comparisons with the Batman movies of the 1990's.  In other words, it will be long.**

 
4 BIG DAMN STARS!!!!

"In the tradition of Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, a monumental blockbuster that could very well be nominated and win the Best Picture Academy Award."


Bear with me for a moment while I travel back in time a bit.  It's 1989 and Tim Burton has directed one of the most anticipated movies ever, an audacious version of the campy television series.  It was dark and ominous, yet had it's share of comedy.  The film had a powerful cast with Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight, Jack Nicholson at his deviant best as the Joker, Kim Basinger, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Palance, and Jerry Hall. I owned the VHS version and one of the critics quotes on the box read, "The movie of the decade." It was, it really was.  Then, in 1992, a sequel emerged called Batman Returns also directed by Burton and starring Keaton as Batman.  This movie also starred Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny DeVito as Catwoman and Penguin respectively. These two gave award worthy performances and in my humble opinion, this movie, which was even darker and more ominous than the first, was just as enjoyable as the one from 1989.  Any movie portraying a character called Batman has to be a dark movie, that's just movie law.  That is why the next two movies (well, one of many, many reasons why) are so damn ridiculous.  Batman Forever (1995) and especially Batman and Robin (1997) were such utter disappointments that I feel I have devoted too much writing space to them as it is.

That brings me to the 21st century.  In 2005, Batman Begins was released.  Directed by Christopher Nolan (Memento, Inception), this new version was to go back to the Caped Crusader's roots, way way back.  People and critics rolled their eyes (yes, including me) at another Batman movie after the last two disasters.  Batman Begins turned out to actually be a very awesome movie.  It was so dark, it was almost like a horror flick, like it always should have been.  I often called it an action horror.  As was the same with its sequel, The Dark Knight, which by the way is the 3rd highest grossing movie of all time.  The movies not only got back to the roots of the story, it gets back to the roots of an actual action movie, with real explosions and actual dialogue.  They are not polluted with fake green screen cinematography, and if they are, they do a damn fine job of hiding it.  Also, as far as The Dark Knight is concerned, it is easy to mention the Oscar winning performance from the late Heath Ledger, one of the finest performances of all time.

When the The Dark Knight Rises was released on July 20, 2012, it marked one of the rare times when the final movie in a trilogy out shined the original two.  This is an epic conclusion to a movie trilogy that has rocked movie theaters all over the world.  The story begins 8 years after The Dark Knight ended where Batman is blamed for the death of Harvey Dent, Bruce Wayne has been in hiding, and Gotham City's crime rate has dropped dramatically.  Of course, it being Gotham City, that cannot last very long when a new menace called Bane (played with titanic levels of awesome by Tom Hardy) shows up and wreaks havoc unlike the city has ever seen.

There are some supreme supporting players this go around. Michael Caine (in a powerful Oscar worthy performance) is back as right hand man Alfred Pennyworth.  Gary Oldman of course in his perfectly casted role of Commissioner Gordon.  Morgan Freeman, entertaining as always, continues as Lucius Fox, Batman's version of James Bond's Q.  Among the newcomers are Joseph Gordon-Levitt who portrays rookie cop Blake helping out through all of the before mentioned havoc.  A rousing addition if I do say so myself. Then, there is Marion Cotillard as love interest Miranda Tate.  I have to say that is was quite the refreshing change out of all the freaking Batman movies, having a love interest that can act and is not some anorexic no-talent who looks like she is 16 (not naming any names).  Finally, there is Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle.  Michelle Pfeiffer played the part in 1992 and for 20 years, as far as I was concerned, there was only one Catwoman.  She conquered the character and made the men of the movie her bitch.  Anne Hathaway's performance was very reminiscent, however I do not believe in spoilers, so I am not going pinpoint every little different detail because that will give away important plot points.  Hathaway almost channels Pfeiffer through most of the movie with her dark, brooding 'screw the world' attitude.  It's really hard to determine who I like better because their characters are different.  But I can tell you, Hathaway threw out the good girl and stomped on her ass for this role, which she rocked.  Tom Hardy's Bane will go down in movie history as an iconic cinematic villain.

The Dark Knight Rises ended a great American movie trilogy.  Christian Bale did the movie audience a solid as Bruce Wayne/Batman.  I found him a perfect fit for the Bat suit.  The casting people found a man who was in the perfect age range with a solid physique who could handle all the physical aspects of the role, and had perfect emotional timing, when to be dramatic and when to be funny.  The writing and storyline was hardcore, never let up on dramatic build up.  The great thing about the special effects is they never looked like special effects, the action always looked real, without all the stylized crap.  So, until the next remake, it is very safe to say that The Dark Knight Rises rose past the point of superior and will be an iconic cinematic achievement for decades to come.

Thank you and see you at the next blog.

Entertainer Profile - Charlize Theron

Welcome to the 1st of many Entertainer Profiles from the Critic of Southeast Texas.  These blogs are going to profile a certain actor (kind of an Entertainer of the Month type of situation) plus I will be reviewing their roles in some of their past roles. I will focus on movies and/or television projects past and present. Also, my favorite roles and go back in time with how he/she grew up and throw in some interesting trivia on that person that you may have never known. 

