103.5 BOB FM - Movie Reviews


	Hot Tub Time Machine 3/28/2010 4:38:52 PM Release Date: March 26, 2010 Rated: R for strong crude and sexual content, nudity, drug use and pervasive language. Directed by: Steve Pink Starring: John Cusack, Clark Duke, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry Synopsis: Four guy friends, all of them bored with their adult lives, travel back to their respective 80s heydays thanks to a time-bending hot tub. Review: Hot Tub Time Machine is a funny movie. That's about the strongest adjective I can use - it's not hilarious, but it's not dull. It's the kind of movie that makes you laugh consistently but can be as easily forgotten as what you had for lunch that day. That's owed mostly to Steve Pink and his sentimental style that can take the dumb and low brow and toss in just enough intelligence and slyness to keep everyone happy. The main actors do what they do best. There are no surprises there. Cusack is funny but torn about the direction of his life; Robinson is the funniest of the group with outlandishness and dry responses in equal measure; Corrdry is a bit too intense, but curses with incredible creativity; and the young Clark Duke finds a way to keep up with all of them. Unfortunately, Chevy Chase is wasted in his role, and the plots are all pretty cookie-cutter which prevents the movie from being truly outlandish, but it's a good comedy. A bit standard, but definitely funny. - Cole Abaius Grade: B- Read more at FilmSchoolRejects.com Chloe 3/25/2010 4:54:56 PM Release Date: March 26, 2010 Rated: R for strong sexual content including graphic dialogue, nudity and language. Directed by: Atom Egoyan Starring: Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Julianne Moore Synopsis: A doctor hires an escort to seduce her husband, whom she suspects of cheating, though unforeseen events put the family in danger. Review: It is one thing to make a movie that is sexy. It's entirely another thing to make a movie that is erotic. The difference is in the build-up. Any hack director can take a nubile young actress and convince her to take her clothes off. But it takes a commitment to story and character, and a patient and meticulous approach to creating tension and environmental style, to make a movie that is as erotic as Atom Egoyan's Chloe. At the film's heart is a courageous performance from Amanda Seyfried, whose previous work is made to look like time spent on The Disney Channel by comparison. She gives the titular character, a psycho-prostitute who is desperate to make a connection, a great deal of depth and an electric sexual energy. She also gives her vulnerability, which helps her feel real. Also in the category of raw and real is the performance of Julianne Moore, whose character is having one heck of a shell-shocked, sexually confused mid-life crisis. As she's drawn into Chloe's web, it's hard to tell whether she's a victim or a willing participant. As I mentioned above, a great deal of dramatic intensity is achieved through patient storytelling and top-notch performances. Chloe is a sensual movie, and one that features several intense sequences of eroticism, but it's all used expertly to achieve an effect -- we are meant to be lured into Chloe's world, just as the other characters are. And it works, all the way up to the film's climactic scene. That's where everything sort of falls apart, as Egoyan chooses a decisive scene that honors style over subtlety. The cinematic equivalent of watching someone walk confidently off the edge of a cliff. But in this case, we appreciate the boldness of their walk to their doom. - Neil Miller Grade: B+ Read more at FilmSchoolRejects.com How to Train Your Dragon 3/25/2010 4:42:00 PM Release Date: March 26, 2010 Rated: PG for sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language. Directed by: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, America Ferrara, Kristen Wiig Synopsis: A hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely owner of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed. Review: For years, Dreamworks Animation has created and released a series of completely disposable animated adventures. And ever since they decided that Shrek sequels and the family dollar were more important than the art of storytelling, they've been playing second fiddle to Pixar. To be blunt, their films have had no staying power beyond big opening weekends and short-lived toy sales. It works for making money, but doesn't exactly satisfy audiences who are looking for a quality experience. With How to Train Your Dragon, they deliver that quality experience. Like Kung Fu Panda before it, this film is equal parts charming story and exciting adventure. Jay Baruchel voices the film's protagonist, a scrawny Viking surrounded by bigger, faster, stronger Dragon-slaying townsfolk (including his uber-bearded father, the leader of the town voiced by Gerard Butler). When a freak accident lands him in the presence of one of the most dangerous species of dragons, he learns that the relationship between Viking and dragon doesn't have to be one of "kill or be killed." As you might expect, this doesn't play well with the townsfolk. Combining