The Big Year

Movie: The Big Year

Genre: comedy-drama

Synopsis: A “Big Year” is when a birder sees how many species of birds he/she can sight in one calendar year.  This is based on an actual “Big Year”.   Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson) is the reigning American record holder in birding – with over 700 species sighted in one calendar year.  Brad Harris (Jack Black) is a 36 year-old divorcee who lives with his parents.  He lives for bird-watching.  His father (Brian Dennehy) considers Brad to be a loser and his hobby a complete waste of time.  Brad decides to attempt a “Big Year” on a tight budget while holding down a full-time job.  Stu Preissler (Steve Martin) is a wealthy company owner who has just retired for the 2^nd time.  He is determined to fulfill his dream of doing a “Big Year”.  Over his wife’s (Rosamund Pike) vehement objections, Kenny also decides to do another “Big Year”.  The movie follows the three throughout the year as Kenny puts birding ahead of everything – including his wife, Stu tries to put his career behind him, and Brad tries to reconcile with his father and to start a relationship with another birder.

My two cents: A really fun movie. Owen Wilson plays a great jerk, Jack Black and Steve Martin were also great..  The movie gave a peek inside the world of birding.  The encyclopedic knowledge of these birders is amazing.  I also enjoyed the ending.  Definitely a movie worth seeing.

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The Ides of March

Movie: The Ides of March

Genre: political drama

Synopsis: Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney) is campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination.  His campaign manager is Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and his media guru is Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling).  Along for the ride is a campaign volunteer, Molly Stearns (Evan Rachel Wood) and Ida Horowicz (Marisa Tomei) – a political reporter.  Paul is in the campaign to win – period.  Stephen is in it because to truly believes in the candidate.  Stephen is considered the best media guy in the country and has a great future ahead of him.  Things start getting derailed when he meets Molly.  Then he makes a politically unforgivable mistake.  Stephen’s idealistic outlook takes a severe beating in what follows.

My two cents: Some great acting – but I felt the movie did not quite come together as well as it could.  But – this is still a really good movie.  The acting alone really makes it worth your time.  I think Ryan Gosling is way overdue for an Oscar – he is just great.   The transformation of his character from an idealistic campaigner to a jaded man who will do what he needs to get ahead is great to watch.  I think my favorite scene is at the end of the movie when Stephen gets on an elevator and turns to face Ida (the reporter) who exclaims – “but I thought we were friends”.  Stephen says nothing – but the expression on his face is worth a thousand words.  Don’t pass up this movie – the acting by all of the main characters is outstanding.

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The Thing

Movie: The Thing

Genre: sci-fi / horror

Synopsis: This is a remake of the 1982 movie of the same name starring Kurt Russell which was a remake of the 1951 movie “The Think from Outer Space” which starred a young James Arness as the “Thing”.  An Antarctic science mission discovers a space ship that crashed 100,000 years ago.  When they investigate, they discover that not everyone on the ship died.  The survivor is able to replicate any organic being.  It becomes a race to identify whose identity the Thing has assumed before everyone is killed off.

My two cents: A pretty decent horror flick.  It was a bit much to think that something that survived in a spaceship crash opted to stay buried for 100,000 years rather than fly out . . . and the whole replication thing is a bit much.  But if you get past that, this movie should keep your adrenaline flowing.

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Real Steel IMAX

Movie: Real Steel IMAX

Genre: Sci-fi / drama

Synopsis: Set several years in the future, Charlie (Hugh Jackman) is a washed up boxer.  He is a bit of a loser who tries to support himself with robot boxing matches.  His only real friend is the owner of a gym he hangs out at – Bailey (Evangeline Lily).  Circumstances – and Charlie’s greed – conspire to convince Charlie to take temporary custody of his son, Max (Dakota Goyo).  Max is 11, but Charlie has not seen him since he was an infant.  It turns out Max is a bit of a genius with computers. Charlie and Max work together to put together a former sparring robot who is way more successful than anyone expects. 

My two cents: This was a really good movie. There were an awful lot of parallels to the original Rocky movie.  It is also the story of a father trying to figure out what it means to be a father and to make a connection with his son.  Definitely a movie worth seeing . . . and if you can see it in IMAX, so much the better.

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Dream House

Movie: Dream House

Genre: Horror

Synopsis: Will Atenton (Daniel Craig) has just quit his job so that he and his wife, Libby (Rachel Weisz), and their two daughters can move to the country.  After they get into their new house, mysterious things start happening.  When Will does some investigating, he learns that the house has been vacant since a grisly murder occurred in it.  He learns of the murder from his neighbor, Ann (Naomi Watts).  When he follows some leads Will learns something that rocks his world.  To say more would give too much away.  For the rest of the movie Will tries to come to grips with the implication of what he has learned – with some assistance from Ann.

My two cents: A pretty decent horror film.  It kept my interest all the way to the end.  My only beef is with the trailers for the movie that gave away entirely too much of the plot.  I would have loved to have been surprised by the revelation Will has – but the trailer had already given it away.

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