Category Archives: 2012 Movie Reviews

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” – Review

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reg_634.TheHobbit.jc.092312Director: Peter Jackson
Writers: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens & Guillermo del Toro; based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien
Cast: Martin Freeman & Ian Holm as Bilbo Baggins, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, Ken Stott as Balin, Graham McTavish as Dwalin, William Kircher as Bifur, James Nesbitt as Bofur, Stephen Hunter as Bombur, Dean O’Gorman as Fili, Aidan Turner as Kili, John Callen as Oin, Peter Hambleton as Gloin, Jed Brophy as Nori, Mark Hadlow as Dori, Adam Brown as Ori, Andy Serkis as Gollum, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Hugo Weaving as Elrond, Christopher Lee as Saruman, Sylvester McCoy as Radagast, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
Rated PG-13
Running time: 2 hours 49 minutes
IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903624/
Plot: Sixty years before The Lord of the Rings, happily respectable hobbit Bilbo Baggins finds himself on a dangerous quest with 13 dwarves and the legendary wizard, Gandalf.

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There are two versions of me reviewing Peter Jackson’s latest trip to Middle-earth.  One is the proud geek who became an obsessive J.R.R. Tolkien fan after seeing Jackson’s movie of The Fellowship of the Ring.  The other is the professional film critic of 15+ years whose job is to analyze every cinematic effort I see (whether I really want to or not).

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“Hitchcock” – Review

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Hitchcock-2012-Movie-PosterHelen Mirren and cast will leave you spellbound, but the plot is for the birds.

December 6, 2012
By LOEY LOCKERBY
Special to The Star

 

 

 

 

Thirty years after her death, Alma Reville is still overshadowed by her husband. That’s not just a crack about Alfred Hitchcock’s famously round profile, either. Reville was married to “Hitch” for more than five decades and was his screenwriter, editor and all-around creative partner, something he acknowledged and appreciated openly. Yet, when the spotlight finally shines on her in Sacha Gervasi’s Hitchcock — in the form of Helen Mirren, no less — she can’t even get her name in the title.

She’s the best thing about the movie, too.

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“Silver Linings Playbook” – Review

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Silver-Linings-Playbook-Poster‘Silver Linings Playbook’ mines gold from mental illness | 3 stars

November 20, 2012
By LOEY LOCKERBY
Special to The Star

★ ★ ★

 

 

 

 

How fine is the line between a volatile temper and full-blown mental illness? That question is at the heart of Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell’s latest entertaining ode to lovable characters you should probably be afraid of.

Several people are, in fact, afraid of Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper), who has just been released from a psychiatric hospital after viciously attacking his wife’s lover. Armed with a bipolar diagnosis and a determinedly positive attitude, Pat moves in with his parents (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver) and tries to get his old life back.

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“Skyfall” – Review

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Director: Sam Mendes
Writers: John Logan, Neal Purvis & Robert Wade; based on the book series created by Ian Fleming
Cast: Daniel Craig as James Bond, Judi Dench as M, Javier Bardem as Silva, Ralph Fiennes as Gareth Mallory, Naomie Harris as Eve, Bérénice Marlohe as Sévérine, Ben Whishaw as Q, Albert Finney as Kincade
Rated PG-13
Running time: 2 hours 23 minutes
IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/
Plot: A ruthless cyberterrorist named Silva hacks into MI6, endangering Britain’s entire security apparatus.  As James Bond tracks down this new enemy, he learns unsettling things about M’s past with the agency.

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Hot damn, he’s back!  After the boring mess that was Quantum of Solace, James Bond gets his groove on – and then some – with Skyfall.  It even has a plot you can follow, which is only true of about 1/4 of all the Bond films, anyway.

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“Cloud Atlas” – Review

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 Directors & Writers: Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski & Lana Wachowski. Based on the 2004 novel by David Mitchell
Cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, James D’Arcy, Zhou Xun, Keith David, David Gyasi, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant - all playing multiple roles
Rated R
Running time: 2 hours 43 minutes
IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/
Plot: Six interconnected tales reveal the connectedness of life and the consequences of even the smallest actions.

 

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There must be some mass existential crisis going on in Hollywood.  From The Tree of Life to Melancholia to Prometheus, aging directors are contemplating the mysteries of existence at a record pace.

Tom Tykwer and the Wachowskis are a bit younger than the makers of those films, but that didn’t stop them from tackling a nearly 3-hour philosophical fantasy, with six distinctive stories and actors playing multiple roles (of varying ages, races and even genders), based on a book that many people consider unfilmable.  Cloud Atlas doesn’t always work, but it doesn’t always have to.  It pulls you along through the sheer force of its mad ambition.

