Category: Movie Reviews
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The Sitter has too many issues to get real laughs
The Sitter – 2011 Directed by David Gordon Green Starring Jonah Hill, Ari Graynor, Max Records, Sam Rockwell, J.B. Smoove, Method Man, Erin Daniels, D.W. Moffett, Landry Bender, Kevin Hernandez, Kylie Bunbury, Jessica Hecht Screenplay by Brian Gatewood, Alessandro Tanaka The question that occurs to me, while watching The Sitter, is the following: what in the hell…
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The Descendants is a fresh dose of pain
The Descendants – 2011 Directed by Alexander Payne Starring George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Beau Bridges, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard, Robert Forster, Barbara L. Southern Screenplay by Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, based on The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings “I don’t want my daughters growing up entitled and spoiled. And I agree with my father – you give your children enough…
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The Divide: End of the world Lord of the Flies
The Divide- 2012 Directed by Xavier Gens Starring Michael Biehn, Laura German, Milo Ventimiglia, Courtney B. Vance, Iván González, Michael Eklund, Abbey Thickson, Ashton Holmes, Roseanna Arquette Written by Karl Mueller, Eron Sheean There are several reasons why The Divide should not work. Low budget, a cadre of B actors, and a claustrophobic atmosphere. This is a recipe for overacting.…
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CPE and Em: War Horse, or Em’s most eagerly anticipated film of the year
War Horse – 2011 Directed by Steven Speilberg Starring Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Peter Mullan, David Thewlis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston Screenplay by Richard Curtis and Lee Hall based on War Horse by Michael Morpurgo From the first time a commercial for this film happened upon our screen, Em has bugged her mother and (especially) me to let her watch this movie.…
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The Darkest Hour is indeed quite dim
The Darkest Hour – 2011 Directed by Chris Gorak Starring Emille Hirsch, Max Minghella, Rachel Taylor, Olivia Thirlby, Joel Kinnaman Screenplay by Jon Spaihts It’s not the fact that we get to see the film’s signature move, disintegrating humans, dogs, etc, hundreds of times. It’s not the fact that the dialogue in the film is stiff enough to…
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We Got A Zoo: A Family Classic that avoids being preachy
We Bought A Zoo – 2011 Directed by Cameron Crowe Starring Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, J.B. Smoove, Thomas Haden Church, Elle Fanning, Patrick Fugit, Colin Ford, Angus Macfadyen, Maggie Elisabeth Jones Screenplay by Aline Brosh McKenna and Crowe My wife hates movies with animals. She is not partial to sad sack films that hang broken hearts out on…
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CPE and Em (and El): Hop is for those who prefer the visual equivalent of corn syrup
Hop – 2011 Directed by Tim Hill Starring James Mardsen, Kaley Couoco, Gary Cole, Elizabeth Perkins, Russell Brand (voice/cameo), Chelsea Handler, David Hasselhoff, Voices Hugh Laurie, Hank Azaria Screenplay by Ken Daurio, Brian Lynch, Cinco Paul I am getting pretty tired of Russell Brand. It probably happened for me about the same time it did with Katy…
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CPE and Em: The Way A vibrant tale beautifully told
The Way – 2011 Directed by Emilio Estavez Starring Martin Sheen, Emilio Estavez, Deborah Kara Unger, James Nesbitt, Yorick van Wageningen, Tchéky Karyo Screenplay Emilio Estavez The thing that sets some actors and actresses apart is how they are able to exist on-screen when there is no dialogue. Do they have to natter incessantly, like, say, Woody Allen?…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 