As the year winds down to an end, I find myself trying to squeeze in a bunch of films that I haven’t seen from the past year, all while rewatching some of the highlight films in order to compile a best of list (Be on the look out for those to start the first week of January!).  Click more to see what I thought were possible contenders and whether or not they failed to live up to the high hopes.

Archer Season 1 (2009-2010)

A spy with an affinity for the ladies!?  Psh… That’s just unheard of.  Yet that is what this show is based on.  Oh the fantasy of it all…

Archer is an animated show that somewhat spoofs the highly sexualized world of espionage.  The title character is a man who is apparently the best in the biz, though you would never guess this from how the character is presented in the show.  He is an idiot and a mama’s boy, so reason goes to show he is basically the best through accident because all I witness is mistake after mistake.  Which is where most of the comedy is for me.  The sex crazed working environment got old quickly and I never understood the relationship between super spy Lana and nerdy Cyril (granted the whole point of it is to probably to show Lana going for someone completely different that Archer).

The animation moves about like paper dolls with pins in their joints if you ask me, but one thing that overcompensates for this is the voice acting from a cast that includes Judy Greer, Chris Parnell, Aisha Tyler, and Jessica Walter.  At the top of the list is H. Jon Benjamin for his voicing of Archer, and I don’t think I will ever get tired of the way in which he yells “Mother!”

Seeing as I am not one for spoofs, it isn’t unexpected for me to not be completely blown away by this like many others (though I am in no way saying that this relies heavily on obvious mockery of the genre like the Scary Movie franchise or anything).  However, it does have a strong comedic take on this world, so though I don’t always see it, I can completely understand why so many love Archer. (Available to watch instantly with Netflix)

Final Grade: B

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

Two summers ago Cowboys & Aliens was easily one of the films I was most excited for coming out of Comic Con.  Firefly has already proven that sci-fi meets western can be the perfect genre blend if done right; too bad Cowboys & Aliens falls short.

An entertaining film of the simplest form, C&A is one of those movies to put in if you just want to watch something in the background of what you are really paying attention to.  It’s not like you can hear/understand half of what Daniel Craig is saying anyway, not that what he says is probably the best dialog anyway.  The script is actually rather poorly written, with dialog and characters that are ill formed.  Sam Rockwell might get the worst of this, though he does get one of the funniest lines in the film, but the rest of the cast isn’t really given anything better than Rockwell, including Olivia Wilde who must shoulder a lot of the film without having enough character development to make us truly care about her character (other than for being a possible love interest to Craig, as well as the only girl for the majority of the film).

The CGI is done well enough for the aliens, alien jets, etc, and some of the fighting between the aliens and humans is fun enough to watch, but as soon as the movie is over and you actually start thinking about what you just watched the film completely breaks down.  The reasoning for the aliens being here is pretty vague, though what explanation is given creates a rather stupid motive for the battle between Earth and space no matter how well it fits with the time and setting.

Final Grade:  C

The Tree of Life (2011)

I’ll warn you now, if you are not the type of person who will get stuck in front of one of the video screens in an art museum then The Tree of Life may be a little challenging of a film to sit through for you.  Matter of fact, when describing it, “movie” really doesn’t come out as my first word.

Don’t get me wrong, a vast majority of films can be considered art.  For example, The Fall is one of the most beautiful films I have seen, but because of its narrative it is still something I would categorize as a movie first.  On the other hand, with The Tree of Life I would be more likely to describe it as artwork instead of a film because it doesn’t seem to have a place in a movie theater, but in an art show.  Hands down it is one of the most beautiful looking films from the past year, as I jokingly refer to the first 30 or so minutes as one of the best screensavers I have ever seen due to its calming imagery and tendency to push the camera in towards what is the focus of the shot.

Another deciding factor that sets this apart from most films is that I would use the story to describe a film, but art is often described by its concept, which is what The Tree of Life has.  So conceptual in fact that I went on to imdb.com after watching to read what other people thought the movie was about (I needed a little more than what I ended with, which was “WTF!?”).

Because of this it is impossible for me to sit on a grade because I can’t grade it on the usual scale.  However, if I were in a critique in an art class this would definitely be a piece not to be forgotten.

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A few weeks have passed since my last compilation post of movie rentals, and I should be ashamed at my lack of movie watching, but I have still spent a large percentage of my time wisely!  We’re talking playing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword on that stupid Wii and rewatching all three previous seasons of Parks and Recreation on Netflix.  So yeah, all was not for naught.  With that said, I knew you guys would be wandering around your favorite rental store, kiosk, or internet site without my help in possible choices, so here we go.

Friends With Benefits (2011)

This was the last of the films on this list that I watched, and I was really hoping that it would give me some great fodder as a film that in no way would get yet another B.  But no, apparently this holiday season has me seeing the good in everything, so here goes.

One reason that I can think that I ended up liking it more than I did was because it is impossible to not compare this to No Strings Attached.  And let’s face it, the ending of that one did quite the number on the rest of the film, really ruining the viewing experience on the whole.  And though Friends With Benefits’ ending is just as predictable and somewhat cheesy, I still couldn’t stop smiling throughout it.

A lot of it probably has to do with Justin Timberlake’s loveable character, as well as the appearance of Woody Harrelson’s gay and proud coworker to Timberlake (though I will say that most of his best moments were spoiled by their use in the trailers), especially because the story is full of clichés that we have come to know and sometimes love.  Then again, they also spend a great amount of time mocking the clichés because of their “unusual” relationship; granted mocking clichés could be equally cliché by now.

