2013 Movies I Saw (Reviewed)
Note: I do feel that there are many patches on this list that are interchangeable within their star rating.
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- DirectorAlfonso CuarónStarsSandra BullockGeorge ClooneyEd HarrisDr Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first time on a space mission, and Matt Kowalski, an astronaut on his final expedition, have to survive in space after they are hit by debris while spacewalking.4/4 It's mandatory that if you are existing that you see this movie. It's a landmark in every aspect. Theres never been anything like it. It's not even just that visually it's the most amazing thing you'll see on a screen, but it's also a celebration of existence. We should celebrate that Gravity has arrived for the world to see and guess what? It's playing in a theater near you. And if there is ever a time where you have to see a movie it's now, and it's not optional.
- DirectorSteve McQueenStarsChiwetel EjioforMichael Kenneth WilliamsMichael FassbenderIn the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free Black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.4/4 Best Picture winner. One of the most effective movies I've ever seen, 12 Years A Slave is another movie, like Gravity, that you're not allowed to miss. Steve McQueen really impresses with his mastery of the screen and unflinchingness. Certainly one of the best working directors. All of the performances are fantastic and the nominated ones, Chiwetel Ejiofer, Michael Fassbender, and Lupita Nyong'O, are all worthy of winning, and may. The film serves mostly as a document of slavery and doesn't pull you inside of the characters as much as it places you right beside them. If you don't feel anything when you walk out of the theater then you were probably at the wrong movie.
- DirectorSpike JonzeStarsJoaquin PhoenixAmy AdamsScarlett JohanssonIn a near future, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need.4/4 Woo I saw it early. Her is one of my very favorite films of the year because it is so rich in story and detail. It's the kind of movie that will have people talking and asking questions, appreciating the movie for making them do so. Her's depiction of our near future is fascinating and almost frighteningly possible. Although it is about a man falling in love with his operating system, the film still manages to speak for love and relationships on very humane, emotionally involving levels. Joaquin Pheonix creates a complex and sensitive character in one of the year's best performances and Scarlett Johansson is surprisingly captivating although only a voice. I think almost every audience member will take away something from this movie and it demands to be seen and I might even see it again.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioJonah HillMargot RobbieBased on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.4/4 More entertaining, energetic, fun, funny, and important than American Hustle, which tries to be all of those things and succeeds on a certain level but when you compare the two, it really doesn't come close. Wolf of Wall Street is an insane story brought to life through Scorsese's vibrant direction and excellent performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill. I enjoyed the film for its whole running time and was left lingering over the final shot, which added a lot to the table for me. The movie offers a statement about the distorted American Dream, and is throughout, a grand and enertaining show.
- DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsEthan HawkeJulie DelpySeamus Davey-FitzpatrickWe meet Jesse and Celine nine years on in Greece. Almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna.4/4 I like it about as much as the other two. Honestly Before Sunset is probably my favorite. It's great and it complements the others really well.
- DirectorShane CarruthStarsAmy SeimetzFrank MosleyShane CarruthA man and woman are drawn together, entangled in the life cycle of an ageless organism. Identity becomes an illusion as they struggle to assemble the loose fragments of wrecked lives.4/4 Awesomely weird and amazingly stylized. Achieves greatness because it's style is so defined and assured that we have to accept it for what it is, a visceral experience. Story is not actually too complicated but the way it's told is so abstract, it feel like a Terrence Malick film. Ultimately it's about people dealing with forces beyond their control and questions the extent of their capabilities of controlling them. But with a movie like this it's really up to the audience to decide how they feel about it, and multiple viewings come with rewards. It feels like it would come out of a later career because the style is defined to the point of flawlessness. Excellent film making.
- DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsTom HanksBarkhad AbdiBarkhad AbdirahmanThe true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.4/4 Captain Phillips is an intense, engaging, expertly crafted thriller. But what makes it great, what makes it a meaningful viewing, something that we can't get from the news is how the film humanizes the pirates. We understand that they aren't evil people, they're doing their job the same way Capt. Phillips is doing his. This sympathy along with Tom Hanks's tour de force help engage us emotionally and not just through it's thrilling thrills. Highly recommended.
