True Grit (2010)

Movie: True Grit (2010)

Cast:    Jeff Bridges (Rooster Cogburn)
Matt Damon (LaBoeuf)
Hailee Steinfeld (Mattie Ross)

            Josh Brolin (Tom Chaney)

Genre: Western

I saw it on: December 23, 2010

Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross is town to collect the remains of her father.  Her father was murdered by the evil Tom Chaney.  Mattie hires the U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn to track down Chaney and bring him to justice.  Cogburn is old, over-weight and drinks too much – but he is for hire and has a reputation for ruthlessness that convinces Mattie he can do the job.  Rooster is less than happy that Mattie expects to accompany him.  He tries unsuccessfully to ditch her, then is resigned to her accompanying him.

Texas Ranger LaBoeuf has been tracking Chaney for over a year for the murder of a Texas politician.  He offers his services to Mattie, who turns him down.  He strikes a separate deal with Cogburn and joins the two of them in hunting Cheney.  Things get a bit dicey during the hunt, with a number of shootouts culminating in a showdown/shootout between Cogburn and four members of Chaney’s gang.

My two cents: A good old fashioned western.  Jeff Bridges makes a great Rooster Cogburn.  I was particularly impressed with Hailee Steinfeld (Mattie Ross) – she was only thirteen when this film was shot.  I would imagine for someone her age it would be a bit intimidating to work with two Oscar winning actors.  If she was intimidated, Hailee hid it pretty well.  I thought she put in a great performance and more than held her own in the movie.

The depiction of the west was definitely grittier (no put intended) than most westerns.  I get tired of westerns where the worst the cowboys get is little dusty, and usually but manage to look like they just got dressed in new clothes and had a shower and shave.  In this movie, you have to wonder how many months it has been since Cogburn has changed his clothes.  It was also nice to see that not all good guys always hit what they shoot at.

I don’t really remember much from the John Wayne True Grit, but I think it would probably rank as a little better than this one.  That said, I had a lot of fun with this movie.  The dialogue is especially enjoyable.  It makes you realize just how much a movie can be improved with great dialogue. There are a lot of laughs to be had.  I found myself looking forward to the next exchange between Mattie and whoever had the misfortune to cross verbal swords with her.

Tron: Legacy: 3D IMAX

Movie: Tron: Legacy: 3D IMAX

Cast:    Jeff Bridges (Kevin Flynn / Clu)

            Garrett Hedlund (Sam Flynn)

            Olivia Wilde (Quorra)

            Bruce Boxleitner (Alan Bradley / Tron)

            Michael Sheen (Castor / Zuse)

Genre: Sci-Fi

I saw it on: December 21, 2010

Synopsis: In this sequel to the 1982 Tron, we start with a flashback to 1989 with Kevin Flynn telling his son Sam a story before he leaves for work – never to return.  Back to the present.  ENCOM, founded by Kevin before he disappeared, is now the largest gaming/software company in the world.  Kevin’s son Sam is the largest shareholder in the company, but only shows up once a year. 

Kevin’s former partner, Alan Bradley, gets a page from Kevin’s old office in Flynn’s Arcade – vacant for 20 years.  Alan convinces Sam to meet him at the arcade.  Sam gets there first and finds the equipment his father used 20 years earlier.  He pushes some buttons and the next thing he knows is he has been sucked into the Grid.

Sam is immediately captured by Clu.  Clu is a renegade program written by Sam’s father.  Clu has taken over control of the Grid and is plotting to escape to the real world and taking control of it.  Sam is rescued by a friend of his father - Quorra.  Quorra takes Sam to reunite with his father.  The rest of the film follows Sam and his father as they try to defeat Clu and escape from the Grid and get back to our world.

My two cents: I kind of feel the same way I did about the original.  Fabulous special effects, but the basic premise takes a really big jump of faith.  The fighting and action sequences were great fun.  The IMAX speakers really enabled you to feel the action.  The 3D effects were also first rate.  Olivia Wilde was a nice addition to the cast.  Michael Sheen was unforgettable as Zuse – although I had to check the credits afterwards to figure out it was him.

If you liked the original, you are sure to like this one.  It is a little like Lost – you are going to get a headache if you spend too much time trying to make sense of this movie; you are better off just sitting back and enjoying the music and action.

The King’s Speech

Movie: The King’s Speech

Cast:    Colin Firth (Prince Albert, later King George VI)

            Helena Bonham Carter (Queen Elizabeth – wife of King George VI)

            Michael Gambon (King George V)

            Guy Pierce (Prince Edward, later King Edward VIII)

            Geoffrey Rush (Lionel Logue)

Genre: Historical Drama

I saw it on: December 20, 2010

Synopsis: The movie opens with King George V making his Christmas speech over the radio in the 1920’s.  When his younger son – Prince Albert – tries to make a public speech, we find that he suffers from a near-crippling stammer.  We find later that he has had this steamer since a very early age.  We also learn that Prince Albert’s loving wife (Elizabeth, the mother of the future queen) is trying to find a way to help him with his stammer/  To this end, she convinces him to try Lionel Logue – a therapist with rather unconventional methods.  Although Lionel is able to help him some, he and the Prince part ways following an argument.

