July 6: The Amazing Spider-Man

"Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father's former partner."

Directed by: Marc Webb, Rated: PG-13, 136 minutes

The Amazing Spider-Man is just that- amazing. Sure, the movie seems a little unnecessary, with Spider-Man 3 still stale in our minds, coming out just five years ago. But nonetheless, this reboot is a fine re-introduction to the friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man. Keep in mind, it's far from perfect, as the film relies heavily on the fact that there will indeed be sequels. As a stand alone movie, the only big differences from the Sam Raimi-Tobey Maguire 2002 film are the cast, the visual style, and the villain. The story is the same, and while it's a fresh take on Spider-Man's origin, all of the advertising for the film highlighted the fact we'd see "Peter Parker's Untold Story". The commercials and trailers heavily emphasized on the fact that the story would not be what we already know, with twists and turns and further reveals pertaining to Peter's parents. This is a little disappointing, as I was really hoping to see something new. I understand that a lot of these plot points could be better used in a sequel for big reveals, but one of the things I hate most about big, studio tent pole blockbusters, is the heavily relying on the fact that there will always be more time and more movie. I would love to go into a big budget movie where the story has its own beginning, middle, and end, without having anything left open-ended or ambiguous. 

No!

The Amazing Spider-Man tells the story of good ol' Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), a genius and somewhat loner who, after being bitten by a radioactive spider, transforms into the aerobatic Spider-Man. That's the story we all know, but moving back to the beginning, we see Peter's parents (two characters completely omitted from the previous franchise) having to leave him at his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May's (Sally Field) home. His parents are scientists at Oscorp on the brink of a breakthrough study in genetics and biology. Their departure leaves a lot of questions, and it's only in a little tid-bit on the computer that we see they died in a plane crash under mysterious circumstances. Years later, Peter simply goes day to day, skateboarding, taking pictures for the year book, and trying to blend into the stream of teenagers that busy the halls. He is happy living with his aunt and uncle, but he struggles with the fact that his father is gone and you can tell it's damaged him emotionally. Garfield's Peter Parker is much more angrier and angst-ier than Tobey Maguire's and this plays much better with the grittier style of the film, as well as more of what his character is actually like in the comics. Enter Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), an even smarter student and daughter to New York police chief George Stacey (Dennis Leary), who has a thing for Peter and the two begin flirting and eventual fall for each other. Gwen works at Oscorp as an intern, under the tutelage of Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), a one-armed scientist who's a world renowned herpetology expert and former colleague of Peter's father. Connors is on the verge of discovering a way to regenerate cells in the human body. Parker discovers the key to this breakthrough in some of his father's old things and after presenting it to Connors, the two create a serum that could have the power to save lives. In a desperate move, Connors uses the serum on himself and turns into a giant lizard as a result. As Peter is discovering his powers and prowling the streets for the man who killed his uncle, Connors grows stronger as the Lizard, and plans on releasing the toxin on all of New York, "saving" the people from the weakness of being human. Thus, Peter feels responsible for the creation of the monster and sees it as his duty to save the city from mutation and destruction.

Kind of creepy, but nowhere near movie monster legends creepy. 

Directed by Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer), The Amazing Spider-Man's biggest strength is in the love story between Peter and Gwen. The first hour or so of the film focuses heavily on the two's blossoming romance and it's hard to deny the perfect chemistry between Garfield and Stone. The scenes showing them flirting early on in their relationship bring a smile to your face, and Webb captures the awkwardness of being a teenager in love with ease. Webb is first a storyteller, then a filmmaker, and it clearly shows in the first part of the film. There is a lot of character development for Parker and his friends and family, and even though we know what happens to everyone, the genuineness of Garfield and co. make it feel fresh. Andrew Garfield is perfect as Parker and later as Spider-Man, and I am so happy to see him finally get the recognition he deserves. He's incredibly talented and makes the role completely his own, adding a mix of humor, vulnerability, and courage to the character. He's not the puny little nerd we saw with Tobey Maguire, and while he is somewhat a social outcast, he's not just dismissed as a nobody. He has a life, people know his name, and he is incredibly smart. Emma Stone, who is the perfect example of what is sexy and fun (I love her), is great as Gwen and she's not your standard damsel in distress who needs saving. She handles her own perfectly, and Stone does a great job at showing Gwen's strength, wit, and kindness. Rhys Ifans is very good as Dr. Connors, but I believe his motivation and back-story to be rather lacking. It's a shame, because Ifans is a tremendous actor, and I feel he was held back from truly stealing the film. Another part of the film that I find interesting is the use of a soundtrack. While the original Raimi Spidey's used a lot of songs and had huge soundtracks, The Amazing Spider-Man uses only a couple of songs, all to great effect (shout out goes to the amazing use of Coldplay's "Til Kingdom Come", while Peter is discovering his powers). 

