100 new (to me) movies in 2012
Past movie totals:
115/100 movies in 2011
125/100 movies in 2010
79/100 movies in 2009
95/100 movies in 2008
2012
1. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol ........ A-
Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton
January 3, 2012
Exciting and fun, a very welcome addition to the "Mission Impossible" franchise! I especially appreciated the way this instalment departed from its predecessors by removing its heroes from any government backing, and limiting the functionality of the fancy gadgets. My enjoyment was definitely muted by an overly sentimental ending, but otherwise an awesome action flick.
2. Cave of Forgotten Dreams ........ D
Werner Herzog
January 5, 2012
This documentary is about 20 minutes of really interesting material stretched to the breaking point in order to meet feature film length. Watching it was one of the more tedious theatrical experiences I've had in a long time. It definitely felt akin to being stuck in a high school classroom and forced to watch some some sort of poorly shot, educational film. Aside from a couple of unintentionally hilarious scenes, I am truly baffled by the critical acclaim that this film is receiving. There is no way I would have made it through the first half hour had I not seen it in the theatre.
3. Joyful Noise ........ B-
Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton
January 13, 2012
In a lot of ways, this film is absolutely terrible. Painfully over-acted in places, filled with unintentionally hilarious dialogue, plot holes and unexplained subplots with little to no relevance to the story. And yet, I feel that no one attending said film would really expect anything else. The only real reason to view this spectacle is of course the music, which is spectacularly entertaining. And the rest of the whole ridiculous package is pretty entertaining too, as long as one is getting what one expects. I also have to say, despite the fact that this movie is about a gospel choir and folks who generally love baby Jesus, it rarely comes across as particularly preachy. I get the impression that the filmmakers are genuinely trying to entertain, not to convert the audience, which is a definite plus. There was only one scene that made me a bit eye-rolly as a non-believer. Finally, I would also like to point you in the direction of Jeff's lovely review, because it made me smile.
4. The Tree of Life ........ D+
Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain
January 14, 2012
The majority of this movie is incredibly self-indulgent, artsy, crap on the part of Terrence Malick. I am sure that many of his fans would argue passionately that every excessively long, beautiful shot of waterfalls, oceans, forests, sunrises, jellyfish, flickering orange light and yes, even dinosaurs, had a very deep and well thought-out meaning regarding the essence of our existence, but I just don't buy it. It's not that there's nothing positive about this film, it's that you have to wade through almost two and a half hours to get to it. At its core this is a story about three boys growing up in the 50s under the reign of an authoritarian father and an unhappily meek mother. There are scenes with the brothers entertaining themselves with sticks and buckets that felt very nostalgic and very true to the childhood experience to me. Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain both deliver fantastic performances as do all of the young actors, and there doesn't really need to be anything more to this film than that. Unfortunately there's about an hour of footage that would have been better suited to an educational IMAX film regarding the environment. Sean Penn also appears in this film for approximately five minutes as one son all grown up. Unfortunately he has basically nothing to do other than ride up and down in an elevator looking morose.
Despite the D+ rating, I'm honestly not recommending that you not see this film. I'm just recommending that you see it in the comfort of your own home, with your finger very near the fast-forward button. Trust me it will make for a much better viewing experience.
5. A Dangerous Method ........ B
Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen
January 17, 2012
Though by no means perfect, I found this to be a very interesting fictionalized account of the birth of psychoanalysis. Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender both deliver great performances. Keira Knightley is a little concerning in early scenes. While I will give her credit for fearlessness in her portrayal of a mental patient, and I did feel that she had accurately researched the sort of movements that might be present in a psychotic fit, the whole thing just felt very overacted. Like she saw this as potentially Oscar bait and just took it way over the top. Once both the character and Knightley are cured of their hysterics, she flows much more easily with the role and is no longer hard to watch. I felt she did a good job with the accent as well. The story is interesting. I felt that there probably could have been more actual psychoanalysis included, and also that there could have been some exploration of the fact that many of theories presented by these two men are totally insane. A viewer without much knowledge of the field might leave the theatre thinking that psychoanalysis is still employed by the average therapist.
6. Contraband ........ B-
Mark Wahlberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster
January 20, 2012
A fluffy piece of action silliness, this movie is pretty enjoyable despite being full of plot holes. I'm impressed that they managed to make Kate Beckinsale look dowdy. That's a feat in and of itself! Ben Foster is marvellous as always and his considerable talent is somewhat wasted on these types of projects. Also, the shift in tone for the benefit of the ending is actually hilarious.
7. The Artist ........ A-
Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo
January 22, 2012
While I can't say that I would welcome the return of the silent film, this does feel like a breath of fresh air in today's cinema. It works as a tribute but stands on its own. The use of sound is extremely clever, and the film works both as a commentary on the preservation of art, and as a fairly light romantic comedy. The actors are all able to convey an impressive amount without the use of words. I will say that there are a couple of scenes that would have benefited from inserted text. My lip-reading skills are apparently not up to the level required.
8. Midnight in Paris ........ B+
Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard
January 25, 2012
This film is delightfully nostalgic. It's quite a light comedy, featuring the usual plot device of an excessively shrewish woman and the endlessly romantic and easy-going man who probably would never think to date each other in real life. Owen Wilson makes a much more appealing Woody Allen than Woody Allen does himself. The score of the film is absolutely perfect. Having only a very superficial knowledge of most of the historical figures, I also felt like some of it went over my head. More than anything, watching this movie is sure to make you wish you were in Paris.
9. Abduction ........ D
Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins
January 27, 2012
It's amazing to me that Taylor Lautner actually went out and managed to find a script worse than Twilight to make his starring debut. In this film, Lautner discovers that his parents aren't his real parents. And then they're killed! And then he's chased! And then there's a pretty girl with him! And then there's a half-baked explanation for all of this that no one is expected to care about! Along with being bad, it's not even very much fun. The real mystery is how Maria Bello, Alfred Molina, Jason Isaacs and Sigourney Weaver all ended up agreeing to this project.
10. Meet Monica Velour ........ B-
Kim Cattrall, Dustin Ingram
January 27, 2012
In this film, a nerdy teen sets out to meet the love of his life, a 49-year-old, washed-up, porn star who was beautiful and famous in the early 80s. The set up is a bit too over-the-top to really work. Dustin Ingram's nerd is just too much of a caricature. A little bit too Napoleon Dynamite to be taken in any way seriously. The fact that he drives a truck with a giant hot dog on the top doesn't add much except to be ridiculous. Also enter a benevolent black man to teach him about life. That being said, this film is actually better than it has any business being. Kim Cattrall's sad life is a far more realistic portrayal of the stereotype. Aside from a questionable accent, her performance is actually quite good. The courtship is sweet, and as believable as it could be given the set up. Had it toned down the absurd, this could have been a very decent indie film. As it is, it's still pretty enjoyable in its ridiculousness.
11. Shame ........ A
Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan
January 29, 2012
Michael Fassbender is amazing in this film about a sex addict spiralling out of control. He truly deserved an Oscar nomination and it's appalling that he didn't receive one. Even without the nude scene at the beginning (which honestly is totally gratuitous and unnecessary to the story, and serves only to emphasize what a beautiful piece of man-meat Fassbender has, but trust me I AINT complaining!!) this performance would be noteworthy. The only unfortunate thing is that the strength of his performance has really overshadowed Carey Mulligan, who is equally good as his loose cannon of a sister. It's very unlike any role I've seen her in, and she does a fantastic job. This film is amazingly believable, even with a subject that might make many viewers uncomfortable. I found it refreshing that most of the actors going nude in this film (Mulligan included) look very much like real people. Sexy real people, don't get me wrong, but real nonetheless. There is no feeling of perfection. Fassbender's first date with his coworker feels absolutely genuine. The awkwardness mingled with the attraction practically springs from the screen. His later sex scene with the same character is also one hundred percent believable. It feels more like watching a home video than a porn, and is interestingly contrasted with the more stylized sex scenes that he has with escorts and women from bars etc. As for any complaints, I would say that the ending is unsatisfying and more backstory as to the past of the siblings would have helped to flesh out the story. But I would highly recommend this one, for the unprudy set of course!
12. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 ........ C-
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
January 31, 2012
Well, this instalment isn't any worse than the two last Twilight movies! And that's about all I've got! Haha. It's actually a decent tribute to the book, in that the sex is practically non-existent and absolutely nothing happens. We see maybe five seconds of very sweet, slow love-making and then cut to a shot of the next morning where the whole room is destroyed. Really?? The birth scene is barely gory at all, especially compared to the description in the book. The part from Jacob's perspective is greatly reduced, and the way that his separation from the pack is dealt with is painful. Not quite as painful as Lautner's performance overall of course. Strangely there are some weird continuity issues as well. For instance, Edward sure spends a lot of time in the sun without sparkling. Two things that I did appreciate: the awkward speeches at the wedding, very true to life. Also, the make-up and effects people did an absolutely amazing job of making Kristen Stewart look totally horrifying and skeletal.
13. The Grey ........ A-
Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Frank Grillo, Dallas Roberts
February 1, 2012
Although this film was definitely not high on my list of things to see, I was really impressed by it. It's not nearly as gory as I had feared. Just gory enough to be sufficiently realistic. Realism is actually the greatest strength in this film. Much like "The Hurt Locker", I felt totally immersed, and as if I was experiencing a plane crash or stuck in the freezing wilderness. This is also a surprisingly character driven piece, without really overloading the viewer with information. The only real problem, and I had read this in a number of other reviews, is a really superficial attempt at tackling the issues of fate and faith. While I'm quite certain that these sorts of conversations would come up in a situation where men were struggling to survive, the film attempts to address these issues without really delving into them or taking any sort of stand. It would have been far better left out. Other than that I would definitely recommend this film, although it's a bit of a harrowing experience to watch.
14. Man on a Ledge ........ B-
Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell
February 2, 2012
It's almost painfully easy to poke plot holes in this story, if one gives it any effort whatsoever. I also loved the inclusion of a girlfriend character who wears a low cut tank top with bright red bra on a heist mission, and of course finds the need to strip down to her lacy panties at one point. Sam Worthington also desperately needs to work on his American accent. Jesus. These things aside, this is still quite an exciting movie. The trailer might have promoted it as being more serious than it actually is, which is really its only crime. Lots of silly fun, not much beyond that.
15. All The Pretty Horses ........ C-
Matt Damon, Penélope Cruz, Henry Thomas
February 7, 2012
The first 45 minutes or so of this film are quite decently put together. I found myself wondering why it was so critically panned. And then suddenly, everything unravels. The story starts making very little sense, and one of the key points, the significance of getting back lost/stolen horses is not explained in any way. As this is an adaptation from a novel, it feels very much like the writer was trying to force in all key plot points while cutting out everything that might have led up to or clarified them.
16. Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey ........ B+
Kevin Clash
February 8, 2012
A delightful documentary about the puppeteer behind Elmo, as well as the hard work and dedication that goes into this very quirky profession. Kevin Clash is a very engaging speaker and obviously passionate about puppetry without coming off as odd or socially maladjusted. The only things I found problematic were a few very strange artistic decisions (the shot of a running tap while Clash tells a story about meeting someone in a washroom for example) and the vague attempt to focus on the time away from family being problematic. When Clash says that he would have rather been spending time with his daughter instead of working, a few scenes after he is shown declaring that he can do all worldwide appearances himself and no one else should be voicing Elmo, the sentiment just rings a little false.