Meantime, we learn that Prince Albert’s older brother (Edward, Prince of Wales) is the next in line for the crown.  Unfortunately, performing his official duties is not high on Edward’s list of things to do.  He is more interested in having fun, especially with the soon-to-be twice-divorced Wallis Simpson. 

Finally things come to a head when King George V dies and the Prince of Wales becomes King Edward VIII.  Albert tries, unsuccessfully, to convince him to take his duties seriously. When the King makes it clear that he intends to marry Wallis Simpson, the crisis has arrived.  Rather than give up Simpson, the King decides to forsake his monarchy and abdicates the throne.

Now Albert, so to be crowned King George VI, goes back to Lionel.  He has to overcome, or at least gain some control over, his stammer in time for the coronation.

My two cents: This is a fabulous picture.  I knew nothing about Edward other than he abdicated the thrown.  If this movie is as accurate as it seems, Britain was better off without Edward.  It is heartbreaking to watch Prince Albert’s struggle with his stammer.  It turns out that both his father and brother made fun of him growing up.  He was terrified of public speaking, but had to face the prospect of addressing the entire British Empire (which comprised 25% of the world’s population at the time).  The kind of pressure he faced and struggled with is almost inconceivable.  And he never tried to shirk his duties.

The interaction between Lionel and Albert is great to watch.  Lionel insisted they be on a first name basis.  He was Lionel and the Prince was to be “Bertie”.  Lionel’s family was kept in the dark as to the identity of his mystery patient.  The scene where his wife comes home unexpectedly to find the Queen of England in the waiting room and the King in her husband’s study is priceless.

I also loved the relationship between Albert and Elizabeth.  You could tell they truly loved each other and that Elizabeth was also Albert’s best friend.  She is instrumental in convincing him to go to Lionel.  It is also great fun to watch the love both of them have for their children – and feel free to show it.  This is all something I have never seen any sign of with the current royal family.

This movie is definitely a must-see.  I predict a best picture Oscar nomination for the movie and a best actor nomination for Colin Firth.  In my humble opinion, Colin Firth is the finest actor on the big screen right now.

All Good Things

Movie: All Good Things

Cast:    Ryan Gosling (David Marks)

            Kirsten Dunst (Katie Marks)

            Frank Langella (Stanford Marks)

Genre: Drama, mystery

I saw it on: December 19, 2010

Synopsis: Based (more or less) on fact, the movie opens in the 1970’s where Stanford Marks is the imposing patriarch of the Marks family empire – which owned literally half of Times Square.  David is the older of his two sons and has not interest in joining the family business.  He falls in love with Katie.  They marry and move to Vermont to run a small store.  Stanford puts pressure on David who finally caves.  He and his wife move back to New York and he joins the company.

It turns out that the family business includes some less-than-reputable (if not illegal) sources of income.  Around this time, David starts showing another not-so-nice side of himself.  Katie is not sure what is happening to him.  Things start going downhill fast, culminating with Katie disappearing, never to be found.  The film follows what comes after Katie’s disappearance, including a re-opening of her case 20 years later.

My two cents: I was a little frustrated with this movie – I could not decide if it was trying to be a documentary, a docu-drama or just an “inspired by true events” movie.  It was also frustrating trying to figure out what was factual and what was speculation.  Regardless, this film had great performances by Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst and Frank Langella.  The movie I most identify Ryan Gosling with is “Las and the Real Girl”.  It was chilling to see Gosling with the facial expression of the sweet-natured Lars while the Jekyll side of his personality was in charge.  His coldness and lack of visible emotion makes his outbursts even more disturbing.  You really felt for poor Katie who was definitely in over her head.  She really had not chance. 

Although I think the movie could have been put together better and more coherently, I think it was well worth the time. I am just frustrated that somehow I never heard or read about any of this when it was happening.  It is considered the most notorious unsolved murder in New York history.

Cropsey

Movie: Cropsey

Directors: Barbara Brancaccio, Joshua Zeman

Genre: Documentary

I saw it on: December 19, 2010

Synopsis: “Cropsey” is apparently name used frequently along the Hudson river valley used to denote the local bogeyman: “Don’t go into the woods at night, Cropsey will get you.”, “Don’t go near that abandoned mine, Cropsey will snatch you” . . . that sort of thing.  The film’s directors were raised on Staten Island to stories about the Cropsey of Staten Island.

