Mini Reviews
The Illusionist (out Sep 1) is set in the year 1959 and centres on a struggling magician and a young girl he befriends. There is virtually no dialogue and it's such a beautiful way to present an animated film. I felt much sorrow for these two lonely characters and the changing world in which they find themselves. Grade: A-.
Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (out now) is a waste of money. I've watched a few episodes of the show and it's not too bad. All this concert movie offers are some abbreviated songs and a couple of dull back stage interviews. Grade: C.
Pina (out now) is a tribute piece to German ballet director Pina Bausch who passed away 2 years ago. We see many of her famous dances performed and we speak with those who were part of her company. Unfortunately, the film offers nothing to those unfamiliar with ballet and I quickly grew tired of all of the interviews. Grade: C+.
Beginners (out Aug 25) tries to takes the familiar themes of life, love and loss and bundle them up in an offbeat romantic drama. It centres on a guy with a fear of commitment who finds his perspective on life changes following the death of his father (who announced he was gay at the age of 75). It deserves points for originality but I wasn't blown away. Grade: B.
The Guard (out Aug 25) features one of the most memorable performances of 2011 - Brendan Gleeson as Sergeant Gerry Boyle. He's a policeman from a small Irish town who is helping the FBI to stop a major drug shipment. The accents are tough to follow at times but this is a fantastic black comedy. Sergeant Boyle will keep you on your toes all the way through. Grade: A-.
Conan The Barbarian (out now) isn't too bad for a mindless action film. The story is easy to follow and there are plenty of solid battle sequences (although it unnecessarily uses more fake blood than a horror film in some parts). Grade: B.
The Help (out Sep 1) is set in Mississippi in the early 1960s and looks at the way African American maids (aka "the help") were treated by their wealthy employers. The film glosses over a few details it's still an elegantly told drama. You'd be hard pressed to find another film this year with so many quality female performances. Grade: B+.
Horrible Bosses (out Aug 25) is about 3 guys who are frustrated at work and start putting together plans to kill their bosses. This plot is all over the place but it still works as a buddy comedy. Jennifer Aniston (in a surprisingly provocative role) and Charlie Day are the pick of the cast. Grade: B+.
Friends With Benefits (out Aug 18) is nothing new sadly. Two people who recently became friends decide to have a relationship based purely on sex. We all know where it's going. Mila Kunis is decent but I didn't think much of Justin Timberlake. The dialogue is also over-thought - it doesn't feel natural. Grade: B-.
Win Win (out Aug 18) is exactly that. It's about a struggling lawyer who welcomes a troubled teenager into his family for complex reasons. The ending is too forced and there are a few unnecessary characters but I still loved this film. The story is terrific and Paul Giamatti again proves there's no one better who can play an "ordinary guy". Grade: A-.
Green Lantern (out now) is yet another superhero film and is best described as a mixed bag. I was fine with Ryan Reynolds and didn't mind the overall premise. The execution of key scenes left a lot to be desired however. Grade: B-.
