Looper 2012

      Loopers are a group of killers who work for the mob and they time travel.  It’s illegal to time travel and only available on the black market. Victims are sent back from the year 2074 to the year 2044.  They are killed in the later year so their bodies can be disposed of in the earlier year.

     I didn’t like the first half of this film and I almost didn’t watch the second half.  In the beginning, I didn’t care about the characters and Levitt seems like a robot with his facial features made to look like a younger Willis.  I read some of the details for my review and decided I would finish the film to see how everything was brought to a conclusion.  It is a good movie when you put it all together.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

119 min, Action directed by Rian Johnson with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Noah Segan, Piper Perabo, Jeff Daniels, Pierce Gagnon.

Note:  imdb 7.7 out of 10, 94% critic 87% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Damsels in Distress 2011

     The male students dominate seven Oaks College, an American university.  Violet and her two friends try to adjust the balance.  They run a Suicide Prevention Center and their advice is very unusual.  They expand their group by including Lily, a transfer student.  Their romantic relationships with guys threaten their friendship and sanity.

     I can say that this film is different and there is a lot of dialogue.  What could be stated in just a few words gets the grand treatment of flowery expansion.  Too much so, it seems haughty and pretentious instead.  After a short time, you just don’t want to listen anymore, not very much is happening and it’s not a comedy.  2 ½* (This movie is so-so)  

99 min, Comedy directed by Whit Stillman with Greta Gerwig, Adam Brody, Analeigh Tipton, Carrie MacLemore, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Ryan Metcalf.  

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 6.0 out of 10, 75% critic 42% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hide Away 2011

     A broken man buys a run down sail boat to think about killing himself.  He lost is wife, son and daughter and doesn’t know if he wants to or can live without them.  He starts working on the boat, slowly but surely, it was purchased in “as is” condition and there are a lot of things that don’t work.  A waitress and sail maker try to help him heal through the winter.

     I didn’t like the ending, seemed to be a cop out or a cut off?  Details of what happened to his family are not forthcoming until late in the film too.  Did Nicholas Sparks write this?  3* (This movie is OK)

88 min, Drama directed by Chris Eyre with Josh Lucas, Ayelet Zurer, James Cromwell, Jon Tenney, Taylor Nichols, Casey LaBow.

Note:  Imdb 4.9 out of 10, 36% critic 48% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

I Heart Shakey 2012

    This is a family film about a widowed father and his ten-year-old daughter.  They have a dog, Shakey and he’s a big part of the family.  The dad, J.T. O’Neil, has always dreamed about leaving their small town for a chef’s job in Chicago.  Chandler, his daughter, encourages her dad to follow his dream even though it will be hard for her to leave where they live.  They are surprised and happy that the apartment they’ve rented is in a very tall high-rise building.  They are also surprised to learn that dogs are not allowed?  What about Shakey?  The manager is not very receptive to anything not in the rental contract!!

     A good premise but very watered down and predictable.  Seems like a lot of life has been sucked right out of it?  2 ½* (This movie is so-so)

90 min, Comedy directed by Kevin Cooper with Beverly D’Angelo, Steve Guttenberg, Steve Lemme, Rylie Behr, Alfonso Arau, Michael Yurchak.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 3.8 out of 10, 38% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Mansome 2012

     This film contains candid interviews with knowns and unknowns about men and their grooming.  Many new products and procedures are on the market targeted just for men.  The majority of men are on the cusp of the grooming phase and others have fully embraced every aspect.  There are still hold-outs who do not want to do any grooming!  Waxing for body hair or an electric shaver for bear backs.  Threading and waxing for the uni-brow, lasers for obvious facial blood vessels.  Tooth whitening is just a beginning, this can lead to pedicures, manicures, facials, exfoliation, plastic surgery, beard contests, all tailored for men.

     I thought this was funny and I was surprised at the very low reviews.  A man of Middle Eastern heritage spoke about having three hair follicles coming out of every pore.  He’s seen using an electric razor on his body which leaves enough shaven hair to make a toupee for another man.  He needs someone else to help him with shaving his back.  A barber uses the process of making a cast of the customer’s head to make a very realistic toupee.  3 ½* (I liked this movie) 

82 min, Doc directed by Morgan Spurlock with Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Adam Carolla, Shawn Dalvari, Zach Galifianakis, Chris McLaughlin, Isaiah Mustafa. 

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 5.2 out of 10, 25% critic 22% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Special Note:  I think Zack Galifianakis, at least during this interview, may slightly fall into the NO grooming category?  I said “may” in case of a law suit for character defamation!

Turn Me On, Dammit 2011

     Based on a novel by Olaug Nilssen and filmed in Skoddeheimen, Norway.  Alma is a 15-year-old girl and she goes to a party with her two friends.  Even though they are under the drinking age, they manage to get someone to buy beer for them before the party.  Alma likes Artur, they see each other at the party and they go outside together.  Alma goes back in and blurts out something about Artur.  What she said gets passed around to almost everyone in town.  Alma becomes the most unpopular person at her school.  Only one friend will talk to her and only if no one else sees them talking.

     This film is very narrow scope and there are probably some cultural differences between Norway and America?  I don’t think this is funny either and more suited to teens?  2 ½* (This movie is so-so)

76 min, Comedy directed by Janicke Systad Jacobsen with Helene Bergsholm, Malin Bjorhovde, Beate Stofring, Matias Myren.

Note:  Imdb 6.2 out of 10, 93% critic 67% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Brave 2012

     Princess Merida of Scotland gets very grumpy over princess training with her mother, she’d rather be riding her horse and shooting her bow.  The Queen sends out invitations to the neighboring clans requesting the first-born son of the head of each clan be presented to the Princess regarding a marriage.  This news really sends Merida running out into the forest to escape.  She’s not having any of this; she’s got to change her fate.  She discovers a witch who can cast a spell for her but nothing goes the way she thought it would.

     This is good, sometimes I can’t get interested in animated films but the plot and the characters are good plus very beautiful scenery.  You are hanging on the edge of the cliff wondering what’s going to happen near the end.  4* (I really liked this movie)

93 min, Animated directed by Mark Andrews with Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd.

Note:  Blockbuster 4*, imdb 7.3 out of 10, 78% critic 79% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.