Dec 1: The Sting

"In 1930s Chicago, a young con man seeking revenge for his murdered partner teams up with a master of the big con to win a fortune from a criminal banker."

Directed by: George Roy Hill, Rated: PG, 129 minutes

While The Sting is far from as flashy as the Oceans' 11 series or as action packed as The Italian Job, it's still one of the first heist/con movies of its time. With a memorable soundtrack (thank you ice cream trucks) and acting that leaves you smiling, it's a bonafide classic that must be seen. It's entertaining, full of humor, a bit of violence, and has a lot of twists you can barely see coming (a lot of the twists in the film were first seen with The Sting). Ladies and gentlemen, there are dozens of reasons why this movie won Best Picture in 1974 and it's no surprise it was able to beat out The Exorcist and American Graffiti.

Even the devil can't out-movie The Sting. 

Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) is a suave con man who makes his living scamming any hapless stranger walking down the street. He's a scamp, never really making it big and losing whatever he makes gambling. His partner, Luther (Robert Earl Jones) is an older man, well past his prime in the conning game. He's ready to retire and settle down and get straight (or legal). After Hooker and Luther steal from the wrong man, Luther finds himself face down in an alleyway, dead. Hooker, angry and scared, heads to Chicago to find Luther's old friend, Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman), to not only have a place to hide but also a place to come up with a plan of revenge against the greedy and evil Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). The two hatch an idea of staging a horse betting ring and figure out a way to draw Lonnegan into betting millions, only to take it away from him for revenge.

Before he hunted a great white shark, he was the swarmy and evil Lonnegan. 

The Sting is a very smart movie that's well ahead of its time. It's a movie from the 70s, set in the 30s, with the humor and charisma you can find in any decade. With each additional viewing, it proves more and more timeless and you can't help but be amazed at what's happening on screen. Robert Redford and Paul Newman have a blast in their roles, and the reunion of them four years after Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid reminds us why they're so perfect together. They both exude masculinity and cool and seeing them work off of each other adds an entirely new level to the film. George Clooney and Brad Pitt were able to emulate this chemistry thirty years later, with Oceans 11, but even then, it's far from as awesome as Newman and Redford. Besides the two leads, The Sting also has plenty of recognizable faces (most of which you're used to seeing much older) and has great supporting performances from Ray Walston, Eileen Brennan, and Harold Gould. Of course, Robert Shaw is also great, as always, and his Irish and angry Lonnegan proves to be a villain you can most certainly stand against.

No matter how hard you try, you will never be as cool as these two men. 

The Sting is a must watch for any fan of film. So many themes and ideas we see in the heist movies of today borrow from The Sting and once you recognize that fact, it looks even greater. The movie also uses the ever-annoying The Entertainer (again, thank you ice cream trucks) but to a much greater effect. It becomes the movie's theme and is more memorable than annoying and helps build the setting of 1930s Chicago. With great acting, witty and smart dialogue, and terrific set design, The Sting is a ride through multiple pasts and reminds us that movies are the perfect escape from reality. 

The Good:

a great capture of the 1930s with an optimistic feeling to it that leaves you more excited than depressed

The Better:

the performances from the entire cast with Robert Redford and Paul Newman more perfect than ever

The Best:

knowing that the film has such an importance in cinema history and being reminded of how influential it is

Overall: 8.7/10

Discussion Question:

Where does The Sting rank in the greatest movies of all time? Has it been a bit forgotten over time?

Trailer:

Nov 19: Swimming with Sharks

"A young, naive Hollywood studio assistant finally turns the tables on his incredibly abusive producer boss."

Directed by: George Huang, Rated: R, 101 minutes

Last year, we were gifted with the great little comedy, Horrible Bosses, a film about a group of guys who decide to murder their bosses after putting up with way too much bullshit. The film stars Kevin Spacey as a complete asshole who demeans his co-workers and even rubs it in for greater effect. Little do some of you know, Spacey played a very similar role in 1994's Swimming with Sharks. However, he's an even bigger prick and an even worse human being and the consequences of his actions are much more extreme then that of the lighter Horrible Bosses. The film is much more somber as well, and while it has moments of dark comedy, it's more drama than fun.

And it features a lot of shouting from Spacey. Something we have all learned to love. 