- DirectorJames PonsoldtStarsMiles TellerShailene WoodleyKyle ChandlerA hard-partying high school senior's philosophy on life changes when he meets the not-so-typical "nice girl."4/4 The two main characters feel like they exist and the actors who play them are Oscar nomination worthy. The directing, the realism, and the depth keeps this from being an average romance and carries it far beyond that. Please see this movie; I will pay for your ticket. Don't see other movies until you see this movie. Please. Bye. Have fun.
- DirectorHenry Alex RubinStarsJason BatemanJonah BoboHaley RammA drama centered on a group of people searching for human connections in today's wired world.4/4 This movie seems to lack the praise that it deserves. The acting is fantastic and the story is emotionally powerful. It's also an important film about our modern technologies and the identities and feelings that it diminishes while providing a solution for it's audience. Really great.
- DirectorRyan CooglerStarsMichael B. JordanMelonie DiazOctavia SpencerThe story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008.4/4 I was transported into the world of Oscar. The director and actor seem very familiar with this world and it certainly shows. Both of them have major talents. A very sad movie that earns it's sadness by being not just about a man's death, but his strive to change his life.
- DirectorAsghar FarhadiStarsBérénice BejoTahar RahimAli MosaffaAn Iranian man deserts his French wife and her two children to return to his homeland. Meanwhile, his wife starts up a new relationship, a reality her husband confronts upon his wife's request for a divorce.Asghar Farhadi confirms himself as a master storyteller. The way he skillfully adds new information that simultaneously creates new layers of depth is miraculous and compelling. One character is never favored over another. All are given equal weight and respect, and all are equally responsible for each other's problems. All of this adds up to a conclusion that concludes as much as it leaves open. The power of the film is how it leaves you hanging with the truth that these characters will always be dealing with each other's flaws, and their own, the flaws of humanity. We've seen Asghar Farhadi do this in 2011's "A Separation" and he does it here again, and I will continue to watch whatever he does next because it's not getting old.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsHideaki AnnoHidetoshi NishijimaMiori TakimotoJiro Horikoshi studies assiduously to fulfill his aim of becoming an aeronautical engineer. As WWII begins, fighter aircraft designed by him end up getting used by the Japanese Empire against its foes.4/4 Miyazaki's film evokes a strong emotional response from its beautiful images and thematically rich story. It's a moving and meaningful work of art. The romantic storyline integrates perfectly with the main focus of the film, Jiro's desire to build beautiful aircraft. The animation captures a sense of wonder and is at times breathtaking.
Above all, there's a lot of meaning in The Wind Rises, capturing motifs of dreams, reality, and love, all of which resonate. I would agree with some others about faults in Jiro's character, but it still merits a 5 star rating. - DirectorPablo BergerStarsMaribel VerdúEmilio GaviraDaniel Giménez CachoA twist on the Snow White fairy tale that is set in 1920s Seville and centered on a female bullfighter.4/4 A wonderful cinematic treat
- DirectorJoshua OppenheimerAnonymousChristine CynnStarsAnwar CongoHerman KotoSyamsul ArifinA documentary which challenges former Indonesian death-squad leaders to reenact their mass-killings in whichever cinematic genres they wish, including classic Hollywood crime scenarios and lavish musical numbers.4/4 The Act of Killing delves deep into the psyche of criminals of humanity and shows us how they cope with their crimes. The film does not attempt to condemn the murderers, but shows us how they live with what they've done, how it haunts them, and how they justify their actions.
Anwar Congo, the central subject, is more willing than the others to slowly drop his shield, and the power of this film comes in seeing him realize before our eyes the horrors he has caused. It shows how documenting or reenacting a situation tears down one's fantastical perspective of that situation, and it's fascinating to watch these people deny reality or see it for the first time. - DirectorDestin Daniel CrettonStarsBrie LarsonFrantz TurnerJohn Gallagher Jr.A 20-something supervising staff member of a residential treatment facility navigates the troubled waters of that world alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend.4/4 Short Term 12 is a story for everyone. It contains a message for anyone who is or knows someone who has been mistreated, neglected, abused, or misunderstood. Rather than lingering on the whys of the characters' situations, it addresses the solution, and we see that answers will not always lead to the solution, and may be nonexistent.
