#1 The Help - Wonderful acting, I particularly enjoyed Jessica Chastain's character. The attempted emotional points of the movie were blatantly obvious, but they worked on me. I believe it was nearly 150 minutes, but I hardly noticed. Loved this film, despite the fact I didn't have much desire to see it.
#2 Real Steel - The kid wasn't a great actor, but he's a kid so I just ignored his inexperience. Predicted a lot of the movie in my head during without even trying really. Even though I could tell where the movie was going I still enjoyed watching the robots fight, at least it was something I'd never seen before. Decent movie, if you don't take it serious you'll probably like it. Also, Evangeline Lilly is a babe.
#3 War Horse - I felt like an awful script was sort of masked by Spielberg's vision for this movie. From the start the character development was pretty weak, the characters were all EXTREMELY one dimensional. Also near the beginning of the film a random duck was introduced on the farm, it never interacted with anybody, it was only used for cheap laughs and ultimately was completely useless to the story. It almost looked as if during the test screenings not enough people laughed at the beginning, so they threw in this duck later on. The first half of the movie might as well have been silent because nobody said anything worth saying. Spielberg's visuals covered up a potentially awful movie. Once the war scenes began I got interested. The movie depicts trench warfare during WW1, in this case between the English and the Germans. The horse was cute, and I think ultimately that was the point. Overall I was pretty disappointed, it was a tear jerker that didn't make me cry. Still, Spielberg can craft a battle scene better than anybody else.
#4 Attack The Block - Very fun movie, not too long. The british kids worked together well, I laughed out loud on a few occasions. I'm not a big fan of alien invasion movies normally, but I really did like this one. Nearly every aspect introduced in the first act was used later in the story, no time was wasted. I don't think it will be one of my favorites of the year, but I enjoyed it, and it actually had a point.
#5 Young Adult - While I applaud Cody's idea for this movie, it didn't really grab me.
I'm not sure what Theron's character learned from this story, from the start the audience knew it couldn't have a happy ending. Her plan is absurd and everybody knows it, even her. Ultimately I think Mavis Gary is completely aware of what she is, and how people look at her, she has no plans to change. Mavis is just looking for some much needed approval, it's been a long time since high school and she has developed a little self doubt. Mavis wants her confidence back, so she has to prove to herself she can still get the hottest guy from high school. Even though in the end all she really needed was to know people like Oswalt and his sister still look up to her, so she can feel like she is still on top. Theron did a fine job, especially perfecting Gary's much used evil eye. Oswalt had the best part in the movie. He played a realistic version of a nerd, something that isn't seen enough in film. Despite what you see in movies, nerds aren't happy, they are mean people who hate there lives. I don't give Cody much credit for his character because Oswalt himself is the embodiment of this person, the real life version, he didn't even need a script. Reitman's talents were wasted here, tons of directors could have made this film. He could be doing much bigger things, even so I'm still on the bandwagon.
#5 Young Adult - While I applaud Cody's idea for this movie, it didn't really grab me.
I'm not sure what Theron's character learned from this story, from the start the audience knew it couldn't have a happy ending. Her plan is absurd and everybody knows it, even her. Ultimately I think Mavis Gary is completely aware of what she is, and how people look at her, she has no plans to change. Mavis is just looking for some much needed approval, it's been a long time since high school and she has developed a little self doubt. Mavis wants her confidence back, so she has to prove to herself she can still get the hottest guy from high school. Even though in the end all she really needed was to know people like Oswalt and his sister still look up to her, so she can feel like she is still on top. Theron did a fine job, especially perfecting Gary's much used evil eye. Oswalt had the best part in the movie. He played a realistic version of a nerd, something that isn't seen enough in film. Despite what you see in movies, nerds aren't happy, they are mean people who hate there lives. I don't give Cody much credit for his character because Oswalt himself is the embodiment of this person, the real life version, he didn't even need a script. Reitman's talents were wasted here, tons of directors could have made this film. He could be doing much bigger things, even so I'm still on the bandwagon.
#6 - The Last Picture Show - Loved that Jeff Bridges was in this. I don't think I've ever seen any of his younger roles. Long movie, this was definitely a coming of age story. Very sexual for a movie that came out over 40 years ago. Liked all of the characters, and how there lives drastically altered as they escaped adolescence. The main girl had an interesting arc, she banged everybody, broke everybody's heart, eventually running off to get married. All of this the summer before college which she eventually attends and leaves the town behind. Ending was long but powerful, they took everything from this kid who was trying to keep this town together. They could never imagine growing up would be this hard.
