A billionaire, photographer, and workingman are stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after a horrific plane crash.

This is a white-knuckle adventure film of the highest order, with a terrifically-twisted script by Hollywood veteran David Mamet and realistic performances by the entire cast.  I may have enjoyed it more in theaters when I was 16 years-old, but I just watched it the other day and it’s still fantastic.  Hopkins is especially wonderful as the billionaire with a curious streak for survival and wilderness training.  Only Hopkins can stare down the bear.  Mamet’s words through his mind and mouth make this film worthwhile.  Though, Mamet’s words are not always realistic, and don’t always arrive in a realistic order.  I wish Mamet had collaborated with a lesser known screenwriter on this picture, as it would have lent an extra measure of believability, but, as it is, I’m happy as a viewer because this film is entertaining and diverting.

It’s deceptive how beautiful Alaska is in this film, since the survivors’ path is fraught with pain and death, but this is almost a wonderful public announcement for vacationing in Alaska.  Thank goodness Tamahori and Mamet convinced Hopkins to join the cast, as he carries this film with his wonderful performance.  He is an amazing actor for telling facts and detailing events.  Baldwin is his post-leading man usual as a pompous, arrogant photographer who acts like King of 30 Rock (mixed with the Boy Scout Master from SNL).  Perrineau is fantastic, as always. Kudos to the bear for performing its tricks.

Don’t follow this movie if you want to survive bear attacks, but do…

Check It Out

Directed by: Lee Tamahori
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, and Harold Perrineau

By the way, this film makes me look forward to The Grey, starring Liam Neeson, coming out in early-2012.

In the tradition of 80s coming-of-age movies, a group of twenty-somethings get together for one final party, where they attempt to make up for past mistakes while putting their best foot forward into their respective futures.

I am usually all for 80s movies that revolve around a group of twenty-somethings figuring out their place in the world while celebrating together at one final blow-out party, but this movie struck me as both disingenuous and incoherent.  For one, instead of being based off of real-world scenarios or actual experiences, this film seems to be a mish-mash of scenes from actual 80s movies – same goes for 2010’s very disappointing Hot Tub Time Machine.  There is little original material here.  None of the characters are especially interesting and their narratives are either shallow to begin with or aborted halfway through.  Rather than getting the audience involved with the characters during the first half-hour, the movie almost instantly descends into party-mode, which stands in the way of character development.  I never got the sense that any of the characters stood on two feet in the real world.  They’re closer to sitcom characters thrown together for a pilot episode.  I didn’t find myself rooting for Topher Grace’s lead, nor did I find myself pining for Teresa Palmer’s Prom Queen Valley Girl.  I did find Chris Pratt’s jock boyfriend character to be misunderstood and misrepresented; his character’s narrative is all over the place – is he a villain, a good guy with a bad streak, or a cardboard cutout written into the story to provide the sister with something to fight against?  The writers never seem to decide what his character is there to do.  I also found Anna Faris to be completely underutilized.  I don’t know what it is about her – she has extreme comedic talent – but she is always wasted in these lousy movies.  In my opinion, she needs a new manager or agent.  The only enjoyable character in the movie was the lead’s best friend, played by Dan Fogler, who often steals scenes in every movie he’s in.

My issues with this movie range from the lack of a cohesive narrative structure to the scarcity of genuine humor to the misuse of the talented Anna Faris to the inexcusable absence of the eponymous title song.  This isn’t a good movie, but if you’re drinking some beers with friends and looking for a movie to kill two hours, then it’s…

Netflixable

Directed by: Michael Dowse
Starring: Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Teresa Palmer, and Dan Fogler

A Midwestern boy moves to Hollywood during the Depression to sell his Western novels, but finds himself hand-picked to be a B-movie cowboy.

I caught this sweet, PG-rated movie on television completely out of the blue, and I enjoyed it immensely. It has an enjoyable story with a number of intriguing characters, all of whom attempt to survive the minefields of burgeoning Hollywood during the Depression, except, of course, for the main character (Bridges), who is so naïve that he may just come out on top. The presence of Andy Griffith as the elder B-movie Western extra who guides the naïve young lead is a nice touch and adds a certain weight to the tale. All the other actors are fantastic, including a young-ish Alan Arkin, who attacks his role his gusto. Director Howard Zieff went on to direct My Girl and My Girl 2 and Private Benjamin, and if you enjoyed those light-hearted tales then…

Check It Out

Directed by: Howard Zieff
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Andy Griffith, Donald Pleasence, Blythe Danner, and Alan Arkin

This is the first in what will be a series of film reviews that are grouped by actor, director, or screenwriter.  This set-up will allow me to review more films, which I hope will then benefit you in selecting films to watch during your free time.  I’ll focus on films in which the actor, director, or screenwriter performed major duty, and I will list them by date, beginning at the outset of their respective careers.