17. Beginners ........ A-
Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent
February 9, 2012
One would think that a film about a 75 year old man who comes out of the closet after having lived a lie his whole life, and then passes away from cancer would be profoundly depressing. And it's not to say that this film isn't sad. But it's also funny, quirky and touching in a weird way. The story and relationships all feel very genuine. Christopher Plummer is particularly fantastic as the stoic, private and eternally optimistic father.
18. Albert Nobbs ........ B
Glenn Close, Janet McTeer, Mia Wasikowska
February 12, 2012
This is a strange little movie. Almost a cultural study. Very little happens story-wise when you actually think about it. Which is not to say that I didn't enjoy it. Glenn Close is great, but the honest scene stealer is Janet McTeer. At its core it is a very sad story, and the ending is a little too neat and left me wondering how I was supposed to feel.
19. Flicka ........ C-
Alison Lohman, Tim McGraw, Maria Bello, Ryan Kwanten
February 14, 2012
Although this movie still feels somewhat endearing, and it's likely that it will appeal to children, it's still pretty terrible when you get right down to it. The basic premise involves a teenaged girl who's just flunked out of school deciding to domesticate a mustang horse against the will of her overbearing father. This is juxtaposed with her reading aloud from her essay about the mustang being the true pioneer of the West, and the beauty and wonder of their freedom. At no point does the character, or do the filmmakers for that matter, seem to realize that this really does not make a whole lot of sense considering she has captured a horse from the wild and is defending its trainability. McGray and Bello overact cartoonishly.
20. Kari-gurashi no Arietti (The Secret World of Arrietty) ........ A-
Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett
February 17, 2012
Once again Studio Ghibli delivers. The interesting thing about this film is that not much really happens plot-wise, but the viewer is still totally engaged, seeing the regular world through the eyes of a "Borrower". I would have loved this film as a kid, and I found it thoroughly entertaining as an adult as well. I'm also always pleased to see hand drawn animation, a woefully under-used art form. There is a sort of regrettable use of a nomad Borrower, who is far too stereotypically Native and it comes across as vaguely racist. I'm sure this is directly out of the classic kids' book, but could have used an update.
21. The Descendants ........ A-
George Clooney, Shailene Woodley
February 18, 2012
This is a tremendous effort on the part of Alexander Payne. The cast all deliver stellar performances. I think Shailene Woodley would have been quite deserving of an Oscar nomination for her supporting turn as Clooney's daughter. I found her performance to be entirely convincing. She delivered the complex range of emotion that anyone would be experiencing in such a situation, but in particular, a teenager. I felt that the story regarding the importance of the Hawaiian land could have been a bit better developed, as its eventual conclusion felt excessively schmaltzy to me, but overall this is an excellent film.
22. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance ........ C+
Nicolas Cage, Violante Placido, Fergus Riordan
February 20, 2012
Well, I can say that this one exceeded my expectations. Given what my expectations were, that is not really high praise. However, this installment is definitely an improvement over the first movie. The first "Ghost Rider" was bad bad. This one is decidedly "so bad it's good". The action sequences are much more exciting, and the special effects greatly improved. Nicolas Cage also appears to be having a lot more fun being his manic self. If one goes in expecting one-dimensional characters and an extremely silly plot that makes very little sense, this movie is pretty fun. In a terrible terrible way.
23. Hugo ........ A-
Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley
February 26, 2012
This film features some of the best 3D I've seen. It's visually stunning. Definitely deserving of all of the technical awards it took home at the Oscars. The story is fairly light, but it's nice to see a celebration of classic film. It will appeal in different ways to older and younger viewers. The acting is deliberately a bit cartoonish, which some might find grating, but suits the story well enough. Asa Butterfield is quite convincing in his first role.
24. Haywire ........ B+
Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender
February 28, 2012
While the conclusion and general plot are a little thinner than ideal, this is a very enjoyable action flick. The fight scenes aren't particularly stylized. They're rough and very real. It's also refreshing to see a female action protagonist who is actually built in such a way that she could conceivably pull off the moves and kick the ass she's portrayed as kicking.
25. The Woman in Black ........ B-
Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, Ciarán Hinds
March 2, 2012
Artistically speaking this is a very beautiful film. I enjoyed the set design immensely. Performances are mostly quite well done. Unfortunately, despite creating an effectively creepy atmosphere, the vast majority of the scare tactics in this film rely on the "boo!" something-jumps-out-at-you method, which gets predictable after the first ten minutes. The story also derails a bit halfway through. The premise of the film is interesting but the second part of the script needed a solid re-write.
26. The Muppets ........ B+
Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper
March 3, 2012
Quite delightful and full of celebrity cameos, this one will be enjoyable for viewers of all ages. Chris Cooper rapping is probably the best part. A load of excessively schmaltzy musical numbers was a bit much for me, but did fit with the sunshiney theme of the film.
27. SUPER ........ A-
Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, Ellen Page, Kevin Bacon
March 5, 2012
Gloriously twisted and dark! It's similar in concept to "Kick-Ass", but totally different in execution. Less comic book inspired and harder to sympathize with any character. I'm not sure which is better, but it's well worth seeing both!
28. Waterworld ........ B
Kevin Costner, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Dennis Hopper
March 8, 2012
I enjoyed this a good deal more than I was expecting to given everything I'd heard about it. It's definitely sillier than it wants to take itself to be, but I thought that the concept was excellent. The set design was also great and holds up to today's viewing. The special effects are not so great, especially considering the budget haha.
29. Jeff Who Lives At Home ........ B+
Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Susan Sarandon
March 16, 2012
A very enjoyable film that benefits from leaving the viewer genuinely unsure of where it's going. It does end up being a bit overly sentimental, but not in the ways that one would expect. The plotline involving Susan Sarandon was my major problem with the film. It left me feeling a bit uncomfortable. I feel as though the resolution was supposed to be a happy one and to me it was incredibly sad.
30. Troll 2 ........ A+/F- depending on your viewing intentions.
Michael Stephenson, George Hardy, Margo Prey
March 17, 2012
Reputedly the best/worst movie ever made, this one really doesn't disappoint in that regard! First of all, there are no trolls in this film. Only goblins. This is only the beginning of the totally nonsensical plot issues, the atrocious acting, the amazingly bad special effects, and what ends up being a hilariously anti-vegetarian message. Pure enjoyment for lovers of terrible movies everywhere.
31. The Hunger Games ........ A-
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson
March 30, 2012
A really good effort in bringing a beloved novel to the screen. They did a great job in capturing the intensity of the games, and I really liked Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss (although I'm really unsure of Liam Hemsworth as Gale, his opening line was incredibly awkward). The film uses footage of Seneca Crane running the games to give the viewer the same information that Katniss gives as narrator in the novel, which I thought was quite clever. The film falls short in terms of character development though. I don't think that someone who hadn't read the book would really understand the importance of Cinna, Rue, or especially Haymitch.
32. Contagion ........ A-
Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne
April 1, 2012
I was quite surprised by how much I liked this one. It does a great job of gradually heightening the intensity of the growing epidemic, and from what I understand is fairly accurate in terms of emergency response tactics.
33. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen ....... B+
Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor
April 3, 2012
Really enjoyable little movie. A feel good story without being excessively schmaltzy. Although I did find the love story a bit forced. Blunt and McGregor are adorable and have great chemistry, but the obstacles to their relationship feel a bit forced.
34. Wanderlust ........ B-
Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston
April 6, 2012
Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston are endearing, and this film certainly gets a few chuckles even though it's not uproariously funny. Minor characters vary a lot in how funny they actually are. Definitely watchable but not particularly memorable.
35. How She Move ........ C-
Rutina Wesley, Tre Armstrong
April 13, 2012
Pretty generic in the dance movie genre. Down on her luck protagonist re-discovers love of dance in the midst of pursuing academia and goes with it against parents wishes and obstacles along with romantic entanglement. The result is watchable, but the plot points are even more contrived than usual and the dancing isn't exciting enough to make up for this.
36. The Lucky One ........ B-
Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner
April 18, 2012
This film is not nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be. In fact, if one is actually a romance/Nicholas Sparks fan, I think it would probably be fairly satisfying. If one is me, one agrees with the entire theatre which audibly groaned at certain epically cheesy lines that Zac Efron couldn't quite deliver with a straight face. There is also the issue of a totally absurd premise which involves some awfully convenient things contrived to come together, and an artificially dramatic arc at the end. Aside from these elements though, the main characters are endearing and there are plenty of cute dogs, so it makes for quite a watchable experience if not actual quality filmmaking.
37. American Reunion ........ B+
Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott
April 21, 2012
A surprisingly funny final (?) instalment of the American Pie series. This reunion piece is clever in showcasing various life situations that someone in their late 20s/early 30s might find themselves. It's pleasantly nostalgic for the viewer who was in high school when the first movie came out, but regrettably also serves to make said viewer feel really really old.
38. The Five-Year Engagement ........ B+
Jason Segel, Emily Blunt
April 27, 2012
This is the sort of film a romantic comedy should aspire to be. Really endearing leads who come across as real people, granted enduring a somewhat absurd plot but even at its schmaltziest it never really feels excessive. It is also a comedy start to finish. There are certainly dramatic moments, but at no point does it try to be a serious movie. There are certainly sections in which the comedy fell a bit flat for me, but that is really a matter of personal taste.
39. Martha Marcy May Marlene ........ B+
Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson
April 20, 2012
A really interesting and well done film, surely worthy of more awards season attention than it ended up getting. This is really a psychological study of the effects of cult living. The ending is really unsatisfying though, and not in an understandable way. I think I get what the filmmakers were trying to accomplish by dropping it so abruptly, but it was definitely not successful.
40. Safe ........ B-
Jason Statham, Catherine Chan
May 2, 2012
A plottier effort than many of Jason Statham's recent outings, this one is reasonably well thought-out. The action is satisfying and doesn't take over the whole movie. The beginning is a bit shaky and had me concerned, but it ends up being a decent and entertaining effort.
41. Strictly Sexual ........ C-
Amber Benson, Johann Urb, Kristen Kerr, Stevie Long
May 4, 2012
So bad and yet so good. This is a bit of a vanity project for writer/star Stevie Long. I see that he's now expanded this film into a television series of the same name, featuring the same characters. While I did appreciate the very different female protagonists approach to sexuality, all of the characters were still excessively one dimensional, and the dialogue at times (hilariously) painful. I had a good time watching this, but by no means a good movie!
42. Carnage ........ C+
Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, John C. Reilly
May 7, 2012
This film is based on the stage play "God of Carnage", and you can TELL. It's still a stage play despite being on screen. It's not that any of the incredibly talented four cast members gives a sub-par performance, it's that the dialogue is written for the stage, and it draws out a bit of that over-done, excessively dramatic elocution that's present in all theatre. And don't think I'm bashing live theatre, because I actually love it, but film and theatre are two very different mediums and this film plays more as if one is viewing a video-taped performance than a movie. The whole film is set in the home of one couple. The four players move around the set as if on stage. Changing location awkwardly purely to give the viewer something to look like. These movements are in no way natural and visual interest should be accomplished with camera work in this case. It's not a terrible movie in the end, but the same story could have been filmed so much more effectively and the finished product is such a waste of an incredible cast.