Friends With Benefits is in no way a spectacular film, but if you are looking for a fun romantic comedy then this will get the job done.

Final Grade: B-

Our Idiot Brother (2011)

Paul Rudd stars as the sole brother of three sisters.  You guessed it, he’s the idiot the title is calling out.

Rudd plays this optimistic brother with an innocent child’s look at the world with such quiet glee that it is hard not to love him even for his faults.  He may trust people way too much and might not be the sharpest pencil in the box, but he remains the heart of this family that keeps them together even when they want nothing to do with him.

The cast is definitely up there on the list of great ensembles this year with Emily Mortimer, Elizabeth Banks, and Zooey Deschanel playing Rudd’s sisters, who just so happen to be messed up in their own ways that make them look far worse in comparison to Rudd’s pot smoking idealist.  Plus it is always hilarious to listen to Deschanel spewing out the F word as often as she does here.  Adam Scott and Rashida Jones swing by from Parks and Recreation for some supporting cast time in this as well, and it is often within these non-family members that I found myself loving the film the most.  Granted, it could be because more often than not Ned was unknowingly sticking his foot deeper and deeper into his mouth while with them.  However, even with these people already mentioned, the gold star performance goes to T.J. Miller as an equal to Ned, and I probably could have watched a whole movie involving the story between these two.

Long story short, see it for the actors you have come to love as they do what they do best.

Final Grade:  B

Sarah’s Key (2010)

Be warned going in: this movie is about the Holocaust, and not in a cheery, crush the skulls of Nazis, sort of way that Inglorious Basterds is.  Instead, Sarah’s Key follows two separate timelines, weaving together in a simplistic way as the woman in present time searches for answers about a little girl who lived during the war.

Kristen Scott Thomas gives a fine performance as the woman digging into the past, but the ending of the film weakens her part in many ways (as well as the movie).  Instead, it is the young actress playing Sarah (Mélusine Mayance) who gives the stand out performance.  Her character is already heartbreaking enough as she is taken into a camp with her two parents after the French police have removed the Jewish citizens from their homes.  But what is worse is that in her child’s mind she locks her brother in a closet to keep him from being found, not knowing that the family would be taken far away from him.  Long story short, her dedication and unwavering hope to get home to him will catch you off guard in its strength, until you are at her mercy as she crushes your heart with her little key-holding hands.

Obviously not a feel good movie, the tone and few problems with how the two stories weave together (granted the transitions are done really well) should not keep you from watching Sarah’s Key.  Just be sure to bring the tissues to wipe the tears away so that you can read the French subtitles.

Final Grade: B

Water for Elephants (2011)

Let’s get this out of the way first.  This elephant did not drink water once in this movie!  You have not fooled me at all title!  Instead she drinks a lot of alcohol, which may have led to her adorable, obstinate side of spraying water at the evil ringleader (Christoph Waltz).  Oh, ok, she did at least use water.

Technically about the circus, Water for Elephants is more about the people within the big top and not the events that transpire in the final year of this particular traveling circus’s ring.  In other words, if you want to see the circus then go to one, unless the circus has been caught with their pants down in concern to animal abuse like one particular big name that shall remain nameless.  Instead of the acts that take focus briefly every now and again, the story that takes front and center is the building relationship between Robert Pattinson’s veterinarian and Reese Witherspoon’s star performer, so this film is definitely more for the romance fan than anyone else.

It may not be Big Fish, but there is still something beautiful and magical about the circus when it is captured on film, and Water for Elephants does manage to pull this off every now and again.

Final Grade: B-

With giant food babies resting nicely in your stomach following Thanksgiving, renting some movies to help the lounging around become a little more entertaining sounds like a pretty good idea, right?  Well, here are some ideas on what to get. (Batman: Year One; Crazy, Stupid, Love; and [Rec]² for those too impatient to wait until after the break⁾

Batman: Year One (2011)

Something tells me that maybe had I read the graphic novel by Frank Miller first then I would have some fan loyalty to the story that would make a stronger liking for it, but without this background I find myself underwhelmed.

As the title suggests, this is another origin type story for Batman as Bruce Wayne decides to don this symbol as he protects the citizens of Gotham City.  He doesn’t actually become the bat until 1/3 of the way through the story, and I really have to wonder how the heck a bat flies through a window.  In his defining moment of wounded / hopefully delirious enough to hallucinate, a bat flies through the window, screaming at Bruce.  Dramatic, I am sure, something tells me this was a much stronger image as a drawing, but here it was just comical.

As were a lot of the other images throughout the story.  Upon Batman and Catwoman’s first interaction (though neither have actually become these alter egos yet), they end up fighting each other.  Sure Gotham is a place with loose rules and morals, but beating up a woman just seemed a little much.  Plus, the good cop Gordon drives recklessly on the sidewalk.  He’s not the squeaky clean hero by any means, but this is just reckless.  Come on Gordon!

Even though I spent the majority of the film wondering why everyone had black eyebrows no matter what the color of their hair actually was, or why Catwoman was even included in the story, I would say the biggest problem with this cartoon is the other competition out there.  I might watch this again if it was on TV, but if I am going to choose the origin story to watch, I would definitely go with Batman Begins over this one.  The competition just isn’t there.

Final Grade: B-

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

I have been waiting all year to see this movie since I missed it in theaters like a stupid face.  All that waiting can lead to some pretty high expectations, so thank goodness this one doesn’t disappoint.