The acting is great not only from Brie Larson, who breaks through as a major talent in a performance that is genuine and sweet, but in John Gallagher Jr, who plays her boyfriend, and Keith Stanfield, who plays Marcus. I can't go without mentioning how emotionally effecting it is, with moments that will either make you cry or drive you pretty close. I only hope that more people will see it. - DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsOscar IsaacCarey MulliganJohn GoodmanA week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.3.5/4 Inside Llewyn Davis is untraditional in structure and fairly empty on plot progression but it stands out in this way and is a movie to think about and appreciate for its tragically true portrait of a struggling artist. Technically, it's practically flawless with mastery in all fields especially the cinematography. There are lots of funny side characters that have very Coen-esque presences. The music speaks really well to the story and the audience really hangs on to some of the lyrics. The film will probably not do well with some audiences as it drags with repetition and will leave you cold, and while it's not quite one of my favorite Coen brothers films I really liked it and think it's a great addition to their filmography.
- DirectorPaolo SorrentinoStarsToni ServilloCarlo VerdoneSabrina FerilliJep Gambardella has seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades, but after his 65th birthday and a shock from the past, Jep looks past the nightclubs and parties to find a timeless landscape of absurd, exquisite beauty.3.5/4 The Great Beauty stands as one of the highlights for the year for me. It's beautiful and surreal, often touching moments of greatness. It feels like a true work of art with the swooping camera and elegant backgrounds. A cinematic feast, or rather an all-you-can-eat cinematic buffet. Certainly The Great Beauty is full of depth but I didn't quite understand it as much as I wanted to. Maybe because so much is going on, but I won't fault it because it made me want to watch it again and if I do it could turn into a really great movie.
- DirectorAlexander PayneStarsBruce DernWill ForteJune SquibbAn aging, booze-addled father makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim a million-dollar Mega Sweepstakes Marketing prize.3.5/4 With excellent craft and a surprising amount of humor for a movie that is often so desolate, Nebraska is a consistent success from Alexander Payne. Bruce Dern and June Squibb are deserving of their Oscar hype.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsDaniel BrühlChris HemsworthOlivia WildeThe merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda.3.5/4 An absolute must see. A race car ride of a movie packed with intensity, emotion, and stunning cinematography. The script is much smarter than average, delving into the psyche of it's leads and creating compelling characters with the help of great performances from the leads, especially Daniel Bruhl. Ron Howard and his cinematographer help to make every scene and every shot different and luscious. A character driven thrill ride that I recommend to anyone.
- DirectorChris BuckJennifer LeeStarsKristen BellIdina MenzelJonathan GroffFearless optimist Anna teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.3.5/4 If Disney cranks one of these out every year we won't have to worry about Pixar. Frozen is consistently entertaining and enjoyable, always making sure the story doesn't run stale. The animation is gorgeous if I do say so myself with the great looking wintery atmospheres. The songs are nice and the characters are rounded and they develop. If you're not satisfied you should be shot. But go see Frozen with the family. You probably won't should be shot.
- DirectorNat FaxonJim RashStarsSteve CarellToni ColletteAllison JanneyShy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.3.5/4 An Excellent coming of age film that is funny and touching. Performances are great all around with a sharp script that works even when it feels familiar. One of the year's finest so far. See it. See it twice.
- DirectorJ.C. ChandorStarsRobert RedfordAfter a collision with a shipping container at sea, a resourceful sailor finds himself, despite all efforts to the contrary, staring his mortality in the face.3.5/4 All is Lost is powerful, meditative, and remarkably simple. It's life and death, man and sea. As an experience All is Lost is thrilling because we are so engaged with Our Man's struggle to survive his dilemma of facing his own potential doom. It's also stunning through its visuals and is heavily reliant on them since its virtually silent.
