Land of the Lost **1/2

Cast: Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride, Jorma Taccone, John Boylan
Director: Brad Silberling
Running Length: 1:33
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Dr. Rick Marshall (Ferrell) is a quantum paleontologist who has created a device to allow him to travel through time and alternate dimensions. To test it out, he and his assistant Holly (Friel), along with tour guide Will (McBride) enter a cave rich in tachyons, which are needed to make the device work. The machine transports them to a world where dinosaurs roam, and lizard-like Sleestak are being molded into an army to take over multiple dimensions. Rick, Holly, and Will must stop them as well as find a way back to our world.

Based on the somewhat cheesy television show of the 1970’s, “Land of the Lost” retains most of that cheese, while adding the latest in special effects. Will Ferrell is in full Will Ferrell mode here, which is either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your feelings toward him. The movie itself is somewhat silly, and generates a fair share of laughs, but doesn’t live up to its full potential. The supporting cast is nothing special here either. This movie is for Will Ferrell fans and fans of the old television show that want a modern look at this crazy world.

Drag Me to Hell ***

Cast: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, Dileep Rao, David Paymer, Adriana Barazza
Director: Sam Raimi
Running Length: 1:39
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Christine Brown (Lohman) is a loan officer with visions of advancement. To make herself a better candidate than her co-worker, she decides to take the hard-line approach to customers. When Mrs. Ganush (Raver) is behind on her payments and about to lose her house, Christine is unsympathetic. Mrs. Ganush doesn’t take this well, puts a curse on Christine. Christine begins to have nightmarish visions, and seeks out the help of a mystic (Rao). He tells her that after three days of haunting, the demon will drag her to hell if she cannot get rid of it.

“Drag Me to Hell” is the latest horror movie from director Sam Raimi, after his three “Spider-Man” films. It marks a return to his roots, and he doesn’t seem to have missed a beat. The film is scary, gross, and funny. The PG-13 rating, normally the mark of a crap horror movie, works perfectly. In fact, it is about as close to an R rating a film can get. Lohman is good as the unsympathetic lead character, and the supporting cast works well together. “Drag Me to Hell” is a solid horror movie that is worth checking out.

Up 3-D ***1/2

Cast: (voices) Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo, Jerome Ranft
Director: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
Running Length: 1:36
MPAA Classification: PG

After the death of his longtime love, Carl (Asner) decides to fulfill one of their long term goals. This is a visit to Paradise Falls, deep in South America. A former balloon salesman, he ties thousands of helium-filled balloons to his house and takes off. Meanwhile, Russell (Nagai), a youngster who is trying to “help an old person” is caught on the porch. Russell is along for the ride, and when they get to their destination, things are not what they expected.

“Up” is the tenth film by Pixar, and also their tenth great film. It seems that they can do no wrong, and show no signs of slipping. This is a movie for all ages to enjoy, like their previous endeavors. Asner is the perfect choice to play the grumpy old man Carl, and Nagai is likewise great as young Russell. The colors are vibrant and eye-catching. As for the 3-D effects, they are probably the most subtle I have ever seen on film. They are effective, but not distracting. I highly recommend “Up” for all ages.

Terminator Salvation **

Cast: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Helena Bonham Carter, Anton Yelchin, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common, Jane Alexander, Michael Ironside
Director: McG
Running Length: 1:55
MPAA Classification: PG-13

The year is 2018, and John Connor (Bale) is a local leader of the resistance, fighting Skynet. Those further up the chain of command believe that they have a weapon that can shut down the machines at close range. Connor volunteers to lead the test mission, and along the way locate Kyle Reese (Yelchin), whom the machines have targeted. Reese is in Los Angeles, and befriends a stranger named Marcus Wright (Worthington), who has a secret even he doesn’t know about. When Reese gets captured, Wright and Connor must team up to find him.

“Terminater Salvation”, like “Terminater 3” is a movie that never needed to be made. “T1” and “T2” were great movies that told a complete story, and this feels like an excuse to make more money. Bale steps into the role of Connor, and gets the job done, but the performance is nothing spectacular. Director McG has some tricks up his sleeve, including a helicopter crash that is filmed interestingly, but is unimpressive overall. The biggest delight perhaps is the appearance of a former terminator 2/3 of the way through the film. Overall, I got what I expected here; the problem was that I wasn’t expecting much.

17 Again *1/2

Cast: Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Matthew Perry, Sterling Knight, Michelle Trachtenberg, Hunter Parrish, Melora Hardin
Director: Burr Steers
Running Length: 1:42
MPAA Classification: PG-13

In 1989, Mike O’Donnell (Efron) is the star of the basketball team. He is one game from getting a big scholarship. Before the game, he finds out his girlfriend is pregnant. Determined to make the right decision, he skips the game and declares that his future is spending the rest of his life with her and raising their child. In 2007, Mike (Perry) is sick of his life, and Scarlett (Mann) is divorcing him. His kids don’t like him either. One day, a mysterious janitor at the school offers him a chance to do it all over again. He eagerly accepts, and the next day wakes up in a 17 year old body.

