100 Movies in 2012, Part 2!
As generally seems to happen around this time of year, looks like my original movie review post has gotten too big for Livejournal! Took me a little longer than in the past few years, but I hit my 100 new (to me) movie mark on October 22nd! I'm not going to come anywhere near my movies in the theatre record though (I'm just about to hit 60 now). So perhaps that can be the focal challenge for next year ;)
Onward!
96. Monsieur Lazhar ........ B+
Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, Émilien Néron
October 11, 2012
I really enjoyed this film. It made me feel very nostalgic for my French immersion elementary school. I thought the character development was excellent. It's probably a bit too slow moving and inconclusive for some tastes. I did find that the issues of Monsieur Lazhar's immigration and family were a bit down-played and the focus was mainly on the children dealing with their former teacher's suicide. It seemed as though there were too many "big issues" in one small film and they weren't given equal weight. Still a great movie though.
97. Argo ........ B+
Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman
October 16, 2012
This film is very well done, and extremely effective in building suspense, despite the fact that one already knows the outcome. I really appreciated the attention to historical detail as well. It does inevitably contain some of the unnecessary "America Rah Rah" present in many Hollywood offerings but not to an unbearable degree. It also seemed a little odd how little attention was paid to the plight of the hostages who did not have the fortune to be camped out in the Canadian Ambassador's home. Granted that the story was about the mission to extract those six individuals, but this was a common comment leaving the theatre, so it did seem to stick out.
98. Your Sister's Sister ........ A-
Mark Duplass, Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt
October 20, 2012
I really liked this movie. Extremely realistic conversations to the degree that it's very difficult to pull off. The story does get a little melodramatic, but the characters and filming style are so engaging it hardly matters. I am definitely a fan of mumblecore (now that Megan has taught me this fancy term :P).
99. We Need To Talk About Kevin ........ B+
Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller
October 21, 2012
All of the performances in this film are phenomenal. The younger version of Kevin is also creepy as hell. The story is not told chronologically, and while that worked to a degree, there is far too much jumping around right at the beginning. One has no idea what's going on for the first twenty or so minutes, and in a frustrating way. Artistically the film is as beautiful as it is creepy. The visual blood metaphors are a bit overdone, but effective nonetheless.
100. All or Nothing ........ A-
Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen
October 22, 2012
This film is really intense, and really well acted. It's almost too intense to buy in terms of how unbearable every single character is at the beginning. Still, it displays the Mike Leigh tradition of finding small shreds of light in even the most depressing and hopeless situations.
101. Hysteria ......... C+
Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal
October 26, 2012
This movie is enjoyable and watchable, but it's really just silly and not the best vehicle to tackle its subject matter. The Maggie Gyllenhaal character is used with no subtlety to invoke the rage of our 21st century sensibilities, without much historical realism. The romantic plotline is rushed, unbelievable and incredibly contrived. Much more interesting is the documentary on the female orgasm included in the DVD special features.
102. Pitch Perfect ........ B+
Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow
October 28, 2012
This movie is so much fun. The music is awesome. The energy is high and the supporting characters are great. There are many laugh-out-loud moments, and the humour is surprisingly risqué for this genre of film. My complaint would be how sadly one-dimensional the main characters are. There's no chemistry between the leading couple. No justification whatsoever for why they might be interested in each other. The conflict between the progressive new girl and bull-headed group leader is totally contrived and it's painfully hard to believe she would be so committed to her tired ways. These things are totally typical of a film in this genre and would generally be forgivable, but to me stick out like a sore thumb given how above-par the rest of the movie is.
103. Les émotifs anonymes (Romantics Anonymous) ........ B-
Benoît Poelvoorde, Isabelle Carré
October 29, 2012
This is a really cute movie. Sort of a lighter and fluffier version of "Chocolat". Don't even get me started on how awful the English translation of the title is though!! The appeal of this film is really in its lack of traditional romance and exploration of the hurdles those with mild personality disorders face in relating to others. I actually thought the end product was a bit too fluffy considering this subject matter, but still a really enjoyable movie.
104. Hotel Transylvania ........ B-
Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez
October 30, 2012
Really cute movie. Definitely a bit more geared towards kids than a lot of kids' movies these days, but there are still some pretty great jokes for the adults in there too. Lots of enjoyable voice talent here as well.