Go watch: The Social Network, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, and The Red Riding Trilogy

Obligatory.

Overall, I would certainly recommend The Amazing Spider-Man. I saw the film in IMAX 3D and it was a terrific movie-going experience. Visually, the film is superb, and much less of a life action cartoon like Sam Raimi's versions. It's grittier, darker, and uses New York beautifully, with most of the action lit by the city lights and the moonlight. The film is clearly inspired by Batman Begins, and the darker approach feels much more realistic. The 3D effects are some of the best I have ever seen and I never was distracted or induced with a headache like I have with other 3D films. The cast alone warrants a viewing, and the chemistry between the two leads is beautiful to watch. Andrew Garfield puts the amazing in the title and I cannot wait to continually see him as Peter Parker. Though, even with that, my biggest complaints of the film are the fact that it really uses the idea of a sequel as a crutch and it never tells the full back-story we were promised in the advertising. I feel that the studio took over in the editing process, and hacked away at the film, making it more of a buildup than a stand alone movie. I feel bad for Marc Webb and I hope that if he returns for a sequel, he is given more creative control in post-production. Regardless, The Amazing Spider-Man is one of the best movies of the year and I'm glad to see a blockbuster focus more on the characters and not just the spectacle. 

The Good:

a somewhat fresh take on the origin story we all know, told with a darker style and a more realistic approach

The Better:

3D effects that make you feel like you're Spider-Man (especially in the great first person shots) and the great use of New York City at night

The Best:

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, two actors made for their roles and clearly made for each other

Overall: 8.6/10

Trailer:

Re-watch? Yes

Buy? Definitely

May 31: Paper Man

"A washed-up writer forms an unlikely friendship with a teenager from Long Island."

Paper Man is a fine display of how off-the-rocker a man can become when a bad case of writer's block completely overwhelms his life. The man is certainly not the most likable, by all means, and even comes across as rather creepy, but with the film's heart and imagination, a lot can be forgiven. Paper Man is a fine example how a little indie film can be saved by a star-studded cast and makes you wonder how bad it would have turned out if a bunch of no name actors experience self-loathing, middle age frustrations, and an odd fascination with a rare game hen. Starring Jeff Daniels, Emma Stone, Lisa Kudrow, Kieran Culkin, and Ryan Reynolds, the film certainly surprises. First time directors Michele and Kieran Mulroney are incredibly lucky to have such talent in their directing debut and I strongly believe without the cast, Paper Man would be a very, very, sub-par film. 

I mean, who else but Ryan Reynolds could play Captain Excellent?

Yes, Reynolds is in a cheap superhero suit every time he appears in the film. He actually plays Richard's (Jeff Daniels) imaginary friend that he has had for his entire life. Richard is struggling with so many aspects of his life (career, marriage, etc.) and his only friend, Captain Excellent, seems to be the only constant throughout his mid-life super crisis. When he moves into a new house in a little town, he meets Abby (Emma Stone), a teenage girl he hires to babysit, even though there is actually no child around. You'd think this would be a red flag of creepy, but Abby goes along with it, even gets paid, and the two begin a rather awkward, but cute?, friendship. As Richard continues to struggle writing a new book about the last bird of a species, he learns to grow up (again), find courage in himself and his work, and even let go of a friend who's stuck around for way too long. 

Even if we all know he'll never truly grow up

Paper Man is good, but it is nowhere near incredible. It never escapes the fact that it is, indeed, a low budget indie film and while it has a hard time avoiding certain cliches, it still is very entertaining. It is as heart-warming as it is quirky and odd. Jeff Daniels is terrific as Richard and makes me wonder why the man has not been in a lot more. Emma Stone shows she can definitely act and is much more than a raunchy comedy queen. Ryan Reynolds, as always, is hilarious, and the few moments he graces the screen are not only memorable, but very absurd. He now has, I believe, three superheroes under his belt and I can only assume he's begun a fine little collection. I would definitely recommend Paper Man, especially if you're a writer or just someone struggling to find some creative inspiration. 

