There are a few magical times in movie history when a great actor goes against what he is known for or does best and gives a performance of a completely different range and capability than previously thought of them. I'm not talking about movie stars that get dirtied up or ugly to play odd parts. That's all window-dressing. I mean showing a completely different level of emotion and character than previously seen.
Read MoreThe fact that The Muppets stays true to the low-tech that made it great while delivering an engaging story of fun and heart is its best quality, by far.
Read MoreMelancholia is not your your typical science-fiction drama or even a typical family drama. With Lars Von Trier and his track record (Europa, Dogville, Antichrist), we shouldn't be surprised. It's essentially a wedding movie about two very different, yet equally damaged sisters, but it has a lot more going on. What's going on exactly? Well, it's a little foggy and full of issues.
Read MoreThat's a lot of air quotes for one movie review. High-concept science-fiction movies that reinvent everything about real life will do that. Air quotes overload or not, In Time works. It's interesting, cool, fast-paced, and sharply made. Where some movies try a bold sci-fi idea only half-heartedly by just teasing a cool idea superficially, In Time immerses the audiences in all the details and doesn't waver.
Read More50/50 will have you packing your tissue box to wipe away both tears of sorrow and tears of laughter. It's more than a numbers game, though, in balancing humor with drama. It's not about adding up equal parts. It's about timing your jokes to fall in dramatic places when you need them and in funny places where they work like magic.
Read MoreWhile horror movies, especially the eponymous Halloween series, prominently use Halloween as a staging point, there are a great many non-horror movies that have fun and unique Halloween set pieces as well. For a short and sweet editorial, here are some non-horror cinematic scenes of Halloween and a few clips.
Read MoreThe scores and buzz are not a mirage. Courageous is simply that good, regardless of who or what you believe in. Yes, it's "preachy" if you want to say that. Yes, it's full of and unashamed of its southern Baptist values, but the film doesn't require a "buyer beware" warning label. That's because it is a compelling journey of the self-improvement and integrity of fatherhood accountability and responsibility that a man of any faith or doctrine can relate to and be moved by.
Read MoreThe Ides of March astutely sets you on a course of constantly waiting for the other shoe to fall and questioning whether that shoe will multiply into a thunderstorm of explosive Crocs and Uggs.
Read MoreAdding all of that up, Real Steel is as crowd-pleasing as it is preposterous. Even if the melodrama, spirit, and emotions are as manufactured and controlled as the robots themselves, I have to admit that they work to create a fun and charming ride that pops off of the big screen and booms in IMAX.
Read MoreMy last chapter on movies that epitomize the American Dream deals with the aspirations of the American youth. The naive mentality and innocence of youth is where new American Dreams start. The classic cinematic coming-of-age stories and movies of rebellious youth are great examples for this theme.
Read MoreThe second decadent route to the American Dream is through performing arts, a very 20th and 21st century version of the American Dream. Between singing, dancing, or acting, the quest for notoriety through one's "fifteen minutes of fame" onstage or onscreen is path to greatness.
Read MoreTwo of the more decadent routes to achieving the American Dream are sports success and stardom through performing arts. In sports, everyone wants their name in the record books, that moment playing a kid's game in front of thousands of cheering fans, or the chance to earn millions of dollars.
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