105. Think Like A Man ........ D+
Romany Malco, Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson
November 3, 2012
Good lord, where to begin. This film is truly awful, and really just the "black" version of "He's Just Not That Into You". Except in this case, the self-help book ("Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man" by Steve Harvey) actually plays a character. The characters rearranging their romantic lives by consulting this condescending book is so frequent, one keeps expecting a toll-free number from which one can purchase said book to start scrolling across the bottom of the screen. The plot is of course filled with blanket-statements about how the genders behave in relationships, and seemingly full of advice on how to snare unwilling men into marriage. I did appreciate that one relationship was flipped with the female behaving poorly. The cast is also sufficiently endearing to at least make it watchable.
106. Cloud Atlas ........ A
Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, James D'Arcy, Susan Sarandon
November 4, 2012
I was really nervous going to see this in the theatre given the polarized reviews, so I was sort of steeled for three hours of potential torture. I was very pleased to find it fabulous. I can understand the varied opinions though. It's lengthy, as mentioned, and you really need to accept that you're not going to have any idea what's going on for a good two thirds of the film. The various plotlines are all totally engaging though. I honestly didn't find that the movie felt long or that I was frustrated to be confused. The performances are all great and the make up is honestly astounding. I was mind boggled during the end credits when the actors' various characters are flashed over the screen. Despite knowing who to look for, I had still managed to miss major actors in minor roles. The whole film is really an experience, and absolutely worth seeing for the uniqueness, even if you do end up hating it.
107. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter ........ B-
Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper
November 9, 2012
I feel that this movie was unfairly critically panned. It's an enjoyably bad action movie, no worse than any enjoyably bad action movie these days. I am not ashamed to say that I quite enjoyed its enjoyable badness. I actually thought the premise was worked into historical context fairly cleverly.
108. Exit Through The Gift Shop ........ A-
Banksy, Space Invader, Mr. Brainwash
November 9, 2012
Much like "Catfish", I loved that I had no idea where this supposed documentary was going to end up. I feel like I need to watch it again from the perspective of knowing what happens to get the full scoop. I found it to be totally believable, but even if it turns out to be a stunt, it's well worth watching.
109. The Man With the Iron Fists ........ B-
RZA, Russell Crowe, Lucy Liu
November 12, 2012
I was expecting this movie to be a total disaster, but it's actually really enjoyable, and not just in a guilty pleasure kind of way. Revelling in its own excess and complete ridiculousness, it is totally engaging and full of action that felt for the most part refreshing. Russell Crowe makes a completely random and perfect addition to the cast.
110. Seven Psychopaths ........ B+
Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken
November 14, 2012
While I didn't like this effort as much as "In Bruges," I certainly did appreciate its uniqueness and how totally off the wall it is. Tons of awesome characters and great performances, although some are definitely under-utilized.
111. Skyfall ........ B+
Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem
November 17, 2012
I can't claim to be a huge Bond connoisseur, but from my perspective this was a really enjoyable film. Javier Bardem, as usual, makes it with his deliciously awesome villain. I found it took me a while to get into though. The action-packed opening chase sequence did not grab my attention in the way it was supposed to.
112. Bernie ........ A
Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey
November 19, 2012
I thought this film was totally brilliant. Jack Black found an excellent character through which to show off that he has some actual range. I was really impressed by his performance (and singing voice for gospel music!) "Bernie" tells the true story of a well liked small town man who kills a thoroughly disliked small town woman, and ends up continuing to be supported and loved by his peers. The filmmakers make the absolutely genius decision to cast real small town folk from that area as the "gossips", a series of people who are "interviewed" about the situation throughout the movie. It ends up feeling very much like a documentary. It's darkly funny, as well as an interesting exploration of small town dynamics.
113. The Sessions ........ A-
John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy
November 20, 2012
This film is sensitively done, moving and extremely well acted (although I was not fully convinced by Helen Hunt's accent). I really appreciated the frankness in potentially awkward discussions, which might make prudier viewers feel uncomfortable. Although I haven't seen "Lincoln" yet so can't compare, I would definitely say that John Hawkes deserves an Oscar for his performance.
114. Wreck-It Ralph ........ A
John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman
November 21, 2012
I found this film to be completely delightful as well as extremely clever. There is a ton of nostalgia for the nerdy adults who loved video games as children. I feel like I need to see it again to take note of all the cameo appearances. The new games they've dreamed up for this film are fully fitting with their various genres and all seem like they would be fun to play. The storyline isn't anything too out of the ordinary for a cartoon, but the characters are endearing enough that some of the sap clearly aimed at the young children doesn't seem as grating as it might otherwise.
115. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World ........ B
Steve Carell, Keira Knightley
November 23, 2012
Tonally this movie is a bit strange, but I found that it worked quite well. The vision of the end of the world is a bit comedic, but I think reasonably accurate in terms of the general reaction. The main plot arc is of course a bit overly sentimental. I definitely preferred "Melancholia" but I still quite enjoyed watching this one.
116. American Flyers ........ B-
Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant
December 1, 2012
As much as there are definitely elements in this film from the 80s that are incredibly dated (OMG Kevin Costner's moustache!) I was totally impressed with the levels of suspense built up in the race scenes. Overly dramatic 80s synth music even added to the effect.
117. Killing Them Softly ........ B+
Brad Pitt, Scoot McNairy, Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini
December 5, 2012
Dark, gritty and stylish all at the same time. I really enjoyed this one a lot. It felt a bit Tarantino-esque to me, with the mix of long and somewhat pointless conversations and spurts of intense violence. Great cast too. I can certainly see how it might be a bit of an acquired taste though.
118. Chasing Butterflies ........ D-
Amy Brienes, María Cellario, Gabriel Vaughan
December 8, 2012
This film is just a complete mess. The acting is appallingly bad. The premise is ludicrous. There is very little point. I have no idea how it got any budget whatsoever.
119. Beautiful Girls ........ C+
Matt Dillon, Timothy Hutton, Noah Emmerich
December 8, 2012
Aside from being very dated and full of tired gender stereotypes, this movie is still pretty watchable.
120. Silver Linings Playbook ........ B
Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
December 11, 2012
A lot of the time I'll see a movie with high expectations due to hype and will thus judge it a bit unfairly when it doesn't measure up. I can honestly say I'm pretty confident I would have felt lukewarm about this piece, expectations or no. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are both great, but I found that there were some serious issues with the script, and the resolution was far too neat. There is also another very serious mental disorder plaguing a supporting character, which I felt was very poorly addressed. Overall a decent "feel good" movie that I didn't really think I should be leaving feeling good.
121. Beethoven's Christmas Adventure ........ D+
Munro Chambers, Kyle Massey
December 14, 2012
I really enjoyed watching this movie for the Winnipeg factor, but wow is it awful! Haha. I don't think anyone really needed Beethoven to speak. Or to save Christmas for that matter. There is also a very strangely placed "that's what she said" joke, and excessive dog farting humour. I think I might have actually liked it alright as a child, but definitely not appealing to adults. Unless it happened to have been filmed right outside your window...I do need to re-watch the parade scene on freeze frame to see if I'm visible, waving away :)
122. 2 Days in Paris ........ B+
Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg
December 15, 2012
It's hard to achieve a feeling of realism while at the same time having a plot that's a bit off the wall. This film manages to pull it off.
123. ParaNorman ........ B
Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi
December 16, 2012
Perhaps a bit dark for younger viewers. I really enjoyed the stop motion animation. Despite the creepier themes and imagery, the main messages still come down to friendship and acceptance. There's a character twist at the very end that made my jaw drop in delight. I do wish they had done a bit more with the character of Norman being able to see and speak to ghosts. I found that more interesting than the zombie story that becomes the main storyline.
124. Ted ........ B-
Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane
December 20, 2012
The animation on Ted is pretty amazing. I thought they did a great job of making the audience immediately accept the talking teddy bear plot, and the humour of the movie really coming from how ridiculous every situation is. I definitely didn't find it laugh-out-loud funny though. Pretty decent, not amazing, flick.
125. Life of Pi ........ A-
Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan
December 22, 2012
Esthetically gorgeous, and makes the best use of 3D I've ever seen (although would be just as good without the 3D, that being said). I haven't read the novel, but can see why people felt it was unfilmable. While some viewers might find it a bit slow, I think that Ang Lee did an elegant job of putting this story on the screen. It remains engaging despite the very limited dialogue.
126. Snow Cake ........ A-
Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Anne Moss
December 23, 2012
The beginning of this film is a bit awkward. One is not sure what they're getting into. However, once the somewhat extreme events fall into place, leaving Alan Rickman's character in a small Canadian town, living with an adult Autistic woman, it turns into one of the most genuine character pieces I've seen in a long time. Amazing performance by Sigourney Weaver as well.
127. The Memory Keeper's Daughter ........ B-
Emily Watson, Dermot Mulroney, Gretchen Mol
December 28, 2012
For a made for TV adaptation of a novel that deserved better, this is still pretty decent. It gets off to a really awkward beginning though. The birth scene is overly dramatic and yet the characters seem overly cavalier at the same time, which is a rather strange contradiction. Dermot Mulroney is not very convincing, especially in the first few scenes. Emily Watson and Gretchen Mol are fantastic throughout.