Guy (Frank Whaley) is a nervous, fresh out of film school young man who's looking to break into the Hollywood business. Excited at any prospect, Guy accepts a job at a film studio as the assistant to Buddy Ackerman (Spacey), a hot shot executive who tears through people with his mean words and horrible actions. He lies, cheats, and does whatever he can to be the best, even if it means stealing ideas or trampling over anyone in his way. He's far from Boss of the Year material and the poor Guy can only go so long without snapping (which he does). Guy breaks into Buddy's house, ties him up, and tortures him in an act of revenge. Swimming with Sharks goes back and forth between Guy covering Buddy's wounds with salt and lime and the days when he first started working for him. We see Guy's first interactions with Buddy and quickly become aware of how awful Buddy is, thus in a twisted sense, justifying Guys' actions later on. We also take a glimpse at the budding romance between Guy and Dawn (Michelle Forbes) and even Buddy's attempt to ruin that.

Swimming with Sharks is both black comedy and serious drama. At first glance, Guy appears to be a man who's gone psychotic over being pushed around too much at work. He's borderline lunatic and you think that he's crossed the line when it comes to torturing Buddy. However, as the film progresses and we see the story behind Guy's actions, we relate in a sick way. We've all hard terrible bosses we fantasize about punching in the face or pushing into traffic, and seeing Guy get completely destroyed by Buddy is something we would never wish upon our worst enemies (except those bosses). While Guy certainly goes to the extreme, the more we see of Buddy, the more we hate him as well and hope that pain is inflicted upon him. It's by no means fun to watch, but you don't look away, as you're curious as to seeing how far Guy will go. It has a dark edge to it that makes it entertaining but when you're left thinking about it, you're slightly disturbed. 

Saw: Living Room edition. 

Both Whaley and Spacey give absolutely incredible performances. Whaley is perfect as the nervous guy that's been bullied too much and him snapping into lunacy is very believable. He's never painted as the enemy and his simplicity and normalcy add to the realism and ability to relate. Spacey delivers again as Buddy and continues to impress me as an actor. His egotistical "I'm better than anyone" attitude is eerily believable and makes you wonder what working for him in real life must be like. He crawls under your skin and plants himself comfortably, laughing his ass off as you writhe in pain. You hate it, but you love it. And it's a big reason why Swimming with Sharks works. The film is far from perfect but it's a nice little look into the Hollywood executive life and the lengths people will go to not only get to the top, but keep that position and reign supreme. I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

The Good:

great performances by the two leads with a bite coming from Spacey that makes you hate him just a little bit

The Bad:

experiencing a hell of a workplace with Guy, and wondering how disgustingly awful it would be being in that situation

The Ugly:

knowing that there are people out there with the same mentality of Buddy and that there is someone, somewhere, being trampled over by said people

Overall: 7.6/10

Discussion Question:

What's the worst boss you have ever had? Any twisted fantasies about seeing them in pain?

Trailer:

Nov 15: Safety Not Guaranteed

"Three magazine employees head out on an assignment to interview a guy who placed a classified ad seeking a companion for time travel."

Directed by: Colin Trevorrow, Rated: R, 86 minutes

I'll admit, I've never been a fan of either Duplass brother. Jay and Mark both tend to make movies that try way too hard to be something special or profound, but never really delve deep enough to pull the weight. However, I've come around to Mark's acting ability (as I have become obsessed with The League) and can appreciate the comic timing and unhinged awkwardness that's become a staple in his performances. With Safety Not Guaranteed, Duplass tiptoes the line between crazy and sincere and as his motivations become clear, you really care about the guy.

Seriously, though. If you haven't watched The League yet, get on it. 

Jeff (Jake Johnson) is a writer for a magazine that's looking for some interesting stories. After a rather odd newspaper ad comes to his attention, Jeff takes Darius (Aubrey Plaza) and Arnau (Karan Soni), two interns, with him to a small town in Washington. The ad states that a man is looking for someone to go back in time with him and that it is certainly not a joke. The trio of reporters want to investigate the man that posted the article and see if he's actually onto something or if he's just a crazy man. After Jeff fails at initiating any conversation with the man, Kenneth (Duplass), he enlists the help of Darius to 'woo' him with her womanly ways. As Darius hangs out with Kenneth more, she starts to believe that he's telling the truth and that he actually has a way to go back in time. Kenneth also claims that special agents are after him and his plans, putting himself and Darius in danger. Of course, we never know if he's telling the truth or not because the grand scale of his claims, he's hard to believe.

It's like Scooby Doo but with adult situations! And lament!

