Man on a Ledge

Movie: Man on a Ledge

Genre: thriller

Synopsis: Nick (Sam Worthington) was a cop.  He was convicted of stealing a diamond from a wealthy real estate developer, David Englander (Ed Harris).  Nick claims he was framed.  He manages to escape custody and winds up on a ledge outside a room on the 21^st floor of a hotel – where he is threatening to jump.  At his request, Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks) – a police negotiator – is brought in to talk to him.  It turns out that Nick is up to a lot more than just standing on the ledge.  He is carrying out a last-ditch plan to prove his innocence.

My two cents: I really liked this movie.  Although some of the feats carried out to make good Nick’s escape and carry out his plan were a bit hard to swallow – whey seemed like they belonged in a Mission Impossible movie – this movie worked for me.  I always like Elizabeth Banks.  The characters were interesting – I especially liked Nick’s brother’s girlfriend, Angie (Genesis Rodriguez) – and not just because she is soooo beautiful.  She really livened up every scene she was in.

[17]

A Separation

Movie: A Separation

Genre: drama

Synopsis: This is an Iranian film with English subtitles.  It is a tough one to describe. Nader’s wife, Simin, has left him.  She has managed to get all of the necessary paperwork for them to move to America.  Nader is balking because he does not want to leave his father, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s.  When he hires woman, Razieh, to take care of the house during the day, problems arise due to the conflict between the strict restrictions of Islam and the reality of a woman caring from a man with Alzheimer’s.  It turns out Razieh is pregnant and loses her baby following an emotional and physical conflict with Nader.  They end up in court with Nader accusing Razieh of theft and Razieh beign charged with murder for the death of her unborn child.

My two cents: I had misgivings about this movie – but actually enjoyed it.  Especially fascinating was the look it provided at the Iranian justice system.  It is also an interesting look a life in a culture that strictly adheres to the teachings of Islam.  Nobody is quite as innocent as you think and nobody is quite a guilty as you think.  My favorite character was Nader’s daughter, Termeh.  Termeh is around 12 years old.  She is very quiet and studious.  She watches what goes on around her and is trying to understand the discrepancie between what she sees and what the people involved say has happened.  She does not seem to want to face the reality that they are mostly a bunch of liars. All the while, she is also struggling with the breakup of her parents.

If you don’t mind a lot of subtitles, this movie should prove to be pretty interesting.

[16]

Carnage

Movie: Carnage

Genre: drama

Synopsis: This is an unusual movie – more like a play and a movie.  For 98% of the movie, there are only four characters: Penelope and Michael Longstreet (Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly) and Nancy and Alan Cowan (Kate Winslet and Christopher Waltz).  The couple’s sons were in an altercation which resulted in the Cowan’s son knocking striking the Longstreet’s son with a stick and breaking some teeth.  The two couples are meeting to discuss how to handle the encounter.  The meeting begins with everyone being excessively polite – but this does not last long.  Soon everyone is screaming at and insulting everyone else.

My two cents: I saw this because I could not pass up seeing these four actors (one Oscar nominee and three Oscar winners) going at it.  It is hysterical to watch.  For example Penelope is a master of passive aggressive.  She seems unable to say anything without a veiled insult being part of each sentence.  If you like great dialog, do not pass up this movie.

[15]

The Grey

Movie: The Grey

Genre: drama

Synopsis: Ottway (Liam Neeson) is a professional hunter.  His current job is in Alaska where he has been hired to shoot wolves before the wolves kill oil workers.  When a plane he is on crashes in the arctic, he is one of seven to survive the crash.  The only other living thing in the area seems to be a pack of wolves – who view the men as meals.  The movie follows the men as they try to make their way to safety while battling the elements as well as the wolves.  Everything builds to a face-off between Ottway and the alpha male of the wolf pack.

My two cents: A really good movie.  Lots of intense action.  These wolves look they would intimidate Cujo. After watching the struggle of these men to survive the conditions in the Arctic, I may never get the urge to fly over snow again.  Liam Neeson was great. There is a scene in which he is comforting a man who is dying that is unlike any I have ever seen.  Note – if you see this movie do not leave before the end of the credits.  There is a final scene that, although probably less than 10 seconds in length, you will NOT want to miss.  Pay very close attention.

[14]

One for the Money

Movie: One for the Money

Genre: comedy-crime

Synopsis: The movie is based on the first book (same name) of the Stephanie Plum book series by Janet Evanovitch.  Stephanie (Katherine Heigl) is a New Jersey Girl who has been out of work for six months.  In desperation, she takes a job as a bounty hunter.  What Stephanie lacks in bounty hunter skills, she makes up for in gumption and determination.  She is determined to bring in Joe Morelli (Jason O’Mara).  Joe is a disgraced cop who was arrested for murder – but skipped bail.  Stephanie’s real motivation is that she lost her virginity to Joe when in they were in high school – and he never called afterwards.  Ranger (Daniel Sunjata) is a veteran bounty hunter who takes her under his wing.  She becomes friends with a hooker (Sherri Shepherd) who becomes an informant.  Added to the mix are Stephanie’s parents and her colorful grandmother (Debbie Reynolds).

My two cents: I have not yet read any of the series, but I loved this movie.  Katherine was great in the lead and as much as I hate to admit it, Sherri Shepherd was pretty good as an overweight hooker.  This is the kind of movie you just sit back and enjoy.  Not a lot of drama, but good for a lot of laughs.  I hope this is the first of many.

[13]

The Iron Lady

Movie: The Iron Lady

Genre: biography

Synopsis: The movie is told in a series of flashbacks by the current Margaret Thatcher – who unfortunately suffers from Alzheimer’s.  It follows her from when she was a young girl working in her father’s grocery store through her years at Oxford and on with her entry into politics and into her years as Prime Minister.  Thatcher was played by Meryl Streep.

My two cents: Meryl Streep was amazing in her transformation into Margaret Thatcher.  The movie was interesting from a historical perspective, but on the whole I was a bit disappointed.  It just never really grabbed me.  The plight of Margaret Thatcher is pretty sad – going from one of the most dominating political figures in the world to being stricken with Alzheimer’s is truly tragic to watch.

[12]