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The Vow: Channing Tatum Is More Memorable Than the Romance

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST

It's no accident that The Vow's release date coincides almost perfectly with Valentine's Day. The film promises the kind of epic love story that many of us, like it or not, are more amenable to getting swept up in at this time of year: a man tries to make his wife fall in love with him again after a horrific accident leaves her with no memory of the last four years, or of him. Channing Tatum is endearing as Leo and though he has chemistry with Rachel McAdams's Paige, it almost goes to waste due to the film's lack of focus and uneven plot.

For starters, having a stranger for a husband is just the beginning of Paige's problems. Sometime in the four years she's lost, she went from being a preppy law student to a free-spirited artist. Naturally, when she wakes up, she wants an explanation for why she doesn't talk to her family anymore, what happened to her pretty boy fiancé (Scott Speedman), and why her hair is so "weird." It's understandable that she's a little different from who she used to be, but a complete life transformation is a bit hard to swallow - both for Paige, and for the audience.

To see why The Vow may not be the love story you're expecting, just

read more. Watching Tatum and McAdams play off each other is what keeps the movie engaging, and Tatum is particularly sympathetic. Though Paige is the one who has suffered the trauma, it's even more difficult to watch Leo quietly suffer as the love of his life continues to slip away in favor of the life she actually remembers. Leo represents a life that the new Paige is enticed by but can't imagine: he's goofy, laid-back, and immensely committed to her. But Paige can't come to terms with a life she doesn't feel part of, and instead reverts back to her former self. The sincerity and sweetness that Tatum brings to Leo are reflected in flashbacks of his life with Paige and in his current attempts to win her back, but the film isn't the epic romance that it's packaged to be. In fact, it's more depressing than it is joyful; not only are most of the characters in pain throughout the film, but with the exception of Leo, most of them are downright irritating. Paige's family and friends couldn't be more stereotypically conservative, which only makes Paige's decision to stay with them all the more frustrating to watch. As the film goes on, the love story starts to take the backseat to her family issues, and the crux of the film rests on a subplot that's both lame and contrived. The Vow is certainly watchable, thanks to the intrigue of the premise, and the mystery of how Leo and Paige will (inevitably, of course) find their way back to each other. But the film tries too hard to manufacture extra drama out of Paige's memory loss, when all the audience really wants to see is a love story to get swept up in.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

Safe House: A Standout Thriller

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:05:00 PST

While working for the CIA may seem like a dream job, Matt Weston's (Ryan Reynolds) current position at a Safe House is certainly no picnic. He's a new agent, stationed alone in South Africa, waiting for the chance that he will have a "house guest" (someone who is taken prisoner by the CIA.) Matt's desperately trying to get some field experience so he can be stationed in some other city where he can see a little action. After a year of boredom, his wish comes true when Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) arrives.

I was constantly on the edge of my seat throughout the film, and felt everyone in the theater being equally enraptured with what was unraveling before our eyes. Safe House has high-stakes moments cut with sardonic, nonchalant comedy that Reynolds and Washington both pull off nicely. I felt connected to everyone's struggles, but the plot kept me unsure if I wanted the good guy or the bad guy to come out on top. To find out why Safe House exceeded my expectations, just keep reading.

4 Reasons Why You Should Give The Artist a Chance

Shannon Vestal — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:07:02 PST

The Artist, which is now out in wide release, is mostly silent, set in the '30s, and doesn't have a great deal of huge stars (John Goodman and James Cromwell are two of the biggest names, and they're only in supporting roles). That may not sound super appealing to the majority of the movie-going public, but after being delighted by the film, I hope that people won't shy away from seeing it. The film is a magical throwback to another era that I urge anyone who loves movies to see. Here are four reasons to give The Artist a chance.

