The Phantom of the Opera (2004) - 8 stars out of 10

The Phantom of the Opera (2004) - 8 stars out of 10

I don't know why so many people hated this - I thought that it was very well done and it brought this musical to life.  I've heard heavy negative criticism of the casting and added scenes but... Andrew Lloyd Webber was a co-writer and producer for this film, meaning that the casting and storytelling is likely what he envisioned when he first wrote the musical.  I'll admit, when I think of Gerard Butler my first thought is not "Singing, disfigured musical genius" but it somehow works.  A lot of musicians criticize the film because of Emmy Rossum.  There are certainly better sopranos out there but admittedly, she can sing the role AND visually has the childlike innocence necessary for Christine.  The issue that I have with this film is Minnie Driver.  While her attitude is perfect for the role of Carlotta, it is a slap in the face to the theatre industry to over-dub a singing voice in a musical.  Unacceptable - there must have been someone that had the attitude and could sing for herself.  I feel like this was a bit of a sell-out move to get a big name in there.  My other complaint is the derivation from the original story, in which the Phantom is disfigured from an incident with acid, not being a circus freak, but I can live with it.  I feel that Jennifer Ellison is underrated and wish that this role could have boosted her American film career.  I also enjoyed the connection of Simon Callow, between his role as an opera patron in "Phanton and his role as an opera performer in Amadeus in 1984.  Although this musical-turned-movie has been the center of many controversial discussions, it is an incredible visual and aural experience that brings familiar stage characters to life on the silver screen.

À Bout de Souffle (Breathless) - 5 stars out of 10

À Bout de Souffle (Breathless) - 5 stars out of 10

While it is iconic to the cinematic French New Wave movement, "À Bout de Souffle" (a.k.a. Breathless) didn't completely do it for me.  I did not feel any sort of attachment to Jean-Paul Belmondo's character and failed to feel any emotion (whether it be sympathy or anger) toward him.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, I adored Jean Seberg.  Abounding with class and beauty, it was often difficult to move my eyes away from her smile in order to read the subtitles.  Her early death is tragic and I wish that I could see her in many more films.  The use of jump cuts, this film's most distinguishing feature, gave it an edge that was entirely appropriate for its subject matter.  Although it was not my favorite, "Breathless" is a significant film in cinematic history and, in spite of its slow pacing, it makes a statement.

The Social Network - 10 stars out of 10

The Social Network - 10 stars out of 10

The Social Network is a masterpiece. Jesse Eisenberg, often known for his roles in teen-targeted films, proves himself as a "real" actor with his virtuosic portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg. The film deserves it's 8 Oscar nominations with a fantastic musical score, a thorough but never long-winded screen play, and a cultural relevance to the nth degree that makes it an obvious candidate for best film. David Fincher also deserves recognition for serving as the director of another instant classic. The nomination that speaks volumes about the film is the Screen Actor's Guild nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. The acting is just so strong, like life unfolding before your eyes. I had my doubts about Timberlake but this role was made for him. Garfield is very impressive, both in flashbacks and in the deposition hearing, and Brenda Song particularly caught my eye, coming a long way since The Suite Life! When you watch The Social Network, it is much more than watching a movie on the screen - you will experience the most defining characteristic of our generation, preserved forever in film.

Unstoppable - 6 stars out of 10

Unstoppable - 6 stars out of 10

"Unstoppable" is the best movie about a runaway train that I?M)ve ever seen. Oh wait... Conceptually, I expected this to be the dumbest movie ever but the writers did a good job of creating a realistic context. Thank goodness that they didn?M)t make it into some elaborate terrorist plot. I love Denzel Washington in any role, though Chris Pine wasn't really doing it for me. Straight forward, no twists, and filled with pure adrenaline, this film isn't the best but has decent entertainment value (and some awesome explosions).

Eat Pray Love - 2 stars out of 10

Eat Pray Love - 2 stars out of 10

I didn't enjoy this film at all. It moved so slow and probably should've been named "Eat, EASTERNRELIGIONEASTERNRELIGIONEASTERNRELIGION, Love." There was very little about eating and love in this film and I categorize this as one of those true stories that should have never been turned into a movie. I like Julia Roberts but this movie just dragged on and on and on.