I chose Jim Carrey as my first subject because I have seen nearly all of his films, and he has made enough films to make this interesting while not making it mind-numbing (Michael Caine, I’m looking at you).

Let’s begin… at the beginning…

Once Bitten (1985)

A vampire Countess needs to drink the blood of a virgin man in order to stay alive.  Luckily, she happens upon Carrey’s virgin high-schooler.

This was to be Carrey’s big break.  Alas, it became just another high school-set B-movie from the ‘80s.  Yet, Carrey’s onscreen charisma is palpable and though he restricts himself from doing anything outlandish it is obvious that there is much more to the actor than is seen onscreen.  It would take almost ten years before he let himself go completely bonkers, exposing audiences around the world to his comic (and dramatic) genius.  But considering that this film is the birth of his career, it’s not bad.  It’s actually rather enjoyable.

If you’re in the mood for a cute, innocent little vampire romp, then…

Check It Out

Directed by: Howard Storm
Co-Starring: Lauren Hutton and Cleavon Little

Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)

Three aliens visit Earth and learn about Earth women.

Carrey stars as one of the three aliens – Jeff Goldblum and Damon Wayans are the other two – that land on Earth looking for new experiences.  They find Geena Davis’ character, who accepts them for who they are and leads them on a series of wacky ‘80s adventures.  This is not a good film, but Carrey once again delivers a performance that reveals shades of his talent while simultaneously locking down what makes him a special performer, as if he wasn’t allowed to overshadow the leads.  Think of this as The Mask-lite.  It is not a good film, but there is something nostalgic about it, especially considering the cast; four actors (Carrey, Goldblum, Wayans, Davis) that became stars.  Whoever cast this film deserved an award.

This film is not very good, but there is enough in it to make it interesting, so I’d be remiss to not label it as a…

This Will Make Your Brain Ache (avoid unless drinking heavily)

Directed by: Julien Temple
Co-Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Damon Wayans, and Geena Davis

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

Um, a Detective of Pets goes looking for a kidnapped dolphin, who happens to be the mascot for my favorite football team, the Miami Dolphins.

Hijinks ensued…  Of course they did.  This was Carrey’s breakthrough, and what a breakthrough it was.  Carrey finally let everything out of his bag, including speaking out of his butt.  I assume this was finally allowed because of his success on In Living Color, which was a great show back in the day.  Carrey made the absolute most of this break, devouring this silly role with abandon.  With anyone else in the lead role, this movie would have been left in a garbage pile, but with Carrey exploring his limits onscreen it deserves to be hoisted into the comedy pantheon.  This is a must-see film for not only fans of Carrey, but of comedy in general.

Must See

Directed by: Tom Shadyac
Co-Starring: Courteney Cox, Sean Young, Tone Loc, and Dan Marino

The Mask (1994)

Poor lonely-man Stanley Ipkiss transforms into an insane comic anti-hero, and lady-killer, when he pulls an ancient Norse mask onto his face.

If Ace Ventura set Carrey up for stardom, this film, released five months later, catapulted him to the forefront of the Hollywood Hot List.  Carrey was finally allowed to unleash every insane, energetic impulse in his body, and what transpired was nothing short of watching a live-action cartoon.  This film is insanely-clever and highly-entertaining, with nary a dull moment.  Not to mention, it also contains the only appearance ever, in this writer’s humble opinion, of an attractive Cameron Diaz.  I’d like to ask the current workout waif (and Justin Timberlake sideshow) what happened to this voluptuous knockout.  Getting back to the movie, it’s unbelievable how Carrey balances the human and cartoon elements of the role.  This movie showed most everyone that Carrey was a unique talent that had never before been seen in cinema.  He’s truly a man-cartoon.

Must See

Directed by: Chuck Russell
Co-Starring: Peter Riegert, Peter Greene, Richard Jeni, and Cameron Diaz

Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Two idiots (Carrey and Daniels) travel cross-country to deliver ransom money to a beautiful woman who… Honestly, who cares?  This movie is not about the plot, it’s about the actors and the laughs.