“17 Again” is nothing new. In fact, it has been done better many times before. This is clearly a starring vehicle for Efron, who is moderately charming and successful in the role. The story could have been written better, but seems dumbed down for the younger audience that would come to see Efron on film. I really cannot recommend this film.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian **

Cast: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Robin Williams, Christopher Guest, Alain Chabat, Jake Cherry
Director: Shawn Levy
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG

The magical tablet that brings exhibits to life is transferred with a number of the exhibits to the Smithsonian. Larry Daley (Stiller), now an inventor, realizes that this could be a problem, and travels to Washington, D.C. to avert disaster. By the time he arrives, Pharaoh Kahmunrah (Azaria) is planning to take over the world with the help of Napoleon (Chabat), Al Capone (Bernthal), and Ivan the Terrible (Guest). Larry rallies his troops, including Jedediah (Wilson) and Amelia Earhart (Adams) to stop him.

Given the success of the first “Night at the Museum”, a sequel was inevitable. Unfortunately, there is not much story-wise here. What story there is has plot holes, as the script doesn’t like to follow its own rules. The effects are top-notch like in the first film, but that is hardly enough to make this worth seeing. The one bright spot is the always adorable Amy Adams, who gives yet another standout performance. Kids will undoubtedly enjoy this, but adults will find the film lacking. Wait for DVD if you must see this.

Angels and Demons ***

Cast: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgård, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Thure Lindhardt
Director: Ron Howard
Running Length: 2:14
MPAA Classification: PG-13

The mourning over the death of the pope has ended in the Vatican, and the time has come to choose a new leader for the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, the four leading candidates have been kidnapped by people claiming to be the Illuminati, an underground society bent on taking down the Church. They threaten to kill the candidates and then blow up Rome with an antimatter bomb stolen from the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Enter Robert Langdon (Hanks), an expert on the Illuminati and Vittoria Vetra (Zurer), one of the scientists who created the antimatter. With the support of Commander Richter (Skarsgård), head of the Swiss Guard and Camerlengo Patrick McKenna (McGregor), they set out to solve the clues left behind to stop the Illuminati.

“Angels & Demons” is the sequel to “The DaVinci Code”, and provides more action and less talking than its predecessor. It is also marginally better (unlike the book which is far superior). Hanks is once again slipping into Langdon’s shoes, and seems comfortable there. (Rumor has it they are already planning an adaptation of the new Langdon novel). The story is entertaining despite being a little on the unbelievable side. The ideas presented are compelling though, and that soothes the more outrageous moments. “Angels & Demons” is definitely worth your time, especially if you enjoyed “The DaVinci Code.”

Star Trek ***

Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, Bruce Greenwood
Director: J.J. Abrams
Running Length: 2:06
MPAA Classification: PG-13

James Kirk (Pine) is a talented but undisciplined young man. Captain Christopher Pike (Greenwood) sees potential in him and challenges him to be greater than his father, a man who saved many in a deadly attack against a ship he was temporarily captaining. When an emergency mission calls upon the U.S.S. Enterprise, Kirk is there along with First Officer Spock (Quinto), Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Urban), Communications Officer Uhura (Saldana), and Navigators Sulu (Cho) and Chekov (Yelchin). The only one missing is Scotty (Pegg), who they will pick up along the way. They have to stop Nero (Bana) and his ship from the future from changing the past, but things don’t go as planned, and soon the future is in question.

“Star Trek” is both a re-imagining and a reboot. The look and feel of the film is like nothing ever seen before in a “Star Trek” television show or movie. That is due to director J.J. Abrams, who really does bring things up to date. Also, there is a ton of action. The storyline reboots things for future movies as well. The cast is all well chosen, echoing the original actors without imitating them. As far as movies go, this is a fun, summer movie. For die hard “Star Trek” fans though, there may be some grumbling. Some might argue that there is too much action and too little thought throughout the film. Most will have an issue with the reboot that manages to essentially erase everything ever presented on television or in the movies, and provide a weak excuse. Unlike every other time the timeline is disrupted, this time they don’t feel the need to fix it. Still, “Star Trek” brings a lot to the table, and will no doubt bring in a lot of new fans. This is worth checking out.

State of Play ***

Cast: Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Robin Wright Penn, Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Running Length: 1:58
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Congressman Stephen Collins (Affleck) is the chairman of a committee reviewing whether Pointcorp should be used to outsource homeland security. One of his researchers apparently commits suicide, and it comes out that he had an affair with her. Collins believes that she was murdered because of his position. Journalist Cal McAffrey (Crowe) is his friend and a top reporter at the Washington Globe. He begins investigating the murder with a newbie blogger named Della Frye (McAdams). Soon, he is digging into areas that may be better left untouched, if he wants to continue living.

