Movie 43

Movie: Movie 43

Genre: comedy

Synopsis: This movie consisted of fourteen ‘shorts’.  Among the stars: Dennis Quaid, Greg Kinnear, Seth McFarlane, Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Live Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Anna Faris, Emma Stone, Uma Thurman, Kristen Bell, Gerard Butler. Halle Berry, and Terrence Howard.

My two cents: With this star-studded cast, I had hoped that this movie would be good.  Maybe I am getting too stodgy, but I found the majority of these shorts were funny – but eventually crossed the line and made me a bit uncomfortable.  Don’t get me wrong – a lot of it is really really funny, but it just always seemed to go a little too far for my comfort level.

[11]

Gangster Squad

Movie: Gangster Squad

Genre: drama

Synopsis: This is set in Los Angeles in 1949.  The legal system in L.A. is rife with corruption.  Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) is a Chicago mobster who has moved to L.A. and is well into his goal of controlling crime all on the west coast.  He has much of the police force, judicial system, and politicians in his pocket and is considered untouchable.  Police Chief William Parker (Nick Nolte) assigns Sgt. John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) to form a small group of trusted officers to do whatever needs to be done to put Cohen out of business – and to do this strictly off the books. What ensues is a prolonged, bloody, violent war with Micky Cohen and his gang.

My two cents: Not too well accepted by critics – but I kind of liked it.  I particularly liked the performances of Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling (as Sgt. Jerry Wooters, one of the ‘squad’), Mireille Enos (as Mrs. O’Mara), and especially Emma Stone as Mickey Cohen’s ‘moll’ and Jerry Wooter’s girl friend.

[10]

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters IMAX 3D

Movie: Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters IMAX 3D

Genre: fantasy

Synopsis: A somewhat new take on the Hansel and Gretel story.  In this one, they are abandoned by their father, get captured by a witch, kill the witch – and then go on to become professional witch-killers-for-hire.  Armed with an impressive array of weapons (from a machine-gun style crossbow to a hand-crank stun gun) they go from town to town hunting and killing witches/

My two cents: I had a lot of fun watching this movie.  The futuristic but medieval weaponry provided interesting twists.  Both Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton) are well-portrayed as bad-ass witch-killers.  The story of why they were abandoned gets answered.  I would love to see at least a sequel or two.

[9]

Zero Dark Thirty

Movie: Zero Dark Thirty

Genre: drama

Synopsis: This is the story of the ten-year long search by CIA operative Maya (Jessica Chastain) for Osama bin Laden, culminating in his death.  While the focus of others seems to waiver over time.  Maya never strays from the hunt, often having to resort to threats to her superiors in order to keep up the hunt.

My two cents: Whether or not the movie strayed from the facts, as is not claimed by some, this is an absolutely riveting movie. Jessica Chastain did a fabulous job portraying Maya.  Definitely a must-see movie.

[8]