What can be said about the character of Lloyd Christmas?  He’s certainly dumb, but is he dumber?  Carrey and Jeff Daniels have amazing chemistry in this film, feeding off each other as they one-up each other in the department of stupid.  Don’t be misled, for this is not a stupid film.  This is a brilliant film, based entirely on the brilliance of ultimate stupidity.  For my money, this is the Farrelly Bros.’ best movie, by far – truly original and hilarious.  By the way, this film was Carrey’s third film released during 1994, and all grossed over $100 million, which was a feat that had never been accomplished and has yet to be equaled.  Carrey was certainly A-list now.

Own This and Watch It Often

Directed by: The Farrelly Bros.
Co-Starring: Jeff Daniels, Lauren Holly, and Mike Starr (because he’s vastly underappreciated)

Batman Forever (1995)

Batman battles his worst enemies ever!!!  Blam.  Pow.  Crap!

For me, Batman died when Tim Burton and, more importantly, Michael Keaton, left the character.  The producers and studio made this film anyhow.  It’s ok, but it’s nothing better than a lame weekend viewing.  Carrey plays his character (The Riddler) all-out and crazy, but the lame script and direction let him down.  He is, by far, the most interesting aspect of the film, but what can he do in the face of utter complacency?

This Will Make Your Brain Ache (avoid unless drinking heavily)

Directed by: Joel Schumacher
Co-Starring: Val Kilmer, Nicole Kidman, and Tommy Lee Jones

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995)

The eponymous Pet Detective returns, and this time he’s on the case in Africa.

We have reached the low-light of Carrey’s early career.  I’m not certain if this sequel was contractually obligated or the studio simply paid him too much money to pass it up, but the movie is a steaming pile of recycled poop, with a few lame gags.  Carrey gives it everything he has to make it entertaining (an honorable trait I’ve come to respect in the man), but there is little he can do when the seed from which the film germinated is rotten.  We’ll see this same measure of rottenness in later films of his, especially the comedies.

Waste of Time / Waste of Resources

Directed by: Steve Oedekerk
Co-Starring: character actors

The Cable Guy (1996)

An eccentric and possibly psychopathic cable guy stalks and haunts the life of an everyman.

I may be in the minority, but I really enjoyed this movie, with its off-brand of dark humor and extreme comical creepiness.  It’s by no way as dark as War of the Roses or the works of Todd Solendz, but it’s definitely not main-stream and a step off the beaten path for Carrey.  The scene at Medieval Times is a triumphant gem.  Kudos to Carrey for stepping away from the safe and embracing a script and a film that was both dangerous to bank roll and not guaranteed to succeed.

Check It Out

Directed by: Ben Stiller
Co-Starring: Matthew Broderick and Leslie Mann

Liar Liar (1997)

A successful lawyer’s lonely son uses his birthday wish to stop his Dad from ever lying again, believing this will make him a better husband and father.  Hilarity ensues.

Ah, Carrey’s return to the main-stream, and what a successful return it was.  This is a high-concept comedy, hand-crafted for a superstar like Carrey.  It utilizes both his natural timing and physical gifts and allows him to flourish in a role that has heart and depth.  Every lie that Carrey cannot tell forces him to dig deeper into his bag of comedy tricks and gives the audience a special treat of seeing him push himself further than he ever had.  This film is tailor-made for Carrey, and his most successful high-concept comedy, in my opinion.

Must See

Directed by: Tom Shadyac
Co-Starring: Maura Tierney and Cary Elwes

The Truman Show (1998)

Truman Burbank is a mild-mannered insurance salesman who has never left the town of his birth.  He discovers that the perfect world he inhabits is actually a fictional creation and he is the unassuming star of the most popular reality show on Earth.

In a brilliant career move (and equally brilliant casting decision), Carrey steps away from broad comedy of his past and crafts a subtle and heart-breaking portrayal of a man alone in a world created with him as the entertainment.  This film blew me away upon first viewing and has held up with each subsequent viewing.  The entire cast is flawless, but it is Carrey who carries the film from possible niche curiosity to the pantheon of great films and screen performances.  This performance should have garnered Carrey his first Oscar (let alone nomination), yet he was over-looked by the Academy on all accounts.  His performance is subtle, layered, controlled, and pitch-perfect.  No other actor alive could have brought Truman Burbank to life in the manner in which Carrey did so.  This, if not for other amazing performances of his, would be the performance of a lifetime.