“State of Play” covers a lot of material in its two hour running time, being based on a five hour BBC miniseries. There are layers upon layers of story here, and while a little confusing at times, it is satisfying. The acting is solid, especially from Affleck and Crowe. This is a smart thriller that provides a twist ending that shows that all is not what it initially seems. “State of Play” is worth checking out.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine **1/2

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Will.i.am, Lynn Collins, Kevin Durand, Dominic Monaghan, Taylor Kitsch, Daniel Henney, Ryan Reynolds
Director: Gavin Hood
Running Length: 1:47
MPAA Classification: PG-13

In Canada, in 1845, two half-brothers named Logan and Victor, go on the run after Logan kills his father. They go on to fight in all the major wars, both being able to heal quickly and being just about indestructible. In the 1970’s, they are recruited by William Stryker (Huston) who is putting together a mysterious team. While Victor (Schreiber) is comfortable doing the team’s dirty deeds, Logan (Jackman) isn’t, and breaks from the team to lead a normal life. Eventually, Victor and Stryker come looking for Logan, so they can return him to his place in that team, but Logan won’t go easily, and soon pays the price.

With the success of the “X-Men” movies, it was only a matter of time before Wolverine got a solo movie, this time in the form of a prequel. In “Wolverine”, we get his origins, as well as a look at a number of other new mutants. We see the bond that Wolverine and Sabertooth have, and we see a glimpse of further X-Men movies to come. Jackman is clearly comfortable in the role he has played three times before. He does nothing special here, but he doesn’t disappoint either. Schreiber gives depth to Victor/Sabertooth that wasn’t there in the first X-Men movie. That being said, “Wolverine” falters due to an enormous amount of other mutants and a story where the ending is pretty much a given. It has to get to “point B” to stay in continuity with the first X-Men movie, and so there is never any real doubt as to who will live between the characters we have seen before. X-Men fans will be pretty happy though regardless.

Observe and Report ***

Cast: Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Ray Liotta, Celia Weston, Michael Pena, Collette Wolfe, John Yuan, Matt Yuan, Jesse Plemons
Director: Jody Hill
Running Length: 1:25
MPAA Classification: R

Ronnie Barnhardt (Rogen) is a security guard in the local mall. He has four subordinates: Dennis (Pena), the Yuen twins (Yuan and Yuan), and Charles (Plemons). They all look up to him, and he runs things like it is the most important job that ever existed. Ronnie himself has a thing for Brandi (Faris), who works in cosmetics, but she doesn’t return his affections. Nell (Wolfe), another mall employee likes him, but she is too plain for him to notice. Then tow things happen to rock Ronnie’s world: a flasher begins terrorizing customers and employees, and a string on robberies. Despite the police becoming involved, Ronnie sees this as his problem, and takes things into his own hands.

“Observe and Report” is a surprising film. It is not your typical Seth Rogan comedy. In fact, its darker undertones are reminiscent of Adam Sandler’s “Punch Drunk Love”. This alone will be polarizing for people looking for something like “Knocked Up”. Rogan does well, stretching his acting chops as Ronnie, a seriously flawed individual. There are a lot of laughs, but there is an awful amount of uncomfortable moments as well. Director Jody Hill even manager to push the limits of male nudity to humorous and uncomfortable effect. “Observe and Report” is a better movie than I initially thought walking out of the theater, but it is definitely not for everyone. See at your own risk!

Adventureland ***1/2

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr, Margarita Levieva, Ryan Reynolds, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Matt Bush, Jack Gilpin, Wendie Malick
Director: Greg Mottola
Running Length: 1:47
MPAA Classification: R

It is 1987, and James Brennan (Eisenberg) is a college graduate looking to get away to Europe for the summer before heading on to graduate school. Things fall through not only for the summer plans, but for graduate school as well. James gets a job at Adventureland, making minimum wage and running a game booth. While there, he meets a wide variety of people, and becomes particularly close to Em (Stewart). Their relationship is complicated, not the least of which is due to Em’s relationship with handyman/rock star Mike Connell (Reynolds). As the end of summer draws near, they must decide the paths their lives will take, and no option is the easy choice.

“Adventureland” is a great movie. Evoking nostalgia for the 1980’s, and providing great character development, “Adventureland” succeeds in almost every way. While funny, the movie is not a comedy, but rather the humor of everyday life. The actors all make their characters real in their own way. Acting-wise, the one minor quibble is that Eisenberg at times seems like he is channeling his inner Michael Cera. “Adventureland” left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling, and is definitely worth giving a shot. I highly recommend it.

