RELEASE
June 27, 2013 (VOD)
August 2, 2013 (LIMITED)
DIRECTOR
Sebastián Cordero
STUDIO
Magnet Releasing
RUNNING TIME
1 hour 30 minutes
STARS
***
REVIEW:
Sci-Fi these days consists of explosions, CGI, and a lot of technical accomplishments. Sometimes the best Science Fiction movies are the ones that are simple, yet effective. "Europa Report" is an accurate depiction on what could happen if humans venture off into space and attempt to discover new life. In a way, it's a combination of "Another Earth" and "Cloverfield," in which the story is executed simply and without many special effects while using the found footage formula that's been used in films like "Chronicle" and the "Paranormal Activity" series. To top that off, the acting in the film is solid and the story is solid. There isn't a lot to say about "Europa Report" other than what's already been said. I mean, the story isn't the best, the dialogue is cheesy, and some of the outcomes of the characters seem a little too melodramatic. Having said that, the visuals are really good, the found footage aspect is handled very well, and the acting isn't half bad either. While the film is far from perfect, it is an effective, intense, and engaging movie that shows a very plausible outcome for if the Government decides to send humans back into space.
When people, including myself, saw the trailer for "R.I.P.D," the first thing that came to mind was "Men in Black." Think about it: a rookie cop teams up with an old timer in a secret group who are in charge of keeping the world of ordinary humans safe. Instead of men in black suits fighting off aliens, though, we trade men in black suits with dead police officers from all over time, and we trade aliens for dead souls who don't want to go to Hell quite yet. Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds replace Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith as well, plus the story is somewhat different from the original "Men in Black" overall. While the film, based off of a graphic novel of the same name, is far from original, it's not as horrible as one may think. Sure many of the special effects are mediocre, the villain is weak, and the story has been done dozens of times, but "R.I.P.D." to an extent is still a fun enough movie to mildly recommend.
The film itself fails in delivering on spectacular visuals, a good villain, and a lot of comedy. Some of the characters aren't needed that much and the film feels like something that's been done many times before. Having said that, I was invested with the film and was having fun with it, particularly in the final 30 minutes of the film. The chemistry between Bridges and Reynolds, while not as good as Jones and Smith in the "Men in Black" franchise, worked for the most part and was solid. This isn't the best movie you will see all summer, but it is definitely far from the worst. "R.I.P.D." is a movie worth checking out when it hits DVD and Blu-Ray. Even though the 3D was surprisingly good, it's not necessary to pay the surcharge for it. Overall, "R.I.P.D." is a flawed, but enjoyable popcorn movie that accomplishes at being nothing more than a fun summer flick.
Considering the talent involved with this film, "Identity Thief" turns out to be a mediocre film. Look at the two big stars on the poster: Jason Bateman from "Horrible Bosses" and "Arrested Development," along with Academy Award nominee Melissa McCarthy of "Bridesmaids" fame. Now look at the director: Seth Gordon, the director behind "Horrible Bosses." The movie has a simple premise: a successful family man must travel to find and take down the woman who stole his identity. Unfortunately, what was advertised as a comedy turns into something that is more of a drama where the audience is supposed to sympathize towards Melissa McCarthy's despicable and unlikable character.
I will give the film some credit for having a scene in a fancy restaurant that actually was kind of moving. When the film goes over the top though in terms of trying to make McCarthy's character a protagonist, and actually gets involved with Bateman's personal life towards the end of the film, that's when I lost my interest. Also, the film tries to add in a subplot about a bounty hunter and two drug dealers that really does not flow well into the story. "Identity Thief" is a step down from the quality of Bateman and McCarthy's other work, but it isn't the worst thing you will see all year. However if you want to see Melissa McCarthy use her talents for the better, then just see "The Heat."
Everyone's a teenager once in their lives. That's a pretty basic fact that not a lot of young adults ever really think about until their teenage years have passed. In the mean time, though, many teenagers like to live in the present and just have a fun time doing so. Sutter Keely, the main character in James Ponsoldt's "The Spectacular Now," is exactly that kind of guy. Everyone loves Sutter, and Sutter loves life. He is the type of guy that you can be great friends with, even if you just met him 10 minutes ago. He's the type of teenager that everybody wants to be like. At least, they want to be like him on the outside. On the inside of Sutter is a much darker and more complex character who sees something in Aimee Finickey, who finds him drunk and passed out on a random person's lawn after a night of heavy drinking and partying. These two characters, together, both change each other, sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worst. "The Spectacular Now" delves into the last few months of Sutter's troubled senior year, consisting of a mixture of love, heartbreak, family, and alcohol, and winds everything together in such a realistic and relatable fashion, that makes the film overall work.
