My Top Ten Summer Movies So Far...July 20, 2011

As we near the end of July I thought I'd take some time to rank my favorite summer movies so far. I've seen quite a few so without further ado...

#1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2

Was there any doubt? I've loved the series since the beginning and the finale is as exciting and grand as I'd hoped. There were moments of laughter and tears. The moments I had been looking forward to from the final book lived up to my anticipation. As with any of the adaptations there were some additions and some things missing but nothing that affected the overall quality of the film. I've seen it twice and can't wait to see it again.

#2 Super 8-This movie was mysterious, scary and fun. The period details were spot on and brought back many memories for me. The characters were endearing, well-developed, and likable. The film held my interest from beginning to end. The end credits were definitely the best of the year so far. Make sure to watch them!

#3 Bridesmaids-Had to go way back to the beginning of the summer season for this one. Absolutely loved this movie. It was hilarious. Unfortunately labeled a chick flick by some but it is not. It deals with friendships, growing older, responsibilities, relationships and all in an extremely humorous vein.

#4 Horrible Bosses-Another great summer comedy. This one moved along very quickly and presented a situation most people can identify with at one point or another. Kevin Spacey is perfect for his part as are the other players. Solid entertainment.

#5 Bad Teacher-This is a summer drive-in movie. Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake are favorites of mine and they don't disappoint here. Justin Timberlake's song is a standout in a film filled with funny moments. As an added bonus, Gibby is here!

#6 The Green Lantern-Ryan Reynolds is one of those actors that is a matter of choice I guess. I really like him and find his so likable in his roles that he didn't present a problem for me here. The movie had an interesting plot, great special effects, and a efficient cast. What's not to like? Thor would be here but not sure if that is going too far back.

#7 Transformers: Dark of the Moon-Big, noisy and entertaining. Lots of end of the world type special effects which are guilty pleasures for me. Would love to see Josh Duhamel finally get a film worthy of his talent though.

#8 Zookeeper-I went into this movie prepared to hate it. Surprisingly I really liked it. It was fun, cute, heartwarming (puke but it was!), parts were clever and you can't help but cheer for Kevin James. It was a good family film and a pleasant way to spend a summer afternoon.

#9 X-Men: First Class-Interesting origin movie. Probably not enough action for real action hounds but there was a suitable amount for me. Kevin Bacon is a great villain here. Was nice to see how the whole back story of the beginning of the X-Men was told.

#10 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strange Tides-I'm not a big Pirates fan but I've seen them all. I enjoyed this one although it was, again, too long. Johnny Depp is so much fun in these films that it is hard not to have a good time. Penelope Cruz was a good addition.

So that is my top 10 list. I haven't really seen anything this summer that has disappointed me or was a total waste of time so that has definitely been a plus.Where are the horror movies though? Please feel free to share some of your favorites!

Have a good one.

Roger's Oscar Favorites

Okay I am about 2 months late but I finally have seen all 10 of the movies nominated for the 2011 Best Picture Oscar. I guess it was really the 2010 Best Picture Oscar but since the movie was awarded the prize in 2011, I'll say the 2011 Best Picture award. Anyways, just going to give you my ranking of the ten just based on how I liked them. That's it. And the way I judged that was on how likely I was to purchase the film on DVD/Blu-Ray. So my rankings in order:

1. True Grit- Absolutely loved it. I will proudly have it sit on my shelf next to the original. The casting was perfect, the story more detailed, the cinematography beautiful. I was sure I wasn't going to like it since I love the original so much, but I was greatly surprised. Didn't want this one to end. Doesn't come out on video until June but I will be sure to get a blu-ray copy.

2. Toy Story 3-A fitting ending to the trilogy. Was such a moving story that Brenna and Sharon were teary eyed. I wish more live action films had characters as well developed as Buzz and Woody. Already own my copy.

3. The Fighter-This film was quite a crowd pleaser. I didn't know much about it going in and I'm glad I didn't. The beginning was filmed in such a gritty manner that I was sure I was in for a dark, dangerous '70's style film. Well, it did turn out to be a '70's type film but that film was Rocky! The supporting performances were brilliant but I felt that the performance of Mark Wahlberg was terribly underrated. He was the emotional center of the film and was a calm presence in the midst of all the chaos happening around him. I already own my copy of this film as well.

4. 127 Hours-Nice testament to the human spirit and the will to survive. At times funny, sad, and suspenseful, the film hits the ground running at continues at a rapid pace. The audience knows what is coming but it was not nearly as grotesque or hard to watch as I expected. James Franco is engaging and charismatic. He is able to convey hope and despair, commanding the audience's attention while spending a great deal of time on the screen alone. Have already purchased this one as well.