43. The Greatest Movie Ever Sold ........ A-
Morgan Spurlock
May 10, 2012
A fascinating look at the world of product placement. Morgan Spurlock once again makes a hilariously entertaining documentary that achieves its purpose without bashing you over the head with the message. He also manages to elegantly portray all of the brands that were brave enough to sponsor his movie in a positive light, while still pointing out the absurdity of the concept.
44. Impromptu ........ B
Judy Davis, Hugh Grant, Bernadette Peters
May 13, 2012
I'm not generally a huge fan of period pieces, but this one is light and funny, and doesn't feel terribly dated given the ultra modern female protagonist.
45. Blindness ........ B
Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo
May 15, 2012
I think that this film adaptation is actually better than its critical reputation. The novel seems almost impossible to film and although the movie is nowhere near as good, it does a reasonably good job of conveying the plot, if not the feeling of utter despair in the novel.
46. Dark Shadows ........ B-
Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer
May 17, 2012
I've been growing a little weary of Johnny Depp lately, but I did enjoy this piece of character work from him. Albeit reminiscent of other characters he's done with Tim Burton. The problem with this film lies with the tone. Burton doesn't seem to be able to decide if he wants it to be a satire or if he wants it to be genuinely gothic and creepy. In this case, both really don't seem to work together. I did enjoy watching it in all its silliness though. Some of the special effects are really awesome too. I particularly liked the ghosts.
47. This Means War ........ B
Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy
May 18, 2012
Predictably silly and as deep as a bowl of soup, but still quite enjoyable. I appreciated also the lack of demonization of Reese Witherspoon's character for dating the two men at once. Most refreshing!
48. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ........ A-
Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson
May 21, 2012
A really charming movie featuring an amazing cast of British alumni. The story is perhaps a bit over sentimental in places, but not so much that it feels put on.
49. The Avengers ........ B+
Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth
May 25, 2012
It's going to be so hard not to review this movie against the hype, but I'll do my best. It's a very enjoyable summer blockbuster. You can certainly see the Joss influence in some of the humour. The script does a good job of giving the whole cast reasonably equal screentime. Robert Downey Jr. is unsurprisingly the best part, although I also really enjoyed Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. Some of the set up scenes are extremely awkward, but once it gets going, it rolls out pretty smoothly. As for the hype, I must admit to finding it sort of baffling. I did very much enjoy this movie, but is it lots better than all other well done summer blockbusters? Not at all. I didn't like it nearly as much as the first Iron Man even!
50. Cowboys & Aliens ........ B
Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford
May 27, 2012
The only real problem with this film is that I wish it had been campier. Given the obvious humour in the title, one wouldn't expect it to take itself so seriously. Beyond that though, it's quite well done. The seemingly unrelated genres are melded together smoothly. Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig's old-guy-scowl-off is quite entertaining as well.
51. Men in Black III ........ B+
Will Smith, Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones
May 30, 2012
Men in Black 3 is incredibly silly, ridiculous and lots of fun. Some of the humour does fall a little flat for me, as it's clearly aimed at young children, but the overall product is highly entertaining if one doesn't put too much thought into the logistics. Josh Brolin's amazingly spot-on impersonation of Tommy Lee Jones as his younger self is worth the price of admission alone! I found the 3D to be motion sickness inspiring and as usual, unnecessary, but I am not at all a fan of 3D so that much isn't surprising.
52. 21 Jump Street ........ B-
Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum
June 1, 2012
The beginning of this movie had me a bit concerned, but fortunately it built itself up into an entertainingly dumb comedy. Unfortunately, while it's funny enough to escape being bad, it's not funny enough to cross over into genuinely "good" territory either. I did appreciate the many cheeky references to the original series and to the recycling of ideas. Johnny Depp's cameo is as great as expected.
53. Snow White and the Huntsman ........ B-
Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth
June 2, 2012
This film is a visual masterpiece. The art direction is amazing, as is the costuming. Charlize Theron is a deliciously awesome villain. The casting of Kristen Stewart as Snow White was a really poor choice though (well, aside from the millions of dollars from Twilight loving theatre-goers I suppose). From a purely snarky perspective, it's just ludicrous to think that anyone would conceivably believe that Theron could be threatened by Stewart's supposed beauty. From a viewer's perspective I really appreciated that Stewart has barely a line of dialogue in the first half of the film, although there is plenty of pouting. When she does speak, her line delivery is problematic.
54. Obsessed ........ D+
Beyoncé Knowles, Idris Elba, Ali Larter
June 8, 2012
The sort of film you watch while hoping to god that the filmmakers were actively going for "so bad it's good". A thoroughly enjoyable, brutally terrible watch, culminating in the most ridiculously choreographed girl fight of all time.
55. Rock of Ages ........ A-
Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise
June 13, 2012
Great music and tons of campy fun, I particularly enjoyed Tom Cruise's perfect portrayal of every rock star from the 80s rolled into one. Definitely not a film you go to see for the plot (which is hilariously almost identical to that of "Burlesque") but I left with a big smile on my face.
56. Prometheus ........ B-
Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron
June 16, 2012
I feel that this film was poorly advertised. Rather than the thrilling action ride one might expect, it's actually a very slow moving, unapologetic sci-fi flick. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but I suspect many viewers might be bored by the slow build. The performances in the movie are all great. I particularly enjoyed Noomi Rapace, and was very impressed with her lack of an accent. Charlize Theron as the icy employer is excellent as well. The script is problematic though. The story does not really make a huge amount of sense, and there is never really a satisfying explanation for anyone's motivation. Amazing special effects and great performances are ultimately wasted on a story that needed a lot more work.
57. Cosmopolis ........ D+
Robert Pattinson, Sarah Gadon, Kevin Durand
June 18, 2012
It hurts me a bit to rate this so poorly because I did really enjoy the style of filming. It was totally visually stimulating especially considering 90% of the film takes place in a limousine. I also really enjoyed a truly grimy and manic performance from Paul Giamatti which is thoroughly wasted. The positives really ended there for me. This is the sort of pretentious, "arty for the sake of arty', piece that I just can't handle. The film is entirely based around long conversations which are deliberately hard to follow and any sort of deeper meaning or commentary on current society is lost in a sea of tedium. Most performances feel very theatre-style with very expressionless line delivery. Had I been watching this movie at home, I would have turned it off.
58. The Deep Blue Sea ........ C+
Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston, Simon Russell
June 19, 2012
Aside from great performances, there really isn't enough to this film. Very little actually happens. It's difficult to really sympathize with any character. The timeline jumps around a bit in a way that takes concentration to follow, and I suspect that if the timeline was linear, there would be very little of interest. There is also a very intrusive score that does little for the overall film. Still, the movie certainly held my attention. The actors impressed me and I loved the costumes.
59. Brave ........ B
Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson
June 23, 2012
As much as I did enjoy this movie a lot, I felt it fell a bit short of previous Pixar efforts. The characters and set up are so delightful, I found that the actual adventure part of the story was brief and there wasn't much to it. As much as I generally hate sequels, I think that this set of characters deserves one, with a more exciting premise.
60. Imagine Me & You ........ B-
Piper Perabo, Lena Headey
June 25, 2012
A very watchable and reasonably movie, although to call it a comedy would be a stretch in my opinion. On one hand, I appreciated how the main character's sudden attraction to a woman is never really explained or questioned, but on the other hand, I felt like there was nothing else to the movie. If it was the exact same story with the wife falling for another man, it would be far more apparent to the viewer that nothing has actually happened in the story. There isn't any real conflict and all of the characters are just too "good". The "love at first sight" element would also seem even more ludicrous. Still, it's a light and reasonably enjoyable watch. Anthony Stewart Head is endearingly weird as the father of the bride.
61. Take This Waltz ........ A
Michelle Williams, Seth Rogan, Luke Kirby
June 30, 2012
Definitely one of the best films of the year so far. Michelle Williams and Seth Rogan portray a very realistic couple in a reasonably happy marriage with some challenges. The look at their life is almost voyeuristic. There is very unsexy and stark focus on their private banter as well as bathroom habits in a way that some might find uncomfortable to watch. As Michelle Williams becomes increasingly attracted to her neighbour, the film does an amazingly good job of contrasting the thrill of the newness with the reality of the situation. I will not spoil anything, but there is a montage toward the end of the film that is amazing and carries a very clear message without bombarding the viewer. It's also a fun watch from a Canadian perspective. The film is set in Toronto and is very unashamedly Torontonian.
62. Magic Mike ........ B+
Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer
July 3, 2012
The funny thing about Magic Mike is that everyone is so amazed that a movie about male strippers would have an engaging plot, that no one wants to point out said plot is still pretty darn formulaic. Seasoned vet brings young'in into a somewhat controversial lifestyle, loss of control ensues. However, Magic Mike is still a really entertaining movie, both for the beefcake and for the story in general. I really appreciated the look at this world and hope that straight men have the balls to see it as well. If anything, I honestly would have liked more stripping and less story haha. Most of the club scenes are shown in montage form, and while awesome and hilarious, more complete dance numbers would have been appreciated. I think that this is without a doubt Channing Tatum's best acting performance (based on the movies of his I've seen) but he still can't quite keep up with the Soderbergh style dialogue. His timing was quite odd in places. I also didn't really find enough justification for the attraction between his character and the female lead.
63. Safety Not Guaranteed ........ A
Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake M. Johnson
July 4, 2012
I really loved this hilarious, melancholy, and truly weird little movie. It's both a coming of age story and a bit of a sci-fi thriller while maintaining that indie charm. Fantastic performances and really compelling characters elevate it even further. Sadly this one will fly under the radar for most, but it's well worth seeing.
64. Derailed ........ B-
Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent Cassel
July 9, 2012
I enjoyed watching this movie, but it really doesn't meet its own aspirations of being a twisty, thrill-ride. The major twist is incredibly obvious from the get-go. Vincent Cassel is a truly amazing villain though.
65. Chronicle ........ A-
Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan
July 10, 2012
I am SO glad I didn't get around to seeing this film in theatres. The home-documentary style filming is SO shaky. I would probably have thrown up through the entire movie. However, on a small screen, the style of filming is genius. All three of the leads are fantastic. I was struck by how realistic the movie felt. The initial reactions of the three high school boys to receiving their powers feels exactly like what would really happen. The sort of gleeful foolishness, followed by the manipulation of comely females, followed by a slow descent into darker places. I definitely feel that the movie derailed toward the end, but the first three quarters are great enough to make up for it.
66. Step Up Revolution ........ C
Kathryn McCormick, Ryan Guzman
July 27, 2012
As much as this whole series lands solidly in the "so bad it's good" or "guilty pleasure" category to begin with, this new chapter indicates that it's growing stale even by those standards. The plot is absolutely ludicrous and the acting terrible. Granted these two things factor into previous Step Ups as well, but never before has the audience felt so condescended to. Fortunately there are some amazing dance sequences in the latter half of the film that do make it worth the watch if you enjoy the cheesy dance genre. I would seriously recommend waiting until this is out on video and not wasting the money and headache on 3D though. My absolutely favourite piece of absurdity *SPOILER ALERT* was the ending wherein the Mob successfully changes the rich, greedy, business man's mind with their dance revolution. And then is immediately thrilled to be offered a contract for advertising with fucking Nike!! REALLY??
67. The Dark Knight Rises ........ B
Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
July 29, 2012
While still maintaining that dark, gritty, thoughtful quality that I've loved about Christopher Nolan's Batman films, I have to say this one fell a little bit short of my expectations given how amazing The Dark Knight was. Still, it's a satisfying wrap up to the trilogy. I very much enjoyed the addition of Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
68. Broken English ........ A-
Parker Posey, Melvil Poupaud, Drea de Matteo
July 31, 2012
A quirky, enjoyable take on modern romance. One of Parker Posey's best outings in my opinion.
