THE BIG SHORT
Rated: R
Release Date: December 23, 2015
Director: Adam McKay
Stars: Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt
Plot: A group of financial geniuses bet against the housing market in 2008 and win big
Clint Says: Drop everything and go see this movie now
This is easily one of the best films of the year and should be the front runner for Best Comedy as well as many of the Best Supporting Actor nominations. It may even see nominations for Screenplay and Director.
When you hear that this is a 2-plus hour movie about the housing crash of 2008 you would think that it would be the most boring, slow-moving film, but it is actually very exciting and enthralling from beginning to end. The way they deliver the boring information is done in such a unique and fun way that you almost can’t help but be happy to be learning about lame economic terms.
Steve Carell and Christian Bale give outstanding performances. And the cameos are almost the best part of the movie.
I highly recommend seeing it.
45 YEARS
Rated: R
Release Date: December 23, 2015
Director: Andrew Haigh
Stars: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay
Plot: A couple has to deal with news from the past during the week of their 45th wedding anniversary
Clint Says: Wait for the DVD
Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay give outstanding, possibly award-worthy performances in this rather boring and slow film.
The premise behind the movie is highly intriguing, but the execution is lacking and the film never gets into the meat of the issue or the payoff. The conflict is mild at best and the stakes are almost non-existent.
This movie has received a lot of attention from film snobs around the world, but your average movie-goer should just skip this one.
CONCUSSION
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: December 25, 2015
Director: Peter Landesman
Stars: Will Smith, Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Plot: A doctor discovers a disease that may bring down the NFL
Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters
Will Smith has given us a thinking-person's blockbuster. This movie is done in a way that it will satisfy both the casual movie-goer and the person looking for something deep and meaningful in their theatrical experience.
I'm not sure how true to the real story this film stays, but it is fascinating to see one man take on one of the world's largest businesses. His journey is compelling, frustrating and intense. You can tell that his character feels passionate about trying to save lives no matter what the personal cost to himself or his profession.
I would like to know if the NFL had any editorial say in this film. There are several scenes that make them look bad, but the film uses real NFL logos and stadiums so it makes me think that they may have had some input into the final cut. I hope not, but that remains to be seen.
This is not a happy, fun, popcorn flick. It is a powerful, moving film that is worth the time and money.
DADDY'S HOME
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: December 25, 2015
Director: Sean Anders
Stars: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg
Plot: A dad and step-dad have a battle to try to win the affections of their children
Trailer
Clint Says: Wait for the DVD and make someone else rent it
The Ferrell/Wahlberg combination is either incredible or a complete disaster. This movie, unfortunately, is the later. It's obnoxious, whiny, slow, and barely funny. I saw it in a theater with about 20 other people and I heard half a dozen laughs at most.
Most of the best lines and scenes from the movie are in the trailer, and a couple of good ones in the trailer didn't make it into the movie.
This film is full of cliches and stereotypes and the situations are unbelievable and forced.
This movie owes a big "Thank You" to STAR WARS because the only way it is making money is by people not able to see STAR WARS because it is sold out and opting to see this instead.
JOY
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: December 25, 2015
Director: David O. Russell
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro
Plot: A woman that has put off her own life for everyone else finally has a plan to make something of herself
Trailer
Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee
I enjoyed this movie, but I wish it would have been better. I love the Lawrence/Cooper/De Niro crew, but this film doesn't quite capture the magic that we have seen from them in their other endeavors. I'm sure this movie will be nominated for, and win, several awards, but I'm not sure that it should.
The trailer leads one to believe that Joy is a savvy, go-getter that refuses to let nothing stand in her way, and while she eventually gets there, she spends the first half of the film dealing with everyone else's issues. It's important to the plot, but it could have been handled in a few minutes so we could move on to the good stuff quicker.
JOY has been slotted into the Comedy category, but the laughs are few. It's much more of a drama. Also, one of the things that makes these films so good is the rapport and banter between Lawrence and Cooper. We don't get nearly enough of that because, he's in the movie for all of about 10 minutes.
Like I said, I enjoyed this movie, and you probably will to, but it won't be a favorite for many people. You'd be better off just waiting for the DVD or seeing a matinee.
POINT BREAK
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: December 25, 2015
Director: Ericson Core
Stars: Luke Bracey, Edgar Ramirez, Ray Winstone
Plot: An FBI agent infiltrates a gang of extreme sports athletes on a massive crime spree
Trailer
Clint Says: Wait for the DVD and make someone else rent it
I'm not really sure how you can make a movie about extreme sports, high stakes robberies, and undercover FBI work boring, but director Ericson Core managed to do it in spectacularly boring fashion.
There are so many eye-rolling moments in this film that I felt like I was doing my own back flips and stunts. The bad guys' motivation is flimsy at best, and Luke Bracey's incredible lack of acting skills makes Keanu Reeves look like he should have won an Oscar for the original POINT BREAK.
If I'm ever forced to watch this move again I may have to consider jumping off a cliff as an alternative...parachute optional.
THE HATEFUL EIGHT
Rated: R
Release Date: December 25, 2015
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Plot: Eight people from different walks of life end up trapped together in a blizzard when everything goes bad
Trailer
Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters
I really believe that when Quentin Tarantino sat down to write this screenplay he had just seen the movie CLUE (1985) and said, "I can do that movie way better. And with a ton more violence and bad language. And in the wild west."
Tarantino once again relies on the stellar talent of many of his go-to actors, and they pull off quite the epic flick. That said, this is a 3-plus hour long, Quentin Tarantino film. If either of those things bothers you do not go see this film.
You should also avoid this movie if you are easily offended by bad language, including the constant use of the N word, you do not like gratuitous violence, or you aren't a fan of Shakespearean-style tragedies.
You should drop everything and go see this movie now if you are a Quentin Tarantino fan, because this is some of his finest work since PULP FICTION. You should also see it if you love intriguing mysteries, scenes where you can cut the tension with a knife, and crazy twists that you will never see coming.
This film is long, over the top, ridiculous, and amazing. If you can handle it I highly recommend seeing it.
NOTE: Tarantino filmed this movie in the style of the old road show films. If you have a chance to see it in the road show fashion, I recommend it. It's odd compared to today's movies, but it is interesting. You'll feel like you are getting punked for the first ten minutes of the film, but then it kicks in, and it moves at light speed after the intermission.