Knowing **

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne, Lara Robinson, D.G. Maloney, Nadia Townsend
Director: Alex Proyas
Running Length: 2:02
MPAA Classification: PG-13

At the opening of a time capsule, Caleb Koestler (Canterbury) receives a sheet of paper covered with numbers. When he shows it to his father, John (Cage), he becomes obsessed with the 50 year old sheet of paper. He comes to discover that the numbers represent all of the major disasters that have occurred over the past 50 years including the date, death total, latitude, and longitude. His investigation also leads him to Diana (Byrne), the daughter of the little girl who wrote down all those numbers so long ago, and her daughter Abby (Robinson). Together they try to figure what will happen when the numbers run out. Meanwhile, the kids are being watched by mysterious strangers who might be the key to solving the mystery.

“Knowing” is an odd movie that starts out odd and gets progressively odder. Normally that would not bother me, but for some reason, “Knowing” just got too ridiculous for me to walk out of it with a positive feeling. I suppose I understand what the movie was trying to accomplish, and there was some interesting moments, but overall it just left me feeling disappointed. The special effects are solid, and there are some action scenes that are pulled off really well. Nicolas Cage gets some points for trying something different, something he does often, but that is not enough to save this film. I can’t recommend it.

I Love You, Man ***

Cast: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Jaime Pressly, Jon Favreau, Jane Curtin, J.K. Simmons, Andy Samberg
Director: John Hamburg
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: R

Peter’s (Rudd) best friends are all women. He has no realy guy friends. So, upon his engagement to Zooey (Jones), the question arises of who will be his best man. His only real choices are his father (Simmons) and his brother (Samberg), who aren’t really the best of choices. Peter embarks on a number of man-dates in an attempt to meet a new best friend. They go wrong in many ways, and when Peter is ready to give up, he meets Sydney (Segel). They bond in Sydney’s “man cave”, jamming to songs by Rush and just hanging out. The friendship is going so well that soon Zooey is feeling left out.

I’ve been a fan of Paul Rudd for a while now, and it is good to see him headlining a film. He and Segel have good chemistry in what is essentially a romantic comedy between two straight men. Despite its share of raunchiness, there is some unexpected sweetness too. “I Love You, Man” is an enjoyable film, and I recommend it.

Race To Witch Mountain **

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Everett Scott, Chris Marquette, Billy Brown
Director: Andy Fickman
Running Length: 1:38
MPAA Classification: PG

Sara (Robb) and Seth (Ludwig) are alien children who have crashed to Earth. They enlist the help of Jack Bruno (Johnson), a cab driver. The kids have special talents: Sara can read minds and levitate items, Seth can shift matter. The government, led by Henry Burke (Hinds) is aware of their crash and is after them. Jack can only do so much for them, and soon he enlists the help of astrophysicist Alex Friedmen (Gugino). Soon, they are racing to their spaceship, hidden in Witch Mountain. Nut, getting out alive won’t be as easy as they think, especially with another alien hunting them down.

“Race to Witch Mountain” is a bit of a disappointment. Duane Johnson brings his trademark charm to the role of Jack, but that isn’t enough to save this film. The problem lies mainly in the script, which calls for the characters to do stupid things. Also, the childrens’ powers expand and contract when necessary to add drama. Given what these kids can do, they should have minimal difficulty finding their ship and getting off the Earth. Younger kids will probably enjoy the film, but adults may find it frustrating.

Watchmen **1/2

Cast: Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson, Malin Akerman, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Carla Gugino, Matt Frewer, Robert Wisden
Director: Zack Snyder
Running Length: 2:43
MPAA Classification: R

In an alternate 1986, the US and Soviet Union are sliding towards war. The Comedian (Morgan), a member of a disbanded group of superheroes called the Watchmen, is brutally murdered; setting events in motion that will change the world. Rorschach (Haley), another member of the Watchmen, who happens to be a little unstable, sets out to find the killer. He seeks the assistance of the rest of the team, Dr. Manhattan (Crudup), Silk Spectre (Ackerman), Ozymandias (Goode), and Night Owl (Wilson), to find the killer and is met with mixed reactions. Still, he pushes onward, discovering a plan beyond his imagination .

“Watchmen” is based on the vastly popular graphic novel by Dave Gibbons and an uncredited Alan Moore. I have not read the source material, but have heard that the movie is very faithful to the comic with the exception of the ending. The story is dense and complex and is not always easy to follow. I don’t think that is intentional, and that works against the film. For the most part, the characters do not stand out. The exception is Rorschach, amazingly played by Jackie Earle Haley. He chews the scenery and simply steals every single scene he is in. I would have loved to see more of him, but this is an ensemble film, so he is only one of many. The film looks great. Director Zack Snyder has a clear grasp of how to make a good looking movie. In the end, fans of the book will be mostly pleased I think, but those unfamiliar with the work might be a bit put off. This isn’t a film for everyone, and I can only give it a marginally positive review.

