Win Win

Paul Giamatti is one of my favorite actors because he can play anything and does it well. This time out he is a struggling lawyer and father trying to keep his practice afloat but sees a ray of hope when he tries to take advantage of a client's living situation to help his family and is thrown a curve when the grandson the client just shows up on the front porch with nowhere to go. The movie is very funny and heartwarming - the perfect little art house feel good film. The standout performance is by Amy Ryan as the spitfire wife with the heart of gold who takes the grandson under her wing as one of her own. This film did well on the festival circuit and you would be remiss to not check it out at the theater or when it hits the Netflix queue.

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Insidious

James Wan and Leigh Whannel, the team who brought us the horror franchise hit SAW, continue their run of creative and lower budget horror with this new film. Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson star as Renai and Josh Lambert who are trying to wake their comatose son that may be stalked by a supernatural menace. Whannel is joined by genre favorite actress Lin Shaye as the paranormal investigators who try to help the Lamberts save their child. The movie has some great scares and the story is very good at sucking you with well placed twists to keep you interested. The movie proves if you have a good story and a love for the genre you will always do well and this film should do very well.

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The Conspirator

Director Robert Redford brings us this historical drama telling the story of Mary Surratt who was the single female charged as a co-conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln. The cast includes Robin Wright as Mary Surratt, James McAvoy as the lawyer assigned to defend her by his mentor played by Tom Wilkinson to the displeasure of the Secretary of War played by Kevin Kline. As with all Redford films the acting is first rate and the story engrossing even if you already now the outcome. James McAvoy is definitely making his mark in Hollywood and will be showing up again in the summer's blockbuster X-Men: First Class. If you like historical films and stories from the Civil War era, then you would be remiss not to check out this fine film.

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Your Highness

When it comes to raunchy comedy then you cannot do much better than anything that is co-written or starring Danny McBride. In this farce of a film McBride is joined by James Franco, Natalie Portman, Zooey Deschanel, and Charles Dance about two brothers going out to save one's fiance who was kidnapped from their wedding by a powerful wizard. The film has its funny moments and it surprising to see Oscar winner Portman as a warrior kicking ass. The film was a fun filler for an all day marathon at the local AMC but I am not sure you want to make a special trip just to see it. You probably would like to see it as a double feature with Land of the Lost.

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Rio 3D

Of the slew of new animated films coming out for children, this film is good fun and sports an all-star voice cast with Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Jane Lynch, Wanda Sykes, and Tracy Morgan. The story is about Blu, a domesticated male blue macaw, who is brought to Rio de Janerio to mate with another captured blue macaw to hopefully save their rare species but run in to trouble when they are stolen by poachers. The animation is great and the 3D does add a fun aviation element to the film. The story is tight and you do get a fun look at Carnival from the animals perspective. A good family outing!

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Scream 4

Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson are back together with another installment of the franchise that brought us Perils of Pauline...sorry the never-ending stalking of Sidney Prescott. This movie is like a visit from old friends who have brought along their annoying children to disrupt the picnic. What is pure genius is the signature opening sequence that just keeps on giving and giving. The kills are fun and it is just great to watch the annoying teens drop like flies. If you loved the previous films, then you will not be disappointed but if you never got it the first time around, then don't sit next to me when I go see this again.

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Source Code

This film was a pleasant surprise and gives a good alternative on the standard "time paradox" based films. Colter Stevens, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is caught up in a military experiment that allows a person to access the last eight minutes of a dying person's life so that major catastrophes can be intercepted or averted. An interesting thriller that tries to keep the plot twist hidden until the end, rather unsuccessfully, but knowing it does not detract from the film. The cast includes great supporting performances from Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Wright that keeps the film grounded within the characters and does not get lost in the scifi elements. A good sleeper film that all should check out.