Safety Not Guaranteed tackles a ton of themes you wouldn't expect in a movie like this. A large theme is regret and the idea of chasing the past, only to change it. It's something we can all relate to, yet none of us have the motivation or intellect to build a time machine to change things. Kenneth is a troubled man and has a lot of complicated and even dishonest things about him, but he's still driven by the idea of changing the past and makes him a very relatable 'hero'. Duplass does a great job in the role and can bounce around from screaming lunatic to sympathetic oddball very smoothly. He's also very plain looking and his appearance makes you believe he's someone you could run into on the street (and go on adventure with!). Aubrey Plaza is beautiful as always and her sarcastic curiosity turns into something more as the investigation continues. She plays "I don't care about you, but kind of do" really well and is a perfect compliment to Duplass. Surprisingly, Jake Johnson gives a really good performance as Jeff. Best known for his role on The New Girl, Jake is much more tame in Safety Not Guaranteed. He's the cocky big-shot that heads to Washington for a vacation, and not actual work, but ends up reconnecting with an old flame that really opens his character up. He's just as vulnerable and obsessed with the past as Kenneth, and his subplot parallels the time travel story-line wonderfully.

Yes, Aubrey Plaza. I'd love to be your Marty McFly.

I would highly recommend Safety Not Guaranteed. It's a great little story that has a dash of science-fiction. It's never heading in a direction you'd expect and the ending is just as odd, yet lovable as the characters involved. It's a simple movie with really strong themes, and even throughout the craziness that sometimes ensues, the film is incredibly relatable. All of the main characters give great performances (some of the best of the year) and I hope that this little gem gets more love. It's one of those movies that feels genuine and real, never glossed over with Hollywood-ness, and delivers something special. Heck, who knows? Maybe next time you're browsing through your newspaper classifieds or seeing what's up on Craigslist, you might find your own bizarre little adventure. But be careful, you never know what kind of people are out there...

The Good:

three terrific performances surrounding a simple, yet beautiful little story about regret, moving on, and exploration

The Bad:

knowing that this film won't get the love and attention it deserves

The Ugly:

wondering if time traveling will ever be mastered and then wondering how many people will be lining up to change the past

Overall: 8.0/10

Discussion Question:

If you could hop into a time machine and head to the past or future, where would you go and what would you do?

Trailer:

Nov 11: Skyfall

"Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost."

Directed by: Sam Mendes, Rated: PG-13, 143 minutes

James Bond is not only an icon of cinema, but a symbol of masculinity, badass everything, and more suave than ten Old Spice commercials. Six men have portrayed Bond on the big screen over his 50 year history, and we've seen dozens of memorable villains and even sexier Bond girls. In 2006, Daniel Craig, a man many doubted capable, took on the role of James Bond in Casino Royale. Not only was Craig looked at as a rather unorthodox Bond (blonde and blue eyed) but he was a grittier, darker, more vulnerable man than previous incarnations. Casino Royale took the franchise into an entirely different direction and proved to be not only an excellent Bond flick, but an even better stand alone movie. Then came Quantum of Solace. The filmmakers hoped to continue the same story from Casino Royale with Quantum, but were unable to put it all together. The film suffered from a weak script and was a bit more dumbed down than the smarter Casino Royale. Quantum was quickly forgotten and MGM, the studio behind Bond, ran into a ton of financial problems and put the Bond franchise in jeopardy. Four years later, in the 50th anniversary year of Bond, Skyfall is released. And good God is it in incredible.

Before we go any further, I must also mention that Adele's sultry voice and Bond's extreme badassness make sweet sweet love in Skyfall's theme song. 

When the evil Silva (Javier Bardem) hacks into MI6, compromising the entire security of both England and the secret agents in the field, M (Judi Dench) is put front and center as Silva's prime target. Bond, who was believed to be killed in action during a mission, "returns from the dead" to help his dear M, and uncovers more secrets than he could ever imagine. Skyfall manages to tell a very well-crafted story that's much smarter and packed with emotion than most Blockbusters. It elevates itself above the generic action flick and just as Casino Royale did, it is able to be just as strong as a stand alone film as it is a Bond movie. Craig continues to deliver an exceptional performance as Bond and shows his vulnerabilities even further. After his "resurrection", he's a broken man, mentally and physically. He can barely hold a gun and his aim is terrible, yet he returns to action to help M. Of course, Bond is never alone in his missions, and he's aided by Bond girls, Eve (Naomi Harris) and Severine (Berenice Marlohe), and MI6 employees, Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) and gadget king, Q (Ben Whishaw).

"What did you expect, an exploding pen?"- Q is a modern man of today. 