69. Relative Strangers ........ F+
Ron Livingston, Neve Campbell, Kathy Bates, Danny DeVito
August 3, 2012
It is a bit mind boggling that such an impressive cast all signed up for this project. Although as terrible as it is, it was certainly fun to watch in a so-bad-it's-good sort of way, and was probably equally fun to film.
70. Fourplay ........ B-
Colin Firth, Mike Binder, Mariel Hemingway, Irène Jacob
August 4, 2012
A reasonably enjoyable romantic comedy that's got a bit more to say than the average effort from the genre. Unfortunately the excessive attempt to impersonate a Woody Allen film works against it.
71. Nobel Son ........ A-
Alan Rickman, Bryan Greenberg, Shawn Hatosy
August 5, 2012
I definitely watched this one for the cast, so ended up pleasantly surprised by the quality. The performances as well as the twisty plot are definitely engaging.
72. Ghost Writer ........ D-
Alan Cumming, David Boreanaz
August 6, 2012
The sort of grievously terrible vanity project on the part of Alan Cumming as writer/star/director that makes you hope to god that he was self-aware in creating one of the best-worst movies ever.
73. Off the Black ........ B
Nick Nolte, Trevor Morgan
August 7, 2012
A really great performance by Nick Nolte, and also a very engaging story about a brief bond formed between a teenaged boy and lonely older man. Unfortunately the end result turns a bit too sentimental to really be taken seriously.
74. Walking and Talking ........ B+
Catherine Keener, Anne Heche
August 7, 2012
Although definitely a bit dated to the 90s, this is still a very funny and yet intelligent exploration of dating, marriage and the modern woman.
75. Blue State ........ B-
Breckin Meyer, Anna Paquin
August 9, 2012
It's really difficult to appreciate this movie as a Canadian and a Winnipegger since it pokes so much fun at us, and not in an accurate or amusing way. It's painful to watch local actors put on incredibly fake "Canadian" accents for the sake of the American audience, not to mention the portrayal of Winnipeg as essentially a hick town. I did enjoy the exploration of the obnoxiousness of having political views shoved down your throat even when you agree with them. One thing they definitely did get right though was the Canadians' prejudiced views of Americans.
76. The Nines ........ A-
Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis, Melissa McCarthy
August 9, 2012
I really enjoyed this one. It leaves you guessing right til the end, and pondering a bit after that. Also featuring three really great performances from Ryan Reynolds in different roles. Definitely proof of his acting chops.
77. The Guard ........ B
Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle
August 10, 2012
Not quite as funny or memorable as I'd hoped, but this is still an enjoyable, twisty caper with endearing characters.
78. Citizen Ruth ........ B+
Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Mary Kay Place
August 10, 2012
A very clever movie, wherein a drug-addicted, pregnant, homeless woman is used as a pawn in the fight between pro-life and pro-choice groups and attracts a media frenzy. The irreverence of how little she cares definitely makes the movie.
79. The Iron Lady ........ B-
Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent
August 15, 2012
Meryl Streep is truly amazing in this film, but I found that in general it focused too much on the elder Thatcher, who has lost her husband and is suffering from the early stages of dementia. This is probably done to draw the audience's sympathy given that it's juxtaposed with scenes of her brutal time as Prime Minister. I was impressed that the film didn't really shy away from how controversial she was, or how negligent and uncaring at some times. At the same time I don't think you could say it's a left-wing portrayal. It doesn't necessarily judge her decisions, just shows the aftermath.
80. The Bourne Legacy ........ A-
Jeremy Renner, Rachel Wiesz, Edward Norton
August 16, 2012
A really welcome new addition to the Bourne series. I don't know if purists will appreciate Jeremy Renner as the new protagonist or not, but I certainly did. This film is exciting and well thought out. I liked how it was taking place at the same time as the third Bourne film. Granted it's a bit more of a straight action movie and less complicated than the original trilogy. I wasn't crazy about the ending though. It's quite abrupt and screams sequel in a way that's just too blatant for my liking.
81. Hope Springs ........ A
Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones
August 18, 2012
Truly an excellent film. The trailer has one expecting a silly romantic comedy, but instead it really feels like watching two real people dealing with genuine problems. It's hilarious, but the humour comes from the reality and the awkwardness of the situation, rather than contrived circumstances. For this reason it can be uncomfortable to watch at times. The whole cast is fantastic. Although it certainly does dip into Hollywood silliness occasionally, I found the film in general to be really refreshing.
82. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ........ D+
Gary Oldman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth
August 26, 2012
Before I trash this movie, I will admit that the sound quality on the DVD I watched probably hampered the experience a bit. All of the voices were a bit muffled, which made it even harder to follow. But even aside from that, this film is incredibly tedious. It's very slow moving, and full of ponderous, artistic camera angles and strange shots which really aren't all that interesting. Good lord was a better editor needed. The plot is hard to follow, but I don't necessarily mind that quality in a movie. The problem is that the film itself is so boring, you can't really find the inspiration to attempt to follow the plot. I'm totally appalled that this is Gary Oldman's first Oscar nomination, considering his huge and awesome body of work. I find it a stretch to even consider him the lead actor in this film. It's really more of an ensemble piece. And it's actually full to the brim with talented actors. I love the cast but they are all equally and entirely wasted. Very disappointing overall.
83. The Amazing Spider-Man ........ B+
Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone
August 27, 2012
I really enjoyed this new Spiderman reboot. It's funny without being overly silly. On the light side without being vapid. Andrew Garfield is most appealing in the role (and in general, naturally). I appreciated some of the more subtle details in the film too. The score providing the "spidey sense", without the viewer ever being explicitly informed what it is. There was a lot of attention paid to the character's movements as well, he was much more spider-like than previous incarnations. There were a lot of actual spiders at the beginning of the movie which was a little much for my arachnophobic self. There are definitely some cheese-tastic moments, but it doesn't take itself seriously enough not to get away with them. I also have to say that I'm thrilled I saw it in 2D. Judging by some of the shots, the 3D version would have been painful.
84. Premium Rush ........ B+
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon
August 29, 2012
Basically an unrepentant chase movie, "Premium Rush" has its own really refreshing spin. Car chases often bore me, but there is something much more exciting about watching bicycles whizzing through traffic at 50 miles an hour than cars going 300. The plot is a bit silly and implausible, but overall this is a super fun thrill ride, and benefits from not pretending to be anything else. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is endearing as always and Michael Shannon plays an enjoyably spastic bad guy.
85. Season of the Witch ........ C+
Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Claire Foy
August 30, 2012
This movie has aspirations of being extremely epic and serious. Sadly, it's really really not. It sure is entertaining though, if not for the right reasons. Nicolas Cage is quite wooden and sticks out like a sore thumb from the 14th century cast. Claire Foy, who plays the accused witch, is quite convincing. Other that Cage, it's actually a reasonably decent flick until the end when some absolutely terrible CGI is employed for a battle sequence that makes one giggle more than anything. The special features on the DVD reveal an alternate ending without these terrible effects that would have been far superior.
86. Con Air ........ B+
Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich
September 2, 2012
Super entertaining and holds up to a first time viewing in 2012, although the score especially is extremely 90s. John Malkovich is an awesome bad guy. Nicolas Cage's accent is so terrible it ends up being extremely entertaining.
87. Last Night ........ B
Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington
September 3, 2012
A very interesting and realistic portrayal of the temptation to stray from a good marriage. (Granted the timing is a little contrived, but so it goes.) I appreciated the loose hanging ending.
88. Celeste & Jesse Forever ........ B
Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Elijah Wood
September 3, 2012
Quite a decent romantic comedy, with a good effort towards realism. I felt that the interactions between Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg were very believable and endearing. I found that there was not really enough justification for the initial set up though. The reasons Celeste gives for having broken up with her husband don't seem unreasonable, but they also don't seem that they would lead to the amicable attempted friendship that is portrayed. Especially not one where she continues to support him financially.
89. The Ice Storm ........ B+
Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood
September 17, 2012
A really fantastic movie with a great cast. I was a little unsure of how to take the ending, and felt that there was an obvious attempt for the viewer to come away with a message, but that said message was a bit garbled. I did really enjoy the slow awakening of all of the characters. Although I can't relate to the era, the feeling came across really well.
90. Trouble With The Curve ........ B-
Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake
September 19, 2012
Despite being formulaic and predictable, the overall product ends up being endearing enough to still feel satisfying, providing you have the appropriate expectations.
91. Les adieux à la reine (Farewell, My Queen) ........ C+
Diane Kruger, Léa Seydoux and Virginie Ledoyen
September 21, 2012
This film had potential to be a lot better than it was. The story is an interesting new angle on Marie-Antionette, showing her from the perspective of a somewhat obsessed servant girl. The film feels long, and tedious in some parts. Some of the scene changes are really abrupt and bizarre. At the end I'm not honestly sure what message one is supposed to come away with. It seems as though an entire movie's worth of character development happens in the final ten minutes. I was thoroughly impressed with the art direction though, and especially the costumes.
92. Friends With Kids ........ A-
Jennifer Westfeldt, Adam Scott, Maya Rudolph
September 22, 2012
One day I hope that Hollywood manages to make a film about people who make unconventional life choices which don't resolve themselves in the predictable message that conventional is the only way to go. But aside from going in a disappointingly Hollywood direction at the end, the film manages to accomplish it without being hugely over-the-top about it. The film is hilarious. Far funnier than Bridesmaids in my opinion. It also serves as a very interesting commentary on the family in this day and age and the effects that kids have on groups of friends. I would definitely recommend this one!
93. Looper ........ A
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt
September 28, 2012
I was really expecting this to be a fun and silly sci-fi flick and was pleasantly surprised that it ended up being intense, smart and one of the best movies I've seen this year. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's impression of Bruce Willis is perfect, but subtle enough not to take over all other elements of the performance. Combined with the physical alterations, the characters are completely believable as the same person. I enjoyed the comedy relating to how incredibly frustrating it would be to try to communicate with a younger version of oneself. The child actor in this movie is impressive, and also an amazingly good casting choice in terms of being both cute and absurdly creepy at the same time. Full of twists that for the most part one doesn't see coming, and there is one scene at the beginning that is totally horrifying in its implied violence at the same time as just being fully awesome, and like nothing I'd ever seen before. The plot does not entirely hold up to a close scrutiny of time travel logic, but the movie is so darn good, it really doesn't matter.
94. The Perks of Being a Wallflower ........ A-
Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller
October 1, 2012
A really great adaptation of an even better young adult novel. I'm not surprised that it held on to much the same spirit as the book given that it was directed by the author. Seeing it on the screen does even more to pull you back to that feeling of high school. Despite being at its core, not a very happy story, it actually makes one feel vaguely nostalgic for that feeling of fitting in on the island of misfit toys. Great performances by all. A couple of the dark scenes are cut out, but I was impressed by how on the whole it stuck with the story.
95. End of Watch ........ A-
Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña
October 2, 2012
This is a gritty, much more realistic take on police life, and sort of reminiscent of the excellent show "Southland", although I suspect probably a tad more action packed than the average policeman's life. The handheld camera style isn't quite as motion sickness inducing as I was originally fearing. Good performances all around.
Looks like this post is now too big for Livejournal! Move along to Part 2!
