Mini Reviews
The Secret World Of Arrietty (out Jan 12) is a Japanese animated film (dubbed in English) based on Mary Norton's novel The Borrowers. A family of tiny people who live under the floorboards of a remote house find their future threatened. More could have been made of the concept and the old woman is a little too strange but this is still a sweet, likeable family film with a few nice quirks. Grade: B+.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (out Jan 12) is a great film in its own right. The story is interesting and the performances are strong. Rooney Mara is terrific! You can also see the stylish fingerprints of director David Fincher. All of that said, the film will feel a little too familiar to those who saw the Swedish original 2 years ago. Not sure if this remake was necessary. Grade: A-.
The Descendants (out Jan 12) is a thing of beauty. Director Alexander Payne (Sideways, Election) again proves his wizardry of mixing both comedy and drama to maximum effect. This is a touching story of a work-a-holic father who reconnects with his two daughters after their mother is badly injured in a boating accident. Grade: A.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows (out Jan 5) is not as entertaining as the original. These characters have become too smart for their own good. The never-ending banter between Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law gets tired quickly. Also disappointing is new addition Noomi Rapace. I much preferred the spark and flair of Rachel McAdams in the first movie. Grade: C+.
Alvin & The Chipmunks 3: Chipwrecked (out now) is pretty average. Younger kids may find it entertaining (it's a simple storyline) but compared to other animated films, it's deficient. Grade: C+.
The Iron Lady (out now) underachieves. It left me with no new perspective on one of the most intriguing leaders of the 20th Century. Parts of the story aren't explored in enough depth and others felt overly fake. The film is almost rescued by a wonderful performance from Meryl Streep who seems destined to win a third Academy Award. Grade: B-.
Happy Feet 2 (out now) starts messily and could have used a few more laughs but it eventually won me over with its positivity and a nice selection of songs. In this follow up, Mumble is on a rescue mission to help his fellow penguins who have become trapped due to a rogue iceberg. Grade: B+.
We Bought A Zoo (out Dec 26) is summed up by the title - a single father and his two kids buy a zoo and try to restart their lives. There are a few nice scenes where characters interact (e.g. father & son) but for the most part, the film treats the audience like an idiot. It may be based on a true story but so many elements, including the ending, felt fake. Grade: C+.
War Horse (out Dec 26) is good but not great. It follows the life of a horse that ends up being involved in World War I. I had the chance to see the Tony Award winning play in New York which was brilliant! Unfortunately, this film version feels a little fragmented and the aversion towards blood and violence is too obvious. Grade: B+.
The Skin I Live In (out Dec 26) is from Spanish director Pedro Almodovar and stars Antonio Banderas as a plastic surgeon who has developed a new type of synthetic skin. That's about all I feel comfortable revealing. The less you know the better. Just trust me when I say it's one of the year's best films. Grade: A.
The Adventures Of Tintin (out Dec 26) is an unexpected highlight in what has been a disappointing year for animated features. Shot using motion capture, this film stands out with its high quality animation and a strong, action-packed story. Grade: A-.