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“Alex Cross” – Review

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‘Alex Cross’ at cross purposes: Good cast, mediocre director | 2 stars

October 18, 2012

By LOEY LOCKERBY

Special to The Star

Tyler Perry doesn’t need to prove anything.

The man made a fortune by packing his 6-foot-5-inch frame into a dress to deliver gospel-tinged wisdom as sassy matriarch Madea. How could he possibly top that?

By taking on a role once played by Morgan Freeman, that’s how.

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“Looper” – Review

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Posted on Fri, Sep. 28, 2012

‘Looper’: Time-travel thriller ramps up the action | 3 stars

By LOEY LOCKERBY

Special to The Star

When it comes to time-travel stories, it’s best not to get hung up on details. As Joe (Bruce Willis) reminds his younger self (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in the trippy sci-fi Looper, you’ll just end up sitting in a diner for hours, drawing “diagrams with straws.”

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“Lawless” – Review

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‘Lawless’: This liquor is strong | 3 stars

By LOEY LOCKERBY

Special to The Star

‘Lawless’ ★★★

1 hr., 50 min.

During Prohibition, Franklin County, Va., earned a national reputation for its moonshine.

Illegal liquor fueled the economy (and the occasional car), while law enforcement either ignored the bootlegging or helped it along.

The Bondurant brothers were Franklin County legends, and director John Hillcoat (The Road) has turned their story into a gripping, if unambitious, crime drama.

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“The Bourne Legacy” – Review

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‘The Bourne Legacy’: Plenty of action, not clarity | 2½ stars

By LOEY LOCKERBY

Special to The Star

★ ★   1/2
Rated PG-13 | Time: 2:15
The Bourne Legacy is an odd combination of sequel, spinoff and reboot.

It’s a Bourne movie without Bourne, but with continual references to his exploits. It follows up on events from the previous films but takes off in its own direction. It introduces Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker, The Avengers) as a bona fide action star, ready to take over the franchise, James Bond-style.

In other words, it’s chaotic, but still kind of fun.

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“Klown” – Review

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Director: Mikkel Nørgaard
Writers: Casper Christensen & Frank Hvam
Cast: Frank Hvam as Frank, Casper Christensen as Casper, Marcuz Jess Petersen as Bo, Mia Lyhne as Mia, Iben Hjejle as Iben
Rated R
Running time: 1 hour 29 minutes
In Danish with English subtitles
IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1680136/
Plot: To prove his fatherhood potential to his pregnant girlfriend, Frank takes his nephew, Bo, on a canoe trip.  They are joined by Frank’s friend Casper, who refuses to let Bo’s presence interfere with his hard-partying plans.

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Up until now, my knowledge of Danish filmmaking has been limited to Lars Von Trier’s acid trips and the neo-realist Dogme 95 movement.  Who knew they had their own version of The Hangover?

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“The Dark Knight Rises” – Review

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Despite some eye-popping action, muddy final installment can’t match the previous ‘Knight.’

By LOEY LOCKERBY

Special to The Star

★ ★  1/2 out of 4
Rated PG-13 | Time: 2:44

When it comes to superhero movies, the third time is never the charm.

From Superman III to X-Men: The Last Stand, they hit a creative pothole after the second installment. If anyone could change that, it would be Christopher Nolan, whose Batman adaptations have ranked among the best genre films of all time.

But while The Dark Knight Rises is much better than most third entries, it’s still flabby and convoluted.

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“Magic Mike” – Review

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These strippers are sexy and funny — too bad they can’t get serious.

By LOEY LOCKERBY

Special to The Star

‘MAGIC MIKE’

* *  1/2 out of 4

Rated R | Time: 1:50

For the past month, every straight woman who knows I’m a critic has been asking if I’ve seen Magic Mike yet.

If that’s an indication of its box office prospects, we may soon see a wave of male-stripper movies to rival the sparkly vampire craze.

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“Prometheus” – Review

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‘Prometheus’: Ridley Scott’s astro knot | 2½ stars

By LOEY LOCKERBY

Special to The Star

‘PROMETHEUS’

* *  1/2 out of ****

Rated R | Time: 2:04

If you happen to be among the first humans to visit an alien planet, here’s a useful piece of advice: The sentient goo creatures are not pets.

Don’t go poking around and trying to make friends with them. Those things will eat your face.

