Posts in 2012
GUEST EDITORIAL: Cyber Hacker Movie "Blackhat" Is Lackluster

by Lewis Robinson

Cyber security is a hot topic among many and with good reason. With more purchases being done online and with websites storing a slew of data, your private information is ripe for the picking by potential hackers. That's why a movie such as Blackhat, starring Chris Hemsworth and directed by Michael Mann should have been a blockbuster sparking interest and debate about security issues threatening society

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COLUMN: My Top 100 Movies of the 2010s

To build a master list, I turned to the Pub Meeple Ranking Engine.  I entered a list of just under 200 five-star and high four-star movies and let the hundreds of clickable “versus” matchup permutations slot everything.  It’s really a slick tool, and it nailed my results. The cream of the rose to the top, just as they should. I’ve said this before on other lists, but this is more about “best” than “favorites.” Also, I did not include documentaries.  Quality edges easy entertainment more often than not. Here are the results with a little commentary here and there in between!

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MEDIA APPEARANCE: Participant in "World of Reel" Critics Poll for Best Films of the 2010s

As I grow with press credentials and professional affiliation locally and nationally, I find myself more and more landing and conversing in circles with other film critics of various levels. Much like the David Ehrlich survey I participate in, I answered an open social media call from Jordan Ruimy of World of Reel. He is a fellow Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic who also has contributed to The Young Folks, The Playlist, We Got This Covered, and The Film Stage. His poll was to collect the Top 5 films of the 2010s from critics and other industry folk. I was honored to chime in with my quintet.

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MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Underrated Podcast" loving on "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"

Two fine gentlemen of strong opinions that I've conversed with and debated often through my participation over at the Feelin' Film Podcast are Gabriel Green and James Hamrick, the creators and hosts of the "Underrated Podcast."  Their aim is field listener and guest selections of films that fit the underrated billing reflected either by low box office results or low critical review aggregate scores.  My pick and our show's topic was Ben Stiller's 2012 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

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MOVIE REVIEW: Spy

In her two films since "Tammy," Melissa McCarthy has done both.  Going against her bread-and-butter zaniness, playing it straight for a change in last fall's superb Bill Murray vehicle "St. Vincent" was the first step.  The new summer spoof comedy "Spy" is the next step, thanks to McCarthy returning as the go-to muse for her "Bridesmaids" writer/director Paul Feig.  With Feig and a stellar cast, "Spy" is clearly better company, but it's not a tremendous step up in material or acting for our star.  "Spy" feels like one of those movies that is funny the first time and lasts for that one dose, but won't be something you'll revisit and likely something you'll regret you really liked five or ten years down the road.  It is worth your Redbox rental, but not all that much more.

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REVIEW RE-RUN: The Expendables 2

HUMOROUS DISCLAIMER:  I had pretty overwhelming feeling going in that The Expendables 2 was going to be a carbon copy of the first movie from 2010, only bigger, louder, busier, and very few minor differences of note.  Well, I was right.  While redundant enough to come across as Xerox as The Hangover Part II was to The Hangover with just a change of setting, this doesn't make The Expendables 2 any less awesome.  To have a little fun and prove this point, I have copied my EXACT 2010 review of The Expendables word-for-word below (follow the link and see) and added strike-through edits and red text additions of those very minor differences.  Enjoy!

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MOVIE REVIEW: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The breathtaking filmmaking vision on display is worth the patience to see through to the end.  When it's all said and done, slower than its sequels or not, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will always be the place you seek to begin your cinematic adventure into this world.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is worthy of being placed beside the outstanding epics it will eventually lead towards. 

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MOVIE REVIEW: Killing Them Softly

As we enter our story set during the fall of 2008 in New Orleans, the window dressing of a mob movie is still here in Killing Them Softly.  The late model cars, slicked back hair, ugly suits without ties, derogatory Italian terminology, leather jackets, hued sunglasses, and a constant cloud of exhaled cigarette smoke are everywhere to be seen, just as you might expect.  However, the pulse of this setting is driven by the history of that year and season.

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MOVIE REVIEW: Trouble with the Curve

Trouble with the Curve has the cliched conveniences of a romantic comedy, but offers more than that to appreciate thanks to Clint Eastwood.  He's always been an actor you can't help but enjoy watching, even if it's the same growl every time lately.  Just when you think his routine doesn't have range, he still surprises you with his humor and heart.

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MOVIE REVIEW: The Master

For this writer, Paul Thomas Anderson is a divisive tough sell.  His movies, while technically sound and visually sharp, can frequently feel tiresome, bizarre, and vague to me.  For many critics and cinephiles, those adjectives make him a courageous, risk-tasking genius instead.  Such can be granted, but, with apologies, his nature and results can still make him exactly the former: tiresome, bizarre, and vague. The Master perpetuates that split sentiment.

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