#7 - We Bought a Zoo - Christmas 2010 we saw The Blind Side come out. Around the same time in 2011 this film was released. In my opinion, We bought a Zoo is this year's Blindside. Both of which were family films meant to provoke your emotions. And as much as I tried to fend it off, just like The Blind Side this movie hooked into me. Cameron Crowe stuck to the same style and formula he used on Elizabethtown, which was also about a family dealing with a death. Lots of overexposed shots, tons of lens flares, really just a very bright movie. Crowe probably isn't making the movies his Almost Famous faithful want from him. But is that so bad? His recent movies are very straightforward family films, but they are well done. You can count on Crowe to hit you with some very genuine moments. The same type of moments he attempted to create in Elizabethtown. While he may lose some fans with these films, I'll still look forward to his future work. Matt Damon is a good actor, plain and simple whether you like him or not, rest of the cast did fine as well. The score made by Sigur Ros' Jonsi was sort of overpowering in some scenes, but fit well in other moments, didn't distract me much. I think a lot of critics might not like this because of the corny factor, which is there. But behind some of the corny dialogue and the cute animals, a pretty good movie was there. Overall I liked We Bought a Zoo, and I had no trouble paying attention.
#8 The Descendants - Alexander Payne with a solid cast, making his kind of movie. Nice ending, plenty of plot twists, rarely boring. Exactly like Payne's other films, with score and style. Felt the grandfather character and the accomplice friend of the wife, were very real characters, I'd met people like them before. Clooney's role wasn't too challenging, although he did a good job. Pretty solid movie, I've really only got positive things to say about it.
#9 The Big Year - A pretty decent movie with a couple funny guys. Honestly the biggest joke of the film, is the fact that somebody made a film about bird watching. The movie was easy to watch, with some side stories that don't really hit, but I got what they were going for. Decently funny, few good jokes with the three stars. Simple straightforward comedy, I may catch it on HBO again sometime.
#10 HappyThankYouMorePlease - This movie came out in 2010, and it's Josh Radnor's first film he wrote/directed/starred in. It's a movie about 6 unique people in alternate romantic situations. It's hard for me to rate this film because half of the movie completely latched on to me, and half failed to get me involved. Out of the three stories it follows, I loved Radnor's story the most. Some of the lines and dialogue were amazing, I related to his character immensely. I could very well remember some of the writing months or years from now, especially the bit about how people change every five years. On the other hand the two remaining story lines didn't feel like they were as good as the main one, I didn't hate them, I just felt like they weren't on the same level. Although I did appreciate the final scene the Alopecia character. How she realized her own perception of someone's beauty can be altered after she gets to know or falls in love with somebody. I've noticed this in my own life, in good and bad directions. I learned a lot from this movie, but for me it wasn't a complete film. I look forward to Radnor's second effort.
#11 The Inkeepers - This movie entertained me. It was fairly suspenseful, likely thanks to the score that covered up a lack off shocking moments in the film. When the ending came, it came pretty quickly, and happened suddenly. Epilogue was nice, I liked the ending and that the girl was still in the hotel. Sara Paxton played an distinct character, she had a lot of personality. And I couldn't stop laughing when she tried to take out the trash. It was hilarious watching her try to throw it in there.
#11 The Inkeepers - This movie entertained me. It was fairly suspenseful, likely thanks to the score that covered up a lack off shocking moments in the film. When the ending came, it came pretty quickly, and happened suddenly. Epilogue was nice, I liked the ending and that the girl was still in the hotel. Sara Paxton played an distinct character, she had a lot of personality. And I couldn't stop laughing when she tried to take out the trash. It was hilarious watching her try to throw it in there.
#12 Chronicle - First off woa! Wasn't ready for that. Innovative movie making at its best here. A lot of neat ideas from the filmmaker, the best being the POV shots, and you'll know which ones I mean. I also did not know it was a found footage film, which was executed wonderfully, look specifically at the rapid camera cuts during the finale. The plot had enough jaw droppers to keep me interested, that's on top of the crazy style used here. Did not expect this one to be good. Overall, I was very impressed with this movie. Now just gotta sit back and watch a few shitty hollywood piloted sequels come out. You know they're coming.
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Enter the Void
#14 My Week With Marilyn - I'm in love with this movie, which is to say I'm in love with Michelle Williams Aka Marilyn Monroe. The look of the film is what really sold it from the start. The costume and set design was gorgeous, felt like I was in the 50's right away. And the characters, all of them diverse and at different stages of their lives. Judi Dench to Branagh, Marilyn's agent to Marilyn herself. Each one had life experience to share with young Colin. A young starry-eyed cinematic who had never been out in the real world. His first love was the most famous woman on earth. I felt so much for him, and his infatuation for Marilyn. It was like we were falling in love with her too. Never having read much about this infamous woman, I was very interested to learn about her in this film. Why was she so troubled, always keeping her acting coach so close? Why she could never make any of her marriages work? My Week with Marilyn gives you an insight into her behavior & demeanor. Michelle Williams is intoxicating as Marilyn, and I really hope she wins the Oscar. Once again I'm reminded why I love movies.
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