Tangled - 10 stars out of 10

Tangled - 10 stars out of 10

"Tangled" is stunning. Disney has successfully transitioned a Disney Princess from classic animation to computer animation. I was skeptical of this but Disney did it completely right. The musical numbers by Alan Menkin, incredible scenery, unexpected surprises (like the tavern scene), and an evil stepmother-type figure will send chills down your spine and take you to a land far, far away, just like every classic Disney film out there. The animation is the best that I've ever seen, topping Toy Story 3. The hair was AWESOME. All of the shading gave the entire picture depth and made it look so realistic. Mandy Moore's voice was PERFECT for Rapunzel as her speaking and singing perfectly fit the Disney Princess persona. I would be remiss if I did not draw attention to Donna Murphy, whose voice stole the entire picture. Her character exuded an incredible amount of emotion, all through her intense and edgy vocalizations. With sight gags that will make you laugh out loud, songs that will be stuck in your head, and an ending that will warm your heart, "Tangled" has redefined a new generation of Disney classics.

Hairspray - 9 stars out of 10

Hairspray - 9 stars out of 10

"Good Morning, Baltimore!" This movie was just so good. That cast was absolutely unbelievable and they really delivered. This is the most stars that I've seen in one movie since Rat Race - I can't even list them all! Well, let's try: Travolta, Blonsky, Walken, Snow, Pfeiffer, Bynes, Marsden, Efron, Latifa, Stiller - it never ends! I'm still speechless and it ended over 3 hours ago! John Travolta was unbelievable. Amanda Bynes was definitely my favorite - she was absolutely adorable and I couldn't take my eyes off of her. It was just soooo good! I believe that a movie cannot match a live stage performance but this film far surpassed the live production that I saw. This movie is perfect - it will not disappoint you. With one awesome musical number after the last, you'll be watching this one over and over again.

Manhattan - 7 stars out of 10

Manhattan - 7 stars out of 10

From the opening notes of Rhapsody in Blue, Woody Allen steps out from behind his black-rimmed glasses to deliver an endearing portrayal of a misguided writer in the big city.  Speaking of the opening sequence, I adored it.  It was probably the best scenes in the film and one of the best voiceovers in any film, not to mention that Rhapsody in Blue was the perfect pick for the majestic shots of NYC; in fact, the Gershwin soundtrack throughout the film gives "Manhattan" a lot of class.  Mariel Hemingway was adorable but I don’t know if her performance deserved an Oscar nod.  The peak acting performance from the film is Allen, though I loved the small role by a very young Meryl Streep and the very brief appearance of Wallace Shawm (in his debut role).  This clever screenplay that combines tongue-in-cheek dialogue with character depth will leave you satisfied and wanting to add more Woody Allen films to your Netflix queue!

The Crucible - 10 stars out of 10

The Crucible - 10 stars out of 10

The Crucible offers some of the most breathtaking acting to grace the silver screen. Arthur Miller's play is one of the most celebrated offerings from an American playwrite, as demonstrated by it's expected use in high school and college classrooms around the country. It dually serves as an allegory of McCarthyism and a painting of one of the grimmest events in American history. This production is perfect, as Daniel Day-Lewis portrays John Proctor with every bit of emotion and honor that Miller intended. Winona Ryder is absolutely evil, rising to the level set by the veteran actors surrounding her. Joan Allen also gives a chilling performance, while Campbell, Jones, and Scofield (who won a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor). With Miller at the helm for the screenplay, this version stays incredibly honest to the original play and elevates the audience to the level of frustration and anger that beams from Day-Lewis' eyes. If you have never experienced this interpretation of the classic play, add it to your cinematic bucket list.

Misery - 9 stars out of 10

Misery - 9 stars out of 10

Kathy Bates' performance is genius (in a mad scientist sort of way) as she displays the extremes of obsessive fandom. Amidst 90+ minutes of constant intensity, there are several unforgettable moments of concentrated evil that will send chills down your spine and leave your jaw unhinged. Misery attains a level of Hitchcockian suspense as Stephn King's disturbing screen play is retold by Director Rob Reiner.You cannot help but empathize with James Caan as each of his character's emotions are amplified exponentially in his eyes; however, once you empathize, I pity your sensation of helplessness. Bates' Oscar was well-earned and the story truly delivers.

