Al's Top Rated Films: 2012
I haven't seen too many movies from 2012, but there is some excellent picks involved! Once again, Quentin Tarantino takes my top spot.
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- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJamie FoxxChristoph WaltzLeonardo DiCaprioWith the help of a German bounty-hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner in Mississippi.Fantastic modern day take on a spaghetti western from Quentin Tarantino. The story is set just a couple years before the Civil War in 1858 Texas, and follows a black slave by the name of Django who's being led through the dark woods by the slave-trading Speck Brothers who just purchased him and three other slaves. They are approached by a sophisticated German bounty-hunter named Dr. King Schultz who poses as a dentist, and wants to purchase Django because he knows the Brittle brothers from the former plantation he was enslaved on, and can help him track them down, kill them, and collect the bounty on them. He ends up freeing Django in thrilling fashion, and they set off on their hunt to find the Brittle brothers. As time moves on, Schultz learns that Django is a natural born killer and decides to partner up with him as they spend the winter knocking off bad men and collecting bounties, while becoming great friends in the process. After the snow melts, Schultz agrees to accompany Django down to the brutal plantation in Mississippi known as "Candyland", where they plan to ingeniously rescue Django's slave wife, Broomhilda von Shaft. This is my favorite western, and one of the best revenge stories of all-time. Tarantino's take and tweak on historical events is always superb, and this film delivers in every way. The production design, cinematography, wardrobe, horse training, gun action, and special effects were all top-notch. Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz arguably deliver their all-time greatest lead performances, and my personal favorites from both. Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and Kerry Washington also had fantastic starring roles. Walton Goggins, Don Johnson, Laura Cayouette, Dana Gourrier, Escalante Lundy, Dennis Christopher, James Remar, James Russo, David Steen, Franco Nero, Tom Wopat, Don Stroud, Bruce Dern, M.C. Gainey, Cooper Huckabee, Jonah Hill, Michael Parks, John Jarratt, Quentin Tarantino, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleTom HardyAnne HathawayEight years after the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman is coerced out of exile with the assistance of the mysterious Selina Kyle in order to defend Gotham City from the vicious guerrilla terrorist Bane.Tremendous conclusion to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. I'd have to say it's my favorite film in the bunch. Epic story that takes place 8 years after the death of Harvey Dent, finding the city at peace—until a new enemy from The League of Shadows named Bane starts terrorizing the city. Meanwhile, the mystifying Catwoman lures Bruce out of hiding after 8 years, forcing the Batman to reemerge to save Gotham from the mass destruction of an atom bomb controlled by Bane. Christian Bale delivers an incredible lead performance once again. Anne Hathaway was great as Catwoman, and Tom Hardy was fantastic as Bane. Gary Oldman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and several others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsDenzel WashingtonNadine VelazquezDon CheadleTroubling questions arise after airline pilot Whip Whitaker makes a miracle landing after a mid-air catastrophe.Fantastic drama/thriller from Robert Zemeckis about an airline pilot named Whip Whitaker that employs gutsy and unorthodox maneuvers to miraculously save 96 lives in a horrific plane crash after the plane encounters a severe mechanical problem and starts to dive—all while under the influence of cocaine and alcohol. A thorough investigation is taken into the incident as Whip struggles with curbing his drug and alcohol addiction, as well as struggling with his conscious as incriminating evidence presents itself, and he's pressured to lie about his problems. Incredible story and beautifully done throughout. Denzel Washington delivers one of my all-time favorite performances. Kelly Reilly, Bruce Greenwood, Don Cheadle, John Goodman, Tamara Tunie, Brian Geraghty, James Badge Dale, Peter Gerety, and others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorStephen ChboskyStarsLogan LermanEmma WatsonEzra MillerCharlie, a 15-year-old introvert, enters high school and is nervous about his new life. When he befriends his seniors, he learns to cope with his friend's suicide and his tumultuous past.Outstanding coming-of-age drama from Stephen Chbosky about an introverted, impressionable, and troubled 15-year-old named Charlie who's dreading his freshman year of high-school to the point he's counting the 1,386 days it will take to reach graduation. His pain stems from the suicide of his best friend (to whom he still writes letter too) and other troublesome incidents his his childhood. No matter how much pain he's in, he refuses to show that side to his family or close friends in fear of alienating himself. With some luck and determination, two eccentric and popular seniors named Patrick and Sam with a close-knit group of friends helps Charlie break out of his shell and confront his demons. Superb story and excellent dialogue throughout. This film tackles some very serious topics like homosexuality, suicide, severe depression and anxiety, among other controversial topics. It's definitely not your average coming-of-age high school teen drama, and it makes it that much more special. Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller all delivered fantastic lead performances. Nina Dobrev, Kate Walsh, Mae Whitman, Paul Rudd, Adam Hagenbuch, Erin Wilhelmi, Dylan McDermott, and others had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorDavid AyerStarsJake GyllenhaalMichael PeñaAnna KendrickShot documentary-style, this film follows the daily grind of two young police officers in LA who are partners and friends and what happens when they meet criminal forces greater than themselves.Excellent documentary-style action crime drama David Ayer. It's really quite unique among the genre. Great story that follows the lives of two brave and determined South Central Los Angeles street cops where violence is erupting between the Latino and Black gangs. When they make some big drug and human-trafficking busts, the Mexican cartel puts out a hit on both of them for interfering with their business, putting their lives in grave danger. Jake Gyllenhaal is one of my favorite actors, and he put on one of his very best performances. This is the first major lead role I've seen from Michael Peña, and I've become a huge fan. He was great, and they both had great chemistry together. Natalie Martinez, Anna Kendrick, David Harbour, Frank Grillo, America Ferrera, and others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsBradley CooperJennifer LawrenceRobert De NiroAfter a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.Hilarious romantic comedy drama about a former teacher who is released from a mental health institution after 8 months of therapy following a violent episode with his girlfriend. Even though she has a restraining order against him, he is determined to win her back at any cost. When he meets a troubled and eccentric girl named Tiffany, it challenges him mentally as they form a friendship and bond leading up to a dance competition, which helps them both move forward with their lives. Bradley Cooper was superb, as was Jennifer Lawrence's Oscar winning performance. Their great interaction together really made the film great. Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver were also great as the parents. Chris Tucker, John Ortiz, Anupam Kher, Shea Whigham, Julia Stiles, Paul Herman, and others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJay RoachStarsEd HarrisJulianne MooreWoody HarrelsonGovernor Sarah Palin of Alaska becomes Senator John McCain's running mate in the 2008 Presidential election.Fantastic historical biopic from Jay Roach that closely examines the Republican Senator John McCain's 2008 Presidential election campaign. Since it was the year for Barack Obama, the Republican party had to make a bold game-changing move in order to compete with Obama's celebrity status and fame. Conservative Alaska governor Sarah Palin is chosen as the vice president nominee, and is instantly loved by the public. However, trouble comes into play as her validity and capability to be president are questioned when she is found to be clueless about foreign relations, war, and other social topics. Julianne Moore (Sarah Palin), Woody Harrelson (campaign strategist Steve Schmidt), and Ed Harris (John McCain) all deliver some of the best lead performances of their careers. Sarah Paulson, Peter MacNicol, Jamey Sheridan, Ron Livingston, and many others had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDaniel Day-LewisSally FieldDavid StrathairnAs the Civil War rages on, U.S President Abraham Lincoln struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on his decision to emancipate the slaves.Excellent historical biopic from Steven Spielberg set in 1865, about Civil War-era president Abraham Lincoln and his struggles to pass the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery. He's confronted with the decision to end the war early and save thousands of lives, or to work and wait to obtain enough votes from Congress to end slavery and the war at the same time. Daniel Day-Lewis arguably delivers his finest performance to date. His transformation was superb. Sally Field, David Strathairn, Tommy Lee Jones, David Costabile, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, John Hawkes, Jackie Earle Haley, Bruce McGill, Tim Blake Nelson, Joseph Cross, Jared Harris, and many others had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorStacy PeraltaStarsTony AlvaSteve CaballeroFred DurstWhen six teenage boys came together as a skateboarding team in the 1980s, they reinvented not only their chosen sport but themselves too - as they evolved from insecure outsiders to the most influential athletes in the field.Fascinating and superbly done documentary. If you're into skateboarding, I don't think there's another documentary that could represent the history of the sport better. Great story that follows skateboarder and film-maker and Stacy Peralta as he assembled an immensely talented team of 6 skate-boarders that helped popularize the sport in the 1980s. Tony Hawk, Mike McGill, Tommy Guerrero, Steve Caballero, Rodney Mullen, Stacy Peralta, and George Powell are all represented greatly with awesome early footage and interviews. Even if you aren't that into skate-boarding, it's a great watch all the way through.