The Tale of Despereaux ***

Cast (voices): Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Waston, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Kline, William H. Macy, Stanley Tucci, Frank Langella, Sigourney Weaver
Directors: Sam Fell, Robert Stevenhagen
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: G

Despereaux (Broderick) is a mouse who is banished from Mouseworld for not acting like a mouse. He doesn’t cower, he doesn’t intentionally trip mousetraps, and he speaks to humans. In the human’s world, he meets Princess Pea (Watson), and decides to go on a quest for her to restore sunlight to a dark and grey kingdom. He is assisted by the rat Roscuro (Hoffman), who had caused the problem in the first place. Meanwhile, Miggory Snow (Ullman), the princess’s servant, is plotting to remove the princess and take her place.

“Despereaux” has a more complex story than one might expect from G-rated fare, but it is not too much to alienate younger viewers. The storylines intersect well, and all come together in the end. The animation is good, but not Pixar quality. That is a small complaint, and Pixar is in a league of their own anyway. The voice talent is made up of many big names, and Broderick, Hoffman, and Watson are all excellent. This is an entertaining family film that can be enjoyed by all.

Fired Up! *1/2

Cast: Nicholas D'Agosto, Eric Christian Olsen, Sarah Roemer, Molly Sims, David Walton, Philip Baker Hall, John Michael Higgins
Director: Will Gluck
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Shawn (D’Agosto) and Nick (Olsen) are stars of the high school football team. They also have a way with the ladies. They decide to skip football camp to attend cheerleading camp. They figure that there will be very few guys besides them and they can work their way through the girls. Carly (Roemer), the captain of the squad knows that they are up to no good, but can do nothing to stop them. One thing she doesn’t plan on is Shawn falling for her.

“Fired up!” is not a particularly good movie. Most of the funniest parts are shown in the previews. Some of the acting is pretty painful to watch. The leads, playing high schoolers, are even pretty far from their high school days. This movie would actually have benefited from an R rating, but to attract a bigger audience, it is tamed down to a PG-13. I cannot recommend this one.

The Reader ***

Cast: Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, Bruno Ganz, Lena Olin
Director: Stephen Daldry
Running Length: 2:03
MPAA Classification: R

Michael Berg (Kross) meets Hanna Schmitz (Winslet) in 1958. She finds him near her apartment, coming down with Scarlet Fever. She takes him home to recover, and when he does, he seeks her out to thank her. They begin an affair, combining sex and him reading to her. When she vanishes, Michael does not see her again until 1966, when she goes on trial for being a Nazi and killing 300 Jews at Auschwicz.

“The Reader” is an interesting film that could have been more effective if it was told a bit differently. The non-linear aspect makes the film come across as choppy, and detracts from the overall effect. Winslet and Kross are solid as the leads, bringing believability to both their characters. Winslet is especially excellent, portraying Hanna as both good and evil as the story progresses. Perhaps evil is not the right word though, as her motivations are a bit different than one might expect. This does not make her more likeable, but it does give a glimpse into how many Germans dealt with the everything that happened during World War II. This is an interesting film, but not for everyone.

2009 Oscar Results

Best Picture: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Actor: Sean Penn, “Milk”
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Best Adapted Screenplay: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Original Screenplay: “Milk”
Best Art Direction: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Best Cinematography: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Costume Design: “The Duchess”
Best Film Editing: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Makeup: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Best Music (Original Score): “Slumdog Millionaire”Best Music (Original Song): “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Sound Editing: “The Dark Knight”
Best Sound Mixing: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Visual Effects: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Best Animated Feature Film: “WALL-E”
Best Foreign Language Film: “Departures”
Best Documentary Feature: “Man on Wire”
Best Documentary Short: “Smile Pinki”
Best Short Film (Animated): “La Maison en Petits Cubes”Best Short Film (Live Action): “Toyland”

Tally:
“Slumdog Millionaire” — 8
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” — 3
“The Dark Knight,” “Milk” — 2“Departures,” “The Duchess,” “Man on Wire,” “The Reader,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” “WALL-E” — 1

Push ***

Cast: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Neil Jackson, Cliff Curtis, Ming-Na, Nate Mooney
Director: Paul McGuigan
Running Length: 1:51
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Nick (Evans) is a “mover” – someone who can move things with his mind. He meets up with Cassie (Fanning), a “watcher” – someone who can predict the future. She is trying to rescue her mother from the government, but as they try to piece things together, Kira (Belle) enters their lives. Kira is a “pusher” – someone who can influence others thoughts. She also had a relationship with Nick, and is the only person to survive a power “enhancement” drug that was administered to her by the sinister Company. Now, the Company is after her, and Nick and Kira must help her if they want to survive.