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Hanna

I was intrigued to see this film due to the high-octane trailer and because of the stand out performance by Saoirse Ronan previously in The Lovely Bones. Hanna is raised by her father to be the perfect assassin and set loose on her own to take out her target. An interesting film with a lot of fairy tell imagery and cool stunt work on the part of Ronan. It was great to see Cate Blanchett in a particularly villainous role for a change that makes her unlikable and seemingly deserving of her fate. Not your typical thriller but definitely worth seeing.

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Sucker Punch

Zack Snyder, the director of 300 and Watchmen, knows how to deliver highly stylized imagery with an interesting story and this time out the ladies get their turn. Emily Browning, last seen in The Uninvited, is Baby Doll who must cope with being locked away in an insane asylum by her abusive stepfather and find a means of escape and empowerment within her own fantasies. The movie has plenty of hot girls, big guns, anime style creatures and a dragon no less that make for just plan old fun movie watching. The story has a nice twist at the end that leaves you questioning where the really story ends and the fantasies begin. A film that must be seen and is ever so hard to explain - enjoy!

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The Lincoln Lawyer

Matthew McConaughey is lawyer Mick Haller who practices law from the back of his Lincoln town car for those who are willing to pay. This is a fun little lawyer film that has a great cast that includes William H. Macy, Josh Lucas, Marisa Tomei, John Leguizamo and finally a worthwhile roll for Ryan Phillippe as Haller's latest client that does not seems as innocent as he protests. The revenge and payback make this film worth seeing but nothing to make a special to the theater to see it. Check it out when it hits Netflix for a good night in.

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The Butcher, The Chef, and the Swordsman

I saw this movie because it fit in perfectly between two other films I wanted to see. This movie is bizarre. An enchanted meat cleaver connects the stories and that is about all I can explain. You have to see this to believe it.

Red Riding Hood

A re-imagining of the story of Red Riding Hood that deals with coming of age and sexual maturity but then there is no sex. What gives? I like Amanda Seyfried and she is the only thing that got me in to see this film. How did they get Gary Oldman to participate in this? Definitely worth skipping unless you are happy with sexless quasi-horror films like Twilight.

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Mars Needs Moms

I tend to like most Disney family films but this one just did not pull me in. Since Joan Cusack and Seth Green were providing the principal voices that was good enough to get me into the theater but that was the best it could do. The plot was OK but nothing that tugged at any heart strings as you would expect from a Disney film and the animation was nothing special compared to any of the other animated releases currently out. Your children might get a laugh from it even if you do not but is that good enough? Save your money and watch this on cable when it comes out.

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Limitless

The premise is what would you do or who would you become if you could take a drug that let you realize all of your brain's mental capacity. This is a good little movie and it's about time that Bradley Cooper got to carry a movie on his own. Robert De Niro is along in one of his better supporting roles in a while and not just there to be a name in the film. The plot is interesting and Cooper's evolution on screen is a selfish little pleasure to watch. I suspect this will be a sleeper hit at the box office and worth checking out.

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Paul

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, the comedy duo from Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, are back and this time they are best friends on their way to see America's famous UFO sites and happen to run in to an actual alien voiced by Seth Rogen. It is good to see that buddy comedies are making a comeback and Pegg & Frost really know how to make great genre parodies. Other cast notables include Jason Bateman, Jane Lynch, Kristen Wiig and Sigourney Weaver that round out the ensemble. The alien effects are good and isn't it interesting that Rogen's funniest performances are usually when he is actually not on the screen but voicing a character. A lot of good solid laughs are to be had here so you will want to see this film.

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Gulliver's Travels

In lieu of seeing Blue Valentine I opted to see this retelling of a literary classic with the hit or miss acting of Jack Black. The updated pop culture references and the regular manic antics of Black do not make for a fun film for anyone over the age of ten. The cast includes some of my favorites actors like Emily Blunt, Billy Connolly, Jason Segel and the hilarious Chris O'Dowd - loved him in The IT Crowd - and Catherine Tate from the revived BBC Doctor Who series but they do not make the movie any more enjoyable. Tenacious D rules but it is the duo that rules and not just Black on his own. Your children might suck you into seeing this but try not to disturb everyone with your snoring.