Own This and Watch It Often

Directed by: Peter Weir
Co-Starring: Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, and Ed Harris

Man on the Moon (1999)

This is the life story of comedy legend (and sometimes villain) Andy Kaufman.

Carrey fought hard to win this role, and doesn’t disappoint with his realistic and heartfelt portrayal of one of his comedy icons.  This film elevates above mere biography on the strength of Carrey’s characterization and the script by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski.  This should have been Carrey’s second Oscar nomination (and win), but yet again the Academy decided not to honor a man who time and again puts all of himself into every role, often giving lesser characters greater depth and magnitude.  Once again, not an actor alive could have done with this real-life character what Carrey did.  In point of fact, not another actor ever could have done what Carrey did.

Must See

Directed by: Milos Forman
Co-Starring: Danny DeVito and Courtney Love

Me, Myself & Irene (2000)

A mild-mannered state trooper with a split personality disorder escorts a witness to safety, often causing more trouble than he’s worth.

His return to main-stream comedy finds him partnering up once again with the Farrelly Bros., creators of Dumb and Dumber, but this film lacks in its jokes and pay-off.  It feels like a minor movie, lesser than its combined talents.  And that’s a shame, because the concept is actually quite interesting and Carrey is the perfect comedian to pull off split personalities.  Yet, it never comes together.

Skip This

Directed by: The Farrelly Bros.
Co-Starring: Renee Zelwegger and Robert Forster

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

A live-action re-telling of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Ugh.  I cannot even list the ways in which this movie is awful.  Just trust me, it is.  It’s over-long, with too many characters and too little purpose.  Some stories are best left told in their original format.  For Dr. Seuss’ tale of The Grinch, a 25-minute TV cartoon special was perfect.  A 2.5-hour film is over-kill.  That’s what this film does – it kills the joy of the story by cramming in so much that the viewer literally gets over-saturated.  I blame director Ron Howard and his producing partner Brian Grazer for not knowing when to say ‘no’.  It’s all rather disappointing considering Carrey looks great in the Grinch suit and crafts a semi-intriguing take on the character.

Waste of Time / Waste of Resources (I can’t even recommend it for drinking purposes)

Directed by: Ron Howard
Co-Starring: Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, and Christine Baranski

The Majestic (2001)

A writer suffers amnesia following a horrible car accident, and allows himself to infiltrate the life of a long-lost war hero returning home to a town in need of hope.

I have to admit that I have never seen this movie.  At this point in time, I was bit underwhelmed by Carrey and his preceding films.  It’s especially odd that I skipped this (and avoided it to this day) considering one of my favorite directors, Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Mist), wrote and directed the film.  I need to get around to it.  All the reviews I have read say it’s very Preston Sturges-y, though not as good as Sturges’ best.  Regardless, I need to check this out soon.  I’ll let you know what I think at that time.

N/A (I’ll update this after I see it…soon)

Directed by: Frank Darabont
Co-Starring: Laurie Holden, Bob Balaban, Jeffrey DeMunn, Hal Holbrook, and Martin Landau

Bruce Almighty (2003)

A man who constantly complains about God is given the power of God to affect the world.  Can he do better than the Almighty?

Another high-concept comedy from Carrey, re-teaming him with the director of both Ace Ventura hits and Liar Liar.  This film starts off funny, but derails midway through, and ends up being rather disappointing, considering its brilliant premise and inclusion of the greatest physical comedian of his era (Carrey).  So much more could have been done with this film to make it matter.  It could have had a better script, one that dealt with real-world issues and intriguing topics.  Instead, the audience is shovel-fed generic crap, and by the end of the film I was no longer hungry.  Aniston and Freeman were either unnecessarily crammed into the movie or vastly misused in their roles, I can’t figure out which, and that’s a bad sign.  Carrey tries, but this film falls flat.

Skip This

Directed by: Tom Shadyac
Co-Starring: Jennifer Aniston and Morgan Freeman

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

A couple undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories when their relationship turns sour, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with.