As far as love stories go, Crazy, Stupid, Love is pretty guilty of keeping it close to home.  In other words, the teenage son loves the babysitter, the babysitter loves Steve Carell (the father), Carell loves the wife that just asked for a divorce, etc…You would think that this set up would prove rather annoying considering how improbable some of it seems to be, but it creates enough hilarity in the situations that come up because of these connections down the road in each characters quest to have their feelings reciprocated.

With that said, the best relationship is actually the one between Carell and Ryan Gosling as Gosling takes Carell under his wing to teach him how to manipulate women into his bed.  Carell takes on more of a performance similar to that from Dan In Real Life (see it!), and Gosling continues to provide performance after amazing performance this year as someone who is slightly disgusted by the depth to which Carell has sunk, best exemplified in the make-over portion of the movie.

In the end I was pretty surprised by how little Emma Stone and Gosling actually interact together, but this is not to say that the film suffers because of this.  Their characters have their separate screen time to build them up in their own relationships, so when they finally do meet again for a second time it is a relief because of how much I hoped they would fall in love as well.

Crazy, Stupid, Love will have you laughing, cheering, tearing up… You know, all that good stuff.

Final Grade:  B+

[Rec]² (2009)

Whether you’ve seen the first [Rec], or the American remake, Quarantine, [Rec]² is definitely a movie to see if you loved the zombie outbreak in the first one and want to know where it goes from there.

This Spanish sequel takes place in the same apartment complex as the first, picking up right after the events of the first (well technically there is some minor overlap during a scene or two).  Clearly the first wave of firefighters that went in were unable to quell what was unraveling in the building, so now it is up to a 4-man swat team to go in and clean up the mess.  A medical expert is also along for the ride to figure out what happened, but some secrets of his reveal that he is connected to the religious aspect that ended the first film.

Ugh, religion, shiver.  But don’t worry, the religious addition of possession to these zombie-like tenants does not ruin the horror fun in any way, but actually adds to it.  Plus, normal zombies don’t climb on the walls and ceilings, but now some of these possessed little demons do!  And it is definitely a creepy sight to see, adding another layer to the typical running, one-track mind zombies.

The use of handcams continues from the first film as well, with cameras attached to the swat team’s helmets.  This craze has lost some of its edge due to popularity in films now, but it still makes good work here.  Plus, there are a few shots that we get that just wouldn’t come out of a different shooting style.  For example, we get to be in the POV of the team as zombies try to eat their faces off, as well as end up on the ground after being knocked off someone’s head in an attack, resting at an odd angle that creates beautiful compositions for the action that is just out of view.

The one downside to the film for me was that about halfway through we switch to a different group of people, moving away from the swat team as their cameras die, are lost, etc.  With that said, eventually the two stories converge, which makes the annoying characters that stole the screen time for a while worth it in the end.

Long story short, if you are a fan of the original (Spanish or American version), or just of the zombie genre in general, then this sequel is definitely one to see.

Final Grade:  B+

In this week of rentals I found myself disappointed with many of this years “better” comedies, where two other films ending up where I expected them to be.  If you’re considering renting The Alphabet Killer, Horrible Bosses, Your Highness, or Win Win then read my thoughts before making your choice this coming weekend.

The Alphabet Killer (2008)

Last week was Case 39, this week’s entry into the “you should have known better, but you watched it anyway because you are willing to watch almost any horror film” is The Alphabet Killer.  This time around I was drawn in with Eliza Dushku’s name in the cast list, as well as because of the title.  Not only did it make me chuckle, but even with low expectations I thought it might have a chance to be decent because the name reminded me of Zodiac, and I thought the premise might do the same.  But meh.

Dushku plays a detective that has a psychological break during a case that overwhelms her.  She sees connections and a possible serial killer in the making, and her insight brings out a hidden mental disorder that ruins her life for her.  Years later she is working in the station once more, just in a demoted position.  However, when a case comes in bringing similarities to the first, she is brought back in to the story.

Her deteriorating state allows for a few cheap scares in the form of hallucinations, but I still have trouble believing that she would have been brought on the case as she was.  But hey, I’ll go along with it.  However, what I cannot go along with is the cheap reveal of a killer at the end.  It would have been just as satisfying had the killer been the neighborhood milk man or something, because then at least I could make a joke about how he probably picks his victims based on the last letter left in his bowl of Alpha-Bits and milk.  But no, the reveal is completely unsatisfying, only made worse when the killer’s motives for choosing certain victims is revealed.

Final Grade:  D

Horrible Bosses (2011)

I don’t know if it is just because of all the hype surrounding this film, but I’m not seeing it.  Don’t get me wrong, it has its moments, but a lot of the comedy was falling flat with me.

I’m just going to move past the unlikely premise because it serves its purpose in creating hilarious situations, but some things just weren’t as funny as they thought it was going to be. Starting with the bosses themselves.  Sure, the fact that they are described as being horrible means that they will probably be hard to like, but the only one that ever had any funny moments for me when it came to interacting with their employee was Jennifer Aniston.  Everyone else was just meh, with Colin Farrell being on the bottom of the list because all his character had were his trailer moments.

And now that I think about it, Jennifer Aniston was only the best boss because she had the best employee to work against in Charlie Day.  He ended up being the highlight of ever scene he was in on most occasions, including a long stretch tainted by the side effects of accidentally sniffing coke, with Jason Sudeikis being the least favorite.  Don’t get me wrong, when he was actually being an integral part of the team he was fine, but his character’s one-track mind towards women was just annoying.  This is always expected in a male character so it wasn’t anything new, but it was just frustrating that the need was felt to always have him randomly hooking up with people, especially when it just didn’t make sense.