Onward!
96. Monsieur Lazhar ........ B+
Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, Émilien Néron
October 11, 2012
I really enjoyed this film. It made me feel very nostalgic for my French immersion elementary school. I thought the character development was excellent. It's probably a bit too slow moving and inconclusive for some tastes. I did find that the issues of Monsieur Lazhar's immigration and family were a bit down-played and the focus was mainly on the children dealing with their former teacher's suicide. It seemed as though there were too many "big issues" in one small film and they weren't given equal weight. Still a great movie though.
97. Argo ........ B+
Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman
October 16, 2012
This film is very well done, and extremely effective in building suspense, despite the fact that one already knows the outcome. I really appreciated the attention to historical detail as well. It does inevitably contain some of the unnecessary "America Rah Rah" present in many Hollywood offerings but not to an unbearable degree. It also seemed a little odd how little attention was paid to the plight of the hostages who did not have the fortune to be camped out in the Canadian Ambassador's home. Granted that the story was about the mission to extract those six individuals, but this was a common comment leaving the theatre, so it did seem to stick out.
98. Your Sister's Sister ........ A-
Mark Duplass, Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt
October 20, 2012
I really liked this movie. Extremely realistic conversations to the degree that it's very difficult to pull off. The story does get a little melodramatic, but the characters and filming style are so engaging it hardly matters. I am definitely a fan of mumblecore (now that Megan has taught me this fancy term :P).
99. We Need To Talk About Kevin ........ B+
Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller
October 21, 2012
All of the performances in this film are phenomenal. The younger version of Kevin is also creepy as hell. The story is not told chronologically, and while that worked to a degree, there is far too much jumping around right at the beginning. One has no idea what's going on for the first twenty or so minutes, and in a frustrating way. Artistically the film is as beautiful as it is creepy. The visual blood metaphors are a bit overdone, but effective nonetheless.
100. All or Nothing ........ A-
Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen
October 22, 2012
This film is really intense, and really well acted. It's almost too intense to buy in terms of how unbearable every single character is at the beginning. Still, it displays the Mike Leigh tradition of finding small shreds of light in even the most depressing and hopeless situations.
101. Hysteria ......... C+
Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal
October 26, 2012
This movie is enjoyable and watchable, but it's really just silly and not the best vehicle to tackle its subject matter. The Maggie Gyllenhaal character is used with no subtlety to invoke the rage of our 21st century sensibilities, without much historical realism. The romantic plotline is rushed, unbelievable and incredibly contrived. Much more interesting is the documentary on the female orgasm included in the DVD special features.
102. Pitch Perfect ........ B+
Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow
October 28, 2012
This movie is so much fun. The music is awesome. The energy is high and the supporting characters are great. There are many laugh-out-loud moments, and the humour is surprisingly risqué for this genre of film. My complaint would be how sadly one-dimensional the main characters are. There's no chemistry between the leading couple. No justification whatsoever for why they might be interested in each other. The conflict between the progressive new girl and bull-headed group leader is totally contrived and it's painfully hard to believe she would be so committed to her tired ways. These things are totally typical of a film in this genre and would generally be forgivable, but to me stick out like a sore thumb given how above-par the rest of the movie is.
103. Les émotifs anonymes (Romantics Anonymous) ........ B-
Benoît Poelvoorde, Isabelle Carré
October 29, 2012
This is a really cute movie. Sort of a lighter and fluffier version of "Chocolat". Don't even get me started on how awful the English translation of the title is though!! The appeal of this film is really in its lack of traditional romance and exploration of the hurdles those with mild personality disorders face in relating to others. I actually thought the end product was a bit too fluffy considering this subject matter, but still a really enjoyable movie.
104. Hotel Transylvania ........ B-
Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez
October 30, 2012
Really cute movie. Definitely a bit more geared towards kids than a lot of kids' movies these days, but there are still some pretty great jokes for the adults in there too. Lots of enjoyable voice talent here as well.
105. Think Like A Man ........ D+
Romany Malco, Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson
November 3, 2012
Good lord, where to begin. This film is truly awful, and really just the "black" version of "He's Just Not That Into You". Except in this case, the self-help book ("Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man" by Steve Harvey) actually plays a character. The characters rearranging their romantic lives by consulting this condescending book is so frequent, one keeps expecting a toll-free number from which one can purchase said book to start scrolling across the bottom of the screen. The plot is of course filled with blanket-statements about how the genders behave in relationships, and seemingly full of advice on how to snare unwilling men into marriage. I did appreciate that one relationship was flipped with the female behaving poorly. The cast is also sufficiently endearing to at least make it watchable.