- DirectorJohn EdgintonStarsSyd BarrettJoe BoydVenetta FieldsRoger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Richard Wright and others tell the story of the creative process of the album "Wish You Were Here", released in September 1975.Fantastic documentary from John Edginton, and a must-see for Pink Floyd fans from. It maps out the story for their 1975 classic album "Wish You Were Here", which was largely inspired by early former member Syd Barrett. Being the follow-up to "The Dark Side Of The Moon" (1973), they were at the top of their artistic and critical acclaim. Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Richard Wright, and others deliver great interviews and stories, as well as some behind-the-scenes that examine the master tapes and how the songs were constructed.
- DirectorMartin McDonaghStarsColin FarrellWoody HarrelsonSam RockwellA struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu.Excellent comedy crime drama/thriller from Martin McDonagh that follows a heavy-drinking Irish screenwriter named Marty who's working on a movie script called "Seven Psychopaths". His wild and unpredictable best friend Billy runs a dog kidnapping business with his old Polish friend, Hans. One day Billy and Hans steal a Shih Tzu that belongs to a ruthless gangster named Charlie. Once Charlie's men track down Billy and Hans, it puts all of their lives at risk as Charlie and his men work to track them down. Meanwhile, Marty works on his script which reveals details of fourth-coming events, which coincides with a big secret Billy is hiding that reveals a thrilling plot-twisting ending. This film was so cleverly done. Great cinematography, editing, production, and hilarious comedy. I don't think the cast could have been any better. Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, and Woody Harrelson all delivered some of their very best lead performances. Tom Waits, Linda Bright Clay, Kevin Corrigan, Zeljko Ivanek, Abbie Cornish, Harry Dean Stanton, James Landry Hébert, Long Nguyen, Amanda Warren, Olga Kurylenko, Michael Pitt, Michael Stuhlbarg, Gabourey Sidibe, and others also had great supporting roles.
- StarsKevin CostnerBill PaxtonMatt BarrDramatization of the bitter blood feud between the two families on the West Virginia/Kentucky border in the years after the Civil War.Bloody historical drama that maps out the spiteful feud between the Hatfield and McCoy McCoy families on the West Virginia/Kentucky border. Devil Anse Hatfield and Randall McCoy were close friends until near the end of the Civil War until Randall accuses Devil Anse of being a coward for fleeing from the Confederate army during the Civil War. That sets off a series of misunderstandings and bouts of hateful tension between them, resulting in over 60 killings/deaths between the two families. This is technically a 3-part miniseries, but actually plays like a 5-hour epic film. Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton deliver arguably their finest roles ever. They were both fantastic. Matt Barr, Tom Berenger, Powers Boothe, Andrew Howard, Jena Malone, Sarah Parish, Lindsay Pulsipher, Mare Winningham, and many others had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorGary RossStarsJennifer LawrenceJosh HutchersonLiam HemsworthKatniss Everdeen voluntarily takes her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games: a televised competition in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to fight to the death.Awesome sci-fi action adventure to kick off the epic 4-movie Hunger Games saga. Great story about a televised competition set 135 years in the depressing a tyrannical future, in which two teenagers from each of twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to fight to the death until there is only one survivor. It's setup as a punishment for revolt, and to keep the public scared and "entertained" while these young people train to fight a horrifying and deadly battle. The story revolves 17-year-old Katniss Everdeen from District 12 after she volunteers to take her sisters place when she was chosen to fight. Jennifer Lawrence delivers an excellent and iconic lead performance. Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravitz, Amandla Stenberg, Dayo Okeniyi, Leven Rambin, Jack Quaid, Alexander Ludwig, Isabelle Fuhrman, Willow Shields, Wes Bentley, and others had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorYaron ZilbermanStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanChristopher WalkenCatherine KeenerMembers of a world-renowned string quartet struggle to stay together in the face of death, competing egos, and insuppressible lust.Fantastic music drama from Yaron Zilberman that follows the members of a world-renowned string quartet, who've shared an amazing 25-year run together. Cellist Peter Mitchell is the oldest member of the group, and becomes diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The pain, worry, and fear of the future's quartet is immediately questioned, and sets off a domino effect of insults that stem from past baggage, bruised egos involving who will lead the band, and infidelity. After so much damage has been done, they must decide if keeping the quartet together is worth it, especially to tribute their dear friend and bandmate, Peter. Excellent drama with great dialogue and acting from the entire cast. Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Mark Ivanir all delivered fantastic lead performances and had great chemistry together. Imogen Poots also had a great starring role among a great supporting cast.