Overall there were some great bits of dialog here and there, as well as situational/physical comedy, but in the end this film disappointed me because of my high expectations for it.  Better than Bridesmaids my behind…

Final Grade:  B-

Your Highness (2011)

First thing’s first: How the heck does someone do a summersault up stairs?  I just don’t see how that is possible, let alone why someone would have the urge to do that.

Ok, so that question might seem a little ridiculous, but this question shows just how much this movie asks of you if this is the most thinking I had to do throughout its run time.  To put it simply, it is a very unsophisticated comedy, at least in terms of the comedy element.  As Zac says in his review, it is a fantasy throwback film and I can appreciate these moments, but when they are surrounded by penis joke after penis joke, as well as any other sexual aspect that can be laughed at, the depth they are trying to reach gets a little lost.  So where this might have made the film a solid go for him, I just can’t say the same.

Personally, the main thing that I can say that I did enjoy was the relationship between James Franco and Danny McBride as brothers, the former being the hero and the latter being the slacker.  Their journey together to get back Franco’s love does bring out great moments between the two, as well as bits when they are apart and McBride is complaining about how great his brother is that are truly enjoyable.  And then there was yet another penis joke and I am reminded why I am having trouble truly enjoying it.

Final Grade:  C-

Win Win (2011)

When a teenage boy shows up on the doorstep of one of Mike Flaherty’s clients, circumstances lead to the Flaherty family gaining a member.  Some monetary issues and a drug-addicted mother lead to some drama, but the main draw to this movie is the bond between the family as they bring in a child with no one else to turn to.

Paul Giamatti plays Mike, a couch for the high school wrestling team that has possibly seen better days (though possibly not), until Kyle decides to get back on the mats.  Seeing as Alex Shaffer has a background in wresting, he does a great job in these scenes, but my biggest question comes in his moments of acting.  Win Win is the first film in his filmography, so I can’t quite tell if he still has plenty of room to grow as an actor, or if he is actually so good that the quite, slightly monotonous tone he takes with the character was all by choice.  I am going to choose the latter though because I was a fan of this portrayal.  As a strong combatant on the mats, almost every other moment on screen is one of serenity.  He speak in almost a matter of fact manner, doesn’t have an emotional inflection, things just are and he takes them in stride.  However, all this means is that when he finally decides to show emotion it will be quite the expression.

Though these two are front and center on many occasions, the supporting cast is just as strong.  Bobby Cannavale plays Terry Delfino, a man who wrestled with Mike back in high school and has reverted back to this teen in many ways as he deals with his divorce, choosing instead to dive back into the world of wrestling by living vicariously through Kyle.  However, my favorite would probably have to be Amy Ryan as Mike’s wife, Jackie.  She takes Kyle in out of necessity since he has nowhere else to go, but she quickly includes him in her mama bear mentality.

In the end Win Win is just a feel good movie that will have you smiling.

Final Grade:  B

With a fall season shooting out some big name video games and an important World Series for STL fans, the Cardinals, Batman, and Nathan Drake have been keeping me a little too busy to slip some movies in.  Ok, there might have also been a Teen Wolf marathon on MTV at some point…  However, with those games in the bag (for the most part) and the Cardinals coming out the victors, it is now time that I get back to watching some rentals.  Other than Red State, I probably should have chosen a few better titles to come back with though…

Case 39 (2009)

Though Case 39 puts doubts in one’s mind about the necessity of children, it lacks any mystery and intrigue to the story that would have made it worthwhile.

Whether or not due to money problems on the studio’s part or lack of faith in the film, Case 39 was actually shelved for a while prior to its release.  Then there was the rise of Bradley Cooper.  Hoping to partake in the glory of his name, Case 39 was released.  Though I love him as an actor, he really doesn’t have much to do here, which is sad considering I am really not a fan of Renée Zellweger.  So with the two leads out, the burden of the film falls on the little girl cast in the role of the abused child needing the help of Zellweger’s child services agent.  Jodelle Ferland, who has been popping up all over the place for as far back as I can remember, plays the part of Lilith Sullivan.  At first she is her usual soft spoken, unimposing little girl that we have come to know (though I guess technically she was around 15 when this was filmed), and then out of no where this switch is flipped where the creepy factor starts to rear it’s ugly head.  Her performance is the highlight in these scenes in which she dominates the room as her character slowly becomes a variable to keep an eye on, but unfortunately the film itself provides nothing new to make this a must see in the horror genre.

Final Grade:  D+

Dylan Dog: Dead of Night (2010)

If Angel taught me anything, besides how much I could loath a series finale, then it is that a private investigator and the world of supernatural creatures often makes for a great combo.  That was then, Dylan Dog is now.

Dylan was once a man that the vampires, werewolves, and other creatures of the night called to keep them safe as law enforcement does for the human element of the world.  But today he works solely as a P.I. for the normal inhabitants after his reputation was changed for the worse years prior.  However, if he really wanted to get out of the game then he should have probably left the state, because these things have a tendency to come creeping back into one’s life.