“Push” is a gritty looking superhero movie that is not based on any existing comic book (for a change). It is fast paced and rich in mythology. Evans, who has some experience in these types of movies, is credible as Nick. Fanning, who is great in any movie she appears in, can add action star to her resume. The story is full of backstory, but that does not slow down the almost nonstop action. The gritty look adds to the feel of the film, and works well. “Push” is a surprisingly good film, and I recommend checking it out.

He’s Just Not That Into You **1/2

Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, Justin Long, Kevin Connolly, Kris Kristofferson
Director: Ken Kwapis
Running Length: 2:05
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Gigi (Goodwin) is getting dating advice from Alex (Long). Beth (Aniston) has been living with her boyfriend Neil (Affleck) for years, but he shows no signs of proposing marriage. Janine (Connelly) and Ben (Cooper) are married and have just bought a new house; but Ben is cheating on her with Anna (Johansson). Anna is currently seeing Connor (Connolly), but it isn’t that serious.

Like “Love, Actually” before it, “He’s Just Not That Into You” weaves multiple, related storylines together dealing with love and relationships. Unfortunately, it does not do so as well, and runs about fifteen minutes too long. There is a lot of star power here, and they do the best they can with what they are given, but only about half of the story lines work in any real way. Still, there is enough here to entertain many. This is best left for DVD if it must be seen.

Coraline 3-D ***1/2

Cast (voices): Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saundes, Dawn French, Keith David, John Hodgman, Robert Bailey Jr., Ian McShane
Director: Henry Selick
Running Length: 1:40
MPAA Classification: PG

Coraline Jones (Fanning) and her family have just moved to an old mansion in the middle of nowhere. Her mother (Hatcher) and father (Hodgman) are writers with little time for her, so she spends her days exploring. She meets a lot of strange people that living in the area, including the next-door neighbor, Wybie Lovat (Bailey) and his cat; two sisters (Saunders and French); and the "circus man," Mr. Bobinsky (McShane). But, the most interesting thing that she finds is a hidden door that appears to lead nowhere, until one night it leads her through a portal to her “Other Mother” and “Other Father”. They only want to make her happy, but things may be too good to be true.

“Coraline” is the first stop-motion animated film made in 3-D, and it looks spectacular. It looks almost computer animated, but with rich textures that computer animation doesn’t provide. The animation is incredibly smooth, and everything looks amazing. Director Selick is known for his work with stop-motion animation, and has taken things to the next level here. The voice talents all do wonderful jobs bringing their characters to life. The story is for all ages and not predictable. I highly recommend “Coraline” for both children and adults, but be sure to see it in 3-D.

The Wrestler ***1/2

Cast: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Running Length: 1:49
MPAA Classification: R

Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Rourke) is a past-his-prime professional wrestler who is now performing in small venues and doing signings for a living. He still thinks he can regain the glory of 20 years ago, but a heart attack tells him differently. His doctor tells him give up wrestling or die. He does not know any other way of life, but gets a job at a deli counter to make some extra money. He also attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Wood) and start a relationship with a stripper (Tomei) with whom he is friends. Her life parallels his, as she is past her prime in the stripping business, and maybe that is enough of a connection for them to start something.

“The Wrestler” is a great comeback for Rourke, and a great acting showcase for both him and Tomei. They both bare theor souls in their troubled characters. The movie’s inside look into the world of wrestling is fascinating, especially the behind-the-scenes stuff. Director Darren Aronofsky uses a minimalist approach to filming, and that suits the story well. This is a solid film filled with great performances. I highly recommend it.

Doubt ****

Cast: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis
Director: John Patrick Shanley
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

At Saint Nicholas Church School, Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Streep) is the principal. She is an old-school nun who sees sin just about everywhere she looks. Sister James (Adams) is a new and impressionable nun who is very idealistic. When she sees something that may be inappropriate between Father Brendan Flynn (Hoffman), a progressive priest, and a student, she confides in Sister Aloysius. Sister Aloysius then takes on Father Flynn, who professes his innocence.

“Doubt” is an intense drama with amazing performances. Streep, Hoffman, Adams, and Davis (as the boy’s mother) all deliver Oscar nominated performances. Those nominations are all well deserved. The story works so well because of the doubt that is present. Did Father Flynn act inappropriately? Or is Sister Aloysius just on a witch hunt, seeing what she wants to see? The movie forces the viewer to think and come to their own conclusions. This is a great film, and is definitely worth seeing.

