Movie Review For July 17. 2015: ANT-MAN and TRAINWRECK

ANT-MAN
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll
Plot: A down-on-his-luck man is recruited by a scientific genius to help make sure his greatest invention doesn't end up in the hands of Hydra.
Trailer

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

This is the third comic-book movie I've walked into with a bad feeling about it. The first was GREEN LANTERN and those feelings were justified. The second was GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and that is currently my favorite comic book film of all time. This time I walked out of the theater pleasantly surprised.

On a comic book scale, ANT-MAN is not quite as good as AVENGERS, but as an origin story, it is better than the first IRON MAN.

The actors all do a nice job and the characters all have a depth to them that is pretty rare for comic book movies. Even the villain has a nice arc and motivation.

I will say that the movie does feel like it digresses into an adult version of HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS at points, but there are other times where the attention to detail when Ant-Man is small is spectacular.

The action is well done and virtually non-stop throughout the second half of the film. Which leads me to say that while I highly recommend seeing this movie in 3D, I would stay away from the IMAX or Big D screens because the massive 3D action is really quite fatiguing after a while.

Overall though, this is a great summer action flick worthy of your movie-going dollars.




TRAINWRECK
Rated: R
Stars: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, LeBron James, Colin Quinn
Plot: A woman with a deep fear of commitment ends up falling for a guy that might be the one.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

I saw this film in a theater full of 20-something women and the general consensus on the way out was that they loved it and many wanted to see it again. I, being firmly outside of the target audience for this film, didn't like it nearly as much as they did.

There are several funny moments, but the film also feels like it drags on. This movie is 100% formulaic rom-com. If you walk into this movie with a Rom-Com Bingo card it will be blacked out by the credits.

Bill Hader is fantastic and LeBron James is surprisingly talented as an actor. Amy Schumer is Amy Schumer. If you like her you'll like her in this, if you don't, she will annoy you.

There is nothing noteworthy in this film that makes it worth seeing in theaters. You would be just fine waiting for the DVD. That said, if you are a 20-something girl, grab your friends and make a fun night of it. I'm sure you will enjoy it thoroughly.

DVD Review For December 23, 2014

THE GOOD LIE
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Corey Stoll, Arnold Oceng
Plot: A single woman helps Sudanese refugees acclimate to life in America
Trailer

Clint Says: It's worth renting the DVD once

Reese has a busy week. She is staring in the critically acclaimed film WILD (my review) and stars in the DVD release of this mediocre film about an incredible story.

This is one of those rare occasions where the story is so important that it outweighs the fact that the movie just isn't that good. There are some big plot holes and the pacing is all over the place, but the story makes it worth enduring.

I will say that for a low-budget film it was better than I expected it to be, but it's only slightly better than a made-for-TV movie. It's worth seeing, but just rent it, it's not worth buying

I had the opportunity to go to the Red Carpet Premiere of THE GOOD LIE. You can see the video of the evening here.



PRIDE
Rated: R
Stars: Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West
Plot: When a group of coal miners go on strike they are helped by an unlikely alliance with gay activists
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD as soon as possible

This is one of those films that is based on a true story, but not necessarily the exact true story. That said, it's an interesting film that portrays a moment in time in a fascinating way.

Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton are masterful in this British film that is a lot funnier than I was expecting.

If there is anything wrong with this movie it would have to be that it seems to be a bit too polished and smooth. It would have been nice to see more of the grit and grime that started the strike that eventually led to this film.

Movie Review For October 3, 2014

GONE GIRL
Rated: R
Stars: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris
Plot: A large manhunt for a woman's killer turns its focus on her husband
Trailer

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

GONE GIRL is a great, twisted thriller that will keep you interested and guessing and creeped out for the entire 2 1/2 hours. I was nervous about the length of this film going into it, but it really doesn't feel as long as it is.

Affleck does a masterful job as "the most hated man in America," and we all owe a great debt of gratitude to the powers that be that made a last second edit to the movie so we don't have to see Ben's "little Affleck." (Rumor has it, he went full frontal for this film, but that was only shown in the early screenings).