Carrey scores another enormous hit!  It’s understandable that actors cannot have a career of 100% great decisions, but for great actors you hope the great outweighs the crap.  I forgive Carrey for all his routine comedies and sappy dramedies because of movies like this.  Eternal Sunshine… is without a doubt one of the greatest movies I have ever had the pleasure of watching.  Everything about it is flawless, including Carrey’s raw and realistic portrayal of a man whose heart has been ripped out for the final time, but who, in the end, rediscovers love.  Amazing.  In The Truman Show and Man on the Moon, Carrey touched on his most important gift as an actor – a raw and powerful understanding of human emotion.  In this film, he explores it to its outermost boundaries and delivers an unforgettable performance.  He was unequivocally robbed of his third Oscar for this film (not even receiving a nomination).  The Academy, at this point, can be viewed as a bully physically holding Carrey back from what he deserves.  Shame on the Academy.

Own This and Watch It Often

Directed by: Michel Gondry
Co-Starring: Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, and Mark Ruffalo

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

A series of unfortunate events befall three orphan siblings, as a diabolical Count attempts to hijack their inheritance through one duplicitous plan after another.

I watched this, but I don’t remember much of it.  It was another film that was too over-produced and under-prepared, ala How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  The movie felt more like one expensive set piece after another, as opposed to a narrative with real meaning.  When a movie costs this much money and begins with such promise it’s exceptionally disappointing when it fails, and in such a lazy manner.

Waste of Time / Waste of Resources

Directed by: Brad Silberling
Co-Starring: Jude Law and Meryl Streep

Fun with Dick and Jane (2005)

A remake of a 1970s film about a wealthy couple in financial trouble who become bank robbers in order to further their life style.

Timely because of the Wall Street corruption and stock market depression, this film is nothing more than a so-so comedy with more failings than successes.  Carrey and Leoni make a fine team, but the actors, as well as the gags, seem tired and forced.

Skip This

Directed by: Dean Parisot
Co-Starring: Tea Leoni and Alec Baldwin

The Number 23 (2007)

A dual-narrative about a husband searching for excitement and a fictional (?) murderer and sociopath, both of whom may be the same man.

Yeah, I can’t follow my synopsis either.  I tried watching this movie twice and didn’t succeed either time.  But I watched enough to say…

This Will Make Your Brain Ache (avoid unless drinking heavily)

Directed by: Joel Schumacher
Co-Starring: Virginia Madsen

Horton Hears a Who (2008)

An animated re-telling of the Dr. Seuss tale.  Carrey voices the main character – an elephant.

I watched this on a flight, so I can’t say that I paid the utmost attention to its plot or narrative, but all-in-all I was pretty bored by it and tuned out almost completely by the end.  Carrey does a fine job voicing the lead character, but it’s a weak entry in the animated realm.

Skip This

Directed by: Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino
Co-Starring: Steve Carell and Carol Burnett

Yes Man (2008)

A cynical jerk forces himself to say ‘Yes’ to everything for an entire year.  Hilarity ensues, or does it…

Another truly high-concept comedy for Carrey to own, but once again it’s more disappointing than anything.  This is almost an exact replica of Liar Liar, but his character is more of a jerk and the narrative is less interesting.

Netflixable

Directed by: Peyton Reed
Co-Starring: Zooey Deschanel and Bradley Cooper

I Love You, Phillip Morris (2009)

This is a true-life tale of a gay con man who falls in love with his cell mate and does everything in his power (incl. escaping and evading capture) to be with him forever.

I saw this movie when it was released on Netflix, nearly two years after it was filmed.  It didn’t receive much of a theatrical release, which is surprising considering the leads (Carrey and McGregor).  But the subject matter is so controversial (I guess) and the film so weak (this is true) that the studio decided it couldn’t recoup its budget through a release.  That was a good decision, but based mostly on the film being bad.  This is just not a good film.  Carrey once again gives it his all, and McGregor is fine, but the narrative structure provided by the writers/directors is weak and hackneyed.  I never felt a connection to Carrey’s lead and I didn’t care of his so-called love was ever granted.  This film was almost a study in futility, which I hate writing because I know how much effort Carrey put into getting this film made.  Kudos to him for his effort.

Waste of Time / Waste of Resources

Directed by: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa
Co-Starring: Ewan McGregor and Leslie Mann

A Christmas Carol (2009)

A 3-D, creepy re-enhancement version of the classic Christmas story, this time told with fully-cgi characters and absolutely no human element.

I purposely skipped this movie because I believe it may forever ruin Jim Carry, and/or Mickey’s Christmas Carol, and/or Christmas for me.  I am not over-exaggerating; this movie looks awful.  I have no desire to see Zemeckis’ creepy dead-eyed cgi creations reenact a classic tale that I love.  Why can’t Zemeckis just film real actors telling a story?