115/100 movies in 2011
125/100 movies in 2010
79/100 movies in 2009
95/100 movies in 2008
2012
1. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol ........ A-
Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton
January 3, 2012
Exciting and fun, a very welcome addition to the "Mission Impossible" franchise! I especially appreciated the way this instalment departed from its predecessors by removing its heroes from any government backing, and limiting the functionality of the fancy gadgets. My enjoyment was definitely muted by an overly sentimental ending, but otherwise an awesome action flick.
2. Cave of Forgotten Dreams ........ D
Werner Herzog
January 5, 2012
This documentary is about 20 minutes of really interesting material stretched to the breaking point in order to meet feature film length. Watching it was one of the more tedious theatrical experiences I've had in a long time. It definitely felt akin to being stuck in a high school classroom and forced to watch some some sort of poorly shot, educational film. Aside from a couple of unintentionally hilarious scenes, I am truly baffled by the critical acclaim that this film is receiving. There is no way I would have made it through the first half hour had I not seen it in the theatre.
3. Joyful Noise ........ B-
Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton
January 13, 2012
In a lot of ways, this film is absolutely terrible. Painfully over-acted in places, filled with unintentionally hilarious dialogue, plot holes and unexplained subplots with little to no relevance to the story. And yet, I feel that no one attending said film would really expect anything else. The only real reason to view this spectacle is of course the music, which is spectacularly entertaining. And the rest of the whole ridiculous package is pretty entertaining too, as long as one is getting what one expects. I also have to say, despite the fact that this movie is about a gospel choir and folks who generally love baby Jesus, it rarely comes across as particularly preachy. I get the impression that the filmmakers are genuinely trying to entertain, not to convert the audience, which is a definite plus. There was only one scene that made me a bit eye-rolly as a non-believer. Finally, I would also like to point you in the direction of Jeff's lovely review, because it made me smile.
4. The Tree of Life ........ D+
Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain
January 14, 2012
The majority of this movie is incredibly self-indulgent, artsy, crap on the part of Terrence Malick. I am sure that many of his fans would argue passionately that every excessively long, beautiful shot of waterfalls, oceans, forests, sunrises, jellyfish, flickering orange light and yes, even dinosaurs, had a very deep and well thought-out meaning regarding the essence of our existence, but I just don't buy it. It's not that there's nothing positive about this film, it's that you have to wade through almost two and a half hours to get to it. At its core this is a story about three boys growing up in the 50s under the reign of an authoritarian father and an unhappily meek mother. There are scenes with the brothers entertaining themselves with sticks and buckets that felt very nostalgic and very true to the childhood experience to me. Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain both deliver fantastic performances as do all of the young actors, and there doesn't really need to be anything more to this film than that. Unfortunately there's about an hour of footage that would have been better suited to an educational IMAX film regarding the environment. Sean Penn also appears in this film for approximately five minutes as one son all grown up. Unfortunately he has basically nothing to do other than ride up and down in an elevator looking morose.
Despite the D+ rating, I'm honestly not recommending that you not see this film. I'm just recommending that you see it in the comfort of your own home, with your finger very near the fast-forward button. Trust me it will make for a much better viewing experience.
5. A Dangerous Method ........ B
Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen
January 17, 2012
Though by no means perfect, I found this to be a very interesting fictionalized account of the birth of psychoanalysis. Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender both deliver great performances. Keira Knightley is a little concerning in early scenes. While I will give her credit for fearlessness in her portrayal of a mental patient, and I did feel that she had accurately researched the sort of movements that might be present in a psychotic fit, the whole thing just felt very overacted. Like she saw this as potentially Oscar bait and just took it way over the top. Once both the character and Knightley are cured of their hysterics, she flows much more easily with the role and is no longer hard to watch. I felt she did a good job with the accent as well. The story is interesting. I felt that there probably could have been more actual psychoanalysis included, and also that there could have been some exploration of the fact that many of theories presented by these two men are totally insane. A viewer without much knowledge of the field might leave the theatre thinking that psychoanalysis is still employed by the average therapist.
6. Contraband ........ B-
Mark Wahlberg, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster
January 20, 2012
A fluffy piece of action silliness, this movie is pretty enjoyable despite being full of plot holes. I'm impressed that they managed to make Kate Beckinsale look dowdy. That's a feat in and of itself! Ben Foster is marvellous as always and his considerable talent is somewhat wasted on these types of projects. Also, the shift in tone for the benefit of the ending is actually hilarious.
7. The Artist ........ A-
Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo
January 22, 2012
While I can't say that I would welcome the return of the silent film, this does feel like a breath of fresh air in today's cinema. It works as a tribute but stands on its own. The use of sound is extremely clever, and the film works both as a commentary on the preservation of art, and as a fairly light romantic comedy. The actors are all able to convey an impressive amount without the use of words. I will say that there are a couple of scenes that would have benefited from inserted text. My lip-reading skills are apparently not up to the level required.
8. Midnight in Paris ........ B+
Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard
January 25, 2012
This film is delightfully nostalgic. It's quite a light comedy, featuring the usual plot device of an excessively shrewish woman and the endlessly romantic and easy-going man who probably would never think to date each other in real life. Owen Wilson makes a much more appealing Woody Allen than Woody Allen does himself. The score of the film is absolutely perfect. Having only a very superficial knowledge of most of the historical figures, I also felt like some of it went over my head. More than anything, watching this movie is sure to make you wish you were in Paris.
9. Abduction ........ D
Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins
January 27, 2012
It's amazing to me that Taylor Lautner actually went out and managed to find a script worse than Twilight to make his starring debut. In this film, Lautner discovers that his parents aren't his real parents. And then they're killed! And then he's chased! And then there's a pretty girl with him! And then there's a half-baked explanation for all of this that no one is expected to care about! Along with being bad, it's not even very much fun. The real mystery is how Maria Bello, Alfred Molina, Jason Isaacs and Sigourney Weaver all ended up agreeing to this project.
10. Meet Monica Velour ........ B-
Kim Cattrall, Dustin Ingram
January 27, 2012
In this film, a nerdy teen sets out to meet the love of his life, a 49-year-old, washed-up, porn star who was beautiful and famous in the early 80s. The set up is a bit too over-the-top to really work. Dustin Ingram's nerd is just too much of a caricature. A little bit too Napoleon Dynamite to be taken in any way seriously. The fact that he drives a truck with a giant hot dog on the top doesn't add much except to be ridiculous. Also enter a benevolent black man to teach him about life. That being said, this film is actually better than it has any business being. Kim Cattrall's sad life is a far more realistic portrayal of the stereotype. Aside from a questionable accent, her performance is actually quite good. The courtship is sweet, and as believable as it could be given the set up. Had it toned down the absurd, this could have been a very decent indie film. As it is, it's still pretty enjoyable in its ridiculousness.
11. Shame ........ A
Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan
January 29, 2012
Michael Fassbender is amazing in this film about a sex addict spiralling out of control. He truly deserved an Oscar nomination and it's appalling that he didn't receive one. Even without the nude scene at the beginning (which honestly is totally gratuitous and unnecessary to the story, and serves only to emphasize what a beautiful piece of man-meat Fassbender has, but trust me I AINT complaining!!) this performance would be noteworthy. The only unfortunate thing is that the strength of his performance has really overshadowed Carey Mulligan, who is equally good as his loose cannon of a sister. It's very unlike any role I've seen her in, and she does a fantastic job. This film is amazingly believable, even with a subject that might make many viewers uncomfortable. I found it refreshing that most of the actors going nude in this film (Mulligan included) look very much like real people. Sexy real people, don't get me wrong, but real nonetheless. There is no feeling of perfection. Fassbender's first date with his coworker feels absolutely genuine. The awkwardness mingled with the attraction practically springs from the screen. His later sex scene with the same character is also one hundred percent believable. It feels more like watching a home video than a porn, and is interestingly contrasted with the more stylized sex scenes that he has with escorts and women from bars etc. As for any complaints, I would say that the ending is unsatisfying and more backstory as to the past of the siblings would have helped to flesh out the story. But I would highly recommend this one, for the unprudy set of course!
12. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 ........ C-
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
January 31, 2012
Well, this instalment isn't any worse than the two last Twilight movies! And that's about all I've got! Haha. It's actually a decent tribute to the book, in that the sex is practically non-existent and absolutely nothing happens. We see maybe five seconds of very sweet, slow love-making and then cut to a shot of the next morning where the whole room is destroyed. Really?? The birth scene is barely gory at all, especially compared to the description in the book. The part from Jacob's perspective is greatly reduced, and the way that his separation from the pack is dealt with is painful. Not quite as painful as Lautner's performance overall of course. Strangely there are some weird continuity issues as well. For instance, Edward sure spends a lot of time in the sun without sparkling. Two things that I did appreciate: the awkward speeches at the wedding, very true to life. Also, the make-up and effects people did an absolutely amazing job of making Kristen Stewart look totally horrifying and skeletal.
13. The Grey ........ A-
Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, Frank Grillo, Dallas Roberts
February 1, 2012
Although this film was definitely not high on my list of things to see, I was really impressed by it. It's not nearly as gory as I had feared. Just gory enough to be sufficiently realistic. Realism is actually the greatest strength in this film. Much like "The Hurt Locker", I felt totally immersed, and as if I was experiencing a plane crash or stuck in the freezing wilderness. This is also a surprisingly character driven piece, without really overloading the viewer with information. The only real problem, and I had read this in a number of other reviews, is a really superficial attempt at tackling the issues of fate and faith. While I'm quite certain that these sorts of conversations would come up in a situation where men were struggling to survive, the film attempts to address these issues without really delving into them or taking any sort of stand. It would have been far better left out. Other than that I would definitely recommend this film, although it's a bit of a harrowing experience to watch.
14. Man on a Ledge ........ B-
Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell
February 2, 2012
It's almost painfully easy to poke plot holes in this story, if one gives it any effort whatsoever. I also loved the inclusion of a girlfriend character who wears a low cut tank top with bright red bra on a heist mission, and of course finds the need to strip down to her lacy panties at one point. Sam Worthington also desperately needs to work on his American accent. Jesus. These things aside, this is still quite an exciting movie. The trailer might have promoted it as being more serious than it actually is, which is really its only crime. Lots of silly fun, not much beyond that.
15. All The Pretty Horses ........ C-
Matt Damon, Penélope Cruz, Henry Thomas
February 7, 2012
The first 45 minutes or so of this film are quite decently put together. I found myself wondering why it was so critically panned. And then suddenly, everything unravels. The story starts making very little sense, and one of the key points, the significance of getting back lost/stolen horses is not explained in any way. As this is an adaptation from a novel, it feels very much like the writer was trying to force in all key plot points while cutting out everything that might have led up to or clarified them.
16. Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey ........ B+
Kevin Clash
February 8, 2012
A delightful documentary about the puppeteer behind Elmo, as well as the hard work and dedication that goes into this very quirky profession. Kevin Clash is a very engaging speaker and obviously passionate about puppetry without coming off as odd or socially maladjusted. The only things I found problematic were a few very strange artistic decisions (the shot of a running tap while Clash tells a story about meeting someone in a washroom for example) and the vague attempt to focus on the time away from family being problematic. When Clash says that he would have rather been spending time with his daughter instead of working, a few scenes after he is shown declaring that he can do all worldwide appearances himself and no one else should be voicing Elmo, the sentiment just rings a little false.
