Mini Reviews
How Do You Know (out now) is an excruciatingly awful romantic comedy. James L. Brooks has made some great films (As Good As It Gets, Terms Of Endearment) but this is not one of them. The characters are overly neurotic and feel compelled to describe every emotion in ridiculous detail. Don't even start me on the farcical plot. I wish you could see my facial expressions while I was watching this. Grade: C.
True Grit (out Jan 27) is a rare Coen brothers let down. I realise it's a dialogue driven piece but I was still frustrated by the lack of story. Jeff Bridges mumbling didn't help either. It's the story of a young girl who hires an experienced U.S. Marshall to track down her father's killer. The film's best quality is the feisty performance from first timer Hailee Steinfeld. She's terrific. Grade: B-.
The Green Hornet (out now) made me want to hit Seth Rogen very hard with a baseball bat. I didn't mind some of his earlier work but I'm starting to tire of his routine. Thankfully, this comic book adaptation is saved by his sidekick, played by Jay Chou. He's awesome! The film offers nothing new in terms of storyline or style but it's not too bad. Grade: B-.
Catfish (out Jan 27) has been described as "the other Facebook movie" and is like going on a new rollercoaster for the first time. You have a rough idea what you're in for but there are going to be a few moments to catch you off guard. This film only works if you know nothing about it before you see it. If you follow that piece of advice (and don't spoil it for others), you're in for an enthralling ride. Grade: A-.
Another Year (out Jan 27) is more brilliance from director Mike Leigh (Secrets & Lies, Happy-Go-Lucky). It revolves around a happily married couple in their 60s who find that all their friends around them are falling apart. Leigh has a great knack for capturing the "human condition" and he does so again here. It's capped off by a unforgettably annoying and/or touching performance from Lesley Manville. Grade: A.
The Fighter (out Jan 20) is a story we've seen before - that of a washed up boxer who resurrects his career. It's still a strong film though. You get to know all the characters very well and the boxing scenes are suspensful. There are also some excellent performances - Whalberg, Adams, Bale and Leo. Grade: A-.
Yogi Bear (out now) is even worse than it looks. Grade: C-.
Burlesque (out now) is about a wanna-be performer who moves to Hollywood and gets a big break in a burlesque club. I don't think I've seen a musical with a more unadventurous plot. No chances, no suprises. The cast are decent though and it's nice to see them having some fun with the material. Once is enough for this film. Grade: B-.
Black Swan (out Jan 20) has been lauded as a near-masterpiece by many critics. I'm not convinced. It's about a ballet dancer who tries to discover her "darker" self in an effort to perfect the role of the Swan Queen in her company's performance of Swan Lake. I usually love director Darren Aronofsky but I think he overemphasises the film's themes and I wasn't sure about the horror elements. Grade: B+.
The Dilemma (out now) is about a guy who finds out his best friend's wife has been cheating on him. I can't believe this was directed by Ron Howard. Why would he choose such a straight-forward project? There's one great moment (at a 40th anniversary party) but aside from that, this film takes itself way too seriously. Grade: C+.
Unstoppable (out now) is "inspired" by a true story and is about two brave guys (Denzel Washington & Chris Pine) who try to stop a runaway train. Director Tony Scott is not known for his subtlety. The film scores 0% on the believability scale and to make matters worse, everything is spelt out as if we're all 6 year olds. Ah, but is it fun, adrenalin pumping action? Yep! That's why I didn't mind it. Grade: B.