- DirectorScott McGeheeDavid SiegelStarsJulianne MooreAlexander SkarsgårdSteve CooganIn New York City, a young girl is caught in the middle of her parents' bitter custody battle.Excellent drama set in New York City and follows a 6-year-old girl named named Maisie who quietly suffers while her selfish parents constantly fight and argue, and are largely focused on their careers rather than being parents. When they finally get divorced, her father gets sole custody after a spiteful battle, which increases drama as they share custody of Maisie. Maisie has the best relationship with her young, beautiful, and caring nanny Margo, and her father ends up marrying her. This upsets her mother, who quickly goes out and gets married to a young bartender named Lincoln. As Maisie's parents become more self-centered and distant, Margo and Lincoln become loving and important parental-type figures in her life as she struggles for love and stability. Fantastic story with great dialogue and a complex set of characters. Onata Aprile, Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgård, and Joanna Vanderham all delivered excellent lead performances. Steve Coogan also had a great starring role among a solid supporting cast.
- 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.Excellent drama from Jeff Nichols set on the river banks of Arkansas (approximately 1980s), and follows best friends Ellis and Neckbone, who are both 14-years-old, very smart and handy, and love the freedom of the river. One day they boat to a seemingly nearby deserted island to find a boat that they heard was stuck up in a tree, when they run into a man that's living in the boat and on the island. His name is Mud, and he's a fugitive who's wanted for murder, and he claims to be waiting for his lifelong love Juniper to meet her so they can make their escape. Ellis and Neckbone feel sympathy for the man and believe he's a good person, and do everything they can to help him get in touch with Juniper, bring him food, and help him rebuild the boat in the tree so he can make a clean getaway. However, when the family of the man Mud murdered tracks him and Juniper down, the situation turns very dangerous for everyone involved. Matthew McConaughey delivered one of his best lead performances. Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland also played their roles perfectly, and great starring roles. Reese Witherspoon, Ray McKinnon, Sarah Paulson, Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon, Joe Don Baker, Paul Sparks, and Bonnie Sturdivant also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsJonah HillChanning TatumIce CubeA pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring.Hilarious action-packed crime comedy about a couple of young and immature cops who are sent undercover as high school students to investigate and take down a synthetic hallucinogenic drug ring that's killing the kids who are abusing it. Hilarious mishaps happen along the way as they recreate their former high school selves as opposites of who they used to be. The mentality of modern school students was also very cleverly done as well. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum both deliver a couple of their best lead performances. Ice Cube, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle, DeRay Davis, Dax Flame, Nick Offerman, Johnny Depp, and many others had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorBen AffleckStarsBen AffleckBryan CranstonJohn GoodmanActing under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979.Excellent biopic from Ben Affleck about "ex filtration" specialist Tony Mendez who goes undercover as a Hollywood film producer of a staged science fiction film in an attempt to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979. Ben Affleck delivers a great lead performance, and also does a great job directing. Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham, Kerry Bishé, Titus Welliver, and others had great roles among a solid supporting cast.
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonEarth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.Excellent action-packed Marvel adventure that follows the director of the agency S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury, who's team is studying a mysterious gateway to a new world called Asgard know as the Tesseract. When Loki (adopted brother of Thor) steals the Tesseract and destroys S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, he plans to harness all of its power to rule Earth. Therefore, Nick Fury is forced to build a team by bringing the Avengers together to save the world. All in all, probably the best Avengers film with the best best and most detailed story arcs. Visually stunning and an easy and entertaining story to follow throughout. Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (The Hulk), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgård, Gwyneth Paltrow, and many others had excellent performances.