17. Beginners ........ A-
Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent
February 9, 2012
One would think that a film about a 75 year old man who comes out of the closet after having lived a lie his whole life, and then passes away from cancer would be profoundly depressing. And it's not to say that this film isn't sad. But it's also funny, quirky and touching in a weird way. The story and relationships all feel very genuine. Christopher Plummer is particularly fantastic as the stoic, private and eternally optimistic father.
18. Albert Nobbs ........ B
Glenn Close, Janet McTeer, Mia Wasikowska
February 12, 2012
This is a strange little movie. Almost a cultural study. Very little happens story-wise when you actually think about it. Which is not to say that I didn't enjoy it. Glenn Close is great, but the honest scene stealer is Janet McTeer. At its core it is a very sad story, and the ending is a little too neat and left me wondering how I was supposed to feel.
19. Flicka ........ C-
Alison Lohman, Tim McGraw, Maria Bello, Ryan Kwanten
February 14, 2012
Although this movie still feels somewhat endearing, and it's likely that it will appeal to children, it's still pretty terrible when you get right down to it. The basic premise involves a teenaged girl who's just flunked out of school deciding to domesticate a mustang horse against the will of her overbearing father. This is juxtaposed with her reading aloud from her essay about the mustang being the true pioneer of the West, and the beauty and wonder of their freedom. At no point does the character, or do the filmmakers for that matter, seem to realize that this really does not make a whole lot of sense considering she has captured a horse from the wild and is defending its trainability. McGray and Bello overact cartoonishly.
20. Kari-gurashi no Arietti (The Secret World of Arrietty) ........ A-
Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett
February 17, 2012
Once again Studio Ghibli delivers. The interesting thing about this film is that not much really happens plot-wise, but the viewer is still totally engaged, seeing the regular world through the eyes of a "Borrower". I would have loved this film as a kid, and I found it thoroughly entertaining as an adult as well. I'm also always pleased to see hand drawn animation, a woefully under-used art form. There is a sort of regrettable use of a nomad Borrower, who is far too stereotypically Native and it comes across as vaguely racist. I'm sure this is directly out of the classic kids' book, but could have used an update.
21. The Descendants ........ A-
George Clooney, Shailene Woodley
February 18, 2012
This is a tremendous effort on the part of Alexander Payne. The cast all deliver stellar performances. I think Shailene Woodley would have been quite deserving of an Oscar nomination for her supporting turn as Clooney's daughter. I found her performance to be entirely convincing. She delivered the complex range of emotion that anyone would be experiencing in such a situation, but in particular, a teenager. I felt that the story regarding the importance of the Hawaiian land could have been a bit better developed, as its eventual conclusion felt excessively schmaltzy to me, but overall this is an excellent film.
22. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance ........ C+
Nicolas Cage, Violante Placido, Fergus Riordan
February 20, 2012
Well, I can say that this one exceeded my expectations. Given what my expectations were, that is not really high praise. However, this installment is definitely an improvement over the first movie. The first "Ghost Rider" was bad bad. This one is decidedly "so bad it's good". The action sequences are much more exciting, and the special effects greatly improved. Nicolas Cage also appears to be having a lot more fun being his manic self. If one goes in expecting one-dimensional characters and an extremely silly plot that makes very little sense, this movie is pretty fun. In a terrible terrible way.
23. Hugo ........ A-
Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley
February 26, 2012
This film features some of the best 3D I've seen. It's visually stunning. Definitely deserving of all of the technical awards it took home at the Oscars. The story is fairly light, but it's nice to see a celebration of classic film. It will appeal in different ways to older and younger viewers. The acting is deliberately a bit cartoonish, which some might find grating, but suits the story well enough. Asa Butterfield is quite convincing in his first role.
24. Haywire ........ B+
Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender
February 28, 2012
While the conclusion and general plot are a little thinner than ideal, this is a very enjoyable action flick. The fight scenes aren't particularly stylized. They're rough and very real. It's also refreshing to see a female action protagonist who is actually built in such a way that she could conceivably pull off the moves and kick the ass she's portrayed as kicking.
25. The Woman in Black ........ B-
Daniel Radcliffe, Janet McTeer, Ciarán Hinds
March 2, 2012
Artistically speaking this is a very beautiful film. I enjoyed the set design immensely. Performances are mostly quite well done. Unfortunately, despite creating an effectively creepy atmosphere, the vast majority of the scare tactics in this film rely on the "boo!" something-jumps-out-at-you method, which gets predictable after the first ten minutes. The story also derails a bit halfway through. The premise of the film is interesting but the second part of the script needed a solid re-write.
26. The Muppets ........ B+
Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper
March 3, 2012
Quite delightful and full of celebrity cameos, this one will be enjoyable for viewers of all ages. Chris Cooper rapping is probably the best part. A load of excessively schmaltzy musical numbers was a bit much for me, but did fit with the sunshiney theme of the film.
27. SUPER ........ A-
Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, Ellen Page, Kevin Bacon
March 5, 2012
Gloriously twisted and dark! It's similar in concept to "Kick-Ass", but totally different in execution. Less comic book inspired and harder to sympathize with any character. I'm not sure which is better, but it's well worth seeing both!
28. Waterworld ........ B
Kevin Costner, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Dennis Hopper
March 8, 2012
I enjoyed this a good deal more than I was expecting to given everything I'd heard about it. It's definitely sillier than it wants to take itself to be, but I thought that the concept was excellent. The set design was also great and holds up to today's viewing. The special effects are not so great, especially considering the budget haha.
29. Jeff Who Lives At Home ........ B+
Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Susan Sarandon
March 16, 2012
A very enjoyable film that benefits from leaving the viewer genuinely unsure of where it's going. It does end up being a bit overly sentimental, but not in the ways that one would expect. The plotline involving Susan Sarandon was my major problem with the film. It left me feeling a bit uncomfortable. I feel as though the resolution was supposed to be a happy one and to me it was incredibly sad.
30. Troll 2 ........ A+/F- depending on your viewing intentions.
Michael Stephenson, George Hardy, Margo Prey
March 17, 2012
Reputedly the best/worst movie ever made, this one really doesn't disappoint in that regard! First of all, there are no trolls in this film. Only goblins. This is only the beginning of the totally nonsensical plot issues, the atrocious acting, the amazingly bad special effects, and what ends up being a hilariously anti-vegetarian message. Pure enjoyment for lovers of terrible movies everywhere.
31. The Hunger Games ........ A-
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson
March 30, 2012
A really good effort in bringing a beloved novel to the screen. They did a great job in capturing the intensity of the games, and I really liked Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss (although I'm really unsure of Liam Hemsworth as Gale, his opening line was incredibly awkward). The film uses footage of Seneca Crane running the games to give the viewer the same information that Katniss gives as narrator in the novel, which I thought was quite clever. The film falls short in terms of character development though. I don't think that someone who hadn't read the book would really understand the importance of Cinna, Rue, or especially Haymitch.
32. Contagion ........ A-
Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne
April 1, 2012
I was quite surprised by how much I liked this one. It does a great job of gradually heightening the intensity of the growing epidemic, and from what I understand is fairly accurate in terms of emergency response tactics.
33. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen ....... B+
Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor
April 3, 2012
Really enjoyable little movie. A feel good story without being excessively schmaltzy. Although I did find the love story a bit forced. Blunt and McGregor are adorable and have great chemistry, but the obstacles to their relationship feel a bit forced.
34. Wanderlust ........ B-
Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston
April 6, 2012
Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston are endearing, and this film certainly gets a few chuckles even though it's not uproariously funny. Minor characters vary a lot in how funny they actually are. Definitely watchable but not particularly memorable.
35. How She Move ........ C-
Rutina Wesley, Tre Armstrong
April 13, 2012
Pretty generic in the dance movie genre. Down on her luck protagonist re-discovers love of dance in the midst of pursuing academia and goes with it against parents wishes and obstacles along with romantic entanglement. The result is watchable, but the plot points are even more contrived than usual and the dancing isn't exciting enough to make up for this.
36. The Lucky One ........ B-
Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner
April 18, 2012
This film is not nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be. In fact, if one is actually a romance/Nicholas Sparks fan, I think it would probably be fairly satisfying. If one is me, one agrees with the entire theatre which audibly groaned at certain epically cheesy lines that Zac Efron couldn't quite deliver with a straight face. There is also the issue of a totally absurd premise which involves some awfully convenient things contrived to come together, and an artificially dramatic arc at the end. Aside from these elements though, the main characters are endearing and there are plenty of cute dogs, so it makes for quite a watchable experience if not actual quality filmmaking.
37. American Reunion ........ B+
Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott
April 21, 2012
A surprisingly funny final (?) instalment of the American Pie series. This reunion piece is clever in showcasing various life situations that someone in their late 20s/early 30s might find themselves. It's pleasantly nostalgic for the viewer who was in high school when the first movie came out, but regrettably also serves to make said viewer feel really really old.
38. The Five-Year Engagement ........ B+
Jason Segel, Emily Blunt
April 27, 2012
This is the sort of film a romantic comedy should aspire to be. Really endearing leads who come across as real people, granted enduring a somewhat absurd plot but even at its schmaltziest it never really feels excessive. It is also a comedy start to finish. There are certainly dramatic moments, but at no point does it try to be a serious movie. There are certainly sections in which the comedy fell a bit flat for me, but that is really a matter of personal taste.
39. Martha Marcy May Marlene ........ B+
Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson
April 20, 2012
A really interesting and well done film, surely worthy of more awards season attention than it ended up getting. This is really a psychological study of the effects of cult living. The ending is really unsatisfying though, and not in an understandable way. I think I get what the filmmakers were trying to accomplish by dropping it so abruptly, but it was definitely not successful.
40. Safe ........ B-
Jason Statham, Catherine Chan
May 2, 2012
A plottier effort than many of Jason Statham's recent outings, this one is reasonably well thought-out. The action is satisfying and doesn't take over the whole movie. The beginning is a bit shaky and had me concerned, but it ends up being a decent and entertaining effort.
41. Strictly Sexual ........ C-
Amber Benson, Johann Urb, Kristen Kerr, Stevie Long
May 4, 2012
So bad and yet so good. This is a bit of a vanity project for writer/star Stevie Long. I see that he's now expanded this film into a television series of the same name, featuring the same characters. While I did appreciate the very different female protagonists approach to sexuality, all of the characters were still excessively one dimensional, and the dialogue at times (hilariously) painful. I had a good time watching this, but by no means a good movie!
42. Carnage ........ C+
Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, John C. Reilly
May 7, 2012
This film is based on the stage play "God of Carnage", and you can TELL. It's still a stage play despite being on screen. It's not that any of the incredibly talented four cast members gives a sub-par performance, it's that the dialogue is written for the stage, and it draws out a bit of that over-done, excessively dramatic elocution that's present in all theatre. And don't think I'm bashing live theatre, because I actually love it, but film and theatre are two very different mediums and this film plays more as if one is viewing a video-taped performance than a movie. The whole film is set in the home of one couple. The four players move around the set as if on stage. Changing location awkwardly purely to give the viewer something to look like. These movements are in no way natural and visual interest should be accomplished with camera work in this case. It's not a terrible movie in the end, but the same story could have been filmed so much more effectively and the finished product is such a waste of an incredible cast.