As creature features go, this one is all over the place in terms of make-up and computer generated effects.  One morph right in the camera’s lens is pretty horrible, but in the end one final go at the effects leads me to believe that all the money was saved for these shots so that the climax of the film actually meant something (which unfortunately it didn’t due to the lack of interest in the build up).  The vampires were ok for the most part, pulling heavily from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer look, and the zombies were actually pretty interesting in terms of their degradation, but the worst were the werewolves.  They were too comical looking to be taken seriously as a threat, in a 1985 Teen Wolf sort of way, but worse.

Story wise, the relationship between Dylan Dog (Brandon Routh) and a woman, Elizabeth (Anita Briem), whose father’s death is what brings this case to Dylan’s attention, is laughably forced as it progresses.  At first he is just simply here to protect her, but as he lets her in (ie tells her all about what happened to his last girlfriend), things go a little like this: Dylan – “Oh I miss my girlfriend so much.  We can’t do this.  But we need the plot point, so do you want to have sex with me?”

For every horrible attempt to keep her character in play, there are just as many great moments between Dylan and his sidekick Marcus.  Sam Huntington creates the majority of the great scenes of the film with his awkward comedic relief, and without him there is no way that this film would have remained watchable in the slightest.

Final Grade:  D

Red State (2011) - Currently available for streaming through Netflix

Overly zealous religious individuals can be pretty annoying for those who don’t share their level of love for the Lord.  Then get them in a group and their beliefs can be down right deadly.

As a great attempt at marketing within the DVD, a preview for Bill Maher’s Religulous can be found before the DVD’s menu screen.  As a documentary about exploring the nature of religion and how beliefs may seem a little ridiculous to someone on the outside looking in, it fits perfectly with the main body of characters in Red State.  The film picks up with three boys who have a sexual drive that would put those from American Pie to shame.  When one of the three makes a date to get down and dirty with a woman he has been talking to on the internet, his two friends go along to share in the fun.

Arguing for the fact that you should always be hesitant to trust strangers you meet on the internet, these boys are drugged and kidnapped by a group of crazy religious individuals who make the Westboro Baptist Church look like standup citizens in their hatred of homosexuals and sexual deviants.  As this kidnapping brings in a hint of suspense as the lives of the three friends are seriously threatened thanks to the church’s willingness to rid the world of those who look to corrupt it, this genre switch only marks the first time in which the tone of the film changes, moving through horny boys to suspense to action to possible paranormal happenings before the film is done.

This group of believers will have anyone rooting for their deaths as things escalate and their stash of guns finally gets to come out of the bowls of the church (especially after a rather lengthy sermon about all those “filthy perverts”), yet it still manages to keep these religious extremists from being the only ones with faults as law enforcement officers move in to sweep the escalating situation under the rug as cleanly as possible.

With a few graphic moments that manage to shock and an end to the violence that is ridiculous enough in a comical sense as the tone once again flips on a dime, the film is recommended for those who don’t mind blood and religious extremists becoming a mockery.

Final Grade:  B-

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Week after week I apparently find ways to theme my rentals without realizing it beforehand.  Scratch that, I totally did it on purpose, and you know it’s true cuz I said totally.  A couple of weeks ago I went with creature features, and this week’s selection of The Nines and Being John Malkovich has me going for films in which reality is not really all it seems to be, creating odd words that raise questions, both for the betterment, and detrimental to, the film.

The Nines (2007)

You caught me; this film drew my attention while I was strolling through the options in the Netflix Instant Queue because Ryan Reynolds was on the cover art.  The story description is what sold the film for me.  At its basic level, it can be described as a movie in which stories intertwine in a way that will be determined by the watcher throughout, though it doesn’t really take full advantage of this until “all” is explained in the end.  However, we’re not talking in the Crash sort of way, but rather three separate stories in which the same actors are used in different parts.  Sounds slightly confusing, but it serves its purpose to the truth of the story.

In addition to Reynolds, Melissa McCarthy (who just had an phenomenal turn hosting SNL) and Hope Davis play three different roles throughout the movie, including one turn in which McCarthy plays herself.  Elle Fanning also makes a couple of appearances as well back in her “Don’t the Fannings make adorable children?” days.  Unfortunately I can’t really go into much more in order to keep from giving away the connecting factor that is eventually revealed at the end, but I will say this:  I appreciate what the film was trying to do.  It was nothing new, and in all honesty I think it could have been done a little more effectively (especially considering the questions I can’t quite figure out surrounding a camcorder in the movie), so unfortunately other than the performances in the film I am left being pretty indifferent to it.

Final Grade:  C

Zac’s Homework Assignment: (A section of my week devoted to filling in my “films viewed” list with more of the classics from the 80s, 90s, etc that Zac thinks I am doing a disservice to myself by not having seen them already)

Being John Malkovich (1999)

This movie was just weird.  There, I said it.  But this time around, the weirdness of the world created is what makes this movie enjoyable.  Granted my parents didn’t like it for a lot of the reasons that I did, so it’s clearly not for everyone.

The premise of this film is found in the title itself, but to put more words to it, it goes a little something like this: John Cusack’s character finds a tunnel in his office that leads to the brain of John Malkovich.  At first, it is simply an opportunity to see 15 minutes of someone else’s life through their eyes, but eventually it becomes something more.  If you really want to give it meaning, then it raises questions about Hollywood and the control in which actors have over their own lives and all that jazz, especially considering Cusack’s character is a puppeteer (which provides the opportunity for some truly amazing puppet show moments), but in all honesty it’s just a quirkily fun ride in which any underlying message (if there is one) doesn’t really matter.