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“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” – Review

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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: A bouquet of talent | 2½ stars

‘Marigold’s’ fine cast and exotic setting almost make up for a predictable story.

By LOEY LOCKERBY

Special to The Star

 
2  1/2 stars out of 4Rated PG-13 | 2:02

Watching The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket — as you careen down the street in an overcrowded bus.

By dropping a classic “Brits abroad” story into modern, urban India, Marigold brings chaotic energy to what would otherwise be merely cozy and predictable.

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“Marvel’s The Avengers” – Review

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Director & Writer: Joss Whedon; based on a whole bunch of Marvel comic books
Cast: Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Cobie Smulders as Agent Hill, Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson, Stellan Skarsgard as Dr. Selvig
Rated PG-13
Running time: 2 hours 22 minutes
IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0848228/
Plot: Thor’s brother, Loki, steals an artifact that could power the world – and destroy it. In response, Nick Fury assembles a team of squabbling superheroes to prevent Armageddon.

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Yes, we’re supposed to call it Marvel’s The Avengers, presumably so no one expects Uma Thurman to show up in a catsuit.  That job is for Scarlett Johansson and Cobie Smulders, who strut around in skintight outfits while the hunky men show off their muscles.

That’s not the only eye candy, either.  The 3-D on this thing is stunning – clear and properly lit, with realistic depth.  On a massive IMAX screen, it’s even more impressive.  I don’t usually recommend paying extra for those perks, but it’s completely worth it with here.

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“The Pirates! Band of Misfits” – Review

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The Pirates!’: Film’s delights too easily washed away | 2 stars

The delights of ‘Pirates’ wash away too easily.

By LOEY LOCKERBY

Special to The Star

2 stars out of 4
Rated PG | Time 1:27

The Pirates! Band of Misfits takes place in a nasty little alternate universe. Queen Victoria is a raving psychopath. Charles Darwin is an idiot. And the guy who steals for a living is a lovable outsider, mostly because he doesn’t go around randomly stabbing people like his “Pirate of the Year” competitors. He does aspire to their “greatness,” though.

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“The Forgiveness of Blood” – Review

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Director: Joshua Marston
Writers: Joshua Marston & Andamion Murataj
Cast: Tristan Halilaj as Nik, Sindi Lacej as Rudina, Refet Abazi as Mark
Unrated
Running time: 1 hour 49 minutes
In Albanian with English subtitles
IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1787127/
Plot: Nik, a teenager in rural Albania, gets caught up in a “blood feud” between his family and a neighboring clan.
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You think mafia families can hold a grudge?  They’ve got nothing on Albanians, apparently.  An ancient code called the Kanun regulates life for traditionalists, and it’s a tough piece of work.  When Nik’s father gets involved in a murder, it doesn’t matter if he did the killing, or even if his actions were in self-defense.  The Kanun demands that the entire family must suffer, trapped in their home, with their livelihood – and their lives – subject to the whims of the people they’ve supposedly wronged.  Joshua Marston, an American who also directed the Colombia-set Maria Full of Grace, once again mixes insightful cultural reportage with engaging fictional storytelling.

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“Pariah” – Review

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‘Pariah’: Heartfelt story of liberation | 3 stars

By LOEY LOCKERBY

Special to The Star

Rated R | Time: 1:26

“I’m not running. I’m choosing.”

That statement of liberation comes late in Pariah, but it describes every moment of Dee Rees’ semi-autobiographical drama, an expansion of her 2007 short film.

In fact, it’s a better description than the actual title. This isn’t the story of an outcast but of a young woman growing into who she really is.

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“The Viral Factor” – Review

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Director: Dante Lam
Writers: Dante Lam & Jack Ng
Cast: Jay Chou as Jon Man, Nicholas Tse as Man Yeung, Lin Peng as Dr. Kan, Andy Tien as Sean, Liu Kai-chi as Man Tin, Crystal Lee as Champ
Unrated
Running time: 2 hours 2 minutes
IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2063011/
Note: The advance screener I viewed was in multiple languages: English, Mandarin, Malay & Arabic (those were just the ones I could differentiate)
Plot: Jon Man, a Chinese security officer, travels to Malaysia to stop a former colleague, who plans to unleash a deadly virus, hoping to profit from sales of the vaccine and antidote. While there, Jon meets up with his long-lost brother and father, who are local low-level criminals.

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I have no idea what the hell happened in this movie.  There’s a super-virus, a bunch of crooks and corrupt cops, a few honest cops, multiple kidnappings, and some sappy family melodrama. I’m not sure if we’re supposed to care about all those details, so I won’t worry about them.

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