Mini Reviews
The Vow (out now) is about a woman who is injured in a car accident and loses her recent memory. She cannot remember her husband nor her profession. The film just goes through the motions for the most part... but I liked the way it ended and it surprised me a little. Rachel McAdams is sweet as always. Grade: B.
Any Questions For Ben? (out now) is about a 27 y/o guy who starts to doubt his relaxed, party-going lifestyle when he sees those around him settling down and forging meaningful careers. The film is too blunt with its message but there's still a lot to like. Particularly enjoyed the intelligent conversations shared between the characters. Soundtrack is great too. Grade: B+.
Safe House (out Feb 9) is about a good guy trying to capture a bad guy. Other bad guys are trying to get their hands on the bad guy but thankfully, there are other good guys are helping out the good guy. But are they really good? Maybe they're just bad guys pretending to be good guys? The plot needed work but the action is solid and Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds give good performances. Grade: B-.
Man On A Ledge (out now) is about a man on a ledge (funny that). He's not there to commit suicide however. He has a rather elaborate plan. The plot has more holes than a donut shop but I still found it moderately entertaining. I hated the bad guy (Ed Harris) so much and I wanted to see the good guy (Sam Worthington) extract his revenge. Grade: B-.
Shame (out Feb 9) is one of the best films of the year. The story is fascinating in itself but it’s Steve McQueen’s careful direction that gives it a seductive, hypnotic edge. He takes us into the life of a sex addict and there’s very little respite. The lack of editing, curious camera angles and odd choice of music will leave many feeling uncomfortable. It's brilliant filmmaking. Grade: A.
Chronicle (out now) is shot "home movie" style and is a cool, creative story about three guys who encounter something alien and then develop superpowers. How should they use them? There are a few gaps in the story but it's still entertaining. Also enjoyed the relaxed dialogue. A shame it hasn't been getting more publicity. Grade: B+.
Martha Marcy May Marlene (out Feb 2) is an affecting character study. It's about a vulnerable young woman (Elizabeth Olsen) who has spent two years inside a cult and is struggling to rebuild her life. Told using a fragmented narrative, writer-director Sean Durkin isn’t offering any easy answers… and nor should he be. Grade: B+.
The Artist (out Feb 2) is so nearly a perfect film. Doesn't get much more original and creative. A silent film set in the 1920s about silent filmmaking and the transition to "talkies". The film gets a little too bogged down with drama in the later stages but the comedic elements more than compensate. Grade: A-.
J. Edgar (out now) covers a lot of ground. It provides an interesting look into the history of the FBI, it examines the fine line between heroes and villains, and it explores the deep insecurities of the title character. Leonardo DiCaprio is terrific and I tip my hat to the talented make-up artists who allow this story to be told over more than half a century. Grade: A-.
Underworld: Awakening (out now) is not good. More time is spent watching these vampires and werewolves blow their brains out than telling an actual story. Have the writers run out of ideas? Or are they going to keep torturing us with more uneventful sequels? Grade: C.
Weekend (out Jan 26) is a warm, engaging story about two gay guys who meet in a nightclub and then spend the weekend together. Both are excited but neither wants to dive in too deep, too quickly. It's just these two characters for most of the film but they'll keep your attention. Writer-director Andrew Haigh does a great job capturing the emotions associated with a new relationship. Grade: A-.
