I watch crappy movies so you don't have to.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Movie Review for February 28th, 2014

NON-STOP
Rated PG-13
Stars: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore
Plot: An alcoholic Federal Air Marshal must try to stop a trans-Atlantic hijacking, but everyone thinks he is the one responsible.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters.


While NON-STOP is formulaic in every way with the typical rabbit chases and straw men it is still a really suspensful and fun movie. There were several times where I found myself literally sitting on the edge of my seat and a few times where I gasped for breath after realizing I had been holding my breath for several seconds. If you like suspensful action-flicks with a good dose of mystery NON-STOP will satisfy.


SON OF GOD
Rated PG-13
Stars: Diogo Morgado, Greg Hicks
Plot: The story of Jesus from birth to Resurrection.
Trailer

Clint Says: Go buy the DVD that's already for sale.


SON OF GOD is well done, but if you already watched Mark Burnett's mini-series THE BIBLE you've seen this. It's the same footage from the mini-series only cut down to just the story of Jesus.

It is well done and stays true to the bible, but it's not as powerful as THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. If you want to see it I would recommend getting the most bang for your buck and just buying the entire mini-series. You can get it here. 

Monday, February 24, 2014

Oscar Preview

 




The 86th annual Academy Awards will be this Sunday March 2nd. There are several interesting races this year and many of them seem to be wide open as to who will win. Every year there are snubs (Tom Hanks) and surprises (Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa), but when it's all said and done The Oscars truly are Hollywood's biggest night.

I've decided to make a few picks this year, but I wouldn't go betting the mortgage on these picks. I'm notoriously bad at this stuff.

If you'd like to do your own picks, you can leave them in the comments section below, or you can compete against other Oscar fans here.

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES
12 Years a Slave
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
The Wolf of Wall Street


Clint's Pick: AMERICAN HUSTLE      Probable Winner: AMERICAN HUSTLE


BEST DIRECTOR NOMINEES
Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street)
David O. Russell (American Hustle)
Alfonso CuarĂ³n (Gravity)
Alexander Payne (Nebraska)
Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave)

Clint's Pick: Alfonso Cuaron        Probable Winner: Martin Scorsese


BEST ACTOR NOMINEES
Christian Bale (American Hustle)
Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
Leonardo DiCaprio (Wolf of Wall Street)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Clint's Pick: Matthew McConaughey      Probable Winner: Matthew McConaughy


BEST ACTRESS NOMINEES
Amy Adams (American Hustle)
Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
Judi Dench (Philomena)
Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

Clint's Pick: Amy Adams      Probable Winner: Judi Dench


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR NOMINEESBarkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)
Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
Jonah Hill (Wolf of Wall Street)
Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

Clint's Pick: Jared Leto      Probable Winner: Jared Leto


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS NOMINEES
Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
June Squibb (Nebraska)
Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)

Clint's Pick: Lupita Nyong'o       Probable Winner: Jennifer Lawrence


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY NOMINEES
John Ridley (12 Years a Slave)

Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke & Richard Linklater (Before Midnight)
Terence Winter (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Billy Ray (Captain Phillips)

Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope (Philomena)

Clint's Pick: CAPTAIN PHILLIPS       Probable Winner: THE WOLF OF WALL STREET


BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY NOMINEES
David O. Russell and Eric Singer (American Hustle)
Bob Nelson (Nebraska)
Spike Jonze (Her)
Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack (Dallas Buyers Club)
Woody Allen (Blue Jasmine)

Clint's Pick: AMERICAN HUSTLE     Probable Winner: AMERICAN HUSTLE


BEST ANIMATED FEATURE NOMINEES
The Wind Rises
Frozen
Despicable Me 2

The Croods
Ernest & Celestine


Clint's Pick: FROZEN     Probable Winner: ERNEST & CELESTINE


BEST SONG NOMINEES
"Happy" (Despicable Me 2)
"Let It Go" (Frozen)
"The Moon Song" (Her)
"Ordinary Love" (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)

Clint's Pick: LET IT GO      Probable Winner: ORDINARY LOVE


BEST ORIGINAL SCORE NOMINEES
John Williams (The Book Thief)
Steven Price (Gravity)
Alexandre Desplat (Philomena)
Thomas Newman (Saving Mr. Banks)
William Butler and Owen Pallett (Her)

Clint's Pick: SAVING MR. BANKS     Probable Winner: GRAVITY



There are a few other categories that I'd like to see specific winners. GET A HORSE is nominated for Short Film, Animated. It is one of the most innovative and creative cartoons I have ever seen. FACING FEAR is one I hope to see win for Documentary Short Subject. It's an incredible story of reconciliation.  Finally, it would be a riot if JACKASS PRESENTS: BAD GRANDPA were to win for Makeup and Hairstyling. I think Hollywood would collectively faint in their plush seats.

Enjoy The Oscars this weekend!
 
 

Friday, February 21, 2014

Movie Review for February 21, 2014

POMPEII
Rated PG-13
Stars: Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Kiefer Sutherland
Plot: A gladiator falls in love with an aristocrat betrothed to another man. He must find a way to save her from the destruction of their great city.
Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and go see a matinee


POMPEII is the kind of movie you go to see in the theaters because it is so visually spectacular. If you are looking for a film with deep meaningful dialogue, go see something else. This movie isn't great by most standards, but if you are planning on seeing it, I highly recommend seeing it on the big screen. If you wait for the DVD you'll find it to be a mediocre movie at best.