Easy A - 10 stars out of 10

Easy A - 10 stars out of 10
50th Review

Easy A has made me into an Emma Stone fan for life. She had failed to leave an impression on me in her previous movies (in fact, I was surprised to see her resume, not remembering that she was in most of them), but she rocked this nearly one-man-show. I expected to hate this movie. Not only was it entertaining but I LOVED it! Where did this all-star class come from? I enjoyed Aly Michalka and Patricia Clarkson. Thomas Haden Church was perfectly cast as "the cool teacher" and Stanley Tucci brought light-heartedness at all of the necessary moments. Although I typically love Amanda Bynes, some of the unnecessarily over-the-top Jesus freak-ish moments left a sour taste at the end of the film. I appreciate that the writers were able to bring an intelligent script to a stereotypically poor teenage movie subplot. The blog storytelling technique was perfect and effectively engulfed me in the story. Clever things like the opening sequence with Pocket Full of Sunshine make this film stand out. The bottom line is that Easy A is a frighteningly accurate portrait of the high school information exchange and creates fictional entertainment while preserving a realistic insight into our generation's inner-workings. This film is a total package of entertainment as it offers comedy, drama, melodrama, lots of wit, great characters, great acting, and a perfect ending - complete with a musical number that occurs for no particular reason, just as Olive wanted it.

127 Hours - 9 stars out of 10

127 Hours - 9 stars out of 10

My respect level for James Franko just quadrupled. This one man show is a journey like no other, culminating with one of the most grotesque and shocking scenes in movie history. You know that it has to happen but nothing can prepare you for THE scene. You will have to fight to keep your eyes on the medically accurate portrayal and honestly, it may not be worth it (you will be in pain with him, particularly when he cuts the nerve). Franko has now proven himself as one of the great actors of this generation and his emotional performance in this film will never be forgotten. The stream of consciousness storytelling technique transports you into the crevace with Franko, experiencing his delusions and flashbacks alongside of him. The scenery is cool, the music is alright, but the real attraction is the fact that Aron Ralston stated that the film is "so factually accurate it is as close to a documentary as you can get and still be a drama." I recommend that everybody immerses themself in this story but you must mentally and emotionally prepare yourself first.

Falling Down - 2 stars out of 10

Falling Down - 2 stars out of 10

The opening sequence does a frighteningly good job of creating the angst that we've all felt when stuck in traffic on a hot day.  What follows failed to impress me.  Instead of the great display of character development that I expected, Falling Down presents several loosely-related vignettes of violent acts which are only tied together by Douglas' character committing them.  Not even the expert acting of Duvall and Douglas could save this weak script which tries to create a social commentary on poverty and commercialism, but instead offers an uninteresting plot without much satisfaction in the end.

Donnie Darko - 7 stars out of 10

Donnie Darko - 7 stars out of 10

Even after my second viewing of Donnie Darko, I still needed to do about 20 minutes of research to make sense of this story but believe that I've FINALLY wrapped my mind around it. The concept is amazing, taking Bill Murray's "Groundhog Day loop" to a much darker place. I would like to see the Director's Cut because it apparently focuses more on Grandma Death's book, which explains the roles that each character take on in their alternate reality. This is one of the few roles by Jake Gyllenhaal that I have enjoyed, probably because the often emotionless shell matches well with Jake's acting style. That being said, I never like Maggie Gyllenhaal. Ever. It isn't my favorite mind-bender, falling short of The Matrix/Inception/Timecrimes/Primer, but it'll definitely challenge your logic skills and rethink the composition of our universe.

Black Swan - 9 stars out of 10

Black Swan - 9 stars out of 10

It has been a long time since I experienced a film that is completely unique. "Black Swan" is a psychological thriller that will have you covering your mouth in shock one moment and fiercely gripping the arm rest the next. Natalie Portman delivers her finest performance ever, blurring the line between imagination and reality while transitioning between her two personalities with instantaneous bipolarity. Her overall transition throughout the movie is impressive, but the true genius shows in the momentary shifts along the way. I was also amazed by her pointe. I expected an amazing performance by Portman, but Mila Kunis absolutely caught me by surprise. Who knew that this girl could act beyond comedic roles? She is the perfect X-factor for Nina, particularly in THE scene that will establish itself as one of the most memorable naughty scenes in cinema. Both of these ladies deserved an Oscar nod in my opinion. Although I love her, Winona Ryder is not even worth mentioning in conjunction with this film. Hershey and Cassel also thrive in their roles. The acting is so good that you hardly realize that they are acting, making it hard to remember to acknowledge the skill possessed by each actor. The writing is perfect, as the audience is just as unaware of reality vs. dillusion as the leading lady. This story twists in so many directions, you will never know what to expect next. The writers also provided the perfect ending, leaving every audience member sitting in the theater during the closing credits, allowing the events from the screen to set in before leaving. Above all else, the cinematography brings this film to life, putting the audience on-stage with the ballerinas and allowing us to move with them. These dance scenes, as well as the clever use of cinematography as Portman starts to see her changed self in mirrors (and others), truly builds the momentum of the film from start to finish. Black Swan is the type of film that I love to own on DVD as it is totally unique from any other film experience.