It's not totally silent. True, the characters almost never speak aloud, but there is a musical accompaniment to nearly every scene, and there are occasional title cards to tell you what the characters are saying. So don't get caught up thinking that because it's "silent" you'll be bored - you won't be.
It's not like anything you've ever seen before. Few people from my generation have ever seen a silent film, but that's not the only reason why it's an interesting experience at the theater. The movie is about the film industry's transition from silent movies to "talkies," and it borrows film techniques from each. It's fun to see the aforementioned title cards, and then when you do hear certain sounds, like a glass being set down, it's like you're experiencing talkies for the first time.
You'll want to meet these new stars. The performances in The Artist are fantastic, especially considering the acting challenge of being silent. The actors rely on their expressions and physical acting (meaning lots of dancing!), and when they deliberately take it over the top, you're charmed by them. You'll also want to meet the two magnetic leads, French actors Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, because I predict you'll be seeing more of them in the future.
The award buzz is deafening. The Artist has been scoring big with nominations for the Golden Globes, the Spirit Awards, and Critics' Choice. It's pretty obvious that The Artist is a shoo-in for Oscar nominations, which are just around the corner.

Photo courtesy of The Weinstein Company

War Horse: Spielberg's Perfectly Pleasing Horse Tale

Shannon Vestal — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 03:05:00 PST

Leave it to Steven Spielberg to make an engaging, epic, and poignant movie with a horse as the main character. The legendary director is behind War Horse, a World War I-set drama that follows a horse named Joey as he's raised in Britain and trained by his doting owner, Albert (Jeremy Irvine). Due to financial circumstances, Albert's family is forced to sell Joey to the war effort, and as the horse is involved in various battles and trades, he's passed from different owners and opposing sides all over Europe.

As Joey enters the life of each temporary caretaker, we experience a snapshot of these characters' lives and how the war has affected them. Though the movie is a long and sprawling tale, Spielberg makes each vignette compelling and touching enough that you want to ride along with Joey on his journey. To find out where else War Horse succeeds, just keep reading.

We Bought a Zoo: Damon Puts on the Hard Sell

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:05:00 PST

The simple premise of We Bought a Zoo is laid out right there in the title, and with no hint of irony. The "we" is Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) and his two children, who are looking to make a fresh start when the death of Benjamin's wife still has them reeling six months later. When Benjamin finds his dream home, he accepts the caveat that the house is built on an old zoo territory, and that he must renovate it to save the animals. It's a story that's hard to swallow at first, but the underlying layers and an impressive performance from Damon make it go down easy.

Damon shows his range as an actor yet again, in a role that's a lot more complex than it seems initially. Though Benjamin is renovating a zoo, the story is really about a man struggling to accept his wife's death and his role as a single father. With another actor in the leading role, the film could be relegated to a tale that's both mawkish and emotionally manipulative, but thanks to Damon, you can't help but love and root for Benjamin. Sure, you care a little about the fate of the animals, but more than anything else, you just want this guy to catch a break.

To see what else I liked about We Bought a Zoo, just

read more. There's a hint of romance between Benjamin and head zookeeper Kelly (Scarlett Johansson), but Cameron Crowe is wise to focus more closely on Benjamin's relationships with his kids than his employee. In fact, the movie may have benefited if the romantic subplot was left behind altogether. Johansson seems out of place in Kelly's dowdy duds, and as charming as Benjamin is, it seems unlikely that a 28-year-old would want to jump into a relationship with an older man who makes no attempt to hide the fact that he's not over his recently deceased wife. Child actors are hit or miss in Hollywood, but We Bought a Zoo features an impressive cast of rising stars. I defy you not to fall in love with Maggie Elizabeth Jones as Benjamin's precocious and utterly adorable 7-year-old daughter Rosie, who will make your heart melt as she slaps together PBJ sandwiches and chases the zoo animals. Colin Ford has a heavier burden to carry as Rosie's troubled teenage brother Dylan, who is coping with his mother's death and his fractured relationship toward his father. Though Dylan is obnoxious and frustrating at times, Ford brings a depth to the character that's only annoying in the sense that it's a realistic portrayal of an adolescent. Thomas Haden Church and Elle Fanning are also assets to the cast, as Benjamin's disapproving older brother and Kelly's spacey cousin, respectively. And, of course, there's the menagerie of animals, who shape the story without stealing the show away from the humans that care for them. It's an important feat, as you never question that the heart of this film is in the personal connections, not in the cute creatures that affect their lives. We Bought a Zoo perfectly fits the movie mold for holiday time; there's something for kids, something for adults, and a little bit of magic for everyone.