3 DAYS TO KILL
Rated PG-13
Stars: Kevin Costner, Hailee Steinfeld, Amber Heard
Plot: A retiring CIA agent with only months to live is offered a drug to save his life in return for one last job. A job he must do while trying to bring his family back together.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD and let someone else rent it



Kevin Costner proves once again that he has zero ability to act. That combined with a horrible screenplay and poor directing make for a 2-hour snooze fest. Here are a couple of things you'll be able to "look forward" to in 3DTK:
1. The main villain has little more than a cameo role. How are you supposed to care about the good guy getting the bad guy if you have no clue what the bad guy is all about?
2. The business-like CIA handler heads to Paris and instantly becomes an over-sexualized weirdo for no discernible reason whatsoever.
3.  There are several moments of would-be comedic relief, but Costner's acting is so poor they just come across as lame.
4. The movie is not a beat-the-clock action thriller like the trailers suggest. Instead, it is a movie about a dysfunctional family trying to reconcile while the CIA gets in the way every so often.

If you really need to see a movie similar to this, go watch THE BOURNE IDENTITY again...you'll be much happier with your choice.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Movie Review for February 14, 2014

ABOUT LAST NIGHT
Rated R
Stars: Kevin Hart, Joy Bryant, Michael Ealy, Regina Hall
Plot: Two couples head in different directions with their relationships.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD








 


ABOUT LAST NIGHT is one of those relationship movies that makes me so thankful that I'm already married and don't have to go through the stupidity of dating. There are many moments of cringe-worthy arguments and uncomfortable exchanges that make this movie equally uncomfortable to watch. It is very funny, but also extremely raunchy, there are some heart-warming moments and other moment that make you say "what just happened there?" It's a mediocre movie at best, but it will give you several good laughs.



ROBOCOP
Rated PG-13
Stars: Joel Kinnaman, Gray Oldman, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson
Plot: In the near future, technology allows for OmniCorp to create a human/robot hybrid cop to fight out-of-control crime.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see it in theaters


This movie is leaps and bounds better than it's predecessor. The graphics are obviously better, but so is the story. This is a classic style action flick, but it has a large focus on the ethics of the situation as well as biting commentary on the ridiculous 24-hour news shows so prevalent today.

Keaton and Oldman's characters are well juxtaposed and add a level of tension and thought usually not seen in action movies. Samuel L. Jackson plays the role of news caster/salesman so well you almost fall for his pitch. If you are in the mood for an action film, this is as good a choice as any.



ENDLESS LOVE
Rated PG-13
Stars: Gabriella Wilde, Alex Pettyfer, Bruce Greenwood
Plot: A rich girl and a boy from the wrong side of the tracks fall for each other while her parents try to break them apart.
Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and go to a matinee



ENDLESS LOVE is significantly better than the trailers let on. There are multiple story lines that are compelling. They've tried to market this movie as a teen love story, and at it's base it is, but there is so much more to it than that. It is funny, romantic, heartbreaking and suspenseful.

Bruce Greenwood plays a perfect over-protective father on the verge of losing his cool at any moment. Alex Pettyfer plays a great bad-kid-gone-good. Overall, I'd have to say this is a perfect date movie.


WINTER'S TALE
Rated PG-13
Stars: Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe
Plot: A criminal falls for a woman as she dies, he then uses his power of reincarnation to find her.
Trailer

Clint Says: No review yet



The studio did not do any media screenings or early releases of this movie. If you get a chance to see it, please leave your comments in the comments section. I'd love to know what you thought of it.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Movie Review for February 7, 2014

THE LEGO MOVIE
Rated PG
Stars: Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks
Plot: An average Lego construction worker leads the master-builders in a quest to stop Lord Business from ruining Lego life as they know it.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this movie in theaters


This movie was significantly better than the trailers made it look. It is very funny, the plot is interesting to kids and adults and there is a twist at the end that you will never see coming. It's funny, heart-warming and enjoyable for all ages.

Bonus: The STAR WARS cameo is awesome. Everything is awesome. (You'll understand that after you've seen the movie...in fact, that phrase will probably be stuck in your head for days).



THE MONUMENTS MEN
Rated PG-13
Stars: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, John Goodman
Plot: A group of art experts are hired by the US military during World War II to find and return art stolen by the Nazis before it can be destroyed.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD


THE MONUMENTS MEN is a fascinating story based on true events. While I found the movie interesting, it could have been so much more and so much better. It's not nearly as dark and suspenseful as one might expect and at some points it borders on campy.

There are several scenes shot in the style of an old WWII movie, but then there are other scenes shot with modern-day movie making techniques. It almost seems like the director (Clooney) couldn't quite figure out the plan for this movie. Nor could he show the should-be brilliant chemistry of the fine cast.

For a movie about the salvation of high art, this movie is anything but high art.


VAMPIRE ACADEMY
Rated PG-13
Stars: Zoey Deutch, Lucy Fry
Plot: A half human half vampire is tasked with protecting a member of the vampire royal family and ends up in a battle with the immortal full vampires.
Trailer

Clint Says: No review yet

 
 
Every so often a movie comes out that the studio does not allow critics or audiences to see early. This is one of those films. Usually it means the film isn't any good, but I will reserve judgement until I've seen it. I'll post a review as soon as I can.
 
If you get to see it before I do, please post your review in the comments section, I'd love to read what you thought of it.