Skyfall is a powerful entry in the Bond franchise. It goes into territory previous Bond movies never even thought about treading into and blows you away. We see all sorts of new places and have plenty of reveals along the way. And while Skyfall feels grand and epic on a scale only fit for Bond, it tells a very simple story with so much more depth and emotion than what we have come to expect. The biggest focus throughout the movie is the relationship between Bond and M, and the history behind 007 himself. Much credit needs to be given to both Daniel Craig and Judi Dench for their performances. They work so well together and the dynamic between the two is that of respect, fun, and family. Even as often as the two bicker about one another, they both would go to the very end for each other. But, you cannot have a memorable Bond movie without a great villain and Javier Bardem creates a character immediately iconic in Silva. He's a twisted, yet genius, man that is driven by revenge. He's not out to take over the world as much as he's out to inflict as much pain on one particular individual, and he'll go whatever length to make that happen. He dances the fine line between maniac and genius and proves to be just as humorous as he is sinister. With bleached blonde hair and a rather eccentric personality, Silva can sit side by side with the great villains of Bond's past.

A complicated man, with more than enough to bring you nightmares. 

Seeing as this is 007's 23rd film in his 50 year history, there's a lot of ground that you would think would have to be covered. While Casino Royale jump-started Bond into a new timeline with Craig, there have always been slight nods to the past films. With Skyfall, this is no exception and if anything, the movie runs with these homages to the past in glorious fashion. For any seasoned Bond fan, there's plenty to be enjoyed and even more to look for, but even those of us who are just the occasional 007 lover or even first timers, there are still many things you would understand, as Bond has penetrated our culture through more than just film. Without giving much away, I can tell you that Skyfall is the perfect anniversary film for Bond and manages to create new memories and iconic characters, while still calling back to the past without taking too much away. Everything is done in respect or in little mentions and I can only assume would lead to more things being "caught" with additional viewings.

Well look at that little guy in the background!

Skyfall is an exceptional film that crosses into all sorts of territory. It's a film for movie-lovers, as well as Bond-fanatics, and is much more than an over-the-top action movie. Craig's hero is a man we can relate to, much more than previous incarnations, and in the gritty realism he suffers for, we're just as worried about his safety as we would any other man. He reminds us time and again that he's far from immortal, and severely flawed, but when the pain hits home, he's a man to be reckoned with. Director Sam Mendes captures this realism with beauty and blends it into the gorgeous backdrops and scenery. Skyfall is a must see for any fan of incredible storytelling and in your face action. Even at 142 minutes, it never falters or feels that long, and each moment we, as the audience, spend with Bond, the more we understand his troubled life and strong resolve. The entirety of what plays out is both entertaining and heart-breaking and manages to create an entirely new story about a fifty year old icon we have come to love and understand for so long. So lift up your martinis to James Bond and hope that the next fifty years are just as exciting as the last. He's here to stay and Craig will continue to do 007 justice. 

The Good:

terrific visuals that accompany a very somber, yet thrilling story

The Better:

more than enough references to Bond's past, from particular gadgets or cars, to even iconic lines

The Best:

performances from the entire cast, with Craig, Dench, and Bardem carrying the film into greatness

Overall: 9.5/10

Discussion Question:

Craig is signed on for two more Bond movies, but who do you think could take on the role once he's done? And where would the franchise head?

Trailer:

Oct 31: Silent Hill

"A woman goes in search for her daughter, within the confines of a strange, desolate town called Silent Hill. Based on the video game."

Directed by: Christopher Gans, Rated: R, 125 minutes

Every Halloween I watch Silent Hill. It's turned into a little tradition for myself and have never really been able to pinpoint the exact moment I decided to keep it up. It's not even the scariest movie I've ever seen but it still fits the holiday and leaves me a little on edge. There's just something about Silent Hill that keeps me coming back for more and you can only imagine how sad I was when I heard such horrible things about its recent sequel. But I can say with confidence that Silent Hill is the greatest video game adaptation ever made.

It might help that this awful man had nothing to do with it. 

The film follows Rose (Radha Mitchell), a woman who loses her daughter and has plenty of signs leading her to a small town called Silent Hill. Rose travels to the abandoned town after many warnings that it holds plenty of dark secrets. Once she arrives, Rose discovers first-hand the warnings are true, and the town changes into hell on earth, with the walls peeling away and demon-like creatures spawn out of the darkness. As Rose uncovers more secrets she comes to find the town is cursed and that only way to escape is to "go deeper" and find a way to reverse the curse and save her daughter. Rose is joined by police officer, Cybil (Laurie Holden) and encounters plenty of townspeople that leave in constant fear.

Too bad my disgust for her in The Walking Dead ruins her quite a bit in anything else she's in. 