All is Lost is really like nothing I've seen. It's a movie of broad elements like man, boat, sea, sky. There are hardly any specifics. How much it amounts to is really up to the viewer. It amounts to a 9 for me. I don't find it to be super complex but it's certainly an experience like few other that I found well worthwhile. - DirectorAlexandre MoorsStarsIsaiah WashingtonTequan RichmondTim Blake NelsonAn abandoned boy is lured to America and drawn into the shadow of a dangerous father figure. Inspired by the real-life events that led to the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks.3.5/4 Blue Caprice is a fascinating, haunting, and powerful debut film from a director whom I will certainly keep an eye out for whatever he does next. It's about people who begin to kill people and its difficult to say why or how it all happened but the randomness of it all is what makes it so haunting. The director and his cinematographer are extremely talented and the lead performances are fabulously tense, particularly Isaiah Washington. I can see this director going places and I hope he does.
- DirectorHarmony KorineStarsVanessa HudgensSelena GomezAshley BensonFour college girls hold up a restaurant in order to fund their spring break vacation. While partying, drinking, and taking drugs, they are arrested, only to be bailed out by a drug and arms dealer.3.5/4 This movie is insane. It's not the party flick that it appears to be, but rather an art house exposure to the distorted American Dream in our youth culture. I enjoyed walking out of the theater thinking, "what the *beep*," and enjoyed hearing other people say the same thing.
- DirectorThomas VinterbergStarsMads MikkelsenThomas Bo LarsenAnnika WedderkoppA teacher lives a lonely life, all the while struggling over his son's custody. His life slowly gets better as he finds love and receives good news from his son, but his new luck is about to be brutally shattered by an innocent little lie.3.5/4 One of the most engaging movies in recent memory. A fantastically paced drama that acts as a thriller with an amazing performance from Mads Mikkelsen. Watch it.
- DirectorJean-Marc ValléeStarsMatthew McConaugheyJennifer GarnerJared LetoIn 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is diagnosed with the disease.3.5/4 Has an inspiring message told through simplicity. The presentation from the director is well done and Matthew McConaughey's performance makes it twice as enjoyable. One of those movies about standing up and doing the right thing but it's a good one of those.
- DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsMichael DouglasMatt DamonScott BakulaA chronicle of the tempestuous six-year romance between megastar singer Liberace and his young lover Scott Thorson.3.5/4 Extremely solid efforts from Soderbergh and the two leads. A master class. Gives an engaging look into the somewhat twisted lives of these men, yet we sympathize with them every moment. If you think it's too gay for you then you're missing out on a great story performed by masters.
- DirectorTerrence MalickStarsBen AffleckOlga KurylenkoJavier BardemAfter falling in love in Paris, Marina and Neil come to Oklahoma, where problems arise. Their church's Spanish-born pastor struggles with his faith, while Neil encounters a woman from his childhood.3.5/4 To The Wonder is the story of a couple trying to sustain a loving relationship. It's a Terrence Malick film, so it's told largely though it's visual poetry with minimal dialogue. You'd probably only know what to expect if you've seen or heard of Tree of Life. While TTW is not the masterpiece that TOL is for numerous reasons, it's still an affecting piece about the fear, attraction, lust, and commitment that a loving relationship inevitably entails. To The Wonder might lack a wholly satisfying and climactic conclusion, but it's still well worth watching to witness the internal struggles of it's couple because it has a strong grasp on feelings and questions about love.
- DirectorEdgar WrightStarsSimon PeggNick FrostMartin FreemanFive friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from twenty years earlier unwittingly become humanity's only hope for survival.3.5/4 Entertaining all the way through. Simon Pegg is fantastic and the supporting cast is all solid. The humor doesn't miss even though it's not usually hilarious because it always adds to the tone. The action is surprisingly well filmed and coherent. I felt that some of the end felt off but nonetheless a very fun and goofy movie.
