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Internet Movie Database
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05 Jan

The Invisible

Grade: D+

I pick and choose the movies I go to, I don’t have to see everything, so it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a movie this bad.  I am a huge fan of Marcia Gay Harden, and I have no idea what she was thinking when she agreed to do “The Invisible.”  She has a small role, and not much going on with her character, except for one breakdown scene which was supposed to be heartbreaking but for some reason had the audience in hysterics.  There were lots of moments when the audience broke out laughing in scenes that were supposed to be chilling or serious.

The story is bizarre – good guy with dead dad meets bad girl with absent mother – bad girl beats up good guy to the point of unconscious and leaves him for dead.  Good guy’s “spirit” falls for bad girl, bad girl “saves” good guy, then dies.

There are so many things that don’t make sense throughout the whole movie.  I found myself rolling my eyes and making script notes in my head for the writers.

I don’t think teens will be interested in this movie – even though it’s PG-13 and clearly aimed at that audience.  The teens who were in the theatre with me were the ones who were laughing the most in the inappropriate places.
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05 Jan

The Interpreter

Grade: A-

Sydney Pollack directs and has a small part in this action-thriller that keeps you guessing. It’s a puzzle, set in the political world of the United Nations, and they actually used the real building to film in! Nicole Kidman has the title role, an interpreter from a fictitious country in South Africa who overhears an assassination threat. Sean Penn is the Secret Service agent assigned to the case. There’s no romance here, but the two characters bond over their personal grief. Catherine Keener is notable as Sean Penn’s partner. This is a smart movie, very well done, though not wholly satisfying.
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05 Jan

The International

Grade: C

I like Clive Owen, he’s dark, intense, and not too bad to look at for 2 hours.  In The International he’s a spy-type guy working on a case involving international banking and illegal weapon sales.  It’s a sign of the times when the bad guys in the movie are all bankers.  Naomi Watts comes in as his FBI contact, but she’s not a love interest.  She’s a smart lady with a family who plays by the book.  The movie takes place in various European locations and also New York.  There are two big action sequences, one at the Guggenheim which plays out really bloody and loud.  Other than that it’s a lot of talking and exposition – a lot of business language.  Interesting movie, very dissatisfying ending.
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05 Jan

The Incredibles

Grade: A

Yay, Pixar!!! They’ve done it again. The Incredibles is a real winner. Fun for everyone in the family. This is the kind of movie that you want to see on the big screen to get the full effect, and they you’ll want to buy it on DVD to watch on rainy days as a family. Craig T. Nelson voices the super-dad, Holly Hunter is the mom, “Elastigirl.” Clever writing, great animation – this one is another classic!
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05 Jan

The Impossible

Grade: B+

The Impossible is based on the true story of a family from Spain that survived the recent tsunami, one of the worst natural disasters of our time.  Naomi Watts is the mother in this physically and emotionally challenging role – she’s already gotten a Golden Globe nomination and an Academy Award nomination and it’s well-deserved.  Ewan MacGregor is the father – and he has some heart-wrenching scenes as he desperately searches for his family.  The kids are all amazing young actors.  The whole film is technically very well done.  I was totally caught up in the drama and feeling for these people all along the way.
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05 Jan

The Imitation Game

Grade: B+

The Imitation Game is the true story of British mathematician and logician Alan Turing. During World War II he and his team helped to crack the Enigma code, a means of communication used by Hitler and the Nazis.

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Turing, and Keira Knightley plays Joan Clarke, the only woman on the team. This is a fascinating story, primarily because the character of Turling has so much going on. It seems like he’s autistic, although that is never formally addressed, it is clear that he is somewhat of a genius and socially awkward. He’s also homosexual, which at that time in history was socially unacceptable. He and  Joan become engaged, and he is honest with her about his situation. She goes along with the plan so that she can participate in the important work of cracking the code.

The machine that Turing designed during this time was likely the first computer.

Well written, wonderful performances. Worth seeing.
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05 Jan

The Illusionist

Grade: A

What a nice surprise! I didn’t expect to like this movie. From the previews, I really couldn’t tell what it was about. But let me tell you… it’s a love story! It’s marvelous! And it’s a mystery and a thriller and even a little bit of a soap opera. The effects are amazing. Edward Norton has the title role. He’s a kind of Harry Houdini with a mystical side. He comes from “common” stock and falls in love with an upper crust girl, played as a young lady by Jessica Biel. The two are separated, and then reunited as adults during one of his magic shows. But, alas, she is promised to a prince, and complications ensue. Paul Giamatti is the police investigator on the prince’s payroll. The story plays out nicely, with lots of twists and turns. And then when the pieces fall in place it’s fabulous – a great pay-off. I loved “The Illusionist!”
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05 Jan

The Hurt Locker

Grade: A

After I saw The Hurt Locker I knew it would win the Academy Award for Best Picture this year.  It has everything on the check list – great acting, an interesting premise, a tight script, and that extra something raw and real that pulls you in and makes you forget that this is a movie.  Kathryn Bigelow deservedly won the directing award for her work.  She was able to really bring out the emotion in this movie – which I think can be a challenge when you’re dealing with soldiers in uniform and all the posturing that goes on with the job they have to do.  Jeremy Renner plays the bomb specialist, a little cocky, but for good reason – he’s good at what he does and he knows it.  The relationships between the men make sense.  The big scene that really brought it all to light is when one of the men is sent home, and he feels the environment is more surreal and foreign to him than the war.  It’s a movie to talk about, and think about, long after it’s over.
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05 Jan

The House of Flying Daggers

Grade: B+

Subtitled. Beautiful Chinese movie about a Robin-Hood type of group of criminals who fight against the military. Mei is the gorgeous young martial artist who gets in the middle of it all. The cinematography is breath-taking – the martial arts moves some of the best I’ve seen for this genre. And there’s a love story! Great for a date-night. Good characters, strong story. Some cool girl power, too!
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05 Jan

The Holiday

Grade: B+

Ah, the romantic comedy!  We see too few of these.  “The Holiday” is a delightful date night movie – some might call it a “chick flick” but both my husband and my 17 year old son enjoyed it and they usually cringe at chick flicks.

Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, whose characters are both suffering from recent break-ups, decide to switch houses for two weeks over the Christmas holiday. At first there’s a little bit of culture shock, but they each settle in nicely.  They each meet men, complications ensue, they learn just how great they are as women, and there’s a happy ending.  What more could you want?  I loved it!

Cameron Diaz is darling.  She overacts a little, she’s got that goofy thing going on, but somehow it works for her.  It’s so nice to see Kate Winslet in something light.  She’s a wonderful actress, and very good at comedy.  Jude Law is Cameron’s love interest, and he’s predictably charming.  We expect him to be the cad but he ends up being a really good guy.  Jack Black is sweet and sensitive as a composer who makes friends with Kate.  He’s very attractive in this role!

The girls both do a lot of drinking in this movie – but other than that, there’s nothing objectionable for young teens.
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