Rampart 2011

     Dave Brown works for the Los Angeles police force and he’s a corrupt cop.  He is the focus of an internal investigation after he’s caught on tape beating a suspect.  He’s out of control but he begins to spiral down more and more.  He lives with his wife and his ex-wife,  they are sisters.  He has two daughters too.  He’s into stealing, drugs and other women. 

     I initially didn’t want to watch this because it is what it is.  What you see is what you get, nothing new, nothing that hasn’t been seen over and over.  Dave doesn’t have a “good” side.  2* (I didn’t like this movie)

107 min, Drama directed by Oren Moverman with Woody Harrelson, Sigourney Weaver, Robin Wright, Ned Beatty, Ben Foster, Ice Cube, Anne Heche, Cynthia Nixon, Jon Baernthal.

Note:  Blockbuster 2 ½*, imdb 5.9 out of 10, 75% critic 36% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Lola Versus 2012

      Lola is 29 years old and she’s happily planning a wedding with her boyfriend Luke.  She comes home one day and out of the blue, he’s got cold feet.  They break up, he needs space and she feels barely alive.  She tries to move on but it’s very difficult. Then, Luke tells her he thinks he made a mistake.  She realizes she needs to find herself before she makes any decisions about guys.

     This is not a comedy and there is here is not very much going on, no surprises, just the typical breakup story.  I like Greta Gerwig as an actress and I think lately she has wasted her talents on hum drum films.  She needs a home run!!   3* (This movie is OK) 

 

87 min, Comedy directed by Caryl Wein with Greta Gerwig, Joel Kinnaman, Zoe Lister Jones, Hamish Linklater, Bill Pullman, Debra Winger, Maria Dizzia.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 ½*, imdb 4.8, 34% critic 31% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Vamps 2012

     Goody and Stacy are pals, they live together and work together at night.  The only thing that makes them different is that they are vampires.  They belong to a vampire group with meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous.  The members of this group have a pact that they will not drink blood from humans.  Instead, they drink animal blood.  Goody meets one of her former boyfriends and Stacy really likes her new boyfriend, Joey.  The only problem with Joey is his father is a vampire hunter.  Right away his parent’s suspect that Stacy is a vampire.

     This is really different and funny.  Everyone is over the top in their acting.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

93 min, Comedy directed by Amy Heckerling with Alicia Silverstone, Krysten Ritter, Sigourney Weaver, Wallace Shawn, Malcolm McDowell, Dan Stevens, Justin Kirk.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*, imdb 4.7 out of 10, 50% critic 36% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Alps 2011

      There is a mysterious underground group in Greece that assists people in coping with the death of a loved one.  This is their job and they charge by the amount of time their services are needed.  They pose as the loved one for a limited time and they memorize various phrases that the departed person used to say.  Monte Rosa also works at a hospital and she is a member of this group.  She is very moved by the death of a young tennis star from an auto accident.  Monte offers her services to the parents but she doesn’t tell the group that the girl has died.

     This has my weird meter pegged!!  This seems so mixed up, just the idea is strange but the film doesn’t define who is acting as a dead person in all cases?  I couldn’t take it anymore and I didn’t finish this.  2* (I didn’t like this movie) 

94 min, Drama directed by Yorgos and Giorgos Lanthimos with Aris Servetalis, Aggeliki Papoulia, Johnny Vekris, Ariane Labed, Erifili Stefanidou.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 ½*, imdb 6.2 out of 10, 75% critic 54% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Girl in Progress 2012

     Grace is a single mom, she tries to balance work, bills and her daughter, Ansiedad.  Everything goes haywire for both of them at the same time.  Grace’s boss leaves her in charge of the Crab Shack where she works while he is away.  Money is taken from the safe and the boss is very angry.  Ansiedad receives an assignment to write a coming-of-age story for the class.  She feels she needs to make a maturity bucket list and check off growth stages quickly.  She wants to be an adult but not like her mother.

     Just about everyone can relate to life falling apart especially when money doesn’t go very far and teens get mixed up.  This is funny, alternates between silly and serious.  3* (This movie is OK)

93 min Comedy directed by Patricia Riggen with Eva Mendes, Cierra Ramirez, Matthew Modine, Patricia Arquette, Eugenio Derbez, Raini Rodriguez.

Note:  Blockbuster 2 ½*, imdb 4.9 out of 10, 29% critic 58% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

Your Sister’s Sister 2011

     Jack’s brother has just passed away.  He’s at loose ends and doesn’t know what to do with himself.  Iris, his friend and his brother’s former girlfriend, invites him to spend some time alone at her family home on an island.  It would provide a nice place for him to get away and collect his thoughts.  When Jack gets to the house, he learns that Iris’ sister Hannah is also at the house, it’s a surprise to both of them when he arrives.  Hannah has just ended a seven-year relationship and she’s also at a turning point in her life.

     This film seems like a Woody Allen movie about relationships except there is not very much going on. There are many long conversations, emotional confrontations and revelations with copious amounts of dialogue.  Who are these people and why should I be interested in listening to them?  I like Emily Blunt as an actress but she isn't given anything to work with here!  3* (This movie is OK)

90 min, Comedy directed by Lynn Shelton with Mark Duplass, Emily Blunt, Rosemare DeWitt.

Note:  Blockbuster 3*,  imdb 6.7 out of 10, 84% critic 71% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.  

Special Note:  The biggest tragedy, other than the brother passing away, is the destruction of a perfectly OK bike!

First Position 2011

     This film follows six dancers ages 9-19 and from five continents as they prepare for a worldwide competition.  The Youth America Grand Prix can change their lives.  There are only a limited number of scholarships and contracts available for thousands of entrants.  Only practice, perfection, discipline will lead to selection as the best.

     Very grueling, trying to make their bodies do what they were not designed to do but reshape them to enable them to do the perfect performance.  Pain and injury doesn’t stop them, they must move forward.  You don’t have to know anything about ballet to appreciate their commitment.  4* (I really liked this movie) 

90 min, Doc directed by Bess Kargman with Gaya Bommer Yemini, Michaela Deprince, Jules Javis Fogarty, Miko Fogarty, Rebecca Houseknect, Joan Sebastian Zamora.

Note:  Blockbuter 3 ½*, imdb 7.0 out of 10, 96% critic 84% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.