Cameron Diaz plays Cusack’s animal loving wife whose world is brought into great question when she takes a trip down the tunnel, and she does an amazing job playing someone slightly off from her usual roles.  Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of her here that you see time and time again in the other films that fill up her resume, but her character here was just far enough off that my mom didn’t even realize it was her until she finally asked who it was about half way through.  Then again, it could have just been the hair.  And not to be left out, Catherine Keener also has a large part in the film as someone who draws the attention of the majority of the characters to a comedic effect.

There are plenty of questions that remain after this film as well, from why the heck there is a 7.5 floor in this building, why the secretary thought everyone spoke with a speech impediment, etc, but when all is said and done these elements just add to the quirkiness of this film and don’t really need answers.  So again, it may not be a film for everyone, but if you are one who enjoys odd films and scripts, then this is definitely something you must see.  Plus, an added bonus is that you will then be able to make connections to other things you have seen that most likely pay homage to this, from the tunnel in Coraline to the episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer titled “Restless” that is reminiscent of an amazingly edited section of this film involving traversing the subconscious.  So do yourself a favor and just embrace the journey.

Final Grade:  B+

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This week I have spent plenty of time at the theater and gaming (Rage FYI), but I managed to fit some movie rentals in this weekend so that I would have thoughts to share with you guys (yes I do realize how narcissistic that sounds).  This week we’ve got two films with Natalie Portman, The Other Woman and The Professional, as well as Skateland.  Enjoy!

The Other Woman (2009)

Not to be confused with Natalie Portman’s other film, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Other Woman stars this actress as a woman who loses a child.  Switching up the timeline a little as the film progresses, we find out that she moved in on a married man and is now dealing with the ex-wife and stepson, but the story is completely marred from moving forward by the previously mentioned loss.

The loss of a child is not new to the world of film, but The Other Woman’s attempt fails to live up to films like Rabbit Hole in its attempt to show the affects of a tragedy like this on a family.  Instead, in this case it often feels like a crutch for drama, bringing about argument after argument involving, if not brought on by mention of this.  I cannot fathom how horrible this is, yet even reminding oneself of this while watching, Portman’s character often ends up being annoying rather than a sympathetic character.  What’s worse is that this repetition ends up making the film feel far too simplistic as it continues to be stuck in the rut it dug itself.

With that said, there are still some highlights, largely revolving around Portman’s interactions with the stepson, played by Charlie Tahan.  Bringing back memories of the relationship between Jason Bateman and Thomas Robinson in The Switch (though far less adorable), Portman becomes something more than this one note character.  Occasionally she reverts back to the suffering mother as she often gets annoyed with a boy simply being a child, but occasionally she does at least attempt to be a decent person to him, speaking with him in quite a sarcastic manner that gives the film a percentage of the dose of heart it needs.

Final Grade:  C+

Skateland (2010)

Oh roller-skating…  Other than when we had our roller-skating units in PE at school, I have to say that I was way too cool for them.  That’s right, I had rollerblades (brushes shoulder off).  With that said, I can still relate to the skate rink being the place to be to hang out on Friday nights.  Granted it was also the 6^th grade.  Point is, I had birthday parties there, I said my first cuss word there (don’t tell my parents), so the film didn’t have to reach far to get the feeling of nostalgia building in this viewer.

Similar to Adventureland in more than title, Skateland is set in the 1980s with a decent chunk of characters unwilling to accept that they have to move on from the past and grow up sometime.  It also has the main character in a relationship with a girl from the Twilight franchise (Ashley Greene here), though I have to admit that the relationship here bounces back from good to bad more than I would like to admit.  With their could be more than friends potential, in the end I think she should have stuck more as a catalyzing force for the main character, as his sister is.  But instead we get a relationship that awkwardly advances with a major push out of nowhere to make them something more than just friends, no matter how obvious the potential was from the start.

In the end, Skateland really doesn’t do anything new, so I will continue to stick to spending my time in Adventureland, though Zombieland takes precedence over that (in desire to watch it, not desire to visit).

Final Grade:  C

Zac’s Homework Assignments:  I have a confession to make.  Though I love films with all my might, I have an embarrassingly lack of knowledge when it comes to older films.  Something that Zac seems to be disgusted by considering the times I have had to respond to his references with “I haven’t seen that” (See the comments on my review of Real Steel for an example).  Which has brought about his need for me to widen my viewing choices.  And though I am still waiting for an email of the complete list (I am expecting hundreds of films in all honesty), I will be starting with The Professional since I already had the DVD from Netflix.

The Professional (1994)

Apparently I decided to make this a Natalie Portman weekend.  In The Professional, Portman plays a little girl who is taken in by her neighbor following the brutal attack on her family by a man with a love for drugs, who just so happens to be an officer of the law as well.  This is quite a different officer than Batman’s Jim Gordon for Gary Oldman, but he creates this animated character whose level of corruption equals the amount of morals he is missing, easily stealing the film from two other amazing actors.  Portman makes it pretty clear in her role as Mathilda (what is it with little, unloved girls being named Mathilda?) that she was born to act as she follows Léon (Jean Reno) around in the hopes that she will be the Robin to his Batman.

Oh, that’s right, I forgot to mention that Léon is a hit man, and a skilled one at that.  Living the life of a solitary individual, he quickly reveals that the eyes behind those Harry Potter sunglasses aren’t as cold as one would think.  Though he more than hesitates at first, he lives by a “no women, no children” code, making it a little easier for Portman to bring out a new side of Léon.  Not saying he goes all mushy or anything, but his desire to protect her does bring out a cute relationship between the two, and though he acts as a mentor of sorts as he trains her in the ways of cleaning, I seriously doubt he would be able to go so far as to create a killer child like in Hanna.  A desire for a connection is all, creating a great dynamic between the two as they deal with the death of her family together.