Silent Hill makes you hate tornado sirens. Whenever a siren goes off in the film, you know shit's going to happen and that terror is right around the corner. Each time the wall's begin to peel away, you get tense, again knowing that awful is coming. It's a film that continues to build suspense and only gets worse as it progresses. Not only does the siren provide tension, but the visuals that accompany each change are just as creepy. Seeing a desolate town dissolve into an even greater darkness, literally on the edge of hell, is just as creepy. Of course, you can't mention Silent Hill without mentioning Pyramid Head, the franchise's signature character. A brute of man stumbling through hell, carrying a massive ax and ripping the skin off of innocents is quite the visual of fear. He plays a minor, yet memorable part, and is more than okay sharing the creature-feature with a handful of other demons, zombie-nurses, and other undead nightmares.

He will f**k you the f**k up.

While Silent Hill has a handful of weak moments towards the end, it still is quite the ride. It's dark, it's creepy, and it leaves you paranoid. You'll hate sirens of any kind after watching the film and if you are a fan of the video games, you'll love the film. It provides plenty of scares and moments of "oh f**k that did not just happen!". It's well acted with a solid script (written by Roger Avary, Pulp Fiction) and has both visual and mental fears playing on on screen. Sure, it plays off of the cliche little kids are spooky aspect, but it still brings much more to the game than other generic horror films. I would highly recommend it and I look forward to continuing my Halloween tradition for years to come. Here's hoping the eventual third flick in the series will be a worthy follow-up to this mini-masterpiece.

The Good:

overall creep factor that lingers with you and the fact that it's a terrific adaptation of an already terrifying video game

The Bad:

some cliches that leave you a little frustrated, but nothing that ruins the film completely

The Ugly:

... tornado sirens

7.5/10

Discussion Question:

Besides Silent Hill (and Resident Evil) are there any other good video game adaptations?

Trailer:

Jan 16: The Secret of Kells

"The animated story of the boy behind the famed Book of Kells."

   The Secret of Kells is the first animated movie I am reviewing, and will certainly not be the last. The film follows a young boy who, with the help of his Brothers, discoveries the secrets behind the magic of The Book of Kells. At least, that's what I think. The film's plot is very vague, as you think the book he is trying to finish is, indeed, a magic book. However, I looked it up and found out it is an illuminated manuscript of The Bible. Minus the fact that most of the characters are monks, there is really no reference to Christianity. Sure, people can argue that the power of God is magic, but this movie really makes it seem like he's some sorcerer or that he is headlining in Vegas like David Copperfield. 

I can't wait to see Jesus the Magnificent! 

   Along with all of the other fantastical elements in this so-called "Christian" story, Brendan, the boy, encounters a young girl fairy in the woods outside of Kells. Her character is used to help explain what lurks in the forest to the young boy and, I assume, to give little girls watching the film someone to relate with? I guess that just goes along with the rest of the plot and how confusing it all really is. Oh, and there's this sequence where the boy swims in darkness (I think?) and battles a giant snake-like thing with a piece of chalk. I assume it's like the battles Harold and the Purple Crayon had in his later years. 

This SO needs to happen. 

   Now just because the plot is all over the place and confuses a religion with ancient magic and lore, does not mean The Secret of Kells is a terrible movie. The animation is, by far, some of the best I have ever seen. The backdrops are beautifully painted with vibrant water colors and the imagination put into every setting is incredible. This film was actually nominated for an Oscar in 2010 for Best Animated film and, from a pure artistic aspect, I can see why. The animation also has very very dark moments and I do not see how any kid could watch this without having nightmares of some kind. Not to mention, there is a whole lot of death. 

Have fun explaining death- and the film's plot to your kids!

   Overall, The Secret of Kells was, by no means, a bad movie. I think the plan of the directors was to amaze us with the visuals to the point where we don't really care about the plot. If that was their plan, they certainly succeeded. However, even with all of its problems, I still believe this to be a film that needs to be seen. The visuals are just too damn good and the soundtrack, with it's beautiful Celtic melodies, make The Secret of Kells worth a viewing. Plus, it's only 75 minutes long. 

Sight: Like I mentioned above, the animation is some of the best I have ever seen. The entire film is beautiful, and the thought put into every scene is remarkable. 

Sound: You can't have something gorgeous to look at and not have something just as good to listen to. The soundtrack compliments the visuals perfectly. 

Skill: I guess I never thought about how I would critique skill in an animated movie. Brendan Gleeson is one of the only known actors to have a voice in the cast, and he does well? 

Script: Confusing and scattered, the plot really tells me nothing of what The Book of Kells was really all about, other than that it took your breath away when looked upon. 

Overall: 6.5/10 

Best Quote: 

Brendan: "You can't find out everything from books, you know."
Aiden: "I think I read that once."