N/A (I have no desire to ever watch this movie)

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Co-Starring: Gary Oldman and Colin Firth

Mr. Popper’s Penguins (2011)

A successful businessman inherits six penguins and his entire life is turned upside down.  Hilarity ensues.

I skipped this movie this past summer because it looked ordinary and generic.  I’d rather re-watch Dumb and Dumber.  Perhaps Hollywood is running out of good comedy routines for Carrey, his last acceptable one being Bruce Almighty in 2003 and his last great one being Liar Liar in 1997.

N/A (Haven’t seen it; probably never will)

Directed by: Mark Waters
Co-Starring: Carla Gugino and Angela Lansbury

As his career has progressed, Carrey has begun to balance his choices between high-concept comedies and independent-style dramas.  I love his dramatic performances, but have grown tired of his comedies.  His earlier comedies are raw and expansive and dangerous, and therefore unforgettable, but his newer comedies tend to be formulaic and repetitive and safe, and therefore forgettable.  It’s nearly impossible for an international star of Carrey’s level to return to smaller films, but he’s miraculously found a way to do so with dramas, so one would think he could do so with comedies, but the truth is that the high-concept, expensive comedies bankroll his small, independent dramas.  Without Liar Liar and Yes Man, there would be no Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Man on the Moon.  It’s the Hollywood game, and Carrey is playing it the best he can.  I still consider Carrey to be one of my favorite Hollywood stars, though I find myself visiting the Cineplex less often to see his films.  I own a high percentage of his films, perhaps more than any other actor in history, and that speaks to his greatness as an entertainer.  Carrey is truly a man in touch with humanity and his funny bone, which more often than most people realize feed off each other.  He is a brilliant performer who has time and again risked his popularity to make films that inspire him, and, for that alone, we must admire the man.

A fast-moving virus spreads across the world as scientists race to find a cure and control the panic that besets ordinary citizens of every nation.

This starts off as an intelligent and exciting film with a multi-thread story reminiscent of Traffic, except instead of drugs the characters are dealing with a lethal virus.  However, the movie slowly unravels and becomes little more than an exercise in tying nice ribbons around storylines that aren’t exactly played out in an effective manner.  With all of the technical detail injected into every scene, there is a rather large absence of character detail and, therefore, connection to the audience (you can call it ‘meaning’).  Toward the end of the film, we’re told that 26+ million people have died across the globe, yet I sat there, not stunned or in awe of such a large number, but rather apathetic because it all came so randomly and seemingly without consequence.  A number is a number.  It didn’t feel like 26+ million had died.  It was just a number on a page in the script.

I found myself wishing that this film had done one of two things: either been three-and-one-half hours long (more like a miniseries than a movie) and spent more time exploring each storyline thread (because they were all interesting), or removed a few of the storyline threads and focused on a smaller selection of characters (I would have excluded Jude Law and Marion Cotillard, though they each do fine work).  At less than two hours, I felt the film couldn’t properly handle the many storylines presented in the first few minutes.  Some characters are abandoned for nearly the entire film, and then brought back in order to quickly wrap a tidy bow on their storyline.  It’s the rare scenario where less would have been more or more would have been better.

Even saying that, I still enjoyed the film a measurable amount, so…

Check It Out

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, and Jude Law

Michael Caine stars as the titular character, a retired UK Royal Marine and decorated veteran of Northern Ireland, who, upon learning of the gang-related beating death of his best friend, goes on a violent quest of vigilantism against the underworld elements ruining his community in Southern London.

If my description makes this film sound a lot like Charles Bronson’s Death Wish, then so be it.  It is.  This film is simply a London-based re-telling of the Death Wish tale, with an even older leading man doling out the vigilante justice.  That being said, Caine acquits himself nicely, and the movie doesn’t call for any too-ridiculous sequences that a 78-year-old couldn’t pull off.  In fact, the character of Harry Brown takes things rather slowly, allowing most of the action to come to him; unlike in Death Wish, where Bronson’s character goes out to get some.  While I was kept interested in the film, mostly by Caine’s charismatic performance, I cannot recommend it as anything more than a mediocre late-night watch.  The director, Daniel Barber, certainly handles himself well, and should be receiving more jobs in the near future.