Final Grade:  B

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This week I apparently decided to go with slightly older creature features (also reading Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, which both stays in the same vain and explains why I have only gotten two movies in).  Both films wear their age in similar ways; however, From Dusk Till Dawn rises above this in other ways by creating a fun B-Film, while The Thing fails to do the same.

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

With the novel, Salem’s Lot, and comic, I Vampire #1, as part of my weeks reading material, adding From Dusk Till Dawn definitely makes it a strong showing for vamps this week.  From Dusk Till Dawn may sit at the bottom of the list of these three in personal preference, but it is still an incredibly fun film thanks to the ridiculous nature and one amazing performance by Quentin Tarantino.  The softness with which he speaks as he continues to look unimposing makes his creepiness all the more tangible, and even after we witness his murderous freedom early on, his true nature still seems so unexpected.  Long story short, I cannot applaud enough for this performance considering I often forget he has some acting cred on his IMDB page.

The most noticeable problem for me here is the creature design, which is definitely pretty ridiculous looking.  Granted it is also incredibly aged in my 2011 viewing of a 1996 film, and very possible that the over-the-top look was what they were going for.  I can get past the makeup effects to an extent because that is quite a challenge (I know, I tried to recreate Buffy’s ubervamp in my stage makeup class), but I cannot forgive the inconsistency to it.  Some creatures look like pig vampires, some look like dinosaur vampires, some go for the somewhat normal bat look, and it becomes a little much after a while, in a laughable sort of way.  Don’t even get me started on the vampire creature that is on all fours…  But with this being the only complaint, some great performances, characters, writing, fantastic weapons, and one ridiculously amazing scene in which Juliette Lewis contemplates staking a vamp still makes this a must see film for the genre lover.

Final grade: B-

The Thing (1982)

As a film that has gotten rave reviews (sitting at an 8.2 overall rating on IMDB), I am struggling to see just why The Thing is considered so great.  But like From Dusk Till Dawn, it could simply be that I am watching it with the current generation idea of horror films.

Here is why this film doesn’t work for me.  Back in 1982 when this film first came out, creature design and the mechanical lengths to which they might have had to go to create these alien creatures were probably pretty commendable (ok, they’d still be pretty commendable), but personally I think how they chose to constantly wave the alien in the viewers face was one of this film’s major flaws.  The thing about fear is that it is scariest when you can’t figure out for sure why you are scared.  It is just a feeling you have; the shadows are too dark and deep, a noise is heard that stops you dead in terror, something expected sits just out of reach as you constantly wait for it to assault you…  These are the things that are not completely taken advantage of.

Instead we are constantly made aware of the presence of this creature, and the paranoia of this situation is more frustrating than felt in an honest way.  These people should destroy each other from the inside for the alien to beat them with their own faults, and in all honesty maybe we should have never seen it alive and kicking in its truer form.  But instead of paranoia and suspense, we get: “Look at what I can make!  Rawr!”

Side note – I really hope that The Thing prequel (also titled The Thing), which is set to release this year takes these things into consideration, and does a better job on the psychological angle.

Final grade: D+

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This week of non-new-releases includes Griff the Invisible (which is technically in theaters, but deserves to be in this post because of it’s short run), Priest, and Uncertainty.

Griff the Invisible (2010)

I know at this point there seems to be about as many regular Joe superhero movies as there are actual superhero movies, including Kick-Ass, Defendor, and Super, but it’s time to add one more to the list of those worth seeing.  Griff the Invisible is an Australian film about a guy who has not completely grown up, whether he has some mental development disorder, social anxiety, or just loves playing pretend.  Ryan Kwanten, best known for playing Jason Stackhouse in True Blood, plays Griff, a character far from the high school football star and ladies man of this show.  However, the transition is amazing into this shy, awkward character, going between these characteristics and those of the confident crime-fighter smoothly.

At first it was a little worrisome that Griff isn’t quite as exciting on an action level as those mentioned above, but eventually it becomes apparent that it is about the character himself and what is going on psychologically, adding a whole new level to this often traveled concept.  This added level to the story gives the film heart, as well as simply makes it easier to connect to as a viewer considering how awkward the characters are.  To top this off, Maeve Dermody helps in this arena as someone with an interest in Griff, both romantically and simply because of who he is.  They are kindred spirits in believing that this world is more than what we see it as, a type of cognitive Neverland where more is possible than most would imagine.

The film does more than I expected it to as a part of this genre, something that I would never think to describe as being cute.  But that is what Griff the Invisible is, and as it goes for the jab at the heart it gives an ending that is nothing but well deserved.

Final Grade:  B

Side note – I actually saw Griff the Invisible in theaters this past week, but it was only in STL for one week.  I suggest you check your local theaters to see if it is playing, but if it isn’t then add it to the movies you need to rent in the future.

Priest (2011)

After watching Legion a while back, another film starring Paul Bettany as a being fighting supernatural CGI creatures, Priest wasn’t exactly high on my list of movies to sit through.  But it had the awesome, fighting champ of Maggie Q, and vampires, so I pretty much had to watch it for better or worse.