- DirectorJeff NicholsStarsMatthew McConaugheyTye SheridanJacob LoflandTwo young boys encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the vigilantes that are on his trail and to reunite him with his true love.3.5/4 Mud has a unique independent feel to it and a strong sense of atmosphere. The story and performances make it really engaging because there is depth to it all but also delivers many thrills. Though the end felt too hollywood-esque for the rest of the film, it's still definitely worth the watch.
- DirectorAbdellatif KechicheStarsLéa SeydouxAdèle ExarchopoulosSalim KechioucheAdèle's life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire and to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adèle grows, seeks herself, loses herself, and ultimately finds herself through love and loss.3.5/4 I can't really say why I didn't love it or how much I liked it. It may grow on me.
- DirectorNicole HolofcenerStarsJulia Louis-DreyfusJames GandolfiniCatherine KeenerA divorced woman who decides to pursue the man she's interested in learns he's her new friend's ex-husband.3.5/4 Enough Said is almost guaranteed to leave you satisfied as it's enjoyable throughout with a smart and honest script and two wonderful lead performances bound for Golden Globe nominations.
- DirectorRama BurshteinStarsHadas YaronYiftach KleinIrit ShelegWhen the older sister of Shira, an 18-year-old Hasidic Israeli, dies suddenly in childbirth, Shira must decide if she can and should marry her widowed brother-in-law, which also generates tensions within her extended family.3/4 Fill The Void is about people who don't fully understand their decisions and why they make them. A relatively simple story of marriage and choice that provides a social commentary about Israeli society, though a little forgettable.
- DirectorSarah PolleyStarsMichael PolleyJohn BuchanMark PolleyA film that excavates layers of myth and memory to find the elusive truth at the core of a family of storytellers.I didn't come away feeling like I learned a whole bunch but I thought it was a very good exploration on the nature of storytelling and I liked it was good.
- DirectorSofia CoppolaStarsKatie ChangIsrael BroussardEmma WatsonInspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes.3/4 Stylish and fascinating. Emma Watson and the lead boy showcase worthy talents. The movie purposely asks more questions about celebrity obsession than it answers because the protagonists have no better explanations for it's existence then we do. I couldn't help but want a little more out of the story and I expect a lot of people will feel the same way, but this may be part of Coppola's point, that there's no more to it. There is clearly a master present behind the camera and for that it gets bonus points.
- DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsChristian BaleAmy AdamsBradley CooperA con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive partner Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild F.B.I. Agent, Richie DiMaso, who pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and the Mafia.3/4 Everyone on the poster is great especially Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper, but that's not to say everyone else isn't worth mentioning. The characters are the best part of the movie and watching them mingle and argue with each other is always entertaining. As far as the plot goes, it's pretty crazy and very watchable, though a bit confusing at least for me. It's fun and entertaining but I don't think it's THAT fun and entertaining. The characters are really what made the movie for me. When it ended I didn't feel that it had an important message and it won't leave me thinking much. I didn't think it had the same level of entertainment as Silver Linings Playbook, which I also thought had more depth. American Hustle still has a good amount of energy, but the great characters and performances make it a very good watch.
- DirectorSebastián LelioStarsPaulina GarcíaSergio HernándezDiego FontecillaA story set in Santiago and centered on Gloria, a free-spirited older woman, and the realities of her whirlwind relationship with a former naval officer whom she meets out in the clubs.The lead performance is so vital to the film, in the way that Cate Blanchett carried Blue Jasmine, Paulina García's is always filled with repression and peculiar reactions and expressions that we are always provoked to think about the film beyond the surface level.
That being said, I think the film is mostly, but not entirely successful. It's about a middle aged woman having a self revolution and the film suggests the keys or solutions to succeeding in one. From what I took away, it seems that Gloria finds her happiness in independence, which I liked and thought worked, yet it doesn't seem like she overcomes all of her character flaws. - DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsJennifer LawrenceJosh HutchersonLiam HemsworthKatniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.3/4 It is more focused on the characters internal struggles than the first, giving us a consistently layered story. The dystopian society is even more prominent and there are more emotional stakes. The film as a whole benefits from this because it's more entertaining and has a fair amount of depth.