this imaginative, smart story with an adventurous flair is one thing. But bringing it to life with the most stunning animation on record for Dreamworks is certainly another. In early trailers, the dragons looked like amorphous blobs, with eyes and wings. In the actual film, they are scaly reptilian creatures that are as emotive as the human characters with whom they share the screen. In addition, the film accelerates increasingly well in the third act, adding excitement to the mix with a series of flying sequences that would rival anything we saw in Avatar. On the whole, How to Train Your Dragon isn't just a kid's movie filled with cheap thrills. It's a noble effort by a team of animators tired of making cheap kid's movies. It's also a thrilling, colorful adventure story that won't let the kids down. And while I saw it in 2D, I can also see it being more than worth the price of admission to see it in 3D. - Neil Miller Grade: B+ Read more at FilmSchoolRejects.com Repo Men 3/23/2010 5:13:12 PM Release Date: March 19, 2010 Rated: R for for strong bloody violence, grisly images, language and some sexuality/nudity. Directed by: Miguel Sapochnik Starring: Jude Law, Forest Whitaker, Alice Braga, Liev Schreiber Synopsis: Set in the near future when artificial organs can be bought on credit, it revolves around a man who struggles to make the payments on a heart he has purchased. He must therefore go on the run before said ticker is repossessed. Review: Jude Law and Forest Whitaker star as Remy and Jake the repo men, who have been both buddies and rivals since the fourth grade. Their corporate hack boss (Liev Schreiber) sends them on missions to retrieve the unpaid-for organs of everyone from wealthy business men to hotshot musical artists to your everyday overweight schlubs. The filmmakers would love for you to sympathize and identify with Jake as he gets wrapped up in what becomes the age-old innocent man on the run formula. Law makes that difficult. He handles everything (fighting bad guys, coping with betrayal, expressing love) with such movie star suaveness that it never feels like he faces much of a threat to his well-being. Competently made with an inspired fight scene or two, the movie is not without its merits. It goes through the paces with adequate speed and keeps the mind from wandering, but Repo Men proves far less ambitious than it thinks it is. - Robert Levin Grade: C+ Read more at FilmSchoolRejects.com The Bounty Hunter 3/23/2010 5:08:59 PM Release Date: March 19, 2010 Rated: PG-13 for sexual content including suggestive comments, language and some violence. Directed by: Andy Tennant Starring: Gerard Butler, Jennifer Aniston Synopsis: A bounty hunter learns that his next target is his ex-wife, a reporter working on a murder cover-up. Soon after their reunion, the always-at-odds duo find themselves on a run-for-their-lives adventure. Review: I went in to The Bounty Hunter a bit skeptical, considering the trailers looked like more of the same. And I was right. As Milo (Gerard Butler) says in the film: “Most of the time, if it looks a certain way, it probably is.” The marketing goal of this movie, as it is with most romantic comedies, is the sale of the two leads. The story isn’t important, and the subplot certainly isn’t important. The problem? Butler and Aniston have zero chemistry. None at all. The only semblance of triumph in the film is its supporting cast. As is the case with most romantic comedies, the direction and cinematography are just there. Ultimately, The Bounty Hunter’s success always counted on Butler and Aniston being likeable and funny. They are neither in the film. - Paul Sileo Grade: D Read more at FilmSchoolRejects.com A Prophet 3/19/2010 10:44:45 AM Release Date: March 19, 2010 (Austin, Regal Arbor) Rated: R for strong violence, sexual content, nudity, language and drug material. Directed by: Jacques Audiard Starring: Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif Synopsis: Nineteen year-old Franco-Arab Malik El Djebena is just starting his six year prison sentence in Brécourt. Although he has spent the better part of his life in juvenile detention, this stint is his first in an adult prison. Beyond the division of Corsicans and Muslims in the prison (the Corsicans who with their guard connections rule what happens in the prison), he has no known friends or enemies inside. He is just hoping to serve his time in peace and without incident, despite having no prospects once he's out of jail since he's illiterate and has no support outside of the prison. Review: From moment one of Jacques Audiard's gritty rise-to-power story, we are shown a level of grit and authentic tension that is reserved for only the upper echelon of crime thrillers. In this story, young Malik begins his life in prison as a scared little boy, and through many alliances with the right and wrong kinds of people, he exits a completely different man. It is a character arc that rivals anything we've seen since Michael Corleone took his place at the head of the family in The Godfather. Filled with untethered intensity and visceral imagery, A Prophet is a raw, experiential film. At every turn of his life on the