Netflixable

Directed by: Daniel Barber
Starring: Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, and Liam Cunningham

Two brothers, a troubled Marine vet of the Iraq War (Hardy) and a public school Physics teacher about to lose his home (Edgerton), climb into the cage to fight in a winner-take-all MMA tournament.  Through their training and subsequent battles in the cage, both brothers come to terms with their estrangement from each other and their father, a recovering alcoholic.

In no uncertain terms, I was blown away by this film.  Every aspect, from the directing to the acting to the script to the fight choreography, was magnificent.  This film is by no means simply a ‘fight film’.  This is a character drama that happens to take place around a fighting tournament, much like Rocky.  Also in the vein of Rocky, its characters are true-to-life, down-on-their-luck men and women with damaged pasts and broken emotional connections.  Their problems are real problems.  Their reactions are real reactions.  Their emotional interactions, often sputtering and turbulent, are real.  This film got right to its core and tore away everything else so that the audience could feel and experience its heart.  It’s raw and uplifting.

I am not a fan of MMA-style fighting.  I’ve actually never seen a match, in person or on television, but I find the concept to be brutally violent and a bit off-putting.  Now, I may not be a fan of it, but there is no denying its frenetic energy and visceral impact, especially when filmed in the tight-knit and explosive manner O’Connor employs here.  The fights are the edge-of-your-seat spectacle one expects from a great sports movie.  Most importantly, the characters are front and center, with their hearts and desires, not the fists and feet, leading the way.  We know what each man is fighting for, and because of that the fights hold meaning.  I’d be interested to know how true MMA fans feel about this film and its choreographed fights.

Please throw away all ballots for this year’s Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and, at this time, hand the award to Nick Nolte.  His performance is extraordinary, built upon measured layers of pain, hope, suffering, and love.  This is one of those roles where it can be honestly declared that no other actor could pull it off – this role was made for Nolte and he owns it.  Edgerton and Hardy, as the brothers, each put in a lot of heavy work, physically and emotionally.  These are two stand-out actors, and each is worthy of a Best Actor nomination, though I’d put my money on Hardy because his character stands out a bit more and he’s currently at the top of Hollywood’s buzz-o-meter (thanks to his role in The Dark Knight Rises).  Forget stars-in-the-making, they’re stars now, and I was captivated by their work.  One would think that Jennifer Morrison would get the short end of the stick in such a film, playing the doting wife to her bruised and broken man.  However, she takes the character and fills her out, building a genuine relationship with Edgerton.  After watching her on House, I had the inkling she’d be a star, and with performances like this one, she’ll continue to be.  I also want to note Frank Grillo for his work as the trainer to Edgerton’s character.  During my viewing, I actually thought Grillo was a real MMA trainer, not an actor, and only after checking IMDB.com did I see that he’s an actor, not a trainer.

I fully admit that by the end of this film I was crying.  It packed that powerful an emotional punch.  When I enjoy a movie this much, I go overboard to recommend it to friends and family, so I am excited to tell you that this film is a…

Must See

Directed by: Gavin O’Connor
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo, and Nick Nolte

The current recession hits a number of businessmen close to home, and they struggle to maintain their lives amidst the confusion and uncertainty of unemployment.

This film does a wonderful job of setting up the lives of the three main characters and their families.  Each is of a different caste in the business world (though all are of the upper castes).  We’re introduced to these differences through a number of well-placed visuals: suit, car, house.  This is America, and, for better or worse, we’re labeled by our things.  The film is also an expertly-detailed study of how and why these business things go down, with natural reactions by the men and women who are affected.

In this film, “big business” looks like an organism terrified of its own shadow, ready to cut loose or kill anything and everything that approaches it, or, in this case, questions it.  If you’re redundant, you’re gone, and if you deviate, you’re dead.  And, you know what, business is just like that.  The offices even had the exact cabinets we have at Scholastic (my day job!).  This film reminds us that we will be lucky to survive until 50 years-old in our modern business society, and there is no point in stopping and catching your breath.  There’s a lot of swallowing of pride in this economy.  There’s a lot of hearing, “Sign in and take a seat,” amongst forty other applicants.  This film is equal parts honest, humorous, sad, frightening, and poignant.

Ben Affleck gives a pitch-perfect slow-burn performance.  Tommy Lee Jones is wonderful, as always.  Rosemarie DeWitt, Chris Cooper, and Craig T. Nelson are solid, as is the rest of the cast, but Kevin Costner is a bit under-used (though his character is important).

This is director John Wells’ first feature film, but you wouldn’t know it.  He’s surrounded himself with experienced professionals and he is a quick learner.  This film looks beautiful and it is paced nicely.

