FILM REVIEW: WIN WIN (2011)

Director: Thomas McCarthy
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor, Alex Shaffer

4.75 out of 5 stars

Michael Flahtery (Giamatti) is a small town lawyer and high school wrestling coach along with Stephen Vigman (Tambor). Mike lives with his stay at home wife (Ryan) and two daughters. An elderly man, Leo Poplar (Burt Young) who Mike represents is deemed incompetent and instead of the state taking control, Mike volunteers for the role of caregiver with a $1500/month reward.

Things change course when the elderly man's grandson Kyle (new comer Alex Shaffer) has runaway from his addict mother, Cindy (Melaine Lynskey) and the Flahtery's take him in. As if fate stepped in, Kyle is actually good at wrestling and starts school, joins the team and is included as a part of the family. Things get complicated when Kyle's mom who is recovering, shows up and is ready to take Leo, Kyle and the monthly payment back to Ohio.

One of the better films I've seen in a while, "Win Win" is genuine. At the beginning of the movie, a little girls' stained glass window figure breaks and the 9yr old says "Shit." From then on you know this a real comedy, comparable to "Little Miss Sunshine" or "Juno." Drama is also real with having a runaway teen who has a druggie mother and also of the money issues that Mike has to deal with.

Acting is phenomenal with all actors giving 110%. Relationships are real and enjoyable to watch. Not mentioned above is Mike's friend, Terry (Bobby Cannavale) who is hilarious in all of his scenes. I'm also calling it now that Amy Ryan will be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. She absolutely deserves it.

Such an awesomely awesome film. I would not hesitate seeing it again. Go see it when it comes to your area or "you will fucking die." Highly, highly recommended.

FILM REVIEW: JURASSIC PARK (1993)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Sam Neil, Laura Dern, Richard Attenborough, Jeff Goldblum

4.5 out of 5

Scientists Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neil), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldbum) are invited by billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenbourugh) to preview his new theme park, Jurassic Park. But before the scientist can give the ok for the park to open, they must survive the main attractions.

I saw this film over 15 years ago for the first time and it's been about 3 years since I watched it. Films tend to lose its luster over time. Not Jurassic Park.

Every actor is wonderful and interactions lead to some of the best quotes in film history thanks to the late author, Michael Crichton and screenwriter, David Koepp.

Cinematography done by Dean Cundey captures perfect moments in time. Also, his job being harder because some of the dinosaurs weren't there because they were created using Computer Generated Imagaery (CGI). And who doesn't remember the slow push into the water in the cup with the ripples created by the T-Rex.

Music done by the master, John Williams. That's all I need to.say about that.

The CGI looks just a little dated but still good for now and sometimes better than some I've seen recently.

My one beef with the movie is the "happy ending." It's not a deal breaker but maybe just a tad annoying.

I highly recommend Jurassic Park.

FILM REVIEW: SUCKER PUNCH (2011)

Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, Jena Malone

2.5 out of 5

A young orphaned girl is put into an asylum and through reality and fantasy, needs to find 5 items to help her and her friends escape.

I give props to Mr. Snyder for thinking of an original story that at first, I thought was based off of a graphic novel.

The graphics were good. Didn't like the monster villains to be CGI but oh well. 30% of the movie had to be in slow motion and that did not go well for me.

Acting was ok, considering there was no character development. Costumes were good. Stunts and action were well done and shot well.

Now, the pacing and events were putting me to sleep. Baby Doll (Emily Browning) would need to do her seductive dance to distract whoever had the item they were seeking. The girls were then transported in to their fantasy world to defeat the villains. It became repititous and wore on me.

If you like graphic novels or Zach Snyder's vision, you will probably love it. I unfortunately did not and still feel like I've been sucker punched half an hour afterwards.

FILM REVIEW: FIERCE CREATURES (1997)

Directors: Robert Young, Fred Schepisi
Cast: John Cheese, Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin

2.5 out of 5

In this farce, the cast from the hilarious "A Fish Called Wanda" reunite as maintainers of a zoo that will close if it doesn't make a profit. As my wife said, "it's not a sequel, it's an equal."

It actually isn't par with "Wanda." Probably a triple bogey. It had it's funny moments but couldn't make up for the dreadful character interactions and horrid storyline towards the end.

The main actors alone did a nice job portraying their parts alone. But, relationships are not thought through and are muddled.