106. Cloud Atlas ........ A
Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, James D'Arcy, Susan Sarandon
November 4, 2012
I was really nervous going to see this in the theatre given the polarized reviews, so I was sort of steeled for three hours of potential torture. I was very pleased to find it fabulous. I can understand the varied opinions though. It's lengthy, as mentioned, and you really need to accept that you're not going to have any idea what's going on for a good two thirds of the film. The various plotlines are all totally engaging though. I honestly didn't find that the movie felt long or that I was frustrated to be confused. The performances are all great and the make up is honestly astounding. I was mind boggled during the end credits when the actors' various characters are flashed over the screen. Despite knowing who to look for, I had still managed to miss major actors in minor roles. The whole film is really an experience, and absolutely worth seeing for the uniqueness, even if you do end up hating it.
107. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter ........ B-
Benjamin Walker, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper
November 9, 2012
I feel that this movie was unfairly critically panned. It's an enjoyably bad action movie, no worse than any enjoyably bad action movie these days. I am not ashamed to say that I quite enjoyed its enjoyable badness. I actually thought the premise was worked into historical context fairly cleverly.
108. Exit Through The Gift Shop ........ A-
Banksy, Space Invader, Mr. Brainwash
November 9, 2012
Much like "Catfish", I loved that I had no idea where this supposed documentary was going to end up. I feel like I need to watch it again from the perspective of knowing what happens to get the full scoop. I found it to be totally believable, but even if it turns out to be a stunt, it's well worth watching.
109. The Man With the Iron Fists ........ B-
RZA, Russell Crowe, Lucy Liu
November 12, 2012
I was expecting this movie to be a total disaster, but it's actually really enjoyable, and not just in a guilty pleasure kind of way. Revelling in its own excess and complete ridiculousness, it is totally engaging and full of action that felt for the most part refreshing. Russell Crowe makes a completely random and perfect addition to the cast.
110. Seven Psychopaths ........ B+
Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken
November 14, 2012
While I didn't like this effort as much as "In Bruges," I certainly did appreciate its uniqueness and how totally off the wall it is. Tons of awesome characters and great performances, although some are definitely under-utilized.
111. Skyfall ........ B+
Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem
November 17, 2012
I can't claim to be a huge Bond connoisseur, but from my perspective this was a really enjoyable film. Javier Bardem, as usual, makes it with his deliciously awesome villain. I found it took me a while to get into though. The action-packed opening chase sequence did not grab my attention in the way it was supposed to.
112. Bernie ........ A
Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey
November 19, 2012
I thought this film was totally brilliant. Jack Black found an excellent character through which to show off that he has some actual range. I was really impressed by his performance (and singing voice for gospel music!) "Bernie" tells the true story of a well liked small town man who kills a thoroughly disliked small town woman, and ends up continuing to be supported and loved by his peers. The filmmakers make the absolutely genius decision to cast real small town folk from that area as the "gossips", a series of people who are "interviewed" about the situation throughout the movie. It ends up feeling very much like a documentary. It's darkly funny, as well as an interesting exploration of small town dynamics.
113. The Sessions ........ A-
John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy
November 20, 2012
This film is sensitively done, moving and extremely well acted (although I was not fully convinced by Helen Hunt's accent). I really appreciated the frankness in potentially awkward discussions, which might make prudier viewers feel uncomfortable. Although I haven't seen "Lincoln" yet so can't compare, I would definitely say that John Hawkes deserves an Oscar for his performance.
114. Wreck-It Ralph ........ A
John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman
November 21, 2012
I found this film to be completely delightful as well as extremely clever. There is a ton of nostalgia for the nerdy adults who loved video games as children. I feel like I need to see it again to take note of all the cameo appearances. The new games they've dreamed up for this film are fully fitting with their various genres and all seem like they would be fun to play. The storyline isn't anything too out of the ordinary for a cartoon, but the characters are endearing enough that some of the sap clearly aimed at the young children doesn't seem as grating as it might otherwise.
115. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World ........ B
Steve Carell, Keira Knightley
November 23, 2012
Tonally this movie is a bit strange, but I found that it worked quite well. The vision of the end of the world is a bit comedic, but I think reasonably accurate in terms of the general reaction. The main plot arc is of course a bit overly sentimental. I definitely preferred "Melancholia" but I still quite enjoyed watching this one.