There are obvious complaints that can be levied against this film.  For one, it only deals with the economic distress amongst the upper, upper classes.  It never truly gets down and dirty with those of the 9-5 jobs that found themselves without income and struggling to survive.  From the Liberal viewpoint, the film probably fails at dealing with the struggles of anyone below the upper class.  And from the Conservative viewpoint, considering Hollywood is decidedly Liberal, it must be noted that the film takes an honest middle ground in the argument, assessing both the positives and negatives of the business world.  Yes, the CEOs and CFOs come across as evil, but they make their point, and, whether you like it or not, it makes certain sense (in pure business terms).  This movie doesn’t have a political message.  Its only message is: America once had an infrastructure that built things and supplied jobs, and it can get it back to that with a little bit of luck and hard work.  It may be a naïve dream, but it’s one worth having.

One of the reasons I like this movie, perhaps, is because I know these people.  I’m born New England.  I understand its people.  I love that this movie is set in the suburbs of Boston.  But it’s also an honest portrayal of things.  A movie made not to make buckets of money, but to share a common experience.

Everyone’s always looking for a job, and if you’re looking for a movie…

Check It Out

Directed by: John Wells
Starring: Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, Maria Bello, Craig T. Nelson, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Kevin Costner

An Irish policeman (Gleeson), known more for his gallivanting than moral code, teams with a stalwart American FBI Agent (Cheadle) to stop a three-man crew of international drug traffickers.

For once, I wish there were an action or comedy film starring black and white leads that did not revolve entirely around race relations.  Oh, wait; there is one – Lethal Weapon, from thirty years ago.  So why does everything in today’s movies have to be conventional Hollywood-isms regarding race relations?  I can guess – It’s easiest.  Hollywood loves cramming recycled garbage down our throats.  This line of action, which is something I expect from Spike Lee, automatically puts the black co-lead on the defensive, which is never a good way to start a film.  It’s not fair to Cheadle, who is far too talented to be playing a watered-down version of Mr. Tibbs to Gleeson’s racist cop.  This storyline and character interaction was necessary during the 1950s-1970s to deal with the nature of the times, but it isn’t necessary anymore.  Civilized countries, no matter how much the media wants us to believe otherwise, are not venues for racial hatred.  I understand that this film is set in Ireland, amongst generations of old white folk, and misunderstandings do occur, but it’s been done to death and I wish the writer/director had chosen a different obstacle other than race for the co-leads to overcome.  To be honest, I was taken out of the movie by the constant barrage of racist comments made, in seemingly naïve fashion, by the main character.  Once it started up, I knew it was going to be their ‘thing’ and I lost interest.  That’s a shame because I love the actors involved and truly wanted to enjoy this movie.

The story was alright; pretty standard really.  It was a little muddled and not much actually happens.  The acting was fantastic.  Everyone is comfortable on-screen and seemed to be having a good deal of fun on-set.  Though this is entirely Gleeson’s film to carry, and he does an admirable job, each actor is given a scene or monologue in which to show their stuff.

Like I said, I was tickled the wrong way by this movie’s constant race-baiting, but other theater-goers seemed to enjoy it and it received fantastic reviews almost across-the-board, so I’d say it’s…

Netflixable

Directed by: John Michael McDonagh
Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Mark Strong, Fionnula Flanagan, and Liam Cunningham

Three working-class friends decide they must murder their bosses in order to ensure success and happiness.  They go about it like Strangers on a Train, each taking the others’ boss as to throw off the law.

A terrific concept with an entertaining cast quickly deteriorates into an annoying and unrealistic farce with little overall value beyond the thirty minute opening setup.  It all begins with richly-detailed and hilarious intros to the leads and their bosses.  But as the murder story gets rolling, all detail, intelligence, and believability is thrown aside to cram in unfunny jokes and unnecessary car chases.  For the first 30 minutes I laughed; then I stopped.  This is one of those Hollywood comedies sold and filmed based on an intriguing concept, with little more than a script treatment in place.  Forget an actual script with an ending.  In a way it’s highly insulting to the audience, as if the writers, producers, director, and stars could care less that they were derailing the picture after thirty minutes, since they all knew they already had your money.  Very little care went into crafting this into a complete movie.  Everyone but Charlie Day is wasted, and even he simply retreads much of his character from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Skip This

Directed by: Seth Gordon
Starring: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx, and Kevin Spacey