The major setback for me was that the movies conclusion seemed cut short due to the whole having to have a sequel. I thought it could have been more satisfyingly climactic. The first film had a similar issue. But I am more excited than I was with the last one as to where the next film will go. I just hope they won't end it with too much still on the plate, and I fear that they might since they're cutting the novel in half. But this installment is an exciting improvement overall. - DirectorNicolas Winding RefnStarsRyan GoslingKristin Scott ThomasVithaya PansringarmJulian, a drug-smuggler thriving in Bangkok's criminal underworld, sees his life get even more complicated when his mother compels him to find and kill whoever is responsible for his brother's recent death.3/4 The film has to shoot itself in the foot to exist but I'm glad it does. The world Refn creates engulfs its characters so that there is little humanity present, which is necessary for what the film is trying to go for, but it dooms itself in a way because of this. The ambition to create such a project is high. There's been nothing like it and I can see it being considered a failed experiment. The style overbears. It's sometimes slow, but often entrancing and violent with great cinematography and a great score. There is deeper territory, mostly metaphorically but it's not enough to leave us thinking a whole lot, especially with the absent human element. But it's so unique a film that I give it it's credits.
- DirectorDavid LoweryStarsRooney MaraCasey AffleckBen FosterThe tale of an outlaw who escapes from prison and sets out across the Texas hills to reunite with his wife and the daughter he has never met.3/4 A very strong tone piece with impressive visuals, though a little empty on substance.
- DirectorCarlos ReygadasStarsNathalia AcevedoAdolfo Jiménez CastroRut ReygadasJuan and his urban family live in the Mexican countryside, where they enjoy and suffer a world apart. And nobody knows if these two worlds are complementary or if they strive to eliminate one another.There's something kind of incredible about this film even though I don't really know what it is. Many scenes seem to have nothing to do with one another and don't come together linearly or in meaning. We can pick up on some of the motifs here, such as childhood vs adulthood, but even then we aren't able to decide what exactly is meant. Scenes are always visually stunning and we never forget that we're watching a piece of art. Your enjoyment of this movie depends on how much you're willing to accept it for what it is. I think it's a beautiful, one-of-a-kind, challenging piece, even though I wish it would come together a little more for me.
I do enjoy movies like this, I'm not just liking it out of pure admiration. It's exciting for me to watch films like this stretch the boundaries of their art form. - DirectorScott McGeheeDavid SiegelStarsJulianne MooreAlexander SkarsgårdSteve CooganIn New York City, a young girl is caught in the middle of her parents' bitter custody battle.3/4 The story is unique because it's from the perspective of Maisie and stays with her even though what we see is different from what she does. It ended up being fairly predictable which took away the emotional impact for me that the movie tries to get at, but is still a very good watch.
- DirectorJohn Lee HancockStarsEmma ThompsonTom HanksAnnie Rose BuckleyAuthor P.L. Travers reflects on her childhood after reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.3/4 A sweet and well acted movie that is smarter than I expected. Not too deep to be particularly memorable.
- DirectorDerek CianfranceStarsRyan GoslingBradley CooperEva MendesTwo men and their sons must deal with the unforeseen consequences of their actions.3/4 The filmmaking and ambition is undeniable, but the film falls short on making much of a statement.
- DirectorDan ScanlonStarsBilly CrystalJohn GoodmanSteve BuscemiA look at the relationship between Mike Wazowski and James P. "Sully" Sullivan during their days at Monsters University, when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.3/4 It's fun and entertaining for the whole family. Grab the kids and take paps along, too. It's not premium Pixar but it doesn't feel like a let down. It lacks some originality but there's plenty of character to make up for it. A worthy prequel.
- DirectorWoody AllenStarsCate BlanchettAlec BaldwinPeter SarsgaardA New York socialite, deeply troubled and in denial, arrives in San Francisco to impose upon her sister. She looks like a million dollars but isn't bringing money, peace or love.3/4 Cate Blanchett is amazing and the rest of the cast is all solid. She already won the Golden Globe. It's flawlessly directed, funny, and well developed like many Woody Allen films, though it's message doesn't hit as hard as it could.