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The Dilemma

Ron Howard teams up with Vince Vaughn and Kevin James for a new buddy comedy where one of the friends finds out that his best friend's wife is cheating on him and he doesn't know if he should tell him or not. A bit of a downer comedy but what makes it worth watching is the supporting performance by Jennifer Connelly who play's Vaughn's long time girlfriend. Winona Ryder is good as the cheating spouse but loses out on her scenes to Channing Tatum's ridiculously sensitive Zip. I have to agree with Cecily Knobler's comment from the Jack Diamond Morning Show on Friday in that James's character is not endearing at all so why do we care about his wife cheating on him. Another matinee movie so save your cash unless you think Vince Vaughn is worth it.

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The Green Hornet 3D

After meeting my best friend Geoff and his family for a late birthday dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Bethesda - my was the ribeye terrific - I decided to hit this film at the Regal Cinemas just across the street to make up for passing on dessert. I like Seth Rogen as a general rule but did not have any high expectations for this film since I never followed The Green Hornet old time radio dramas and was more of an Abbott and Costello Show fan but I was pleasantly surprised to find this film enjoyable. There are plenty of comic moments and the 3D is rather unnecessary - yeah marketing execs - with some fine action sequences throughout and a dash of darkness to keep it interesting. I won't go in to the story because you get the gist of it from the trailer pretty much verbatim but it was great to see that Cameron Diaz was more than just eye candy in the film and she still has good comedy chops. If you are in the mood for a matinée then you really can't go wrong seeing this movie but beware of the gas gun!

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The King's Speech

There is a lot of Oscar buzz for Colin Firth's portrayal of King George the VI and it is well deserved. This is a perfect little movie with outstanding casting that includes Helena Bonham Carter as George's wife and Geoffrey Rush as the speech therapist that helps the King overcome his speech impediment but all compliment the outstanding and constrained performance of Firth. The pressures on King George to overcome his stammer and be the voice of his country during the rise of Nazi Germany while maintaining the dignity and propriety of the royal family are overwhelming but Firth captures it all in a very credible and human performance that is deeplying moving. Firth has been an Oscar nominee before but I believe this perform just may snag it for him - damn it he is due! Everyone I know who has seen this film loved it so don't short change yourself by waiting for it to come out on cable - get a ticket now.

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Season of the Witch

Nicholas Cage is popping up everywhere and always seems to have a movie coming out and this week it is the Crusades and witchcraft. Behmen and Felson, played by Cage and the always cool Ron Perlman (any thinking The Name of the Rose besides me) , are two deserting Crusaders who are drawn back in by the Church to deliver a witch to a local monastery for judgement and hopefully end the plague afflicting the countryside. The movie is fun with good Crusade fight scenes and decent horrific plague imagery with ok CGI effects when needed for the witch showdown but the film is very short and no great leap in storytelling. I wonder how many more hell or magic themed movies Cage has left on his plate because that ship is starting to founder. With my AMC Producer's pack to keep me satiated it was still a good way to spend my Saturday afternoon.

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Country Strong

I am a sucker for country music themed movies and after seeing Gwnyneth Paltrow perform on an episode of Glee this season I knew I would be seeing this movie. The great thing about a movie like this is that the stars, or actors, actually sing the songs and it is funny that the one real country music performer, Tim McGraw, does not sing at all. The movie is supposedly about the comeback of a signer after she has fallen from grace and tries to make it back from rehab but it is more than that. The movie has good acting and even better music but it is the ending that that may through some people off track. If you like country music than you will want to see this but like country music it is about the story and that is not always pleasant or happy.