116. American Flyers ........ B-
Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant
December 1, 2012
As much as there are definitely elements in this film from the 80s that are incredibly dated (OMG Kevin Costner's moustache!) I was totally impressed with the levels of suspense built up in the race scenes. Overly dramatic 80s synth music even added to the effect.
117. Killing Them Softly ........ B+
Brad Pitt, Scoot McNairy, Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini
December 5, 2012
Dark, gritty and stylish all at the same time. I really enjoyed this one a lot. It felt a bit Tarantino-esque to me, with the mix of long and somewhat pointless conversations and spurts of intense violence. Great cast too. I can certainly see how it might be a bit of an acquired taste though.
118. Chasing Butterflies ........ D-
Amy Brienes, María Cellario, Gabriel Vaughan
December 8, 2012
This film is just a complete mess. The acting is appallingly bad. The premise is ludicrous. There is very little point. I have no idea how it got any budget whatsoever.
119. Beautiful Girls ........ C+
Matt Dillon, Timothy Hutton, Noah Emmerich
December 8, 2012
Aside from being very dated and full of tired gender stereotypes, this movie is still pretty watchable.
120. Silver Linings Playbook ........ B
Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
December 11, 2012
A lot of the time I'll see a movie with high expectations due to hype and will thus judge it a bit unfairly when it doesn't measure up. I can honestly say I'm pretty confident I would have felt lukewarm about this piece, expectations or no. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are both great, but I found that there were some serious issues with the script, and the resolution was far too neat. There is also another very serious mental disorder plaguing a supporting character, which I felt was very poorly addressed. Overall a decent "feel good" movie that I didn't really think I should be leaving feeling good.
121. Beethoven's Christmas Adventure ........ D+
Munro Chambers, Kyle Massey
December 14, 2012
I really enjoyed watching this movie for the Winnipeg factor, but wow is it awful! Haha. I don't think anyone really needed Beethoven to speak. Or to save Christmas for that matter. There is also a very strangely placed "that's what she said" joke, and excessive dog farting humour. I think I might have actually liked it alright as a child, but definitely not appealing to adults. Unless it happened to have been filmed right outside your window...I do need to re-watch the parade scene on freeze frame to see if I'm visible, waving away :)
122. 2 Days in Paris ........ B+
Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg
December 15, 2012
It's hard to achieve a feeling of realism while at the same time having a plot that's a bit off the wall. This film manages to pull it off.
123. ParaNorman ........ B
Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi
December 16, 2012
Perhaps a bit dark for younger viewers. I really enjoyed the stop motion animation. Despite the creepier themes and imagery, the main messages still come down to friendship and acceptance. There's a character twist at the very end that made my jaw drop in delight. I do wish they had done a bit more with the character of Norman being able to see and speak to ghosts. I found that more interesting than the zombie story that becomes the main storyline.
124. Ted ........ B-
Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane
December 20, 2012
The animation on Ted is pretty amazing. I thought they did a great job of making the audience immediately accept the talking teddy bear plot, and the humour of the movie really coming from how ridiculous every situation is. I definitely didn't find it laugh-out-loud funny though. Pretty decent, not amazing, flick.
125. Life of Pi ........ A-
Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan
December 22, 2012
Esthetically gorgeous, and makes the best use of 3D I've ever seen (although would be just as good without the 3D, that being said). I haven't read the novel, but can see why people felt it was unfilmable. While some viewers might find it a bit slow, I think that Ang Lee did an elegant job of putting this story on the screen. It remains engaging despite the very limited dialogue.
126. Snow Cake ........ A-
Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Anne Moss
December 23, 2012
The beginning of this film is a bit awkward. One is not sure what they're getting into. However, once the somewhat extreme events fall into place, leaving Alan Rickman's character in a small Canadian town, living with an adult Autistic woman, it turns into one of the most genuine character pieces I've seen in a long time. Amazing performance by Sigourney Weaver as well.
127. The Memory Keeper's Daughter ........ B-
Emily Watson, Dermot Mulroney, Gretchen Mol
December 28, 2012
For a made for TV adaptation of a novel that deserved better, this is still pretty decent. It gets off to a really awkward beginning though. The birth scene is overly dramatic and yet the characters seem overly cavalier at the same time, which is a rather strange contradiction. Dermot Mulroney is not very convincing, especially in the first few scenes. Emily Watson and Gretchen Mol are fantastic throughout.