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsAlexis DenisofAmy AckerFran KranzA modern retelling of Shakespeare's classic comedy about two pairs of lovers with different takes on romance and a way with words.3/4 If you're in the mood for Shakespeare, or even if you're just looking for something different, Much Ado About Nothing should satisfy you with it's charm and classy looks. The acting and directing hold up the story well by making it entertaining even when you're not exactly sure how to translate what's going on. Like most Shakespeare, if you're not an avid reader of his you might be lost for the first couple decaminutes but then it bounces back and gets fun.
- DirectorStephen FrearsStarsJudi DenchSteve CooganSophie Kennedy ClarkA world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman's search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent.3/4 The characters are lively and pleasing to watch due largely to the performances, especially Judi Dench. The emotional moments are handled well by the director, getting enough kick without being gushy or forceful. Overall it's a pleasing movie for old people. It didn't feel like it amounted to that much for me as a whole but it was nice and mostly enjoyable.
- DirectorAdam WingardStarsSharni VinsonJoe SwanbergAJ BowenWhen the Davison family comes under attack during their wedding anniversary getaway, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of the victims harbors a secret talent for fighting back.3/4 This is a fun time. It's not a serious movie so it's easy to just enjoy people getting killed. There is a lot of dark humor and It's sometimes really funny. A good movie to watch with friends because you can laugh at it and also be scared.
- DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsIdris ElbaCharlie HunnamRinko KikuchiAs a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot and a trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse.3/4 The movie isn't just big and ridiculous. It's really big and really ridiculous and it knows it. It feels like it's adapted from a comic. The human touch works and gives the film enough to work with outside of the action even though we don't get any real character development. But everyone is here for the action and it certainly delivers.
The action is always big and sometimes giddily ridiculous. I really loved one scene about an hour & 30 minutes in that is really satisfying because it takes full advantage of the movie's size. However, this scene is not topped in the final battles because those lose the giddy feel. I also wished that it could have been less murky at times. Some shots are hard to decipher because there's tons of water and it's dark and rainy. But the visual effects are impressive and there's some humor that's actually funny and reliving. An impressive spectacle. - DirectorEvan GoldbergSeth RogenStarsJames FrancoJonah HillSeth RogenSix Los Angeles celebrities are stuck in James Franco's house after a series of devastating events just destroyed the city. Inside, the group not only have to face the apocalypse, but themselves.3/4 Funny movie that audiences will enjoy
- DirectorNoah BaumbachStarsGreta GerwigMickey SumnerAdam DriverA New York woman apprentices for a dance company and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as the possibility of realizing them dwindles.3/4 An enjoyable indie flick with lots of charm. The central character is well developed and performed but it's hard to tell what the movie wants to say about her.
- DirectorHaifaa Al-MansourStarsWaad MohammedReem AbdullahAbdullrahman Al GohaniAn enterprising Saudi girl signs on for her school's Koran recitation competition as a way to raise the remaining funds she needs in order to buy the green bicycle that has captured her interest.3/4 It's a nice movie.
- DirectorDavid Gordon GreenStarsPaul RuddEmile HirschLance LeGaultTwo highway road workers spend the summer of 1988 away from their city lives. The isolated landscape becomes a place of misadventure as the men find themselves at odds with each other and the women they left behind.3/4 I sensed some very original filmmaking here but I couldn't put it together into anything great. It had moments that made me with I was connecting more with the story. I'd be willing to accept that it's just me. I can't tell if it's over my head or if there just isn't that much there. But I thought it good.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsHugh JackmanJake GyllenhaalViola DavisWhen Keller Dover's daughter and her friend go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads and the pressure mounts.3/4 Prisoners is very well shot and acted, making it above all else, an engaging thriller. However I didn't come out of the theater thinking much about it. It doesn't seem to demand much contemplation and felt more like stuff that happened. Some plot elements felt unnecessary because of a screenplay that's a little messy. If it weren't for the directing, cinematography, and acting, this might have been a bad movie. But those made it absorbing and watchable so it's not bad.
