Here's the recap of my 4 star movies:
Star Trek Into Darkness
Silver Linings Playbook
Hunger Games: Catching Fire
(can you tell I'm a Jennifer Lawrence fan?)
But there were others I saw that were worthy:
Lawrence of Arabia
Sunset Boulevard
Searching for Sugar Man
Rushmore
And worst of the year:
Jobs
Saving Mr. Banks
A Disney movie about Walt Disney himself, and P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins, has several aspects which make it distinctive:
It's a screwball comedy, about the English lady coming to see the smooth American,
it's a show-business "Making the Movie" story
it's a mystery: why does she so jealously guard Mary Poppins?,
it's a musical with new songs being written and performed,
it's a epic story of the Australian Outback frontier family.
All of this comes together, although with John Lee Hancock as the director, it can go on for a while - lots to fit in. Walt Disney wants the rights to film Mary Poppins and has for 20 years. But Travers guards them closely.
Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson are a good couple and there are stars a plenty. My favorite of course: Colin Farrell (again) as Travers Banks, P.L.'s father - who is the one who is part of the Saving.
* * * 1/2 - a good family movie
It's a screwball comedy, about the English lady coming to see the smooth American,
it's a show-business "Making the Movie" story
it's a mystery: why does she so jealously guard Mary Poppins?,
it's a musical with new songs being written and performed,
it's a epic story of the Australian Outback frontier family.
All of this comes together, although with John Lee Hancock as the director, it can go on for a while - lots to fit in. Walt Disney wants the rights to film Mary Poppins and has for 20 years. But Travers guards them closely.
Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson are a good couple and there are stars a plenty. My favorite of course: Colin Farrell (again) as Travers Banks, P.L.'s father - who is the one who is part of the Saving.
* * * 1/2 - a good family movie
American Hustle
"Some of this actually happened" is the disclaimer/warning at the beginning of this wannabe 70s movie. I say, wannabe, because it obviously is trying to catch the Sidney Lumet vibe of many of those great movies. In the end it is like a copy of a copy of a copy, somewhat faded, but you still can read the outlines.
The movie owes a lot to Argo, a modern movie about a 70s story. Christian Bale and Amy Adams are Irving and Edith, a pair of small-time swindlers. When they are busted by FBI agent, Bradley Cooper, they are brought in as bait for larger fish, in this case Mayor of Camden, NJ, Carmine Pilito and the rebirth of Atlantic City.
Director David O. Russell, fresh off the success of Silver Linings Playbook, has brought back his case of Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and even an uncredited Robert DeNiro (wouldn't be a mob movie without him). Jennifer Lawrence is the modern day female version of Robert Duvall - every movie she is in is good. She steals the show as Irving's wife as the straw that stirs the drink. Unfortunately she has more a supporting part - more of her please.
Bradley Cooper plays the same character as always: the psychotic but charming ass. It worked in Silver Linings Playbook when he at least has the excuse of mental defect, but as an FBI agent, it is nearly silly: living with his mom, berating (and more) his boss (Louis C.K.). The train needs to leave this guy behind.
Christian Bale does a nice job as Irving. With this ensemble, it's hard to tell who the important characters are. Amy Adams is excellent as Lady Edith, using her sexuality to get ahead and reinvent herself. Irving is somewhat conflicted: he says that the Mayor is his best friend, but he sells him out early on.
In the end, the movie trys too hard to tell a story that probably didn't happen and ends up somewhat contrived.
* * * of 4
The nostalgia is evident in the costuming, hairstyles and set design. It is a more serious version of a movie just release but unworthy of a real review: Anchorman 2 ( 1 1/2 stars). The mutton chops, the three piece colored suits, the plaids. It is in both cases a little over the top.
The movie owes a lot to Argo, a modern movie about a 70s story. Christian Bale and Amy Adams are Irving and Edith, a pair of small-time swindlers. When they are busted by FBI agent, Bradley Cooper, they are brought in as bait for larger fish, in this case Mayor of Camden, NJ, Carmine Pilito and the rebirth of Atlantic City.
Director David O. Russell, fresh off the success of Silver Linings Playbook, has brought back his case of Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and even an uncredited Robert DeNiro (wouldn't be a mob movie without him). Jennifer Lawrence is the modern day female version of Robert Duvall - every movie she is in is good. She steals the show as Irving's wife as the straw that stirs the drink. Unfortunately she has more a supporting part - more of her please.
Bradley Cooper plays the same character as always: the psychotic but charming ass. It worked in Silver Linings Playbook when he at least has the excuse of mental defect, but as an FBI agent, it is nearly silly: living with his mom, berating (and more) his boss (Louis C.K.). The train needs to leave this guy behind.
Christian Bale does a nice job as Irving. With this ensemble, it's hard to tell who the important characters are. Amy Adams is excellent as Lady Edith, using her sexuality to get ahead and reinvent herself. Irving is somewhat conflicted: he says that the Mayor is his best friend, but he sells him out early on.
In the end, the movie trys too hard to tell a story that probably didn't happen and ends up somewhat contrived.
* * * of 4
The nostalgia is evident in the costuming, hairstyles and set design. It is a more serious version of a movie just release but unworthy of a real review: Anchorman 2 ( 1 1/2 stars). The mutton chops, the three piece colored suits, the plaids. It is in both cases a little over the top.
Upcoming reviews
Within the next week, I plan to have reviews for:
Anchorman 2
American Hustle
Hobbit 2: Desolation of Smaug
Interesting I read of these last two being different various of a heist movie. Clever!
Anchorman 2
American Hustle
Hobbit 2: Desolation of Smaug
Interesting I read of these last two being different various of a heist movie. Clever!
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