Talking Pictures

Movie Reviews

The Adventures of TinTin

Based on the very popular comics by Hergé, “The Adventures of TinTin” is Spielberg’s 3D animated film following a young newspaper reporter looking for a treasure hidden for over 400 years.

Although the animation is really well done, the story itself is a bit lackluster. I think TinTin should have been more edgy and more thrilling. The film, by midpoint, sags and begins to run out of gas and just doesn’t have any momentum left to carry the plot to the movie’s end.

Like a really fine painting of a steak, “The Adventures of TinTin” is great to look at but there’s no cinematic nourishment to be had.

It gets a C+ and is rated PG

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

A taught and brutal thriller, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” focuses on a 40-year case involving a young woman’s disappearance.

Director David Fincher uses the characters like chess pieces moving each one with the care and precision of a grand master until every move is realized.

Both Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara work remarkably well together. Their performances are almost effortless, as they are insightful.

“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” does have its faults. I found the brutal nature of some of the scenes very uneasy, making me think the film should have garnered an NC-17 rather than the R which it is rated.

The film gets a B+ and is rated R.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

“Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” is Tom Cruise’s 4th time as Ethan Hunt, the IMF’s (Impossible Mission Force’s) best man.

This time, Hunt is basically on his own as the IMF has shut down after the Secretary disavowed the team for bombing the Kremlin, an act Hunt is claiming he is not responsible for.

Being disavowed is a major problem.

Anyway the team must not only prove their innocence, but they need to convince the Russians America is still the good guys.

“Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” is more like the old TV series than the previous films. The plot relies mostly on cunning and brains, rather than cool gizmos. And brains and cunning are needed when those cool gizmos begin to fail the mission, and the agents are left to think on their feet.

Sharing the screen with Tom Cruise is Simon Pegg who’s character Benji, (who was introduced in Mission Impossible 2) has been given a promotion to field agent. Pegg supplies most of the film’s lighter moments but even the comedy in the film adds to the plot’s tension.

Also in the film are Paula Patton and Jeremy Renner. Patton and Renner seem to be being groomed to take over the franchise if the film series continues.

Director Brad Bird (best known for directing the animated features Wall-E and The Incredibles) really understands why the original TV show was so popular and successfully combines action with intrigue.

Overall “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” is a good “popcorn muncher” and deserves a B. It’s rated PG-13.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Robert Downey Jr. re-teams with Jude Law as Holmes and Watson in the latest Warner release, “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.”

In the new film, Holmes goes up against his arch nemesis, Professor James Moriarty, played by Jared Harris. The two “cat and mouse” each other as the good Professor spins his web of evil throughout Merry Old England.

Calling the shots, once again, is Guy Richie, who digs deep to find the pacing needed to bring this to its proper boil. Richie’s use of camera, slow motion and compression actually works better here than it did in the first film.

“Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” balances itself well between its stars and although Robert Downey Jr. is the primary force for the plot, Jude Law’s Dr. Watson has several well-placed key moments as well.

Overall, I am betting you’ll like this sequel as much (if not more) than the first outing.

I’m giving “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” a B. It’s rated PG-13.

New Year’s Eve

Garry Marshall’s new ensemble film “New Year’s Eve” is so formulaic you could feed a baby with it.

With one terrible vignette after another, the film blindly panders itself into a cinematic oblivion. And it’s not that the film isn’t trying, in fact it over does it to the extent Marshall has rope burns from trying to tug at your heartstrings so hard.

Then there’s the problem of a cast that doesn’t seem to be involved in their roles. Most of the performances were so lackluster I kept thinking the switchboard at the studio must have blown out from all these actors phoning their performances in.

In fact the funniest line isn’t even in the film, it’s an outtake during the film’s credit roll, and that’s way too long to wait for a laugh.

Look, I like a good romantic comedy, but this one was far too cliché and annoyingly simple-minded for my tastes so that by the final reel “New Year’s Eve” made me wish the Mayans were right about their calendar.

“New Year’s Eve” gets an F and is rated PG-13

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

John le Carré’s cold war spy drama isn’t one of those suave super secret agent films. Le Carré penned his best selling novel, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” about the brilliant and unassuming master spies that were the real intelligence gatherers during the 60’s.

The story was the subject of a BBC mini series but now it’s given the big screen treatment with Gary Oldman and Colin Firth in the lead roles.

It seems a mole, who has buried himself deep with in the British Secret Service, has been selling information and it’s up to retired agent George Smiley to find out who he is.

“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” is a meticulously well-crafted slow-paced espionage thriller and doesn’t need to rely on gizmos, fast cars or tuxedos. The film is all about the “slow build” and paces itself accordingly.

I am not sure if most audiences will appreciate the subtle performances by Oldman and Firth, but if you like a good old fashioned “pot boiler,” this film is for you.

It gets a B and is rated R.

The Artist

The Artist

The Artist is simply one of the best films I’ve seen all year.

An amazing piece of storytelling, directing and acting as each frame of this film is a wonderful surprise and a feast for the senses.

The Artist gets an A and is rated PG-13.

My Week With Marilyn

Based on the memoirs of Colin Clark, a studio employee who spent a week with Marilyn Monroe as she was shooting the film “The Prince and the Showgirl” London with Sir Laurence Olivier.

Michelle Williams passionately takes on the role of Marilyn Monroe. William’s performance is not an “imitation’ of the Hollywood icon, but rather, a real understanding of how Marilyn was divided by fame and who she was when the cameras stopped flashing.

In a very strong and well paced turn as Colin Clark, the young studio intern who befriends the biggest star in the world, actor Eddie Redmayne gives us a truly 3 dimensional performance.

I liked “My Week with Marilyn” for its desire to be something more than a cheesy biopic.

It gets a B+ and is rated R.

The Muppets

The plot of the new “Muppets” movie is an old one borrowed from a dozen 40’s movies like “Babes in Arms” and “Strike Up The Band.”

In their newest outing, the Muppet Theater is going to be sold and The Muppets must get together one last time to save it from the bulldozer.

On board for the fun are Amy Adams and Jason Segel (who also co-wrote the screenplay) as a pair of small town dreamers who come to Hollywood to find their idols.

The Muppets are still as corny and as silly as we remember them, which makes the film a wonderful throwback and completely enjoyable for the whole family.

I’m giving “The Muppets” a B.

It’s rated PG

Hugo

“Hugo” is all about an orphaned boy living in a train station in 1930’s Paris. Holding onto the memory of his clock-maker father, Hugo begins to unwind a mystery about his father’s favorite possession, an intricate automaton in the shape of a man.

“Hugo” begins with breathtaking 3D animation bringing the audience into director Martin Scorsese’s Parisian world. But as the story begins to unfold, the audience begins to realize the film is all glitter.

The film, unfortunately, bogs down so much all the beautiful artwork in the world couldn’t make it interesting for the viewer. And by mid-film the audience is completely lost.

Not helping are overly subdued performances by Ben Kingsly, Sacha Baron Cohen and especially Asa Butterfield, who seemed to be sleep walking through every scene.

I think audiences will enjoy the scenery of the film more than the performances or the plot, which is why “Hugo” gets a C. It’s rated PG