So, lets get to it.  My Entertainer of the Month for July 2012 is........

CHARLIZE THERON

It is no secret at all that Charlize Theron is an incomparable beauty, hailed at times as one of the most beautiful faces ever to grace the silver screen.  I certainly do agree.  However, this is a review of her incomparable talent, and this beauty is loaded with massive amounts of acting talent. This Oscar winning actress has built an impressive and very versatile resume over the past 16 years.  She stars in two of the most anticipated movies of the summer, Prometheus and Snow White and the Huntsman.  Her roles are generally on the darker side and these two movies are no exception.  Her portrayals of Meredith Vickers (Prometheus) and Ravenna (Snow White and the Huntsman) were evil at its best.

Her first role was in 1996 in a film called Two Days in the Valley. It was not a commercially successful movie but her portrayal of Helga Svelgen opened eyes in Hollywood.  I actually enjoyed the movie. It follows a eccentric group of characters over a two day period in Los Angeles and also has one of the best onscreen catfights ever, between Theron and Teri Hatcher.

At first glance, you would think she'd be the face of the romantic comedy world but she has chosen more dramatic, serious roles.  Honestly though, it doesn't matter the role for the talented Theron, she charges in and owns the character she is portraying (for example, Aileen in Monster).

Charlize was born near Johannesburg, South Africa and became a ballet dancer in her early teenage years and after a knee injury, started modeling at 18 then made her way to Los Angeles to embark on a movie career.  It wasn't long before an agent gave her a business card, then the juggernaut that was and still is an awesome career began.  A couple of things you may not know about her, she turned down Kate Beckinsale's role in Pearl Harbor and auditioned for Elizabeth Berkeley's role in Showgirls.


CST'S FAVORITE CHARLIZE THERON ROLES 
The Devil's Advocate (1997)

Mighty Joe Young (1998)
The Astronaut's Wife (1999)
The Cider House Rules (1999)
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
Sweet November (2001)
Trapped (2002)
The Italian Job (2003)
Monster (2003) - won the coveted Best Actress Academy Award and the Golden Globe for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos.  Theron gained over 30 pounds for the role and completely transformed her appearance.  However, she was not the original choice. Kate Winslet was the first considered for the role.  Winslet is definitely a fine actress but Charlize Theron made it one of the finest and almost legendary performances in history.

North Country (2005) - nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award and Best Actress in a Drama Golden Globe.
Arrested Development (2005) - Theron did a several episode stint on the cult classic television show playing Rita, a child like adult who has a relationship with Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman). It was such a brilliant comedic departure from her darker motion picture roles.
In the Valley of Elah (2007)
Hancock (2008) - her first stint in the major summer blockbuster territory. I personally enjoyed her more than Will Smith. I am so ready for the sequel.
The Burning Plain (2008)
Young Adult (2011)
Prometheus (2012) - see my review
Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) - see my review. In my opinion, should be her third Oscar nomination.


Millions of people went out this summer and watched the last two movies on the list.  I urge you to check out some of her earlier work and if you haven't already of course.  If it has been several years since seeing any of them, then watch them again.  It is a treat every time to see this timeless beauty stare into the camera, usually with a sinister glare, because sinister is what she does best.


Thank you and see you at the next blog.

Ted

4 STARS

If you go into this movie never having seen Family Guy then you will not know what it is like in the mind of Ted's writer/director/creator Seth MacFarlane.  Now I do realize many people have never seen the series about the misadventures of the dysfunctional Griffin family, but I guarantee, those people have heard or read about it.  I am personally a fan of the show but I do understand it is not for everyone and the same will be for this movie.  It is 106 minutes of raunchy, foul-mouthed depravity and I am not sorry to say, I loved it!!!!

Ted is the story of John Bennett (played with comedic brilliance by Mark Wahlberg) who as a young boy received a teddy bear as a Christmas gift and made a very special wish to make his bear real so he could have a best friend forever.  Jump 27 years later and John is a middle-aged man in a go-nowhere job with his bear still at his side, living in an apartment with John's girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis).  John and his best friend Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) share a bond so strong yet so vulgar, it would make even the filthiest pair of frat boys blush.  However, the pair keep their comedic train on the tracks the entire time, never stalling for a minute.

First of all, Ted is a grade A, primo adult comedy; and I emphasize ADULT.  I only do that because of  some remarks I have heard about how offensive the movie is.  Seriously people, that is why we have ratings and this is America, if you are offended, DON'T GO SEE IT!  I give this movie major props though for one really big reason: originality.  We all know the summer blockbuster season the past several years mostly shows the audience remakes (and now remakes of remakes), sequels, prequels, and now all the super hero movies.  I applaud MacFarlane for giving the audience this year a hundred million dollar blockbuster based on an original idea, and what a hilarious idea it has turned out to be.  All I can hope for now is, Ted will spawn a sequel of its own, or the very least, make a very special wish.

Thank you and see you at the next blog.