Probably the best thing to come out of the film is how real it feels in terms of its characters and its story. Screenwriters Michael H. Weber and Scott Neustadter, best known for '(500) Days of Summer,' show what it's like to have a hot shot teenager get what he wants with consequences also given as a consolation "prize." Sutter is the type of character who teenagers, particularly ones who have been in or are in relationships, can relate to. As somebody who hasn't had a relationship yet, it was harder for me to relate to Sutter on that level. Having said that, there are other aspects of him that I found quite relatable to. Not quite as relatable as Charlie in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" was, but still pretty relatable. The situations that these characters get into together, like an argument in a car, for example, however are portrayed in a very realistic and sometimes heartbreaking light that even have an outcome that nobody would expect. I never read the original novel written by Tim Tharp, but I plan on doing so just so I can be with these characters some more. Speaking of which, the acting in this film is, as the title would suggest, spectacular.
Miles Teller, best known for films like "Footloose," "Rabbit Hole," and "Project X," gives a breakout performance as Sutter Keely. Throughout the movie, it is shown that he is the type of guy that anyone would want to be best friends with. At least, that's how he's shown on the outside. As the film progresses, we see a much more fragile and unstable character whose fear of turning into a monster leads him down a road of alcohol-enfused actions that slowly make him exactly what he fears to be. Teller is a powerhouse in this movie, especially in the third act, and his performance in this film proves that he is going to be a big star in his future. Shailene Woodley plays the unusual "nice" girl Aimee Finickey who later becomes the flame of Sutter's love life.
Woodley is one of Hollywood's rising young actors, and damn does she deserve to be. Her performance in this movie, while not as good as her breakout role in "The Descendants," is still fantastic, further proving why audiences are starting to fall in love with her. These two actors have such great chemistry together that it becomes almost heartbreaking when they have a fight. It's almost hard not to love their chemistry and love them as a couple because they just work so perfectly together. The rest of the performances, including Brie Larson and Kyle Chandler, are all great, but they're too small of roles to really go into full detail about. It's really Teller and Woodley's performances that help the film truly shine.
Director James Ponsoldt, like Stephen Chbosky, effortlessly understands what its like to be a teenager and to have teenager dilemmas that drive them onto the brink of insanity. He is able to bring the flawed but likable Sutter and Aimee to life in a way where we, the audience, can put our teenager selves into them to an extent. As I said before, Sutter didn't connect to me the way Charlie did in "Perks," but that didn't stop me from relating to him in some way, shape, or form. The way Sutter deals with school and life throughout the duration of the film is exactly how I treated my sophomore year of High School. As you could probably guess, that's not a good thing, but it is how I personally saw myself in Sutter. Getting back to Ponsoldt's direction, the way he shot every scene, orchestrated every actor's performance, was almost exactly how the life of a teenager is portrayed in reality. I haven't seen Ponsoldt's previous film "Smashed," but I can tell now that he is going to become a very notable name in the movie world thanks to this film.
It seems that coming of age/teen films are making a fairly strong comeback these days. The last time teen movies were able to tug at the heartstrings and bring adults back to their high school days was when coming of age god John Hughes ruled the teen scene. His films, while often humorous, had relatable characters who were in situations that the audience could put themselves in to. The best comparison to make to "The Spectacular Now" is "The Breakfast Club," and that's mainly due to the whole idea about teens not knowing what they want to do with their future. Basically, take Andrew and Bender from "Breakfast Club," combine them together, and hook them up with a nicer version of Allision from the same film, and that's basically what the love story of this film amounts to be. Overall, "The Spectacular Now" is an earnest, raw, and honest look at a teen's last few months of high school with a fantastic script, stellar acting, and many moments that will make you both smile and cry, sometimes even at the same time. Despite not being as fantastic as "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" was last year, this is a movie that all teens should try to seek out as the summer closes out.
'The Spectacular Now' screenwriter Michael H. Weber and I after a Special Advance Screening of the film in Montclair, NJ, as one of the closing night films of the 2nd Annual Montclair Film Festival!
Two years ago, director Nicolas Winding Refn and indie darling Ryan Gosling teamed up for the fantastic romantic action thriller "Drive," which Refn won the Best Director award for at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. After "Drive," people wondered what Refn was going to be doing next. Sure enough, Winding Refn teamed up with Gosling once again for an original story called "Only God Forgives." Gosling plays Julian, a drug dealer/boxing club owner in Bangkok, Thailand, whose older brother has just been murdered by men involved with the cops. After Julian's mother, played by Kristen Scott Thomas, flies to Bangkok to see her son's corpse and attempt to rekindle a relationship with her now only living son, she desperately demands Julian to avenge his brother's death and kill those with any connections to the murder. What could have been such a great follow up to a fantastic film noir instead is a movie that believes it's better than it actually is. "Only God Forgives" is a confusing, unintentionally hilarious, and boring film that may very well be THE definition of the term "style over substance."
The main thing, and it's a huge thing, that brings the quality of this film down is the direction/script from Nick Winding Refn. It seemed to me that Refn, while making this film, believed that he was a god and could get away with doing whatever he wanted to do. Well to Refn, I say, even Stanley Kubrick, Terrence Malick, and Steven Spielberg have had their bad films. He tells his actors to move as slowly as possible, and that's not even an exaggeration. Plus, the script has so little dialogue that the film might as well be a silent movie, ala "The Artist" or something. I personally believe that Nicolas Winding Refn had a crazy dream one night that was set in Bangkok and wrote that dream down and that became this film. There are sequences, that literally come out of nowhere, where Gosling's character is day-dreaming for no apparent reason. That's one of the main reasons why the film's ending makes no sense at all unless you read the Wikipedia synopsis. I don't even blame the actors or anyone else involved with the production for the final cut of the film. It was all Refn's doing, and I have one Here's my final message to hi: having pretty images and some cool music does not make a satisfying movie.
The sad thing regarding the actors in the film is that all of them are talented, yet aren't given anything of quality to work with. Ryan Gosling is basically playing the same exact character that he played in "Drive," only this time he talks less and doesn't do much other than pose and randomly beat people up. In fact, there is a scene where Gosling randomly screams at another character after a confrontation with his mother. I don't know if that was supposed to be funny, but I was laughing my head off when that happened.
Kristen Scott Thomas is despicable and annoying as Julian's mother. For about 85-90% of the movie, she is either screaming her head off or saying almost every curse word found in the book. This is the type of performance that just makes you want to jump into the movie and shoot the character point blank in the head, ending their presence once and for all. I know Thomas is a very talented actress, but she was just going way to over the top with this one. Asian actor Vithaya Pansringarm plays the head cop, aka the main villain, in the film, and he does little to nothing, other than stare, play with his samurai sword, or sing karaoke. I could sense talent in his performance, but there wasn't anything really breathtaking at the same time. I would talk about the other actors in the film, but their parts were so small that they're not even worth mentioning. The actors in this movie are very talented, but Nick Winding Refn's script and direction brought their performances down.
The only two good things to say about this movie is the cinematography and the score. Larry Smith definitely has a craft because this film looks just gorgeous. Every shot looked planned out and is really candy for the eyes. Cliff Martinez, best known for working on the "Drive" soundtrack, brings a solid electric vibe with his music, and his track "Wanna Fight" is one of the best songs on a soundtrack all year. The fact that the only redeeming qualities about this movie is that it looks and sounds good is a true example of how a movie should not be. This film is nothing but pure style. If it had anything more than good cinematography and a good soundtrack, then the film wouldn't have been as awful as it is. As I said before, this film is the exact definition of the term "style over substance."
It's a shame that "Only God Forgives" turned out as awful as it is, but then again, no director is perfect. My personal belief is that Nicolas Winding Refn wanted to make a movie that would only please him and his die-hard fans. The acting is either too subtle or way to over the top, the story sometimes makes no sense due to the lack of explanation, the film is often boring and moving at half the speed that it should be, and the film features a mediocre script that has some of the most unintentionally funny moments of 2013. This just shows what happens when a director is so fond of himself that he thinks that he can make anything and people will love it. As someone who loved "Drive," I gotta say that this is a gigantic step down for Refn. God may forgive Nicolas Winding Refn for "Only God Forgives," but I can't, because this film was just such a goddamn atrocity.
It's one thing to make a fun action movie, but it's another thing to make a generic action movie that is rarely fun or entertaining. Walter Hill's "Bullet to the Head" falls in the latter category unfortunately, and boy it doesn't even try to be something other than mediocre. Sylvester Stallone stars in this movie and does practically nothing other than point a gun and spew really stupid catchphrases that are neither clever or funny. The direction from Hill, along with the screenplay, offer nothing new and nothing exciting. Even when it tries to deliver on the things that action fans love to see, including bloody violence and women's cleavage, it does it in a way where the audience is just saying to themselves "Who Cares?" Overall, there's nothing else really to say about "Bullet to the Head," not even a synopsis (the entire film is basically shown in all of the trailers), because this is a film that is worth forgetting about and just to keep moving along. There are a lot of better movies out on DVD right now.
When people think of Bruce Campbell, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the chainsaw wielding Ash Williams from the original "Evil Dead" trilogy that redefined the horror genre. While today it can be considered a campy but fun horror film, "The Evil Dead" is still considered to be a cult classic and a very fun movie. So the idea of a remake to the beloved original to a huge fan of the original would probably sound awful. However, the director of the original "Evil Dead," Sam Raimi, along with Campbell, had so much faith in this re-imagining that they even produced it and gave full creative control to first time screenwriter/director Fede Alvarez. With 99% of the bloody effects done without any CGI, a few genuine scares, and an awesome/bloody finale, "Evil Dead" proves to be a faithful homage/re-imagining the cult 80s flick and overall a very fun horror movie.
Alvarez proves to be one of the big horror directors to look out for in the future with this directorial debut. He definitely has an eye for making an setting eerie and when/how to use the blood on his actors. All of the performances, particularly Jane Levy, are top notch. The fact that almost no CGI was used on this film is remarkable, proving that we don't need a computer to make a horror movie look awesome. In fact, there is so much blood in this movie, mainly in the final act of the film, that it would make Dracula drool while watching it. This "Evil Dead" has little to no comedy, which could upset some. As somebody who really digs the first two "Evil Dead" movies, this was, to me, a great homage to the originals and a great way of bringing the horror genre back, so to speak. "Evil Dead" overall is a creepy but fun horror movie with one of the best climaxes in recent memory. Deadites rejoice, because this remake is, indeed, groovy.
Start your engines, eager moviegoers, as we are about to delve into the creative world of DreamWorks Animation for yet another original adventure. Earlier this year, DreamWorks took us back in time to the prehistoric age with their movie "The Croods." Now they're not taking us through time, but into the realms of talking snails, with one having the urge to go fast, like a race car driver. When the snail is exposed to a huge tank of Nitrous Oxide, he literally becomes a mini car in the form of the snail, and his life changes forever. That little garden snail's name is Turbo, and his film, which conveniently sports the title "Turbo" as well, is a lot better than one might expect it to be. Despite being predictable and childish at times, "Turbo" is a lot of fun. It's everything a family movie should be, as well as being everything a comedy should be. It's an insane, clever, and ridiculous 3D fest that kids and adults of all ages will get a kick out of. Well, that is if they have the need for some speed in their summer filled with unnecessary sequels and mindless action movies.
As with every DreamWorks movie, the animation is incredible. All of the characters, whether they're human or a snail, pop out in their own special way and just have a distinct look to them that makes them look alive and gorgeous. The racing scenes especially look incredible, as they are exciting and hilarious at the same time, depending on which race is going on. The 3D especially is spectacular, and this is by far the best use of 3D in an animated movie all year. The racing sequences are the best looking 3D scenes in the film and are worth the surcharge of a movie ticket alone. "Turbo" isn't a movie that has to be seen in 3D, but it's definitely worth paying the $3-$5 surcharge.
All of the characters in "Turbo" have their own way of bringing in laughter or just entertainment in general. If it wasn't for the film's extremely talented voice cast, I don't know if the characters would have had the same spark. Ryan Reynolds is great as Turbo, bringing in lots of laughs and a lot of heart throughout. Paul Giamatti has a good role in the film as well, being the one against all of Turbo's actions. Michael Pena and Luiz Guzman bring in some solid laughs as two brothers who disagree with one another when Pena's character wants to enter Turbo into the Indy 500. Bill Hader is hilarious as always as a French race car driver, but why the screenwriters made him a villain, despite being logical for the story, didn't have to be done. Samuel L. Jackson and Snoop Dogg are a part of the hilarious ensemble group of snails who consider themselves to be the fastest of the fastest, that is before they see what Turbo is made of. Everybody in the voice cast is great in their own way, with nobody overall outshining one another.
Director and co-screenwriter David Soren has taken a really silly and obscure premise and formed it into a movie that can please both kids and adults alike. Almost every single joke strikes like a bullet and produces heavy belly-laughs consistently. The voice cast all brings these characters to life in ways that only the best animated movies can do. The animation, especially in 3D, is gorgeous and pops off the screen in the ways that animated movies are supposed to do. While the story could have been a little more creative in terms of its predictability and its use of a somewhat unnecessary villain, "Turbo" is still a very fast and very fun family movie that never overstays its welcome and makes you walk out of the theater with the smile of a 7 year old stamped on your face. This is definitely a movie worth taking young and older kids to go see, plus you, the adult, will probably have a good time as well.
It's always sad when a celebrity passes away, plain and simple. It's even sadder when the celebrity hasn't even reached his full potential and died incredibly young. Cory Monteith, also known as Finn on "Glee," was found dead in his Vancouver hotel room yesterday, July 13th, according to Vancouver officials. Fox, the studio behind "Glee," would later go to confirm what the police have tragically announced. At only 31, Cory had so much going for him. He was a teen heartthrob who was on a great show and had a solid movie career under his belt. It's truly tragic to see this young man leave this world so young. As a fan of "Glee," it's even sadder to know that we will never see Finn Hudson sing or dance again on the hit TV show. My heart goes out to his girlfriend/"Glee" co-star Lea Michele, along with his friends and his family. This is going to be a very hard thing to comprehend, I can tell. Hell, I'm still baffled that something so tragic could happen to someone so young. Cory Monteith, you will be missed, and I wish I could have had the chance to meet you before you left this world. You seemed like a really cool guy. "Glee" will never be the same again. Rest in peace.
STUDIO(S)
Universal Pictures,
Illumination Entertainment
RUNNING TIME
1 hour 38 minutes
STARS
***1/4
REVIEW:
If you were dying without The Minions from "Despicable Me" in your life, then don't fret anymore, as "Despicable Me 2" is here with more Minion jokes than ever. Luckily the Minion jokes, while often funny, were not the only clever and hilarious jokes in this movie. "Despicable Me 2" is just as good as the original in every way imaginable. I'm not saying that as a bad thing, because the first one, while flawed, is still a good family film. A sequel to "Despicable Me" was never needed in the first place, but I will admit that it was nice to see what Gru's been up to after becoming a full on dad/good guy. The voice acting's great, the story is fine, and the animation/3D is gorgeous. If your kids enjoyed the first film, then take them to see this one. Chances are that they'll be entertained, as will you. The only problems with "Despicable Me 2" is that it's predictable, some of the humor falls flat, and the villain, El Macho, isn't as clever or funny as Vector from the first film was. Other than that, "Despicable Me 2" is an enjoyable 3D family flick that kids and parents are gonna eat up like tasty popcorn. Plus, it's pretty hard to resist the Minions, who are surprisingly the best part of this film.
The formula of the up-tight cop teaming up with the street-smart cop might show up in many movies, but for the most part, it never gets old. Last year we were given "21 Jump Street," and in 2010 "The Other Guys" came out. The buddy-cop formula might not be original, but if done right, it can be flat out hilarious. "The Heat," luckily, is one of those flat-out hilarious buddy-cop films. Thanks to the chemistry between its two leads and the improv Melissa McCarthy is able to spew out of her mouth a mile a minute, "The Heat" is one of the funniest comedies of the summer thus far. It doesn't exactly have the heart between its two leads like "21 Jump Street" did, but it did manage to have me on the floor laughing, as well as have a couple of shocking moments in there that are either hysterical or just shocking in terms of "I didn't see that coming."
FBI Agent Sarah Ashburn is the best of the best, being able to crack cases faster and better than a dog's nose when looking for drugs. Unfortunately, her arrogance gets in the way of her work as none of her co-workers like her. That is one of the big reasons why her captain transfers her from New York to Boston in order to take down some of the local drug lords. Unfortunately for Ashburn, she has no idea what she got herself in to, as she encounters Shannon Mullins, a loud, foul-mouthed person who happens to be one of Boston's best cops. These two unlikely partners are forced to join up in order to take down a powerful drug lord under the name of Simon Larkin, and hopefully become friends along the way.
This film wouldn't even work if it wasn't for the chemistry between Bullock and McCarthy. Sure McCarthy has the best jokes in the movie and a really good sense of humor overall, but she needed Bullock's straight performance to bounce off of. If it wasn't for that, McCarthy would have derailed and just had the comedy feel old and irritating. Bullock's straight performance overall is hilarious, especially in the final act of the film when she breaks her "PG" persona and starts spewing F-bombs like there's no tomorrow. McCarthy does just that throughout the entire movie, and almost every single line that came out of her mouth just resulted in huge belly laughs from this critic here. The rest of the cast is good overall, but there's nobody really else to talk about other than Bullock and McCarthy.
What else is there to say about this movie other than the fact that it's a laugh-a-minute riot that gets some of the biggest audience howls of the year. "The Heat" isn't a perfect comedy, mainly because it felt a little too formulaic at time, but it is something I will check out again on DVD. Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy are hilarious in this movie and have great chemistry together. Paul Feig, the director of "Bridesmaids," definitely has a sense of when to make violence in a movie hilarious, including one particular scene that takes place in a Denny's. I can tell that screenwriter Katie Dippold, who is best known for writing the TV show "Parks and Recreation," had a fun time writing this, as all of the jokes and the plot twists (there are few, don't worry) hit you like a bullet to the chest, but they all work. "The Heat," overall, is silly, outrageous, and crude; But damn, it's also a hilarious movie. Aside from "This is The End," this is the comedy of the summer for ya. If you don't like Melissa McCarthy doing what she does best, though, which is swearing and making jokes about everyone around her, then stay as far away from this movie as possible. You might not be able to handle how hot this film gets with her sense of humor.
It might be the summertime, but the school year at "Monsters University" is just beginning. Serving as a prequel to the classic Pixar film "Monsters, Inc.," "Monsters University" depicts the rivalry turned friendship between James P, Sullivan, aka Sully, and Mike Wasowski during their freshman year at Monsters University, a college where the best scarers in the monster world learn how to be ferocious and terrifying to young human children. As someone who wasn't the biggest fan of "Inc," but still really enjoy it, I have to say that I was looking forward to what Pixar had in store for audiences. Sure enough, what they had was something hilarious, heartwarming, and overall a fantastic family movie. After films like "Cars 2" and "Brave" disappointing audiences, "Monsters University" shows that Pixar still has the same magic that was able to give us "Up," "The Incredibles," and the "Toy Story" trilogy.
The fact that Pixar managed to get much of the star power from the original film, including Billy Crystal, John Goodman, and Steve Buschemi, shows how much faith they put into this film. Goodman and Crystal brought Mike and Sully back in their highest form, almost as if they haven't been away for 12 years. Steve Buscemi's small role as Randall, or Randy in this film, is also great. The newcomers to the film, including Nathan Fillion as a jock/fraternity leader at MU and Helen Mirren as the cold and somewhat sinister headmaster of the college, all deliver in their own way, whether it was geared towards a more evil approach or a more likable/comedic approach. Comedic members of the newcomers to the "Monsters" series include Charlie Day, Joel Murray, and Aubrey Plaza, and they are all hilarious in their roles, whether they were small or rather large. Either way, every voice in the film brings these vibrant and colorful characters to life in ways that even improve on the film's quality.
The animation in this film is comparable to "Toy Story 3," in which we, the audience are able to see our favorite nostalgic characters once more, only this time they look somewhat different thanks to the advances in technology over the past decade. The characters in this film all look fantastic and engaging, and the animation in the film overall is a real feast for the eyes, especially in 3D, which I have to say looks superb. Animated movies are usually the best films to see in 3D because of how great animation is in the third dimension, and "University" is no exception. This may very well be the best use of 3D for Pixar since the double feature of the first two "Toy Story" movies back in 2009. Even if you don't pay extra for the third dimension, the film as a whole is a real feast for the eyes. A truly great animated movie must have a great story and script, however. Luckily, 'Monsters University' has just that.
Daniel Gerson, Robert L. Baird, and Dan Scanlon successfully manage to bring back these characters for a new generation, as well as put them in a setting that can be relatable, ala "Toy Story 3." Other than Daniel Gerson's work on the original "Monsters, Inc," this was the first time for these writers to write an entire screenplay. For first time screenwriters, these three men not only bring back so many nostalgic memories from the first film, but they also successfully connect both films in such a linear and smooth way that it almost feels as if these two films could be one big movie. Director Don Scanlon also channels the directorial mind of Pete Doctor and tells such a great story that you never know when it's going to end. And even when it does eventually end, you never want it to because of how damn good the film is.
"Monsters University" is as good, maybe even better, than its predecessor, or sequel for the matter, due to the fact that this is a prequel to "Monsters, Inc." The movie is hilarious, heartfelt, and manages to tie in to the original film with such a linear flow. Pixar proves that they still possess the magic to create such visceral and gorgeous worlds, as well as to tell a fantastic story that can please just about everyone. The movie isn't original, as most films these days aren't, but that doesn't take away from just how fun this is to watch in a theater. School might be out for the summer, but "Monsters University" is enrolling, and I think you'll really want to apply.
Friendships can come from the most unlikely of places. I know this from my own experience. I've made friends with college kids, fellow critics, and even my middle school vice-principal, all due to our common interest in film. Friendships in movies sort of happen the same way, though many times they can spark up miraculously. In "The Way, Way Back," the directorial debut of Oscar-winning screenwriters Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, 14 year-old protagonist Duncan finds a friend (and a summer job) in Owen, the manager of the Water Wizz water park that's just a bike ride away from the summer home of his Mom's jerky boyfriend. The friendship between the sarcastic yet lovable Owen and the shy/lonely Duncan is reminiscent of the friendship between Bill Murray and Chris Makepeace's characters in the 1979 comedy "Meatballs," in which the outgoing adult takes the lonely underdog under his wing and gets him to break out of his shell in order to have a great summer. "The Way, Way Back" got a lot of praise at Sundance this year, and I can definitely see why. The film is both emotional and hilarious, as well as relatable, which makes it one of the summer's freshest and most likable movies.
By far the best performances in the film come from Steve Carell and Sam Rockwell, but each for different reasons. Steve Carell plays someone I don't think we've ever seen in a film of his before: a despicable, cruel human being. The trailer for the film doesn't even show his most evil moments in the movie, which is a good thing. Carell proves with his performance here that he can actually succeed at giving a strong dramatic performance that maintains little to no laughs at all. I can see Carell going on the same pathway as fellow comedians Robin Williams, Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler, who've all shown that their talents extend far beyond comedic roles.
As for Sam Rockwell, he's doing just fine as a comedic actor. Rockwell channels the comedic mannerisms of Bill Murray in his portrayal of Owen. Owen is one of those guys who you just want to be best friends with because of how hilarious and cool he is. Everything Rockwell says or does simply makes you like the character more. If Melissa MacCarthy is able to get an Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her role in "Bridesmaids," then Sam Rockwell here deserves to win it. Seriously, Rockwell steals the movie from all of his co-stars, despite all of the co-stars being really good.
Liam James' role in this movie reminded me of Keir Gilchrist from "It's Kind of A Funny Story," in which the performance was good, but at times unconvincing. James, who was in the disaster flick "2012," gives a convincing enough performance that is pretty relatable for the most part, but there was one particular scene where the emotion felt forced and not entirely genuine. That's not saying that it ruined the entire film, it just slightly took away from the one particular scene. But, like "It's Kind of A Funny Story," the film itself is still impactful and sets off a blender of emotions that mix comedy and drama into something quite beautiful.
"The Way, Way Back" is the type of movie that will just make you smile upon leaving the theater. There are plenty of laughs to be had, particularly from Sam Rockwell and Alison Janney. The drama for the most part flows very well and really makes you sympathize with Duncan and his situation. This is a summer film that families might fall in love with. Despite being PG-13, there is something that even the 6 year old kid in the family will love. Sure, it gets thematic and a little heavy at times. I give props to Nat Faxon and Jim Rash for making this film harmless yet effective, and, like Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg with "This is The End," being able to make a very solid directorial debut that can just about please everyone. With this and "The Descendants" under their belts, I can't wait to see what these two geniuses write and direct in the near future. Hopefully the films they come out with in the future will be just as endearing as this film. "The Way, Way Back" is a hilarious, poignant, and relatable coming-of-age flick that families of all ages should seek out when it hits theaters.
Me with "The Way, Way Back" Co-Writers/Co-Directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash at a Special Advance Screening in Philadelphia on July 2, 2013
It's a pretty well known fact that whenever Johnny Depp portrays a bizarre character, he literally BECOMES the character. Many examples include Jack Sparrow, Sweeney Todd, and even Willy Wonka for the matter. His next transformation comes in the form of Tonto, the wise and spiritual Indian sidekick to The Lone Ranger. Based on the radio serial of the same name, "The Lone Ranger" tells the story of John Reid's resurrection from the dead and his adventures with Tonto and their quest to fight for injustice, but it's somewhat told from the perspective of Tonto. While a fair amount of people aren't looking forward to this much, I personally was, as it looked like nothing more than a summer blockbuster in the style of "Pirates of the Caribbean." You know what? That's exactly what I received: a fun summer blockbuster with the style of "Pirates" and the human setting of "Rango." I don't know how loyal this film was to the original serials, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a good time watching this film. "The Lone Ranger" is a great way to celebrate the 4th of July, and to just have a fun time in general.
Johnny Depp is the standout of this film, as he is in almost all of his movies. While he mostly channels the mannerisms of Jack Sparrow in the way he moves and reacts, Depp does make Tonto a completely unique and great character on its own. Hell, Tonto is probably going to be one of, if not the first thing you're thinking about as the credits begin rolling. Armie Hammer is somewhat the comedic relief of the movie, acting as the straight man who gets into crazy situations. As for his performance overall, he did a solid job as the title character. There is heart to his character, and he never gets annoying, even in the more dramatic parts of the film. If given more parts in movies, I believe Hammer can become a true A-lister in Hollywood. Hopefully he doesn't become like Taylor Kitsch after his numerous bombs last year, including "John Carter" and "Battleship." The rest of the supporting cast are all good in their own ways, but it is Depp primarily who makes the film, with Armie Hammer coming in at a close second.
Helena Bonham Carter has a much smaller role in the film than the trailers suggest. She only has three scenes in the film, and all she really does is pose, talk, and use her prosthetic leg to shoot others, as shown in the trailers. She was good in the film, though, as she always is. William Fichtner plays a great villain in this flick, continuing to show just how talented of an actor he is. Tom Wilkinson and Barry Pepper also have smallish roles in the film, and they're good for the time they're in it. Ruth Wilson is also good as Ruth Reid, the widow to the brother of John Reid, aka The Lone Ranger. She might be the somewhat stereotypical damsel in distress in the film, but she's good and seems to be having a fun time playing her. Overall, all of the acting is good in the film, with no bad acting to be found.
Director Gore Verbinski definitely manages to make a summer movie that, while a little too long, is exciting and a lot of fun. He is able to successfully create these over the top action sequences (to the tune of the original theme song to "The Lone Ranger") that are just so wacky and crazy that you can't help but have fun while watching them. After proving how good he is with westerns with "Rango," Verbinski shows that he has a keen eye for big set pieces, crazy action sequences, and a sense of adventure that keeps the audience captivated throughout. Screenwriters Justin Haythe, Ted Elliott, and Terry Rossio managed to write a movie that never takes itself too seriously and develops a good relationship between Tonto and The Lone Ranger, as well as make some pretty hilarious moments. There may be some of the same old cliches that have been in every Western ever made, but that doesn't really take away from just how fun and exciting this film is.
While it isn't groundbreaking on any levels, "The Lone Ranger" is a great example of just how fun and crazy movies can still be these days while maintaining a level where it doesn't become too goofy. Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer give solid lead performances, the story is interesting, and the action is over the top but help make the movie all the more enjoyable. The film also manages to have a humorous side to it, as it is quite hysterical at many points during the film. People who go to see this may be disappointed by it due to the fact that it's kind of trying to copy off the uniqueness of the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" film. In truth, though, that's exactly what I wanted out of this movie. If you're not fond of the idea of a "Pirates" flick set in Western times, then chances are you won't enjoy the film. I, for one, had a lot of fun with it, and will definitely see it again at least one more time. Hi ho silver, away!