I felt like Universal said "Hey, Wanda was such a hit, let's get those guys back together and we'll have another hit." The day the execs realize story first, the rest later will be a happy day. I mean look at Pixar for Pete's sake.

As for a recommendation, I can't whole heartedly recommend it.

FILM REVIEW: THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU (2011)

Director: George Nolfi
Cast: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, John Slattery, Terence Stamp, Anthony Mackie

4 out of 5

Based on the short story, "Adjustment Team" by Phillip K. Dick, it's a simple story of a up and coming congressman (Matt Damon) and a gifted ballet dancer (Emily Blunt) and what happens when they try to deviate from the plan, set by the "chairman."

Clocking in at 1 Hr, 39 min, the pacing was never slow. Action is well filmed and edited. The effects used support the story and don't make up for story. Music done by Thomas Newman (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) was good but not great.

Chemistry between all actors was wonderful. Happy to see Terrence Stamp still working.

Highly recommended.

FILM REVIEW: A FISH CALLED WANDA (1988)

Director: Charles Crichton
Cast: John Cleese, Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin

4 out of 5

"A Fish Called Wanda" is about 4 con artists involved with a jewel heist but are they coning each other?

A really funny movie. The acting is great from the four principles. I especial enjoyed Kevin Kline's role. Also, I don't care what anyone says, I think Jamie Lee Curtis is beautiful and wonderful. It's also no surprise that the film is a comic hit considering John Cleese wrote it. With both American and British humor, it's the best of both worlds.

Many unforgettable scenes, full of cat and mouse antics, wonderful dialogue and great performances all around, I recommended "A Fish Called Wanda."

FILM REVIEW: MAC AND ME (1988)

Director: Stewart Raffill
Cast: Christine Ebersole, Jonathon Ward, Tina Caspary, Lauren Stanley, Jade Calegory

2 out of 5

Mac and Me is the story of " Mysterious Alien Creature" and his family accidently taken to earth. The youngest is separated and befriends four kids.

This movie did have high hopes in the beginning. Never mind the fact that it is an E.T. ripoff down to the singing of "The Twilight Zone" theme and I believe the same neighborhood. Also, put aside that this is a brand whore's dream. Here's a list products I noticed (by noticed, I mean clearly seen, 3 secs or more of screen time):

Dos Equis
Skittles
Coke-a-Cola
United Moving
Chicago Cubs
LA Dodgers
Avia Shoes
Sears (character who worked there)
Coors
McDonald's (which had a birthday party, group of rehearsed dancers in the parking lot and inside, a character who worked there and Ronald frickin McDonald.)

The alien creatures for the most part are latex suits with actors inside. Nothing to be proud about. Some special effects were good. Others were really bad.

Acting wasn't terrible. Some of Michael's (Jonathon Ward) lines and emotions seemed forced. I enjoyed Christine Ebersole as the mom and am now happy to know where I've known her from.

 I was surprised to see that a musical idol of mine, Alan Silvestri, had scored the film. This is not his best. Far from it. My guess is the producers didn't want to pay him because he had already had success with "Back to the Future" and "Romancing the Stone." Or perhaps he was spread thin considering "Mac and Me", "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and "My Stepmother is an Alien," which he all scored came out in 1988 (we know the winner of the three).

Now, the biggest reason for the bad rating...the ending. I'm not going to tell you what happens. You'll just have to watch it or for some, like me, watch it again after a long period of absence.

I only recommend "Mac and Me" really to those that haven't seen it in a while. You'll probably will come out of it dissapointed if you have not viewed it. Also, note to parents with younger children, some of the scenes towards the end are scary. So much that I'd say horrific so over the age of 8 or 9.

LENNY (1974)

DIRECTOR: Bob Fosse
CAST: Dustin Hoffman, Valerie Perrine

3.5 out of 5

"Lenny" is about the life and downfall of the controversial stand-up comedian, Lenny Bruce. It received 6 Oscar nominations.

Filmed in a quasi-documentary style, I found myself not being able to get comfortable with it. Handheld shots are mixed with stationary. I however, did like the use of the gritty B&W for the film.

What makes this film so good is the performance by Dustin Hoffman who takes on the title character. Within the first few words, I knew that unlike some actors, I had not seen Mr. Hoffman perform this one. Playing his wife was the then up and coming Valerie Perrine, who didn't necessarily wow me but I was not disappointed at all by her performance.

If you want a gritty, sometimes funny and very adult oriented movie (nudity, language, drug use) with a wonderful Dustin Hoffman performance, I recommend "Lenny."