Mini Reviews
Morning Glory (out Jan 6) is a comedy about a young television producer named Becky (Rachel McAdams) trying to improve the ratings of her station’s breakfast program. It’s a nuthouse behind the scenes – something I’m told which reflects reality. I'm usually a Grinch when it comes to rom-coms but Rachel McAdams makes this worthwhile. She's terrific. Grade: B+.
Tangled (out Jan 6) is a milestone for Disney as it represents their 50th animated film. It is also their most expensive. It’s hard to believe this cost a phenomenal $260m. That’s a lot of money for a movie with no big name stars and no live action! The story is that of Princess Rapunzel and how she spent her life trapped in a tower. I liked the film but I don’t think it’s up there with Disney’s best. Grade: B+.
Gulliver's Travels (out now) is about a wanna-be travel writer who goes on a trip through the Bermuda Triangle and wakes up on an island filled with tiny people. There's nothing in this movie for adults. The good news is that kids may like the silly, easy to follow story. Grade: B-.
The Tourist (out now) made me want to go back to Venice. That's about the only positive. It's about an American tourist (Depp) who goes on holidays, meets a girl (Jolie) and then finds himself on the run from both gangsters and the police. There are some really big holes in this story. Overheard a patron say to their friend - "Don't blame me. You wanted to see it too." Says it all. Grade: C+.
Little Fockers (out Dec 26) has received scathing reviews from most critics but I found a few things to chuckle about. The banter between Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro was decent. As for the story, it's the same kind of stuff we saw in the first two films. Nothing special. Grade: B-.
Blue Valentine (out Dec 26) follows the relationship of a young couple. Through flashbacks, we see how happy they once were. Things aren't the same now however and they have a young child caught in the middle. You're unlikely to leave the cinema with a smile on your face. Blue Valentine is tough going but it's a realistic portrayal of two people stuck at a crossroad. Performances excellent. Grade: A-.
The King's Speech (out Dec 26) is about King George VI and how he overcame a stuttering problem to help unite Great Britain during World War II. This interesting story is brought to the life thanks for the great performances of Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. Excellent stuff. One of the year's best. Grade: A.
Heartbreaker (out Dec 26) is a ludicrous romantic comedy about a French guy who gets paid to seduce women so that they’ll break up with their dodgy boyfriends. Two friends help him gather info on his poor victims. I hated the leading characters and this doesn’t have a single shred of believability. Grade: C-.
Somewhere (out Dec 26) will divide audiences. It's a voyeuristic look at a big time movie star and the way in which he lives his normal life. The film lets sounds, expressions and visuals do the talking as opposed to dialogue. I thought it was great... except for the final scene. It touches on a theme I was happy to see explored - are celebrities any happier than you or me? Grade: A-.
Sarah's Key (out Dec 23) tells two stories. The first is set in 1942 and is about a young Jewish girl trying to escape the French police during WWII. The second is set in 2009 and is about a journalist who is about to move into a new French apartment with her husband. This is a beautiful film. Both stories are moving and it left me with much to reflect upon. Is the past always worth digging up? Grade: A-.
Love & Other Drugs (out Dec 16) is the story of a womanising pharmaceutical salesman (Gyllenhaal) who falls in love with a spirited girl (Hathaway) suffering from Parkinson's disease. There are too many goofy moments in this film (mostly revolving around the guy's brother) and take seriously. Is it supposed to be a comedy or a drama? Very uneven. Grade: C+.