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: Fincher's Beautiful, Dark, Twisted Film

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:55:26 PST

It's hard to describe The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo without giving away major plot points that would spoil twists and turns to audiences that haven't already devoured Stieg Larsson's novel of the same name. To those who already know the story, I can tell you that David Fincher's adaptation is (mostly) loyal, with a couple of changes that actually function as surprise treats for those who have read the novel. To those who aren't familiar with the story, I can tell you to buckle your seatbelt. The imagery that unfolds over the opening credits of the film, set to Trent Reznor's take on "Immigrant Song," is intense, and edgy, and strangely intriguing - which is perfectly fitting for the film.

Daniel Craig plays Mikael Blomkvist, a charismatic journalist who's been commissioned by an elderly man named Henrik Vanger (an excellent Christopher Plummer) to solve a seemingly impossible mystery: to find out who murdered his great-niece over 40 years ago. Once Blomkvist accepts the challenge against his better judgment, he unwittingly starts digging up old family secrets that prove to be much more dangerous than what he'd expected.

When Blomkvist hits a roadblock in his digging, he enlists the help of a research assistant, the titular girl with the dragon tattoo. She's better known as Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), a leather-clad, skinny girl who is as brilliant as she is brusque. She's guarded (for a very good reason), but she can't say no to Blomkvist's offer to track down "a killer of women." The unlikely chemistry between Craig and Mara is surprising, fun, and manages to eke out a few light moments (particularly when Salander is scoffing at Blomkvist's computer skills).

To find out more about why the film is great, just

read more. With that said, there's a reason why Fincher has been touting his film as the "feel bad movie of Christmas." Larsson's novel takes sadistic, often jaw-dropping turns, and Fincher ensures that his film will have the same unsettling effect. He doesn't hold back, as certain scenes will have you squirming in your seat. Though it's even more graphic than what I was prepared for, the emotional toil only makes you want the hero and heroine of the film to triumph all the more. And triumph they do: Mara is mesmerizing as Salander, from her accent to her facial expressions to her few moments of comedic timing. She is fully immersed in the pierced, antisocial hacker: you won't find any traces of the fresh-faced girl we met in The Social Network. Mara brings a tiny bit more emotion to the film than the Salander in the novel, which proves to be an important device as we no longer have the luxury of seeing inside the psyche of such a complex character. What makes The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo such a satisfying thriller are the additional touches: the unsettling, snow-covered setting in Hedeby island off the Swedish mainland is creepy for its isolation and howling winds alone. The score plays to your emotions without hitting you over the head with an overly haunting soundtrack. But ultimately, it's Mara's performance that will keep your knuckles white and your eyes glued to the screen.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: I Spy a Masterpiece

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:00:00 PST

The fact that Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a well-crafted mystery that allows you to play detective yourself would be enough for me to say it's good, but the fact that it's so superbly acted makes it great. In the 1970s-set film, Gary Oldman plays George Smiley, a former intelligence officer who's summoned out of retirement to help root out a mole in Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, AKA "the Circus." Oldman leads an ensemble of incredible actors like Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, Toby Jones, and up-and-comers like Benedict Cumberbatch.

The men play British agents in the Circus devoted to monitoring the intelligence between Russia, Britain, and the US during the Cold War. The agents have a long history of working together, but each one is potentially the double agent working for the Soviets. As Smiley unearths clues to reveal the identity of the mole, the film makes you trust and doubt each of the suspects equally with an absorbing story that's worthy of its fine cast. To find out why I enjoyed the film, just keep reading.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol: a Ton of Tom Cruise Fun

Molly Goodson — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:05:00 PST

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is the most fun you'll have at an action movie this season, maybe even the whole year. Tom Cruise is truly at his best as Ethan Hunt, and in the five years since MI3, everything from the stunts to the gadgets have gotten flashier while the A-list star at the center is still bringing his A game. This time around, Hunt is forced to go rogue when the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) is disbanded, and he's left with a team including goofy, techy Benji (Simon Pegg), sexy but heartbroken Jane (Paula Patton), and the mysterious Brandt (Jeremy Renner). From the moment the iconic theme music kicks in, Ghost Protocol is a blast.

