Starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language
2 hours 14 minutes
It’s hard to imagine not liking this sports-themed historical drama about Nelson Mandela and the 1995 South Africa world cup rugby team. It’s got all of the ingredients for greatness, but comes up a little short. I’m a big fan of Clint’s movies, but he seems to have come of short (or a bit long) on a few points in this movie: odd music choices, non-emotional competition, and about 20 extra minutes. Still, Freeman seems like he was born to play Mandela and a happy ending makes almost any movie better. This one should have been great. Instead, it’s just a…
Starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman
Directed by Rob Reiner
Rated PG-13 for language, including a sexual reference
1 hour 37 minutes
It seems like everyone has seen this movie, so I figure it’s about time for me. The popularity of The Bucket List is easy to understand with its beloved stars and popular director. Plus, it confronts the universal theme of death and dying in a supposedly funny way. But does it live up the the hype? I guess that depends on the hype you heard. This movie is somewhat touching, somewhat funny, somewhat well-acted, and somewhat enjoyable. I won’t see it again, but I’m not disappointed I saw it once.
Starring Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver, and William Hurt
Directed by Pete Travis
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense violence and action, some disturbing images and brief strong language
1 hour 30 minutes
The President of the United States is shot in Spain. Who did it and why? We gradually piece together the mystery as the moments leading up to the gunshot are replayed through the vantage points of eight strangers. It’s a pretty interesting concept that is executed well. This movie didn’t blow me away, but it was well worth an hour and half of my time.
Starring Nireen Faour, Melkar, Muallem, Hiam Abbass, and Alla Shawkat
Directed by Cherien Dabis
Rated PG-13 for brief drug use involving teens and some language
1 hour 35 minutes
Entertainment Weekly and Cannes both thought this was a good film, so I ended up renting it. That was a bit of a mistake. Sure, this story of a Palestinian immigrant mother and son is somewhat interesting (in the National Geographic special sense), but it was neither funny nor touching – it was mostly just depressing. I had high hopes but was quite disappointed.
Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Land, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sigourney Weaver
Directed by James Cameron
Rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language, and some smoking
2 hours, 42 minutes
I think I was about the last person on earth to see this movie. I really wanted to see it in the theater in 3-D, but the day I intended to see it was the day that Alice in Wonderland came out and dominated the 3-D screens. Boo! Anyway, even in 2-D in my living room this movie is visually amazing. The imagination and special effects involved are beyond belief. Even the story was better than I had imagined. My only quibble (other than the long running time) is that I had hoped for a different sort of ending. I’m not sure what that would be, but I just wasn’t completely satisfied. Still, this movie is revolutionary and well worth watching in 2-D or 3-D.
Grade: A-
Of the 2010 Best Picture nominees, here is final ranking:
Starring Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard
Directed by Lone Scherfig
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexual content, and for smoking
1 hour 40 minutes
This coming of age movie set in 1960s London is not one I would typically see, but in my quest to view all ten of the 2010 Best Picture nominees, it fell squarely in my path. That being said, it wasn’t that bad. I was a little uncomfortable with the premise of a high school girl getting romantic with a man more than twice her age, but it was handled in a somewhat dignified way. Carey Mulligan is delightful as the girl and Peter Sarsgaard is alternating charming and creepy as the older man in a thoroughly well-acted movie. I won’t see it again, but I’m not sorry I saw it once.
Grade: B
Of the 2010 Best Picture nominees, here is my ranking so far:
Animated
Featuring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, and Michael Keaton
Directed by Lee Unkrich
Rated G
1 hour 43 minutes
Having loved the first two installments (and just about everything from Pixar), I was sure that this one was going to be a winner for me. I did have my doubts, however, about a half-hour into the movie as the plot moved more slowly than expected. Those doubts were quickly washed away, however, as the toys plotted and executed their escape from the day care facility. Filled with laugh-out-loud humor and gut-wrenching emotion, Toy Story 3 is a worthy sequel in a brilliant series.
Grade: A-
P.S. Seeing it in 3-D isn’t worth it, but be sure to get there in time to see the brilliant short “Night and Day” before the feature.
Starring Michael Stuhlbarg
Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Rated R for language, some sexuality/nudity, and brief violence
1 hour 46 minutes
This one is about a middle-aged Jewish man and his struggles with his family, career, and faith. It’s obviously well-acted and directed, but the story goes nowhere and ends disappointingly. I actually think some people categorized it as a comedy, yet I didn’t laugh at all. Clearly this one went over my head.
Animated
Featuring the voices of Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas, Cloris Leachman, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, and Betty White
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Rated G
1 hour 43 minutes
I have always admired Japanese animation from afar, but my experience (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away andHowl’s Moving Castle)has always been that the movies are a little too weird. This one was too, but in a seemingly more conventional way. Based on Han Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, this movie tells the story of a young goldfish who is changed by her sea wizard father’s potions into a human. The story is interesting and the star-studded voice cast is adequate, but the real star here are the visuals. They are colorful, imaginative, and fascinating. This movie is easily my favorite from the Japanamation genre so far.
Starring George Clooney (Best Actor Nominee), Vera Farmiga (Best Supporting Actress Nominee), and Anna Kendrick (Best Supporting Actress Nominee),
Directed by Jason Reitman (Best Director Nominee)
Rated R for language and sexual content
1 hour 49 minutes
It’s hard not to enjoy George Clooney when he’s acting cool and confident. He begins this movie at his cocky best as a man enjoying his solitary life of flying around the world on business. That changes when he connects with a similar-minded female traveler (Farmiga) who causes him to re-examine his priorities. The acting is excellent, the dialogue is snappy, and the music is interesting, but the story left me a little but unfulfilled.
Grade: B
Of the 2009 Best Picture nominees, here is my ranking so far: