Source Code – 8
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Cool Science Fiction
b. Time travel
c. Ground Hog Day
Easily the best movie so far this year, which is not yet saying much, Source Code is the story of a supposedly dead soldier who is sent back in time to inhabit a man’s DNA right before a terrorist attack. The story becomes Inception meets Ground Hog Day as he must go back over and over to learn who the terrorist is and then prevent the destruction. It’s the bland Jake Gyllenhaal in the Bill Murray role here.
The best thing about this movie is the pace. There’s no dawdling in needless detail. The action and the revelations come quickly and there’s no wasted action. If, like me, your patience with two and a half hour blockbusters has worn thin, this is the movie for you. It’s wham, bam, boom, then do it again, with steroids. Cool stuff.
Hanna – 6
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Foreign movies
b. Cate Blanchett out of character
c. A new star
Hanna – no sisters, thank goodness. Sequels, yes. Sisters, no.
This is a mildly interesting movie shot in a Euro style at a much slower pace than the previews would suggest. Some shots linger strangely, almost laboriously, and the pace of the movie is just odd. At times it slows to such a crawl that you want to doze off. Then suddenly the action breaks out. Strangely edited.
The story is about a young woman, played convincingly by Saorise Ronan, raised in the wild by her mysterious father, apparently an in-hiding former CIA agent. He teaches her survival and assassin skills as she grows up, and when she’s ready she’s on a mission to kill Cate Blanchett. Wait. Cate Blanchett? Seems there’s all kinds of unfinished business between the three of them and let’s just say that things end in a sequel-worthy fashion, and my guess is that a female action series is Bourne.
Water for Elephants – 5
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. The Circus
b. Snoring
c. Love Stories
I’ll admit it. I was really tired when I slumped into my front row seat. However, this movie did nothing to keep me awake. The most entertaining part of this movie is trying to guess Reese Witherspoon’s body fat count. I didn’t think people were this skinny in the thirties, even during the depression. Girl, Please. Have a donut.
This is a slow paced love story. Now I’m all for character development, but Reese’s love interest, as played by Robert Pattinson, comes off as such a wimp that he sucks the life out of the movie, as if he were a camera vampire. He’s un-heroic to say the least, boring to say the most.
As much as I like Reese, the best acting in the movie is done by the circus animals. The whole story is telegraphed, and while I’m sure it was a good book, it should have been a lifetime movie, then I could have slept on the couch.
Christoph Walz solidifies his role as a baddie, lighting up the screen with his cruelty. Unfortunately, there are parts of the story that are so foreign to us (throwing people off trains) that even though they may have occurred in the depression, we just can’t relate. I guess it’s one of those movies you’ll either love it or hate it, and you’ll probably know that before you hand over your cash.
The Lincoln Lawyer – 7
You’ll like this movie if you like
a. Legal drama
b. Matthew McConaughey
c. Bad guys
This is a better-than-expected legal drama. Matthew McConaughey, (shirt off count – once) operates out of his Lincoln as an ambulance chaser of sorts. He finds himself over his head in one case.
This is one of those movies where if you saw the previews, they gave too much away, like who the bad guys are. Too bad, because it’s nicely done and could have yielded some nice surprises, if they’d been a surprise to me. Maybe you will be surprised. Don’t watch any previews, just the movie.
SCANNING THE SATELLITE
Rarely get involved in TV series anymore, they’re just too time consuming. But, if you like legal drama, here’s a Tip of the hat to a great one. If you’re not watching The Good Wife on CBS, you’re missing some great television. WAIT - don’t start watching now. The season is ending.
The story is set in Chicago. The Good Wife, Alicia, played incredibly by Julianna Marguilles (some people are just made for the small screen) has to go back to work as a lawyer after raising a family because her husband, a district attorney, has been caught up in a political scandal.
Turns out she’s a brilliant lawyer.
The behind the scenes legal drama, generally a case a week, is fascinating. Not just a courtroom drama, it’s often a deposition drama – and that’s new to me.
Some shows are so well-written they're stunning. The "Facebook" episode this year was in my top ten of all time. Can't wait to see it again.
The on-going political drama, this is Chicago after all, is equally riveting. The secondary characters, Kalinda the investigator, and Carey the prosecutor have emerged as two of the most enthralling on television. Even the kids and their problems are unique. Stars are being born.
The second season is about to end. Don’t watch or you’ll ruin an incredible story line. You’ve got the summer to crank up the DVD player and catch up before the third season begins. This has slowly evolved into a great show.
Next. Why has American Idol been so good this year? First, the talent. All the singers have been great, although America’s voting doesn’t always parallel what’s on the screen. Who cares? The production values show off each song to the hilt, and the rehearsals aptly nail each song down, resulting in some great renditions.
Secondly, the Judges. Stephen Tyler and Jennifer Lopez were great casting decisions. Who’d a thunk it? The absence of Simon Cowell has turned out to be a plus, as he worn thin in the last few years. Don’t miss him one bit. If you haven’t been watching it, just DVR it. Our DVR is a Secrest-eliminator. Takes you right to the singing.
Finally, cool movie on HBO. Cinema Verite is the story of the Louds, the subject of the first reality show. Ground-breaking in the early 70’s, the Louds and their 5 kids provided more drama than was expected when their son came out of the closet and they broke up. All on camera. Well done, with great use of 70’s music. Any time a movie uses Blind Faith, I’m all in.