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Burlesque

Regardless of how much ribbing I will be getting for this I have to admit this is the Thanksgiving day movie I have been waiting to see. I am happy to say the movie is not another Showgirls - which I like - but it is campy fun, sexy girls and some great singing by Cher and Christina Aguilera. It amazed me how many people panned the movie before it even came out but it was good fun and I will admit that Christine is no Meryl Streep but damn if she does not sing incredibly and looks great in lingere. It is also nice to see Kristen Bell back singing and dancing again since Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical. If you like both of these these divas then you will want to see this movie and B-U-R-L-E-S-Q-U-E!

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Love and Other Drugs

Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal star as Maggie and Jamie who hook up after a chance encounter during a breast exam. As with all romantic comedies there is a dramatic element that tugs the old heart strings and this one has a humdinger. For the guys out there you do get plenty of sexy looks at Anne sans clothing and the girls are not left out either with Jake holding his own - literally! As date movies go it is not bad and the comedy around the pharmaceutical sales is great with the best scenes including Oliver Platt. The one great take away for this movie is aways knock before coming home when your brother is crashing at you place.

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Tangled 3D

Disney is back on the screen this holiday with their newest princess, Rapunzel, who with the help of a thief finally gets to venture out in to the world and learn the mystery of the floating lights. Although a little different from the Rapunzel fairy tale from my youth, Disney does create another animation classic that is heart warming, absolutely hilarious to watch, and just plain fun. Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi voice Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder, the theif, with other voices provided by acting notables like Ron Perlman, M.C. Gainey, Richard Keil, Jeffrey Tambor and Brad Garrett. Disney always creates great animal characters to flesh out their movies and Rapunzel's pet camelion and Maximus, the white stallion of the King's guard, are no exception. The latest Harry Potter may be a bit too grownup for your little ones to see but this movie is a great alternative for the whole family.

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Faster

The Rock is finally back in a non-Disneyesque film about vengeance with bloodshed, violence and high speed chases. It's about friggin' time! The plot is very streamlined with no real surprises but the cast is very notable in that it includes Tom Berenger, Billy Bob Thornton with the sexy requirement being filled by Maggie Grace and Carla Gugino. The vengeance is pure and great to watch but one loose end is left out there that seems like it should have been addressed. A fun action flick and worth a matinee veiwing but not full fair.

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Fair Game

Doug Liman forgoes the romanticized spies of literature for the real thing with his latest film dealing with the outing of Valerie Plame by the members of the Bush administration. Naomi Watts gives a great performance as the CIA agent who adheres to the code of her agency even while her superiors are throwing her to the dogs. Sean Penn also shines as Plame's husband who has to defend his reputation and integrity while confronting their accusers. The move is relevant since we are still dealing with the repercussions of being in a war that was based on misinformation and a lack of real facts. A worthwhile movie for all to see that shows you that you can not blindly trust the media or your superiors and to always question their actions.

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The Next Three Days

Russell Crowe is back on the screen in his regularly scheduled semi-annual outing and this time he is a father whose wife has been arrested for murder with no option for appeal. It doesn't sound like your typical thriller but once the breakout of his wife, played by Elizabeth Banks, happens the pace does not let up and the payoff at the end is great for the moviegoer. Liam Neeson makes a cameo as a veteran jailbreaker that Crowe seeks out for advice that sets the tone for the rest of the movie. Other cast notables are Olivia Wilde, Daniel Stern, and the recently seldom seen Brian Dennehy. A must see for Crowe fans and jailbreak enthusiasts.

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Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows: Part 1 IMAX

For those who may have been stuck in a Chilean mine shaft or abducted by aliens, you might not actually know that the final chapter of the boy wizard that lived made its part one debut today across the country in time for the holiday season. If you don't know the story to date then mores the pity on your muggle soul but I will let you know that this is by far the best acted film to date and the characters shine through over the special effects. Harry, Hermione and Ron aka Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint are joined by a few of my favorite actors to make this penultimate installment shine such as Bill Nighy and David O'Hara. This movie does deliver on the scares and there are a few scenes that startled me in my chair that were most welcome. You don't need me to tell you to go see this movie, most likely you already have your tickets in hand, but as intended the movie leaves you wanting and ready for the conclusion due out on July 15, 2011.

