Talking Pictures

Movie Reviews

The Thing

The Thing is a prequel to the 1982 film John Carpenter directed. In this story a group of Norwegian scientists discover an alien life form in the Antarctic.

As a fan of both “Thing” movies I went into this with a great deal of skepticism. However I found the film to be well paced, well acted and a tight little thriller.

Although the blood and gore levels are up, over all the special effects work well and add to the film’s momentum.

I am recommending “The Thing” with a B-. The film is rated R

The Big Year

I can really understand why a studio would back “The Big Year,” a comedy starring Steve Martin, Owen Wilson and Jack Black. They’re funny guys and each reach a different demographic.

But I just can’t reason out why the studio didn’t read the script.

Perhaps they thought with a solid comedy cast like Martin, Wilson and Black, a comedy about bird watching couldn’t lose.

They were wrong.

“The Big Year” is by far the least funny film I think I’ve seen in the last 5 years.

What a waste!

I think the studio executives who green-lighted this need a refresher course in bird watching – especially the section on spotting a turkey.

“The Big Year” gets a D and is rated PG.

Footloose

While watching this remake of the 1984 film, I kept thinking to myself “why?”

If you’re going to simply make a shot for shot copy of the original, why not just re-release the original instead. It worked for Disney’s “Lion King” and they made oodles of money to boot.

This version of “Footloose’ is lethargic at best. Miss it!

This “Footloose” gets a D its rated PG-13

Real Steel

“Real Steel” on the outset might sound like the big screen version of “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots” but nothing could be farther from the truth.

I found the film, which is based on a short story by science fiction author Richard Matheson, a wonderfully warm and human story with the “science fiction” aspects posing as only a background to the film’s plot.

Set in a future where human boxing is illegal and robots are pitted against each other, the film centers on Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), a down on his luck fight promoter who is struggling to get by.

Going from one county to the next following the robot boxing circuit, Kenton is hardly making a living when into his life lands the son he has been estranged from.

“Real Steel” is all about coming to terms with our limitations and our selves and never giving up hope in the process.

And there are some pretty cool special effects in the film to boot.

It gets a solid B and is rated PG-13.

Ides of March

George Clooney’s new film “The Ides of March” is a savvy and compelling political thriller focusing on the inner workings of political campaigning.

Although the movie itself really isn’t taking us anywhere new, it’s the performances by a stellar cast (Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood and Phillip Seymour Hoffman) that make this journey worth while.

It gets a B and is rated R

“50/50″

Billed as a comedy about cancer, “50/50” does have a sense of humor about itself. But it is not an irreverent look at dealing with the disease. In fact, it’s just the opposite as the humor shows us a very human and vulnerable aspect of coping.

And friendship.

The film is based on the true story of Will Reiser, a comedy writer who was diagnosed with cancer in his twenties and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen.

Gordon-Levitt turns in a remarkably deep performance as he makes his way (smiling) through the medical mire of biopsies, Chemotherapy and psychiatric therapy.

Likewise Seth Rogen is very watchable as the best friend who bumbles along trying to make the best out of an impossibly dark situation.

Also in the cast is Anna Kendrick, as a new therapist overwhelmed by her lack of knowledge to help her client. And Bryce Dallas Howard does a terrific turn as Gordon-Levitt’s self-centered girlfriend.

Again, please don’t think this film is in anyway making fun of a horrible situation, in fact it is one of the most sensitive and well-written statements about getting through some pretty rough patches in life.

“50/50” is one of the best films of the year.

It gets an A and is rated R

“What’s Your Number”

“What’s Your Number?” stars Anna Farris (who also produced the film) as a woman who realizes all her love relationships have been superficial and begins to reevaluate her life.

Although gratuitous in its use of language and nudity, the film does have some genuinely funny moments as Anna Farris, with the help of Chris Evans, reexamines her past relationships.

Farris is a gifted comedienne who is no stranger to the cruder side of comedy. And in “What’s Your Number?” she demonstrates she can hold her ground.

The problem with the movie is we’ve seen this all before (“Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” and “People I’ve Slept With” to name two) and can guess the outcome by the time the opening credits finish.

“What’s Your Number?” will not make you forget about “Bridesmaids” but it does have a few laughs in it.

It gets a C+ and is rated R.

“Moneyball”

The story of Billy Bean’s unconventional approach to baseball on the outset seems as if it would be as dull as an accounting seminar.

But “Moneyball” is anything but dry and lifeless.

For many of his films, Brad Pitt has never seemed to reach beyond his public persona. In “Moneyball,” Pitt reaches for that indefinable and intangible acting moment.

And succeeds.

“Moneyball” is Brad Pitt’s finest performance to date.

And “Moneyball” is one of the best films of the year.

It gets an A and is rated PG-13.

“Dolphin Tale”

Although overly simple in its plot and dialogue, “Dolphin Tale” manages to overcome its “elementary school” feel and deliver a very warm movie about caring and love.

And instead of belittling this kind of children’s movie making (as some film reviewers are doing), maybe we need more films about what one person can do. Maybe we need more films showing that hope can overcome helplessness and that no matter what size we are, we can still make a difference.

For its wide-eyed innocence “Dolphin Tale” gets a B. It’s rated PG.

Contagion

Everyone will be comparing “Contagion” with the 1995 film “Outbreak,” that starred Dustin Hoffman, Morgan Freeman and Rene Russo. And even though their plots a similar, the new film offers a more meticulous look at how the Center for Disease Control (CDC) works.

“Contagion” is actually more like those disaster film of the 1970’s like “Earthquake” or “The Towering Inferno,” using a big international cast with intersecting sub-plots.

At the center of the film is a deep and thoughtful performance by Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Ellis Cheever, the head of the CDC, who shows us a very human and humane character.

Dr. Cheever must balance his medical objectiveness with his compassion, not an easy task as everyone is dying around him.

Also worth mentioning is Matt Damon as an “every man” caught in the middle of this madness as he watches helplessly as friends, family and neighbors all succumb to the disease’s symptoms. Ultimately, his plot line boils down to the role of protector, as he is the only line between the disease and his 15 year-old daughter.

There are other solid performances by Gwyneth Paltrow, Marion Cotillard and Bryan Cranston to name a few.

I liked “Contagion” for its attention to detail and superb acting by its international cast.

It gets a B and is rated PG-13