- DirectorRobert LorenzStarsClint EastwoodAmy AdamsJohn GoodmanA daughter tries to remedy her dysfunctional relationship with her ailing father, a decorated baseball scout, by helping him in a recruiting trip which could be his last.Great sports drama that follows the troubled relationship between an aging veteran baseball coach for the Atlanta Braves and his partially estranged daughter. When he comes down with vision problems and must drive to North Carolina for an important scouting trip, she takes time out of her hectic lawyer lifestyle to accompany him and hopefully sort out their flawed relationship in the process. Meanwhile, a deceitful colleague named Phillip works to get him fired, as he tries to weasel his way into the General Manager position. Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, and Justin Timberlake all delivered great lead performances and worked great together. John Goodman, Matthew Lillard, Chelcie Ross, Raymond Anthony Thomas, Ed Lauter, Bob Gunton, Jay Galloway, Joe Massingill, and others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorSeth MacFarlaneStarsMark WahlbergMila KunisSeth MacFarlaneJohn Bennett, a man whose childhood wish of bringing his teddy bear to life came true, now must decide between keeping the relationship with the bear, Ted or his girlfriend, Lori.Hilarious comedy from Seth MacFarlane (creator of Family Guy) about a young boy who wishes for his teddy bear (Ted) would come to life, and it comes true 30 years later as an adult. He and faces all sorts of funny challenges with his 'best friend' as he must choose between his girlfriend and Ted. It's a silly premise, but hilariously done throughout. Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, and Seth MacFarlane (as Ted) all deliver excellent lead performances. Giovanni Ribisi, Joel McHale, Patrick Warburton, Matt Walsh, Jessica Barth, Aedin Mincks, Bill Smitrovich, and others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorDaniel BarnzStarsViola DavisMaggie GyllenhaalHolly HunterTwo determined mothers, one a teacher, look to transform their children's failing inner city school. Facing a powerful and entrenched bureaucracy, they risk everything to make a difference in the education and future of their children.Great drama about two mothers (one being a teacher) who work to transform their failing inner-city Pittsburgh elementary school after the system has failed their children. The process is difficult, and they are met with challenges from the teachers, the parents, the school board, and the deceptive workings of the teachers union. Very inspirational story with nice characters throughout. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis both deliver great lead performances. Oscar Isaac, Holly Hunter, Emily Alyn Lind, Rosie Perez, Dante Brown, Lance Reddick, Bill Nunn, Ving Rhames, and others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorBobby FarrellyPeter FarrellyStarsSean HayesChris DiamantopoulosWill SassoWhile trying to save their childhood orphanage, Moe, Larry, and Curly inadvertently stumble into a murder plot and wind up starring in a reality television show.Very underrated comedy from Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly (The Farrelly Brothers). I've always been a huge Three Stooges fan, so this was a no-brainer for me when it finally dropped. While many Three Stooges fans didn't care for this movie, I thought all the actors nailed their parts, and the story was solid throughout. Sean Hayes (Larry), Will Sasso (Curly), and Chris Diamantopoulos (Moe) all had great leading performances and portrayed the the original trio nicely. Jane Lynch, Sofía Vergara, Jennifer Hudson, Craig Bierko, Stephen Collins, Larry David, Kirby Heyborne, Carly Craig, Kate Upton, and many others had great very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorRich MooreStarsJohn C. ReillyJack McBrayerJane LynchA video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.Hilarious video-game inspired comedy adventure about a lonely character named Wreck-It Ralph that's been playing the villain in the same video game for 30 years, and desperately wants to become a hero of a game so he can be liked and loved as much as his hero, Fix-It Felix. When a first-person shooter game arrives to the arcade, he successfully sneaks into the game in hopes of fulfilling his dreams, as a chaotic and hilarious adventure follows. John C. Reilly voiced Ralph perfectly; delivering one of his finest lead performances. Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Mindy Kaling, Raymond S. Persi, and many others had great voice roles among a solid supporting cast.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsJoaquin PhoenixPhilip Seymour HoffmanAmy AdamsA Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future - until he is tantalized by the Cause and its charismatic leader.Powerful drama from Paul Thomas Anderson about a struggling World War II Naval veteran who struggles with violence, sex obsession, and alcoholism, among many other things; and comes to form a relationship with captivating cult-leader Lancaster Dodd, and his radical religious ideals. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Amy Adams all deliver excellent lead performances. Rami Malek, Jesse Plemons, Ambyr Childers, Christopher Evan Welch, Laura Dern, and others had nice supporting roles.