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Lake Placid 3

I was a huge fan of the first Lake Placid film and the sequel was not too bad so how bad could the third film be? Pretty bad it seems and I am a huge fan of Colin Ferguson, Michael Ironside and Yancy Butler. I like blood, violence and gratuitous nudity like the next red blooded male but the story here is non-existent and none of the characters are engaging. I wanted them all to die and die painfully. I should have waited to see this on SyFy and saved my money on the Amazon VOD.

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Centurion

Neil Marshall, who brought us Doomsday, The Descent, and Dog Soldiers, takes on the Roman Empire for his next bloody foray to the big screen. The fights are brutal, the action top notch and the story is very tight - everything you would expect from a Marshall film. The cast is a Who's Who of European actors like Michael Fassbender, Dominic West, Noel Clark and David Morrissey for us Doctor Who fans, and the bad ass chick this time is none other than the sexy Olga Kurylenko, last seen in Quantum of Solace. The film plot invokes a little of Michael Mann's The Last of the Mohicans but oh the carnage.! Definitely rent this film and another must have for the DVD collection.

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30 Days of Night: Dark Days

Steve Nile's vampire creations are back for another installment that follows a year after the slaughter in Barrow, Alaska. Stella, played by Kiele Sanchez, our sole survivor is out exposing the existence of vampires by publishing a book on the Barrow massacre and doing a book tour to force the evil bastards out in to the light. But things get more interesting when she is recruited by a small band of Los Angeles vamp hunters who want to use her to help uncover a new plot being hatched by the the lead vampire Lilith, played by Mia Kirshner. The story follows the comic closely and has the great surprise ending still intact. Thanks to Niles for giving us more of the bloody vampires we deserve and keep them coming.

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Unstoppable

Denzel Washington moves from the New York metro system to the railroads of PA in his latest train picture. This time out he is joined by Chris Pine, a rookie engineer, who try to stop a runaway freight train before it derails and can take out a small PA town. Tony Scott still likes his shaky cam effects too much but the movie is engaging and the action intriguing. The cast includes Rosario Dawson, Ethan Suplee, Kevin Dunn and a new favorite of mine, Lew Temple, who was awesome in Trailer Park of Terror. A surprisingly fun ride and worth a night out at the movies.

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Morning Glory

Broadcast News it is not but it is fun and Rachel McAdams is a wonderfully perky replacement for Holly Hunter in this film about the turn around of failing morning show by a producer who will not fail. The anchors are played by the ever lovely Diane Keaton and the crotchety Harrison Ford who have to stop fighting long enough to make it through a single show before it gets yanked from the air. Other notable casting includes Patrick Wilson, Jeff Goldblum, Jon Pankow, and Ty Burrell. Nothing in this film will make you want to be a TV show producer or be a broadcast journalist but that is not the point. As comedies go it is one of the better ones out right now but it is not a must see and perfectly good to wait for it on cable.

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Hatchet II

Adam Green's sequel to his 2006 cult horror hit, Hatchet, gets released to the big screen this weekend and this time out it is unrated and uncut. Victor Cowley, played by genre favorite bad guy Kane Hodder, is back and is working his way through the the family of the kids who saw him killed as a child by his father. Outside of the buckets of blood and the in your face gore, plenty of genre favorites are back too including Tony Todd, Tom Holland, and Danielle Harris taking over the role of Marybeth. I did not see the first film, a situation soon to be remedied, but rarely does anything horror related get released unrated and uncut any more so I had to check this out and I even paid for my ticket. I knew I was in for a good old time when in the first kill of the film has Victor ripping out a man's large intestine, dragging him across the floor with it and then strangling him with the intestine until his head pops off in a geyser of blood - great stuff!

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