- DirectorJames WanStarsPatrick WilsonVera FarmigaRon LivingstonParanormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse.3/4 It has many modern horror elements and it's a little disappointing to not see it go into unexplored territories but it does everything well and with style. I didn't feel that the end was too frightening; not in the way that parts at the beginning were, which were. Some cool camera work and scares that feel earned make it worth seeing, especially if you're into horror movies.
- DirectorLee DanielsStarsForest WhitakerOprah WinfreyJohn CusackAs Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man's life, family, and American society.3/4 The movie has a lot of decades that it spans and is mostly engaging but the scope is often for the sake of scope. The history around the film feels bigger than the actual story at times. The butler doesn't actually do that much. It has some very good moments and some moments where I wondered if they were necessary and some actors who I wondered why were in it. But it has enough hull and enough of a message to pull it through successfully.
- DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsRooney MaraChanning TatumJude LawA young woman's world unravels when a drug prescribed by her psychiatrist has unexpected side effects.3/4 Soderbergh is the reason to watch this. There is a hypnotic atmosphere that works really well, however I felt that the story was weakened by twists that while working with the plot, were all surface, and the only thing to really come away with.
- DirectorJem CohenStarsMary Margaret O'HaraBobby SommerEla PiplitsWhen a Vienna museum guard befriends an enigmatic visitor, the grand Kunsthistorisches Art Museum becomes a mysterious crossroads that sparks explorations of their lives, the city, and the ways in which works of art reflect and shape the world.3/4 We feel the director's passion for art above all else. The film is about a way of viewing and appreciating our surroundings as if it were art and people that internalize everything they see. I think that the director has an excellent eye for how a shot can add levels of meaning that words can't, and we see this in every frame. This almost faults the film, however, because it's so heavily reliant on the visuals to interpret the film, that interpretations are likely to become misconstrued and it is therefore difficult to connect the visuals in this film and hard to find meaning.
There's not really much narrative progression or character motivation, which makes the film tedious at times. It's not very compelling because the characters don't learn anything and neither does the film. It only gives the audience a new perspective, which is nice, but it doesn't work much as a story and is hard to deconstruct. - DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsMia WasikowskaNicole KidmanMatthew GoodeAfter India's father dies, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her unstable mother. She comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives and becomes increasingly infatuated with him.3/4 The movie is nuts. The acting and directing makes this a unique and crazy experience, but it's story becomes so odd that it's not crazy in a particularly satisfying way (like say, Killer Joe) but comes off as sort of pretentious. I enjoyed the style so I liked it, though.
- DirectorBaz LuhrmannStarsLeonardo DiCaprioCarey MulliganJoel EdgertonA writer and wall street trader, Nick Carraway, finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his mysterious millionaire neighbor, Jay Gatsby, amid the riotous parties of the Jazz Age.2.5/4 A mixed goody-bag is the best way to put it. Serves no justice to the substance of the novel, only of the party age. It's often too hyper though elegant to watch but only to a certain extent. The story actually becomes interesting behind the flash but the substance is only brought out in the audiences memories of the book. I'm so mixed I can't tell weather I liked it or not. Was it a good movie? Not really. Did I enjoy it? Kind of.
- DirectorDanny BoyleStarsJames McAvoyRosario DawsonVincent CasselAn art auctioneer mixed up with a group of criminals partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting.2.5/4 I was thrilled for most of the movie but then it lost me with it's many twists because it pulled me out of the story and I was no longer really engaged on quite a few levels. With all that twisted it's hard to look back on the movie as a whole because all that I enjoyed from the first two thirds seems wasted.
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsBrad PittMireille EnosDaniella KerteszFormer United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop a zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatens to destroy humanity itself.2/4 The movie feels composed of familiar elements from films of similar genres. It's rarely original or engaging because there isn't much to latch on to and the characters aren't more than props. It feels like a video game at times.