In 1987, Jennifer Schweiger, a 13-year old with Down Syndrome, disappeared.  After an intensive search, her body was buried in the woods.  Andre Rand was a drifter living in the woods nearby.  He was ultimately arrested and convicted of kidnapping Jennifer – but not of murdering her.  Fast forward to the 2000’s and Andre Rand is getting within shouting distance of the end of his prison sentence.  A District Attorney decides to charge him with another kidnapping from the 80’s.

The two directors of this film explore some of the spooky areas of Staten Island – such as an enormous former mental facility.  They give a lot of background material and origins of the “Cropsey” legneds.  They then examine Andre Rand and five kidnappings from the 70’s and 80’s and attempt to dig up fresh information and to try and determine if Andre Rand really was the  legendary “Cropsey” of Staten Island or if he was just a convenient scape goat.

My two cents: Not to be overly blunt, but I found much of this film to be a load of crap.  Much of it reminded me of some of the over-sensationalized “documentaries” you find on cable channels.  Way too much quoting of “some say” or “an anonymous letter”.  What really did me in was when they decided to take the camera into one of the buildings on the abandoned 300+ acres of the former mental hospital.  They decide to go in after dark with a hand-held camera, presumably so we can get all scared?  Nothing inspired by the filing technique of Blair Witch Trials, of course. 

I will admit that some of the history of Staten Island was pretty interesting.  The rest of the movie was as if these two directors were rookies who really should have had some kind veteran documentarian to steer them in the right direction. 

I looked this movie up in Rotten Tomatoes and was shocked to see that 90% of critics liked it and 65% of viewers liked it. I must be missing something.

How Do You Know

Movie: How Do You Know

Cast:    Reese Witherspoon (Lisa)

            Paul Rudd (George)

            Owen Wilson (Matty)

            Jack Nicholson (Charles -  George’s father)

            Kathryn Hahn (Annie)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

I saw it on: December 18, 2010

Synopsis: Lisa is a professional softball player facing a career crisis.  George is an honest businessman facing a federal investigation due to actions by his overbearing father.  He is also recently made unattached by his former girlfriend.  Matty is a major league pitcher who is infatuated with Lisa.  He brings new meaning to the word “shallow”, but thinks he is showing great growth as a person.  Lisa and Matty’s relationship is not exactly on concrete footing.  George falls in love with Lisa, but naturally doesn’t feel he can actually tell her, since she is in a relationship.  Annie is George’s former secretary who is trying to give him inside information on the investigation – but he is too honest to let her.

The movie follows Lisa as she tries to figure out what she wants; George as he tries to figure out what to do about Lisa and what to do about his father and the federal investigation; Jack as he tries to repair his relationship with his son; and Matty as he – at least in his mind – tries to become a better person.

My two cents: First of all, I went into this movie prejudiced: I am a sucker for romantic comedies, I love anything with Reese Witherspoon and I am a big fan of Paul Rudd.  I loved this movie.  Paul Rudd did a great job of portraying the conflicted businessman who was just too decent to believe. Reese Witherspoon was as cute and spunky as ever – while making her character believable.  Owen Wilson has the role of the shallow womanizer who has not clue nailed down. 

The one who I thought stole the movie was Jack Nicholson as Charles.  His character was an over-the-top CEO with a type A personality. He conflict throughout the movie was his conflicting inclinations to either through his son to the (federal) wolves to save his own skin – or to give in to his paternal instincts and rescue his son.  What made it so funny was his consciousness of the conflict and his willingness to discuss them with his son.. I thought the funniest scenes in the movie were of Charles trying to use non-profane language in front of the Annie - a losing battle, but one that he continues to fight.

To those who argue that George was just too nice and the movie is too sappy, I say – so what?  I suggest you sit back, loosen up and just let yourself enjoy 2 hours of a pleasantly funny movie that will leave you with a good feeling.

The Tourist

Movie: The Tourist

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Timothy Dalton

Genre: adventure, thriller

I saw it on: December 16, 2010

Synopsis: Elise (Angelina Jolie) is under surveillance by the police (Paul Bettany).  They are hoping she leads them to a thief (her former lover) – who is wanted for unpaid taxes to the tune of $744,000,000.  A mysterious note from this thief directs her to take a train to Venice.  On the train she latches on to a Frank (Johnny Depp), a vacationing American math teacher, because of his resemblance to her thief-friend.  Meantime, a ruthless gangster is also after him – because he is the thief who for stole over $2 billion from him.  The gangster thinks Frank is the thief and out to capture him and reclaim his money.  At the same time, while the police are still trying to find the real thief.

My two cents: A great movie.  Angelina Jolie is as beautiful and elegant as ever.  Johnny Depp is great as a somewhat inept innocent bystander who tries to rise to the occasion when he falls for the girl.  There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot and you will probably do some head scratching trying to figure out what is going on and whether or not Elise is a good-guy or bad-guy.  The movie ends with a great twist.

Definitely worth seeing.