inside, Malik's journey feels as close to us as possible. We watch as he learned to kill or be killed, as he learns to not only survive, but to thrive, and we see every bloody piece of the puzzle along the way. Pulsating with bruised fury and unfettered ferocity, A Prophet takes us on a deep journey in the dark bowels of the French prison system, and ejects us out the other side -- like its main character -- completely changed. If I see five truly great, masterful works of cinema in the next five years, this will certainly be one of them. - Neil Miller Grade: A Read more at FilmSchoolRejects.com SXSW 2010 Reviews: Updating Live All Week 3/13/2010 10:54:21 AM If you live in Austin -- and it's likely that you do -- then you are probably aware, and perhaps even attending this year's South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival. Like you, we at Film School Rejects are very excited about this year's line-up. During SXSW, we will be posting reviews, interviews and other notes about SXSW on our main site, FilmSchoolRejects.com. We would love for you to come on over and take a look at what we've got. It may even help you plan your schedule for the fest. As always, Film School Rejects and the stations of Emmis Austin are your #1 source for what's worth your time and money in the world of movies. Click Here to visit FSR's SXSW 2010 homepage Alice in Wonderland 3/3/2010 6:30:15 PM Release Date: March 5, 2010 Rated: PG for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar. Directed by: Tim Burton Starring: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Mia Wasikowska Synopsis: 19-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror. Review: With his usual troupe of actors, production team, and color palette, Tim Burton has delivered yet another story that's more beauty than brilliance. Even with such a fantastic backdrop and some good performances, there's no life to the film, no spark. All the elements are there, but if feels like everyone involved is simply going through the motions. Depp has worn out his welcome as a minorly, dull insane person. Everyone else seems bored for the most part (which is a poor contrast for how wonderful the world looks on screen), although Carter and Hathaway manage to have some fun with their roles. Overall, it's more like a painter decided to work in moving paintings and 3D. That's the plus side: every inch of the world appears as if Salvador Dali had a brief moment of clarity and had access to talking animals. Too bad the story feels so lifeless. - Cole Abaius Grade: C+ Read more at FilmSchoolRejects.com Shutter Island 3/3/2010 6:25:31 PM Release Date: February 19, 2010 Rated: R for disturbing violent content, language and some nudity. Directed by: Martin Scorsese Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo Synopsis: set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island. Review: What else can you expect from master filmmaker Martin Scorsese? The man once again delivers a fantastic story while showing off his flair for 70s-style neo-noire. Don't worry about twists, the point here is the character that Leonardo DiCaprio delivers with authority (and the creepy world surrounding him). It works on almost every level - from mystery, to character study, to simple entertainment. Great tone, brilliant performances and imaginative design, Shutter Island is a great flick all around - Cole Abaius Grade: B+ Read more at FilmSchoolRejects.com The Road 11/24/2009 4:52:52 PM Release Date: November 25, 2009 (Alamo S. Lamar and Arbor Greathills) Rated: Rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language. Directed by: John Hillcoat Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall Synopsis: A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind and water. It is cold enough to crack stones, and, when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the warmer south, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing: just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless cannibalistic bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a rusting shopping cart of scavenged food--and each other. Review: Based on the brilliantly visceral and haunting book by Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men), John Hillcoat's film is one of the most beautifully drab pieces of work we've seen in years. Pitched to match the book, The Road takes us all the way to those very real, very quiet last days of man and tells us a survival story unlike any other. Viggo Mortensen turns in the fantastic performance we've come to expect, but never quite find ourselves ready to receive. Robert Duvall, in some three minutes of screentime, elevates the film with a performance worthy of recognition at the highest levels. Both men immerse themselves in this torched vision of the world, struck with a violent, ambiguous end. Save for a few forced emotional moments, The Road is a splendid masterwork that almost does the impossible in living up to its lauded source material. Don't be weary of the depressing tone, as this movie is as beautiful as any story you will see on screen this year. - Neil Miller Grade: A Read more at FilmSchoolRejects.com