The Contender - 9 stars out of 10

The Contender - 9 stars out of 10

Wow. The Contender is an absolute tour-de-force of acting. Joan Allen delivers over and over again with each scene. The true testament to her acting skill is her incredible shift from "enemy" to "hero" as you never know whether you should like her or not. Gary Oldman is great in every film and this is no exception. Add Jeff Bridges as a corrupt president and you have ideal cinema chemistry. Matching the great acting is an interesting story that will capture your attention and have you desperate to know the truth as the events unfold. Any fan of Oldman, Bridges, politics, or powerful acting is in for a treat with The Contender.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - 7 stars out of 10

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - 7 stars out of 10

I would watch this film over and over again just to see Marilyn Monroe sing Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend. Althoiugh I prefer Nicole Kidman sining it in "Moulin Rouge," there is something magical about Monroe singing the song within the context of this story. On top of that, Jane Russell's impersonation of Monroe is INCREDIBLE. She had me fooled for a bit and that entire courtroom scene was just awesome. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is a fun, friendly musical that... well, let's be honest. It's a great excuse to watch Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell be beautiful.

State of Grace - 5 stars out of 10

State of Grace - 5 stars out of 10

"State of Grace" is often overshadowed by another mob film that came out at the same time: "Goodfellas."  While this film really can't compare to Scorsese's film (and at times felt like a cheap Godfather rip-off), it offers unforgettable performances by Gary Oldman, Ed Harris, and Sean Penn (in that order).  Oldman is absolutely insane in one of his best roles, perfecting the New York accent and making me question whether he was actually drunk or sober during the shoot.  Harris is frightening and again makes a case for being one of the most underrated performers of his generation.  Finally, Penn's internal struggles breathe life into this film as he plays well off of Turturro and Penn.  I had high hopes for the film after the fire scene, but the two hours that follow that scene were two of the longest of my life.  The action and blood are decent until an awkward slow-motion shootout in tandem with a St. Patty's Day Parade.  Regarding the film score, I typically love soundtracks written by Ennio Morricone (The Mission, Legend of 1900) but I did not care for his instrumental themes at all in this film.  Great performances + decent story + poor editing that made the film 135 minutes long = no comparison to Goodfellas.

Child's Play - 3 stars out of 10

Child's Play - 3 stars out of 10

"Child's Play" is one of the classic 80's horror films and, along with Nightmare on Elm Street, remains one of the most unique stories in the genre. The puppeteering in this film is top-notch. Although the first person angle gets old after awhile, Chucky's facial expressions really impress me. The key factor in this film is the innocent, sweet young boy that they found with Alex Vincent. The contrast of his innocence against Chucky's evil is what gives this film energy. My largest complaint is that my favorite character (Dinah Manoff) gets killed off way too early. I wouldn't call it a "quality" film but "Child's Play" is entertaining and, despite several terrible sequels, the original is worth watching if only for the impressive puppeteering and unique story (which surprisingly has not been remade... yet).

The Bounty - 8 stars out of 10

The Bounty - 8 stars out of 10

The Bounty tells the incredibly true story of Captain Bligh and the mutiny on his ship. Sir Anthony Hopkins gives a memorable performance as Bligh, hard-nosed and strict, displaying chilling intensity at all of the right moments. Mel Gibson provides one of his finest performances as the mutineer, Fletcher Christian, whose heartbreak for Tahitian Tevaite Vernette drives him to make a hasty decision. Superstars Liam Neeson and Daniel Day-Lewis are under-used in this script and could've really added to the realism provided by Hopkins and Gibson. Be prepared for a lot of tribal nudity, though the nudity is never distasteful or dirty. This film will create an appreciation toward the vastness of the ocean as the beautiful scenery engulfs you into this oceanic world.