5. The King's Speech-I liked The King's Speech. It was very easy to watch and follow. The performances were uniformly excellent and it had the whole triumphing against adversity angle. It's pretty straight forward in it's storytelling but it's a good story and done very well. This is a maybe I'll purchase if the price is right.

6. Winter's Bone-Enjoyed this film immensely. It is quiet, dark, haunting, intense, sad, unsatisfying yet satisfying. I didn't know anything about this movie and I think I was better for that. I just sat and let the movie slowly weave its spell around me. I'll leave it here and hopefully you'll watch it and let it do the same for you. I'll purchase when the price is right.

7. Inception-Intriguing film. It was fascinating to watch and try to figure out exactly what was happening and what wasn't. The film didn't have a real emotional pull for me but visually the film was stunning. I'll probably buy it at some point.

8. The Social Network-It took me a bit to ground myself during this nonlinear film but the was part of the enjoyment of it. Justin Timberlake was great in this as was the rest of the cast.
The characters are alternately funny, frustrating, sympathetic, and annoying. The movie really left me wanting to discover more about the story as it continues to play out. Probably won't buy this one.

9. The Kids Are All Right-Very enjoyable film with two powerhouse performances by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. The premise is interesting and handled with comic tenderness. While I did like the movie, don't see this as a purchase.

10. Black Swan-I wrote an earlier review of this on on my blog. I admired this film. It was very well done but ultimately not my kind of movie. While I could appreciate the artistry of the film it was just not the kind of journey I would take more than once. I know I will never purchase this one. Oh yeah. I really didn't care whether or not Natalie Portman danced or how much she danced in the film. It made no difference in my appreciation for the film.

So there you have it. My order of the Oscar nominated films. Feel free to share your opinions of these films, even if a few months late!

Have a good one.

Oscar Contenders-January 2, 2011

Recently saw two movies being touted as Oscar contenders. Are they really Oscar contenders? How the heck do I know? I don't get a vote. And the academy and I never really seem to agree on nominations and winners but here is my take on these two recent releases.

Last week I went to see Black Swan with my sister. It really was an intriguing film. However, I could tell it was not the kind of movie I would bother to see again. It's basically the story of a ballerina as she succumbs to the pressure that accompanies her chosen career. That, of course, is a very simplistic description of the film. It is quite an amazing ride. It is at times beautiful and other times I had to cover my eyes. It can be quite confusing as one tries to figure out what is really happening and what is all in Nina the ballerina's (what a rhyme) mind. If I had to categorize the film I would call it psychological thriller. The performances are excellent and Natalie Portman is probably a shoe-in for an Oscar nomination. A couple of actresses in supporting roles may make the cut as well. I would recommend this movie as it certainly is a thought provoking film which lends itself well to conversations. It just isn't the kind of film that bears repeat viewing for me.

The second film I saw was True Grit. Let me preface this by saying that I love the John Wayne version of this film. It was the first western I showed to Elijah and he is a big fan as well. The scene of Ned Pepper telling Rooster "I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man" with Rooster responding "Fill your hands you son-of-a-bitch" is a classic and just gets the blood pumping for whatever reason. The 1969 version of True Grit is one of my favoriste 2 westerns, along with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Now, as for the new version. I am happy to say that I will be thrilled to have the Coen Brothers' version of True Grit sit on my video shelf right next to the John Wayne version. From my understanding the newer version is much more faithful to the book. Mattie Ross is the central character in the movie and the story is told from her point of view. The casting of Hailee Steinfeld was nothing short of remarkable. She commands the screen, at one moment portraying a sure, wise beyond her years 14 year old and the next letting the audience in on her vulnerability, her belief in an ideal world and honor, and her youthfulness. Jeff Bridges is also a marvel as Rooster Cogburn but that isn't a surprise. Matt Damon also lends able support.

While I knew the storyline I never truly felt I was watching a remake but a film that stood on its own. The only scene that was a mild disappointment to me was the one I mentioned before. The scene of Rooster and Ned Pepper just didn't have the same kind of thrill to it. However, Elijah was so excited as he knew it was approaching and he enjoyed it just as he did before. As for the Oscars, I don't really know. Probably a cinematography nod. I would definitely love to see a supporting actress nomination and a Best Picture nod since the field is open to 10 nominations. Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon seem to be Academy faves so they might sneak in. Whatever happens though the film was a winner to me. I absolutely loved it!