43. The Greatest Movie Ever Sold ........ A-
Morgan Spurlock
May 10, 2012
A fascinating look at the world of product placement. Morgan Spurlock once again makes a hilariously entertaining documentary that achieves its purpose without bashing you over the head with the message. He also manages to elegantly portray all of the brands that were brave enough to sponsor his movie in a positive light, while still pointing out the absurdity of the concept.
44. Impromptu ........ B
Judy Davis, Hugh Grant, Bernadette Peters
May 13, 2012
I'm not generally a huge fan of period pieces, but this one is light and funny, and doesn't feel terribly dated given the ultra modern female protagonist.
45. Blindness ........ B
Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo
May 15, 2012
I think that this film adaptation is actually better than its critical reputation. The novel seems almost impossible to film and although the movie is nowhere near as good, it does a reasonably good job of conveying the plot, if not the feeling of utter despair in the novel.
46. Dark Shadows ........ B-
Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer
May 17, 2012
I've been growing a little weary of Johnny Depp lately, but I did enjoy this piece of character work from him. Albeit reminiscent of other characters he's done with Tim Burton. The problem with this film lies with the tone. Burton doesn't seem to be able to decide if he wants it to be a satire or if he wants it to be genuinely gothic and creepy. In this case, both really don't seem to work together. I did enjoy watching it in all its silliness though. Some of the special effects are really awesome too. I particularly liked the ghosts.
47. This Means War ........ B
Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy
May 18, 2012
Predictably silly and as deep as a bowl of soup, but still quite enjoyable. I appreciated also the lack of demonization of Reese Witherspoon's character for dating the two men at once. Most refreshing!
48. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ........ A-
Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson
May 21, 2012
A really charming movie featuring an amazing cast of British alumni. The story is perhaps a bit over sentimental in places, but not so much that it feels put on.
49. The Avengers ........ B+
Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth
May 25, 2012
It's going to be so hard not to review this movie against the hype, but I'll do my best. It's a very enjoyable summer blockbuster. You can certainly see the Joss influence in some of the humour. The script does a good job of giving the whole cast reasonably equal screentime. Robert Downey Jr. is unsurprisingly the best part, although I also really enjoyed Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. Some of the set up scenes are extremely awkward, but once it gets going, it rolls out pretty smoothly. As for the hype, I must admit to finding it sort of baffling. I did very much enjoy this movie, but is it lots better than all other well done summer blockbusters? Not at all. I didn't like it nearly as much as the first Iron Man even!
50. Cowboys & Aliens ........ B
Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford
May 27, 2012
The only real problem with this film is that I wish it had been campier. Given the obvious humour in the title, one wouldn't expect it to take itself so seriously. Beyond that though, it's quite well done. The seemingly unrelated genres are melded together smoothly. Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig's old-guy-scowl-off is quite entertaining as well.
51. Men in Black III ........ B+
Will Smith, Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones
May 30, 2012
Men in Black 3 is incredibly silly, ridiculous and lots of fun. Some of the humour does fall a little flat for me, as it's clearly aimed at young children, but the overall product is highly entertaining if one doesn't put too much thought into the logistics. Josh Brolin's amazingly spot-on impersonation of Tommy Lee Jones as his younger self is worth the price of admission alone! I found the 3D to be motion sickness inspiring and as usual, unnecessary, but I am not at all a fan of 3D so that much isn't surprising.
52. 21 Jump Street ........ B-
Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum
June 1, 2012
The beginning of this movie had me a bit concerned, but fortunately it built itself up into an entertainingly dumb comedy. Unfortunately, while it's funny enough to escape being bad, it's not funny enough to cross over into genuinely "good" territory either. I did appreciate the many cheeky references to the original series and to the recycling of ideas. Johnny Depp's cameo is as great as expected.
53. Snow White and the Huntsman ........ B-
Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth
June 2, 2012
This film is a visual masterpiece. The art direction is amazing, as is the costuming. Charlize Theron is a deliciously awesome villain. The casting of Kristen Stewart as Snow White was a really poor choice though (well, aside from the millions of dollars from Twilight loving theatre-goers I suppose). From a purely snarky perspective, it's just ludicrous to think that anyone would conceivably believe that Theron could be threatened by Stewart's supposed beauty. From a viewer's perspective I really appreciated that Stewart has barely a line of dialogue in the first half of the film, although there is plenty of pouting. When she does speak, her line delivery is problematic.
54. Obsessed ........ D+
Beyoncé Knowles, Idris Elba, Ali Larter
June 8, 2012
The sort of film you watch while hoping to god that the filmmakers were actively going for "so bad it's good". A thoroughly enjoyable, brutally terrible watch, culminating in the most ridiculously choreographed girl fight of all time.
55. Rock of Ages ........ A-
Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise
June 13, 2012
Great music and tons of campy fun, I particularly enjoyed Tom Cruise's perfect portrayal of every rock star from the 80s rolled into one. Definitely not a film you go to see for the plot (which is hilariously almost identical to that of "Burlesque") but I left with a big smile on my face.
56. Prometheus ........ B-
Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron
June 16, 2012
I feel that this film was poorly advertised. Rather than the thrilling action ride one might expect, it's actually a very slow moving, unapologetic sci-fi flick. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but I suspect many viewers might be bored by the slow build. The performances in the movie are all great. I particularly enjoyed Noomi Rapace, and was very impressed with her lack of an accent. Charlize Theron as the icy employer is excellent as well. The script is problematic though. The story does not really make a huge amount of sense, and there is never really a satisfying explanation for anyone's motivation. Amazing special effects and great performances are ultimately wasted on a story that needed a lot more work.
57. Cosmopolis ........ D+
Robert Pattinson, Sarah Gadon, Kevin Durand
June 18, 2012
It hurts me a bit to rate this so poorly because I did really enjoy the style of filming. It was totally visually stimulating especially considering 90% of the film takes place in a limousine. I also really enjoyed a truly grimy and manic performance from Paul Giamatti which is thoroughly wasted. The positives really ended there for me. This is the sort of pretentious, "arty for the sake of arty', piece that I just can't handle. The film is entirely based around long conversations which are deliberately hard to follow and any sort of deeper meaning or commentary on current society is lost in a sea of tedium. Most performances feel very theatre-style with very expressionless line delivery. Had I been watching this movie at home, I would have turned it off.
58. The Deep Blue Sea ........ C+
Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston, Simon Russell
June 19, 2012
Aside from great performances, there really isn't enough to this film. Very little actually happens. It's difficult to really sympathize with any character. The timeline jumps around a bit in a way that takes concentration to follow, and I suspect that if the timeline was linear, there would be very little of interest. There is also a very intrusive score that does little for the overall film. Still, the movie certainly held my attention. The actors impressed me and I loved the costumes.
59. Brave ........ B
Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson
June 23, 2012
As much as I did enjoy this movie a lot, I felt it fell a bit short of previous Pixar efforts. The characters and set up are so delightful, I found that the actual adventure part of the story was brief and there wasn't much to it. As much as I generally hate sequels, I think that this set of characters deserves one, with a more exciting premise.
60. Imagine Me & You ........ B-
Piper Perabo, Lena Headey
June 25, 2012
A very watchable and reasonably movie, although to call it a comedy would be a stretch in my opinion. On one hand, I appreciated how the main character's sudden attraction to a woman is never really explained or questioned, but on the other hand, I felt like there was nothing else to the movie. If it was the exact same story with the wife falling for another man, it would be far more apparent to the viewer that nothing has actually happened in the story. There isn't any real conflict and all of the characters are just too "good". The "love at first sight" element would also seem even more ludicrous. Still, it's a light and reasonably enjoyable watch. Anthony Stewart Head is endearingly weird as the father of the bride.
61. Take This Waltz ........ A
Michelle Williams, Seth Rogan, Luke Kirby
June 30, 2012
Definitely one of the best films of the year so far. Michelle Williams and Seth Rogan portray a very realistic couple in a reasonably happy marriage with some challenges. The look at their life is almost voyeuristic. There is very unsexy and stark focus on their private banter as well as bathroom habits in a way that some might find uncomfortable to watch. As Michelle Williams becomes increasingly attracted to her neighbour, the film does an amazingly good job of contrasting the thrill of the newness with the reality of the situation. I will not spoil anything, but there is a montage toward the end of the film that is amazing and carries a very clear message without bombarding the viewer. It's also a fun watch from a Canadian perspective. The film is set in Toronto and is very unashamedly Torontonian.
62. Magic Mike ........ B+
Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer
July 3, 2012
The funny thing about Magic Mike is that everyone is so amazed that a movie about male strippers would have an engaging plot, that no one wants to point out said plot is still pretty darn formulaic. Seasoned vet brings young'in into a somewhat controversial lifestyle, loss of control ensues. However, Magic Mike is still a really entertaining movie, both for the beefcake and for the story in general. I really appreciated the look at this world and hope that straight men have the balls to see it as well. If anything, I honestly would have liked more stripping and less story haha. Most of the club scenes are shown in montage form, and while awesome and hilarious, more complete dance numbers would have been appreciated. I think that this is without a doubt Channing Tatum's best acting performance (based on the movies of his I've seen) but he still can't quite keep up with the Soderbergh style dialogue. His timing was quite odd in places. I also didn't really find enough justification for the attraction between his character and the female lead.
63. Safety Not Guaranteed ........ A
Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake M. Johnson
July 4, 2012
I really loved this hilarious, melancholy, and truly weird little movie. It's both a coming of age story and a bit of a sci-fi thriller while maintaining that indie charm. Fantastic performances and really compelling characters elevate it even further. Sadly this one will fly under the radar for most, but it's well worth seeing.
64. Derailed ........ B-
Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent Cassel
July 9, 2012
I enjoyed watching this movie, but it really doesn't meet its own aspirations of being a twisty, thrill-ride. The major twist is incredibly obvious from the get-go. Vincent Cassel is a truly amazing villain though.
65. Chronicle ........ A-
Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan
July 10, 2012
I am SO glad I didn't get around to seeing this film in theatres. The home-documentary style filming is SO shaky. I would probably have thrown up through the entire movie. However, on a small screen, the style of filming is genius. All three of the leads are fantastic. I was struck by how realistic the movie felt. The initial reactions of the three high school boys to receiving their powers feels exactly like what would really happen. The sort of gleeful foolishness, followed by the manipulation of comely females, followed by a slow descent into darker places. I definitely feel that the movie derailed toward the end, but the first three quarters are great enough to make up for it.
66. Step Up Revolution ........ C
Kathryn McCormick, Ryan Guzman
July 27, 2012
As much as this whole series lands solidly in the "so bad it's good" or "guilty pleasure" category to begin with, this new chapter indicates that it's growing stale even by those standards. The plot is absolutely ludicrous and the acting terrible. Granted these two things factor into previous Step Ups as well, but never before has the audience felt so condescended to. Fortunately there are some amazing dance sequences in the latter half of the film that do make it worth the watch if you enjoy the cheesy dance genre. I would seriously recommend waiting until this is out on video and not wasting the money and headache on 3D though. My absolutely favourite piece of absurdity *SPOILER ALERT* was the ending wherein the Mob successfully changes the rich, greedy, business man's mind with their dance revolution. And then is immediately thrilled to be offered a contract for advertising with fucking Nike!! REALLY??
67. The Dark Knight Rises ........ B
Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
July 29, 2012
While still maintaining that dark, gritty, thoughtful quality that I've loved about Christopher Nolan's Batman films, I have to say this one fell a little bit short of my expectations given how amazing The Dark Knight was. Still, it's a satisfying wrap up to the trilogy. I very much enjoyed the addition of Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
68. Broken English ........ A-
Parker Posey, Melvil Poupaud, Drea de Matteo
July 31, 2012
A quirky, enjoyable take on modern romance. One of Parker Posey's best outings in my opinion.