Inkheart **1/2

Cast: Brendan Fraser, Eliza Hope Bennett, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, Andy Serkis, Jim Broadbent, Sienna Guillory
Director: Iain Softley
Running Length: 1:46
MPAA Classification: PG

Mo Folchart (Fraser) and his daughter Meggie (Folchert) travel the world in search of the hard to find book “Inkheart”. He is a silvertongue, and when Meggie was younger, Mo read from the book and brought the story to life. But, when something comes out of the story, something, or someone, must take its place. In this case, it was his wife, Resa (guillory). They are chased by two characters from the book, the evil Capricorn (Serkis), who wants to rule the real world, and Dustfinger (Bettany), who just wants to go home. With the help of Mo’s Great Aunt Elinor (Mirren), they set out to find the author of the book (Broadbent) to set things right.

“Inkheart” could have been much better. The solid cast is there, and they all do credible jobs in their roles. The effects are there – they are as good as any special effects laden film of late. The problem lies in the story. Not that it is bad; one just gets the feeling that something was lost in the translation from book to film. I have been told that things have been changed, and I cannot help but think that they were for the worse. The ending itself suffers from what “Hellboy II” suffered from: a sense that things could have been resolved much earlier and easier given what resolves things. (Of course “Hellboy II” was a better film and able to overcome this problem.) If more movies are made in this series, the moviemakers need to tighten the story a little more and stay truer to the author’s original vision.

Slumdog Millionaire ***1/2

Cast: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor
Director: Danny Boyle
Running Length: 2:00
MPAA Classification: R

Jamal Malik (Patel) is a “slumdog” – a poor boy – from the streets of Mumbai. And yet, when he ends up on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, he answers enough questions correctly to get to the final round. He wins 10 million rupees before time runs out for the episode. He will need to come back the next day for the final question, but as he is leaving the studio, the police take him in for questioning. They are sure that he has cheated, given his roots. After a torture session, he begins to recount how he has come to know the answers to the questions. This involves a flashback tour of his life that includes two other significant players: his brother Salim (Mittal) and the girl he loves, Latika (Pinto).

“Slumdog Millionaire” is a well told story of a boy’s attempt to make it from the slums of India and find the girl of his dreams. Despite its early gloominess, it is surprisingly uplifting. Crossing genres, this film is a romance, mystery, and thriller all at once. The framing of the story around the questions of the game show adds to its uniqueness. The actors, while not grizzled veterans, embody their characters and are thoroughly likeable. “Slumdog Millionaire” is very much worth checking out. It is the Oscar favorite for best picture, and I would not be surprised if it walks away with the trophy.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans ***

Cast: Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra, Steven Mackintosh, Kevin Grevioux
Director: Patrick Tatopoulos
Running Length: 1:32
MPAA Classification: R

Hundreds of years before the first “Underworld” movie, werewolves were slaves to the vampires, led by Viktor (Nighy). The werewolf Lucian (Sheen) is the favored slave of Viktor. They maintain a respectable relationship despite their differences. Unbeknownst to Viktor, Lucian and Viktor’s daughter Sonja (Mitra) are in love. They sneak off to be together even though relationships between vampires and warewolves is forbidden. Their relationship prompts Lucien to remove his collar and go after when she is in danger. Despite saving her, Lucien is punished like the rest of the warewolves. This plants the seeds for their uprising.

“Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” is a movie that probably does not need to be made. The story was laid out quickly in the first “Underworld” movie. That being said, “Rise of the Lycans” is surprisingly entertaining. Nighy and Sheen are doing the overacting that fans of the series have come to love. There are plenty of actions scenes. And, this time, the film is a bit of a period piece. Shakespeare this ain’t, but I do not think that fans of the series will be disappointed.

Gran Torino ***1/2

Cast: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her, Christopher Carley
Director: Clint Eastwood
Running Length: 1:55
MPAA Classification: R

Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) is a grumpy old man whose wife has just died. He now lives with only his dog, and barely speaks with his family. The neighborhood where he lives is changing. There are more gangs and the population is becoming more diverse – two things which don’t please Walt at all. He doesn’t get along well with the Asian family next door, and when the son, Thao (Vang) tries to steal his 1972 Gran Torino, things get even cooler. But, after saving Thao from a gang, things change. Soon Thao is working for Walt doing chores, and his sister Sue (Her) is hanging out with Walt. The family is grateful for what Walt has done, but the gang is still out there, and they are not so easily dissuaded.

“Gran Torino” is a great showcase for Clint Eastwood. He makes the movie, and is the reason to see it. The grumpy, irritable Walt is a real piece of work, and his transformation is effective and believable. The supporting cast does a good job, but they are far outshined by Eastwood. The story is interesting and believable, and does not have a cheap (or cop-out) ending. Supposedly this is Eastwood’s last acting role. If that is the case, get out there and see “gran Torino.” You will not be disappointed.