- DirectorKathryn BigelowStarsJessica ChastainJoel EdgertonChris PrattA chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L.s Team 6 in May 2011.Fascinating drama/thriller about the hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and the Navy S.E.A.L.s team that tracked him down in May of 2011. The film is well done overall, but at nearly 3 hours in length, it could have definitely been trimmed down a bit. Jessica Chastain delivered a great lead performance. Jason Clarke, Reda Kateb, Kyle Chandler, Mark Strong, James Gandolfini, Chris Pratt, Jennifer Ehle, Yoav Levi, Scott Adkins, Lauren Shaw, Jessica Ann Collins, Fredric Lehne, and others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorTony GilroyStarsJeremy RennerRachel WeiszEdward NortonAn expansion of the universe from Robert Ludlum's novels, centered on a new hero whose stakes have been triggered by the events of the previous three films.Very nice and unconventional sequel to the Bourne spy/mystery franchise. This time the directions comes from the series writer Tony Gilroy, and follows a new black ops agent named Aaron Cross, after Jason Bourne mysteriously goes missing following the exposure delicate research about multiple secret intelligence agencies. Cross is on a training exercise in the Alaskan wilderness and is running out of "chems" which enhances his mental and physical traits while also keeping him alive. But after the corrupt men in charge of these agencies find they have been compromised, they attempt to shut down the program and kill everyone involved to keep their secrets. While I have been a fan of the Bourne series, I simply avoided this one for a long time since Matt Damon was not the star. Looking at it as a stand-alone film, it's a solid story the great action and a nice cast all around. Jeremy Renner delivered a great lead performance. Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton also had great starring roles. Stacy Keach, Donna Murphy, Zeljko Ivanek, Scott Glenn, Oscar Isaac, Albert Finney, David Strathairn, Joan Allen, and others also had solid supporting roles.
- DirectorJason MooreStarsAnna KendrickBrittany SnowRebel WilsonBeca, a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school's all-girls singing group. Injecting some much needed energy into their repertoire, The Bellas take on their male rivals in a campus competition.Great music-inspired comedy from Jason Moore that follows an aspiring music producer and freshman at Barden College named Beca, who's only attending because her father (also a Barden professor) is paying her way so she can see how great college can be. He quickly pushes her to join an extracurricular activity, and she chooses to join the all-girls a cappella singing group named The Barden Bellas. The mismatched group face several hilarious debacles as they work their way to becoming champions of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella competition. The story was very funny and the cast delivered great performances, but I personally didn't care for 90% of the music. If I had, this movie would be rated higher. It's definitely a film for those of a younger generation who are mainly into pop music. Anna Kendrick delivered an excellent lead performance. Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson, Alexis Knapp, Skylar Astin, Adam Devine, Ben Platt, Ester Dean, Hana Mae Lee, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, and others also had great roles.
- DirectorDaniel EspinosaStarsDenzel WashingtonRyan ReynoldsRobert PatrickA young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge.Solid action-packed thriller that follows a rookie CIA agent who's given the monotonous task of being a safe house keeper, and desperately wants to be transferred so he can see some real action. He ends up seeing plenty of action once an infamous rogue CIA agent shows up at his safe house after going missing for 9 years, and it comes under attack due to the fugitive having extremely valuable information. The two men find themselves on the run to save their lives and take down corruption. Denzel Washington delivers a great lead performance as usual. Ryan Reynolds is also one of my favorite actors, but his character was more serious than expected, and the interaction with Denzel could have been a lot better. Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Rubén Blades, Nora Arnezeder, Robert Patrick, and others also has very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorSteve MartinoMichael ThurmeierStarsRay RomanoDenis LearyJohn LeguizamoManny, Diego, and Sid embark upon another adventure after their continent is set adrift. Using an iceberg as a ship, they encounter sea creatures and battle pirates as they explore a new world.Solid sequel in the Ice Age saga of comedy adventures. After a large-scale continental storm hits and breaks the ice over the water; Manny, Diego, and Sid are set adrift on a giant iceberg. It's another great adventure as they run into other sea creatures and pirates looking to capture them. Ray Romano, Denis Leary, and John Leguizamo all deliver great lead voice performances as usual. Peter Dinklage, Jennifer Lopez, Aziz Ansari, Nick Frost, Josh Gad, Queen Latifah, Joy Behar, Alain Chabat, Drake, and many others had nice supporting roles.
- DirectorAdrian GrunbergStarsMel GibsonKevin BalmoreDaniel Giménez CachoA career criminal nabbed by Mexican authorities is placed in a tough prison where he learns to survive with the help of a young boy.Solid crime thriller about a criminal and getaway driver who's caught by Mexican authorities with over $2 million in his vehicle, and is sent to the brutal El Pueblito prison, where a quick-witted 10-year-old boy helps him survive, and attempt to escape with the money the authorities stole from him. Mel Gibson delivered a nice lead performance, even if it isn't one of my favorites from him. Kevin Balmore, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Jesús Ochoa, Dolores Heredia, and others had nice supporting roles.