Simply put, Priest isn’t the best film by any means, but it definitely surprised me in a much-better-than-expected way.  I may never understand the draw of creating a Batman voice along the lines of Christian Bale (Deus Ex Human Revolution was another offender), but as much as I can poke fun at Bettany for this, the man can act.  And packs quite a punch.  Ok, so no one can run up rocks that are being thrown through the air, but if you could suspend your beliefs for the wire-work in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon then try to do the same for this one.  Plus the animalistic, CGI vampires they fight look pretty good, so they can choose any way they want to add to the excitement.

Priest may have nothing on Firefly / Serenity, which is at the top of the list for this genre clash, but it is still a welcome addition to the futuristic western films.

Final Grade:  B-

Uncertainty (2009) – Currently a Netflix Instant Queue option

It is no secret that the choices we make have a larger reach than we give them credit for.  Ripples and what not.  That’s why I am ok with being as indecisive as I am.  I’m not being annoying; I’m being safe.

Uncertainty tries to create a story around this concept, and though I can applaud what they are trying to do, I cannot say that it works as well as hoped.  In the beginning of the movie, a couple is standing on a bridge between Manhattan and Queens, with the question of what they want to do for the rest of the day.  On a dime they break apart, each running the opposite direction.  However, when they make it off the bridge on their respective side their significant other is there.  In other words there are two versions of the following day.  Two of Lynn Collins and two of Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  Two separate stories to follow.

The problem with this is that I am not sure if the two versions of the couples are believable when comparing.  On one hand we have a drama, while on the other we have an action film (almost as if the former were added to stop comparisons to Eagle Eye).  These two things can go well together, and honestly by doing so it created an interesting pace so that we are not constantly watching the action couple running and plotting, but at the same time by watching them simultaneously I couldn’t really believe that these two couples were the opposite sides of the same coin.  Would a couple that is spending the day with family and debating their future really get wrapped up in criminal activities had they made a different choice that morning?  I don’t know, but I am thinking no.

Point is, the film attempts to create a story to depict a concept that many people think about on a philosophical level, but I just don’t know if they created the best story to do so.  Just know, that whatever path you choose, at the end of the day you will have sex.

Final Grade:  C

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And I am back with “For Your Renting Pleasure,” a supposed-to-be-weekly post that made it maybe 2 weeks tops before fizzling out.  My bad.  For those of you who don’t remember this is basically a compilation post of movies I watched that week of the non-new-release variety, whether they be rentals, watched through the Netflix instant queue, or what have you.  This week we’ve got Last Night (2010), Wind Chill (2007), and The Good Guy (2009).

Last Night (2010)

Drawn in thanks to the cast headed my Sam Worthington and Keira Knightley, Last Night follows these two as they play a married couple during a weekend that could potentially alter their relationship from now on.  With the temptation of adultery coming to both in the form of an old love to Knightley (played by Guillaume Canet) and co-worker sharing a business trip with Worthington (played by Eva Mendes), a strong factor in whether or not this film will appeal to you is just how strong your opinion of infidelity is.  Personally I spent the whole film thinking “No! No! Don’t do it! Don’t do it! Remember your marriage! You love each other! Don’t do it!” and scowling at the mere presence of those providing the temptation, but the truth to the story and relationships, and the sadness of realizing this truth, kept me from hating it on a moral standpoint.  Also, something that I cannot say for many films of this sort that this one managed to pull off was that in the end I really wasn’t sure as to what future I wanted for these characters because it is debatable as to which relationship is right for them.

Final Grade: B-

Wind Chill (2007)

One thing that most actors’ resumes have in common is the inclusion of a horror film that may or may not have great potential.  This is exactly what Wind Chill is for Emily Blunt, but what started out as something I was going to write off became something that I quite enjoyed for its creepiness, great use of a small set, and characters.  The story follows two college students (Blunt and Ashton Holmes) as they drive home for Christmas break, taking a questionable “shortcut.”  What starts as a horrible idea due to the snow covered road and lack of fellow cars traveling this stretch of forested land quickly becomes an “I told you so” moment when they have an accident that they cannot drive out of.  While stranded on this stretch of forgotten road, they must deal with suspicion between the two (since they are strangers and not exactly people I would be best friends with on a good day), a -30 or so wind chill, and recurring memories of sorts haunting this valley.

The biggest selling point for this one is that the set up and story feel a lot like a premise for an early episode of Buffy, and will remind you as such post accident, minus her slaying and pun fu, of course.  So if you were a fan of the show, I would definitely give this one a chance.

Final Grade: B-

The Good Guy (2009)

Yet another classic romantic comedy set up of a girl (Alexis Bledel) in a relationship with a guy (Scott Porter) who may or may not be a good person, only to meet another guy (Bryan Greenberg) who likes her and she may start to feel something for as well, but she is still in a relationship so things can’t happen. The one thing this film does have going for it on this front is that Greenberg is adorable and is definitely someone the female romcom fans can cheer for because he is not a complete dbag like a lot of the other males in the film.  With that in mind, the supporting cast is nothing to care for as both the male and female lead in the couple have a group of friends of their own, though the characters and dialog probably hinders any ability they had to shine in the moments they have on screen.  And some of the girls have annoying voices…

The biggest compliment I can give The Good Guy is that though bringing comparisons of an in-film book to the story of the movie is nothing new, it does speak to how the first scene (which comes later in the film timeline wise) sets up an assumed understanding as to how the film will get there, though as we watch it, what we assume is obviously not the truth, and roles reverse in a sense.

Final Grade:  C- (AKA consider watching it only if you have nothing else to watch because it is on the instant queue, and thus free)

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