Frost/Nixon ****

Frost/Nixon ****
Cast: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Mcfadyen, Sam Rockwell, Oliver Platt, Rebecca Hall
Director: Ron Howard
Running Length: 2:02
MPAA Classification: R

For three years after his resignation from the presidency, Richard Nixon (Langella) remained in seclusion in California. He made no appearances, he gave no interviews. Then, a British talk-show host named David Frost (Sheen) offered him $500,000 for a series of interviews. They would cover Domestic Policy, foreign policy, “Nixon the man,” and Watergate. Nixon accepted the deal, figuring he would get a series of easy questions, but Frost was going for something more. Assisted by three allies: John Burt (McFadyen), James Reston Jr. (Rockwell), and Bob Zelnick (Platt), he mounted interview sessions determined to get Nixon to admit he was wrong and committed crimes.

“Frost/Nixon” is a thoroughly engrossing movie, despite the ending being known. Langella and Sheen are great in their respective roles. The story is edge of your seat viewing. Director Ron Howard spends about half the movie reenacting excerpts from the actual interviews, and they are engaging showing a duel of wits where only one can be the winner. I highly recommend this entertaining and engaging film.

Oscar nominations announced

And the nominees are ...

Best film:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
The Reader

Best actor:
Richard Jenkins (The Visitor)
Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon)
Sean Penn (Milk)
Brad Pitt (Button)
Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)

Best actress:
Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)
Melissa Leo (Frozen River)
Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Meryl Streep (Doubt)
Angelina Jolie (Changeling)

Best supporting actor:
Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt)
Heath Ledger (Dark Knight)
Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road)
Josh Brolin (Milk)

Best supporting actress:
Amy Adams (Doubt)
Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Viola Davis (Doubt)
Taraji P. Henson (Button)
Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler)

Best director:
Danny Boyle (Slumdog)
Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon)
Gus Van Sant (Milk)
David Fincher (Button)
Stephen Daldry (The Reader)

Best animated feature:
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ****

Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Julia Ormond, Taraji P. Henson, Jason Flemyng, Tilda Swinton, Jared Harris
Director: David Fincher
Running Length: 2:46
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Benjamin Button (Pitt) is born in 1918, as an old man. His mother dies in the birth, and his father Thomas (Flemmyng) abandons him. He is found and raised by Queenie (Henson), and within a few years has the appearance of an 80 year old man. But then, as the years pass, he begins to look younger. At the age of 13, he first meets Daisy (Blanchett). Their paths will cross repeatedly over the course of his life, and she will become the love of his life.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is so much more than that description, and is an entertaining and engaging motion picture. Covering the greater part of the 20th century, it takes us on a whirlwind tour of his life. Brad Pitt is great as the tile character, playing him in all stages of his life, from old to young. Blanchett is equally good as his beloved Daisy. The story itself, based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is an amazing backwards look at a life. It has a lot to say about what defines a life and the sacrifices that one must make as he goes through it. I highly recommend this film.

2009 Golden Globes Winners

MOVIES
Best supporting actress, drama— Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best original song, motion picture— Bruce Springsteen, The Wrestler
Best animated film—WALL-E
Best actress, comedy/musical— Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Best supporting actor, drama— Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best foreign film—Waltz With Bashir
Best screenplay— Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Best original score— A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award— Steven Spielberg
Best director — Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best musical/comedy —Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best actor, musical/comedy — Colin Farrell, In Bruges
Best actress, drama — Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Best actor, drama — Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Best drama —Slumdog Millionaire

The Best Movies I Saw in 2008

1. The Dark Knight ****
2. There Will Be Blood **** (from 2007)
3. Iron Man ****
4. Wall-E ****
5. Traitor ***1/2
6. Charlie Wilson's War ***1/2 (from 2007)
7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall ***1/2
8. U2 3D ***1/2
9. The Spiderwick Chronicles ***1/2
10. The Secret Life of Bees ***1/2
11. Role Models ***1/2
12. Burn After Reading ***

Marley and Me ***

Cast: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner, Alan Arkin
Director: David Frankel
Running Length: 2:03
MPAA Classification: PG

John Grogan (Wilson) and his wife Jennifer (Aniston) decide to get a dog soon after getting married. Marley, a yellow Lab, becomes part of the family, and although he is cute and loveable, he is not a model dog. He fails obedience school, and chews on just about anything. He terrorizes the dog-sitter as well. Despite all that, the Grogans love him, and when they begin to have kids and things get crazy, Marley is the constant.

Based on the memoir by John Grogan, “Marley & Me” is a good adaptation. The movie captures most of the key moments in the book, and manages to be true to its spirit as well. Wilson and Aniston have good chemistry with each other and with the dogs playing Marley. It’s funny without being a comedy and serious without being a drama. “Marley & Me” is an excellent choice for a family movie. Anyone who has ever had a dog will appreciate this film, and everyone else will enjoy it too.