Rosamund Pike's character seems stiff and almost Stepford Wife like for most of the film, but as the movie unfolds her character becomes much more in-depth and complex.

This is a thriller that will stay with you for a while. Any married couples that see this may be sleeping with one eye open for a few days.



THE GOOD LIE
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Corey Stoll, Arnold Oceng
Plot: A single woman helps Sudanese refugees acclimate to life in America
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

Reese has a busy weekend. She is one of the producers of GONE GIRL and the star of this mediocre film about an incredible story.

This is one of those rare occasions where the story is so important that it outweighs the fact that the movie just isn't that good. There are some big plot holes and the pacing is all over the place, but the story makes it worth enduring.

I will say that for a low-budget film it was better than I expected it to be, but it's only slightly better than a made-for-tv movie. It's worth seeing, but you'll be fine saving some money and waiting for the DVD.

I had the opportunity to go to the Red Carpet Premiere of THE GOOD LIE. You can see the video of the evening here.



ANNABELLE
Rated: R
Stars: Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton
Plot: A couple are haunted by an evil doll.
Trailer

Clint Says: Don't even bother

This film is one of the most inane, ridiculous, slow, non-scary horror flicks I've ever had the misfortune of watching.

It is excruciatingly slow throughout, the "scary" scenes only made the audience jump because the music got really loud, and the long shots of the doll doing nothing trying to make you feel that it is creepy are just boring.

I'm not trying to spoil anyone's movie-going experience, but at one point in the movie the family throws the doll away and moves to a new city and the doll follows them. Are you kidding me!? If you wanted to see something scary, you should have looked at my eyes rolling back in my head when that happened.

ANNABELLE is a horrible start to the month where we will hopefully get a couple of good, scary flicks.



LEFT BEHIND
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Lea Thompson
Plot: A group of people struggle to survive after millions of people vanish in the rapture.
Trailer

Clint Says: No review yet

The studio did not show this to reviewers. I will try to get to the theater as soon as possible to see it and write a review.

Movie Review For September 19, 2014

A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES
Rated: R
Stars: Liam Neeson, Astro, David Harbour
Plot: A retired cop turned illegal P.I. is tasked with finding out who is killing all of the wives and girlfriends of New York's drug dealers.
Trailer

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

This is the kind of film that shows off Liam Neeson's talent in the best way. I would describe this movie as a cross between SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and THE UNTOUCHABLES. It's not as good as either of those classic films, but it is good enough to hold its own.

It is highly suspenseful and thrilling, and while it is somewhat lacking in mystery it makes up for it with a compelling story and great character depth.

The story is set in 1999 so most moviegoers will enjoy the references to Y2K and old cell phones.

If you like police procedural thrillers check out this movie this week.



THE MAZE RUNNER
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Dylan O'Brien, Aml Ameen, Will Poulter
Plot: A group of teens, trapped in a maze, must find their way out and who put them there.
Trailer

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

This is yet another Hollywood offering to the rabid fans of Young Adult Dystopian action flicks, and overall, it's a pretty good film.

The cast does a great job and the story is interesting and intense. In fact, there were several moments where I caught myself holding my breath due to the intensity of the action or situation on the screen.

As with most movies of this ilk, there are a few eye-rolling moments and a couple of minor plot holes, but overall the movie stands up well.

Young Adult fans will enjoy this film as will fans of sci-fi thrillers. I saw it with several uber YA fans and all of them thought the movie was great.



THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU
Rated: R
Stars: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver, Jane Fonda, Corey Stoll
Plot: A mother and her four grown children return home to grieve the death of their husband and father.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

This is one of those films where the teaser trailer lies to you. It looks like a comedy with a little bit of heart-warming gooeyness thrown in for good measure. In reality, this is a sad, dark, weird, boring movie.

It's somewhat like THE BIG CHILL, only the Dysfunctional Family Feud version.

If I wanted to see a dysfunctional family peck at each other I'd just go home. If I have to see it on the big screen it should at least be funny. Unfortunately almost all of the funny moments in the movie are revealed in the trailer. And in context, some of those moments aren't all that funny.

I stayed for the whole movie, but mentally I said THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU about 30 minutes into it. Save your money on this one.