The Good:

The entire cast that saves a plot that could have turned ugly had it starred other people

The Bad:

the film's plot is a little hairy, as are the characters, especially Richard, who comes off as a little too creepy

The Ugly:

wondering how many first time filmmakers never get the opportunity to have such great actors starring in their directing debuts

Overall: 6.8/10

Trailer:

Feb 29: Crazy, Stupid, Love

"A middle-aged husband's life changes dramatically when his wife asks him for a divorce. He seeks to rediscover his manhood with the help of a new-found friend Jacob, learning to pick up girls at bars."

   Steve Carell will win an Oscar one day, you can quote me on that right now, right here. His filmography has become stronger and stronger as time goes on, and Crazy, Stupid, Love is another exceptional entry. His likeability, his honesty, and his earnestness adds so much to the movies he's in, and when the perfect part comes along (I thought it was Little Miss Sunshine), Carell will be swimming in a kiddie pool of awards. And, you really can't help but be happy for him. In Crazy, Stupid, Love, he shines, as does the entire cast, and it's because of this ensemble that the movie works wondrously. It is a romantic comedy and, of course, can't go without a couple of cliches, but most of the time it makes fun of itself in that fact.

It's a "chick flick" without Katherine Heigel, thus 100% bi*ch free. 

   Crazy, Stupid, Love is a fresh, original, and smart movie. The dialogue is hilarious and very sincere, and there are just the right amount of story-lines going on (f**k you New Year's Eve) that not only keep your interest, but come together gloriously at the end. The film has a handful of genuinely funny moments, as well as a couple of pull-at-your-heart-strings scenes that leave you a little "blubbered". It's an excellent combination of sappy, happy, and not-too crappy. Everything that happens is believable, and it never crosses into the "Come on! Really?" area that most romantic comedies find themselves inside. 

Thankfully, no "empowered" successful female editors, lawyers, reporters, bakers, or designers "too busy" for love. 

   Overall, Crazy, Stupid, Love is a nice little movie that is not just for women. There are a fair share of laughs and the performances by Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone clearly show that they are perfect for their roles. Carrell's kid, played by Jonah Bobo, gives quite the performance for someone his age. Unlike most comedies that fizzle out towards their conclusions, Crazy, Stupid, Love starts off a little slow, but it's finale is worth the wait. The film knows you're not some stupid drone and in its smart, witty dialogue and characters, it's so much more relatable than most of the shit polluting the theaters around the world. 

The Good:

it's a film that knows its audience, and awards us with a great cast, dialogue, soundtrack, and plot

The Bad:

although slightly disguised, it's still a movie about rich, beautiful people and their problems 

The Ugly:

my realization that I will never look "photoshopped" like Ryan Gosling

Overall: 7.9/10

Best Quote:

Jacob: "The war between the sexes is over. We won the second women started doing pole dancing for exercise."

Feb 21: The Help

"An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African-American maid's point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis."

  The Help is a great movie with a good message about a bad time in our history. With excellent acting and a great script, The Help succeeds as a feel good movie. However, any movie with this setting and material cannot avoid being cliche at times. The film brings nothing new to the film world or the genre, but it does stand out on its own as having a good mix of drama, humor, and charm. It's almost as though the producers decided to make a cookie cutter film about racism specifically for the Oscars. 

"I have a dream that people will make movies about the civil rights movement, and win Oscars."

   The best part of The Help is the acting. Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Jessica Chastain are all excellent. Viola Davis, as Aibileen, is marvelous and genuine and so real with her character, you can't help but laugh and cry with her. If Meryl Streep wins another Oscar on Sunday, the Academy is absolutely idiotic. It's Davis' to win. Octavia Spencer is incredible as Minny, and she brings a much needed lightheartedness to the film. She could be considered the "comic relief" of the film, and the humor she brings is unique and sincere. And, in all seriousness, I pray that this year will be a first, come Oscar Sunday, where two incredible African American women walk away with the two actress awards. It's refreshing to see a movie with so many strong roles for women. 

They deserve it. 

   Overall, The Help is a film that's completely reliant on its performances and without each actress in her respected role (that each woman was made for), the film would be entirely forgettable. The script is strong and smart, but a movie with such a dangerously sensitive theme, the boundaries should be pushed a little further. The film is safe, and uplifting, but it just seems to sugar coat the issues slightly. I'd recommend The Help, and I hope to see it take away a few awards this week. 

The Good:

incredible performances by amazing women

The Bad:

just a little too safe

The Ugly:

a reminder of how horrible things were, just fifty years ago

Overall: 8.3/10

Best Quote:

Aibileen Clark: "18 people were killed in Jackson that night. 10 white and 8 black. I don't think God has color in mind when he sets a tornado loose."