The actual plot of the film is fairly straightforward as far as the MI series goes: Ethan and his ragtag team work to stop an imminent nuclear attack at the hands of a Russian mad man. The big mystery of Ghost Protocol is why exactly Ethan is locked up in a Moscow jail as the movie kicks off, and what exactly happened to end his marriage with Julia (Michelle Monaghan). The film makes a weak effort to involve the viewers in this emotional story line, and while it doesn't quite resonate, the movie has more than enough to make up for the shortcoming. To see why the film is so great, just

read more. The action scenes in Ghost Protocol really showcase Cruise. Ghost Protocol is flashy in the best way possible, and the scenes shot at the world's tallest building in Dubai do not disappoint. It's obvious that Cruise demands to do his own stunts, which adds an even more impressive level of flourish to the most death-defying scenes. Cruise's charisma carries the movie, and while his team is a great complement, it's nothing without the superstar. With all the rumors about Jeremy Renner taking over the series, it's hard to imagine the MI big-screen legacy without Cruise. The biggest complaints about Ghost Protocol are the length - clocking in at well over two hours - and the inability to connect with the romantic/emotional story lines. That said, the film does not take itself too seriously and even calls out its own screenplay's absurdity at points. There are plot holes here and there, but if you're not looking to nitpick, they aren't too much of a downfall. It's an impressive live action debut for director Brad Bird and also the first film in the franchise that sees Cruise acting as producer. The two seem to make a great team, and if anything, this is something that should be viewed on the biggest screen possible. There's something ultimately believable about Hunt's efforts to save the world, and while that blurs the lines between actor and character, it shows that this is - as it should be - totally Cruise's genre strong suit. Patton, Renner, and Pegg make for entertaining sidekicks to Cruise, and it would be great to see this cast teamed up for another installment, just as long as the formula stays on track. Ghost Protocol is a satisfying reboot that should reinvigorate the series and hopefully bring in a new era for MI and Tom Cruise fans alike.

Photo courtesy of Paramount

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - Haven't We Already Played This Game?

Shannon Vestal — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:30:00 PST

Giving the people more of what they want is usually the principle behind sequels, and it definitely holds true for Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, but a good sequel takes what works and makes it better. Though this follow-up to the 2009 hit retains the chemistry of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, it disappoints by failing to add anything to the franchise. This time, Holmes is as intelligent, stubborn, and incorrigible as ever, but Watson is trying to evolve by getting married. Unfortunately, Watson's marital status is just about the only development for either of the main characters.

This time, we follow Holmes and Watson as they trace a series of crimes to Holmes's infamous nemesis Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), who has been leaving clues around Europe that he's laying the groundwork for war. Holmes is hot on his trail, while a batch of assassins are hot on Holmes and Watson's trail, leading to a game of cat and mouse that could be fun to watch, if the story was told in an engaging way. Unfortunately, plot points are withheld until the last moment, and the twists are so convoluted that you're lost along the way. It's a shame, because the film could have been a satisfying sequel, but instead it feels like a half-baked shadow of its predecessor. To find out what I mean, just keep reading.

The Sitter Review: 5 Similar Movies You're Better Off Watching

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 PST

The Sitter may be inspired by Adventures in Babysitting, but it's certainly not an improvement on the 1987 classic. The plot is very similar: a babysitter and three kids set out on a simple mission to get something, and along the way, they get mixed up with a bad guy and have to have it all resolved in time to get the children in bed. But a recycled plot is not the only thing that's unoriginal about The Sitter - the movie feels cobbled together with parts of other, funnier films. To save you a trip to the theater, I've named five movies below that share elements with The Sitter - but are far better - that you should watch instead.

Superbad: Noah is the exact same character that Jonah Hill played in Superbad: horny, self-centered, and obnoxious but witty. Even if you're a Hill fan, there's no reason to go out of your way to see him doling out the same shtick. Just watch the far superior Superbad to get your comedy fix.
Go: Sam Rockwell plays the crazy drug dealer that Noah is indebted to after one of his charges accidentally steals drugs from him. While Rockwell is one of my favorite actors, when it comes to attractive but dangerous movie drug dealers who want their money back, Timothy Olyphant has the market cornered in Go as Todd. He has far more dimension than Rockwell's character, and he manages to be threatening in a Santa hat, no less.
Uncle Buck: Unlikely male mentor? Check. Three precocious charges? Check. John Candy is the ultimate man babysitter in this 1989 comedy. It's believable that Buck has formed actual meaningful relationships with his nieces and nephew, whereas in The Sitter, the kids' issues are shoehorned in, and we're supposed to buy the fact that Noah solves each of their problems in one single night.

See the rest of the movies after the break.