69. Relative Strangers ........ F+
Ron Livingston, Neve Campbell, Kathy Bates, Danny DeVito
August 3, 2012
It is a bit mind boggling that such an impressive cast all signed up for this project. Although as terrible as it is, it was certainly fun to watch in a so-bad-it's-good sort of way, and was probably equally fun to film.
70. Fourplay ........ B-
Colin Firth, Mike Binder, Mariel Hemingway, Irène Jacob
August 4, 2012
A reasonably enjoyable romantic comedy that's got a bit more to say than the average effort from the genre. Unfortunately the excessive attempt to impersonate a Woody Allen film works against it.
71. Nobel Son ........ A-
Alan Rickman, Bryan Greenberg, Shawn Hatosy
August 5, 2012
I definitely watched this one for the cast, so ended up pleasantly surprised by the quality. The performances as well as the twisty plot are definitely engaging.
72. Ghost Writer ........ D-
Alan Cumming, David Boreanaz
August 6, 2012
The sort of grievously terrible vanity project on the part of Alan Cumming as writer/star/director that makes you hope to god that he was self-aware in creating one of the best-worst movies ever.
73. Off the Black ........ B
Nick Nolte, Trevor Morgan
August 7, 2012
A really great performance by Nick Nolte, and also a very engaging story about a brief bond formed between a teenaged boy and lonely older man. Unfortunately the end result turns a bit too sentimental to really be taken seriously.
74. Walking and Talking ........ B+
Catherine Keener, Anne Heche
August 7, 2012
Although definitely a bit dated to the 90s, this is still a very funny and yet intelligent exploration of dating, marriage and the modern woman.
75. Blue State ........ B-
Breckin Meyer, Anna Paquin
August 9, 2012
It's really difficult to appreciate this movie as a Canadian and a Winnipegger since it pokes so much fun at us, and not in an accurate or amusing way. It's painful to watch local actors put on incredibly fake "Canadian" accents for the sake of the American audience, not to mention the portrayal of Winnipeg as essentially a hick town. I did enjoy the exploration of the obnoxiousness of having political views shoved down your throat even when you agree with them. One thing they definitely did get right though was the Canadians' prejudiced views of Americans.
76. The Nines ........ A-
Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis, Melissa McCarthy
August 9, 2012
I really enjoyed this one. It leaves you guessing right til the end, and pondering a bit after that. Also featuring three really great performances from Ryan Reynolds in different roles. Definitely proof of his acting chops.
77. The Guard ........ B
Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle
August 10, 2012
Not quite as funny or memorable as I'd hoped, but this is still an enjoyable, twisty caper with endearing characters.
78. Citizen Ruth ........ B+
Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Mary Kay Place
August 10, 2012
A very clever movie, wherein a drug-addicted, pregnant, homeless woman is used as a pawn in the fight between pro-life and pro-choice groups and attracts a media frenzy. The irreverence of how little she cares definitely makes the movie.
79. The Iron Lady ........ B-
Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent
August 15, 2012
Meryl Streep is truly amazing in this film, but I found that in general it focused too much on the elder Thatcher, who has lost her husband and is suffering from the early stages of dementia. This is probably done to draw the audience's sympathy given that it's juxtaposed with scenes of her brutal time as Prime Minister. I was impressed that the film didn't really shy away from how controversial she was, or how negligent and uncaring at some times. At the same time I don't think you could say it's a left-wing portrayal. It doesn't necessarily judge her decisions, just shows the aftermath.
80. The Bourne Legacy ........ A-
Jeremy Renner, Rachel Wiesz, Edward Norton
August 16, 2012
A really welcome new addition to the Bourne series. I don't know if purists will appreciate Jeremy Renner as the new protagonist or not, but I certainly did. This film is exciting and well thought out. I liked how it was taking place at the same time as the third Bourne film. Granted it's a bit more of a straight action movie and less complicated than the original trilogy. I wasn't crazy about the ending though. It's quite abrupt and screams sequel in a way that's just too blatant for my liking.
81. Hope Springs ........ A
Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones
August 18, 2012
Truly an excellent film. The trailer has one expecting a silly romantic comedy, but instead it really feels like watching two real people dealing with genuine problems. It's hilarious, but the humour comes from the reality and the awkwardness of the situation, rather than contrived circumstances. For this reason it can be uncomfortable to watch at times. The whole cast is fantastic. Although it certainly does dip into Hollywood silliness occasionally, I found the film in general to be really refreshing.
82. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ........ D+
Gary Oldman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth
August 26, 2012
Before I trash this movie, I will admit that the sound quality on the DVD I watched probably hampered the experience a bit. All of the voices were a bit muffled, which made it even harder to follow. But even aside from that, this film is incredibly tedious. It's very slow moving, and full of ponderous, artistic camera angles and strange shots which really aren't all that interesting. Good lord was a better editor needed. The plot is hard to follow, but I don't necessarily mind that quality in a movie. The problem is that the film itself is so boring, you can't really find the inspiration to attempt to follow the plot. I'm totally appalled that this is Gary Oldman's first Oscar nomination, considering his huge and awesome body of work. I find it a stretch to even consider him the lead actor in this film. It's really more of an ensemble piece. And it's actually full to the brim with talented actors. I love the cast but they are all equally and entirely wasted. Very disappointing overall.
83. The Amazing Spider-Man ........ B+
Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone
August 27, 2012
I really enjoyed this new Spiderman reboot. It's funny without being overly silly. On the light side without being vapid. Andrew Garfield is most appealing in the role (and in general, naturally). I appreciated some of the more subtle details in the film too. The score providing the "spidey sense", without the viewer ever being explicitly informed what it is. There was a lot of attention paid to the character's movements as well, he was much more spider-like than previous incarnations. There were a lot of actual spiders at the beginning of the movie which was a little much for my arachnophobic self. There are definitely some cheese-tastic moments, but it doesn't take itself seriously enough not to get away with them. I also have to say that I'm thrilled I saw it in 2D. Judging by some of the shots, the 3D version would have been painful.
84. Premium Rush ........ B+
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon
August 29, 2012
Basically an unrepentant chase movie, "Premium Rush" has its own really refreshing spin. Car chases often bore me, but there is something much more exciting about watching bicycles whizzing through traffic at 50 miles an hour than cars going 300. The plot is a bit silly and implausible, but overall this is a super fun thrill ride, and benefits from not pretending to be anything else. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is endearing as always and Michael Shannon plays an enjoyably spastic bad guy.
85. Season of the Witch ........ C+
Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Claire Foy
August 30, 2012
This movie has aspirations of being extremely epic and serious. Sadly, it's really really not. It sure is entertaining though, if not for the right reasons. Nicolas Cage is quite wooden and sticks out like a sore thumb from the 14th century cast. Claire Foy, who plays the accused witch, is quite convincing. Other that Cage, it's actually a reasonably decent flick until the end when some absolutely terrible CGI is employed for a battle sequence that makes one giggle more than anything. The special features on the DVD reveal an alternate ending without these terrible effects that would have been far superior.
86. Con Air ........ B+
Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich
September 2, 2012
Super entertaining and holds up to a first time viewing in 2012, although the score especially is extremely 90s. John Malkovich is an awesome bad guy. Nicolas Cage's accent is so terrible it ends up being extremely entertaining.
87. Last Night ........ B
Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington
September 3, 2012
A very interesting and realistic portrayal of the temptation to stray from a good marriage. (Granted the timing is a little contrived, but so it goes.) I appreciated the loose hanging ending.
88. Celeste & Jesse Forever ........ B
Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Elijah Wood
September 3, 2012
Quite a decent romantic comedy, with a good effort towards realism. I felt that the interactions between Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg were very believable and endearing. I found that there was not really enough justification for the initial set up though. The reasons Celeste gives for having broken up with her husband don't seem unreasonable, but they also don't seem that they would lead to the amicable attempted friendship that is portrayed. Especially not one where she continues to support him financially.
89. The Ice Storm ........ B+
Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood
September 17, 2012
A really fantastic movie with a great cast. I was a little unsure of how to take the ending, and felt that there was an obvious attempt for the viewer to come away with a message, but that said message was a bit garbled. I did really enjoy the slow awakening of all of the characters. Although I can't relate to the era, the feeling came across really well.
90. Trouble With The Curve ........ B-
Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake
September 19, 2012
Despite being formulaic and predictable, the overall product ends up being endearing enough to still feel satisfying, providing you have the appropriate expectations.
91. Les adieux à la reine (Farewell, My Queen) ........ C+
Diane Kruger, Léa Seydoux and Virginie Ledoyen
September 21, 2012
This film had potential to be a lot better than it was. The story is an interesting new angle on Marie-Antionette, showing her from the perspective of a somewhat obsessed servant girl. The film feels long, and tedious in some parts. Some of the scene changes are really abrupt and bizarre. At the end I'm not honestly sure what message one is supposed to come away with. It seems as though an entire movie's worth of character development happens in the final ten minutes. I was thoroughly impressed with the art direction though, and especially the costumes.
92. Friends With Kids ........ A-
Jennifer Westfeldt, Adam Scott, Maya Rudolph
September 22, 2012
One day I hope that Hollywood manages to make a film about people who make unconventional life choices which don't resolve themselves in the predictable message that conventional is the only way to go. But aside from going in a disappointingly Hollywood direction at the end, the film manages to accomplish it without being hugely over-the-top about it. The film is hilarious. Far funnier than Bridesmaids in my opinion. It also serves as a very interesting commentary on the family in this day and age and the effects that kids have on groups of friends. I would definitely recommend this one!
93. Looper ........ A
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt
September 28, 2012
I was really expecting this to be a fun and silly sci-fi flick and was pleasantly surprised that it ended up being intense, smart and one of the best movies I've seen this year. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's impression of Bruce Willis is perfect, but subtle enough not to take over all other elements of the performance. Combined with the physical alterations, the characters are completely believable as the same person. I enjoyed the comedy relating to how incredibly frustrating it would be to try to communicate with a younger version of oneself. The child actor in this movie is impressive, and also an amazingly good casting choice in terms of being both cute and absurdly creepy at the same time. Full of twists that for the most part one doesn't see coming, and there is one scene at the beginning that is totally horrifying in its implied violence at the same time as just being fully awesome, and like nothing I'd ever seen before. The plot does not entirely hold up to a close scrutiny of time travel logic, but the movie is so darn good, it really doesn't matter.
94. The Perks of Being a Wallflower ........ A-
Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller
October 1, 2012
A really great adaptation of an even better young adult novel. I'm not surprised that it held on to much the same spirit as the book given that it was directed by the author. Seeing it on the screen does even more to pull you back to that feeling of high school. Despite being at its core, not a very happy story, it actually makes one feel vaguely nostalgic for that feeling of fitting in on the island of misfit toys. Great performances by all. A couple of the dark scenes are cut out, but I was impressed by how on the whole it stuck with the story.
95. End of Watch ........ A-
Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña
October 2, 2012
This is a gritty, much more realistic take on police life, and sort of reminiscent of the excellent show "Southland", although I suspect probably a tad more action packed than the average policeman's life. The handheld camera style isn't quite as motion sickness inducing as I was originally fearing. Good performances all around.
Looks like this post is now too big for Livejournal! Move along to Part 2!