Inside the Marx Brothers - 5 stars out of 10

Inside the Marx Brothers - 5 stars out of 10

"Inside the Marx Brothers" is far from a comprehensive look into the lives of the Marx Brothers, but is perfect for the fan who wants to know a little more about one of the greatest comedy teams of all time.  This documentary has everything from their Broadway beginnings to a rare recording of Harpo recounting some of his life experiences (and you won't believe what his voice sounds like!)  For someone who was (obviously) born long after their films were released, it was interesting to gain a chronology of what was occuring in their personal lives as well as throughout the world when each film was produced.  If you are not familiar with the films of the Marx Brothers, this is a good overview to highlight many of their famous scenes and a way to catch a glimpse of their brand of comedy.  It certainly has its sad moments like Groucho's three divorces due to all of his wives being alcoholics and Chico's declining healthy, but what Hollywood story doesn't?  This documentary isn't like "Man On Wire" where it entertains you like a feature film, but it is very informative and it's 56-minute run time makes it incredibly manageable when you find yourself with a short amount of downtime.

The Client - 8 stars out of 10

The Client - 8 stars out of 10

"The Client" is an intense drama about a strong-willed boy who hires a lawyer to protect him from being forced to give information about a murder.  The highlight of this movie is the heartwarming bond that is formed between Susan Sarandon and Brad Renfro, as each helps the other to grow.  Overall, this movie was very well cast - from Tommy Lee Jones and each of his FBI agents to all of the mob guys.  Though Sarandon nabbed a well-deserved Oscar nomination for her role, another particularly powerful performance came from Mary-Louise Parker as Mark Sway's mother.  Each of her lines is filled with emotion.  If you see "The Client," you will find strong acting, a good Grisham story, and non-stop drama from the incredibly intense opening suicide scene to the very finish.

Warrior - 4 stars out of 10

Warrior - 4 stars out of 10

It is difficult to watch this film without having "Rocky" in the back of your mind.  Unfortunately, "Warrior" pales in comparison.  Unlike "Rocky," where you don't have to be a fan of boxing to enjoy the film, I don't know if you can enjoy "Warrior" if you aren't an MMA fan.  Action fans will definitely enjoy the violent fight sequences but I'm not in love with the script.  It is overdramatic and the circumstances are very far-fetched, and yet the entire film is redeemed by its final 3 minutes because of those very circumstances.  As the film reaches its climax, the music becomes overwhelming and you'll find yourself captured in an incredibly moving moment of brotherhood.  As far as the musical score is concerned, I absolutely loved the extensive tournament preparation sequence with a variation on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (in minor!) playing in the background.  Outside of the cool fighting, the acting is better than average but nothing to write home about.  I absolutely do not understand how Nick Nolte was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in this film.  He had one scene that stands out but I'd still only consider it "good."  If anything, I would consider him the least deserving of a nomination if I had to pick from the 3 main actors.  Tom Hardy is totally B.A. and will have you rooting for him because of his intensity, and he had me fascinated because of the mystery behind the events of his life.  But I can't say that the film is watching just for him.  This one would've never been on my list if not for the Best Supporting Oscar nomination and though I wouldn't watch it again, it was worth it to find that little chunk of Beethoven on the soundtrack.

Touch of Evil - 7 stars out of 10

Touch of Evil - 7 stars out of 10

The opening credits are incredible and this scene develops with no cutaways.  I love long scenes like this and it was the perfect way to catch my interest, even during the open credits, just waiting for an explosion!  It was a struggle the entire movie to accept that I was watching Orson Welles - he looked SLIGHTLY different than he did in Citizen Kane.  But regardless of appearance, he still delivers a performance filled with intensity and emotion, furthering his status as one of the greatest actors of all time.  Charleton Heston portrays his role with riveting intensity as he searches for the guilty party while encountering the corrupt police force.  The runtime of this movie is the perfect length to introduce the conflict, develop the characters, and wrap it up in the end.  Most importantly, you'll really feel your emotions flaring up when you watch the harassment of Janet Leigh and planting of false evidence.

Triangle (2009) - 8 stars out of 10

Triangle (2009) - 8 stars out of 10

I had no idea what was in store when I turned on "Triangle," but my mind is still spinning!  I was expecting average with a few twists (or perhaps less-than-average after seeing the movie poster), but the final 5 minutes of this story ingeniously tied the entire film together.  Despite its incredibly complex concept, "Triangle" is presented in a way that is very easy to follow.  It is particularly cool how our perspective of the same story changes each time that it occurs as each different "version" of the main character experiences it.  While the acting is just average, this Bermuda Triangle time loop story is perfectly constructed and the script effectively reveals information at the perfect times to extend the plot.  About 25 minutes into the film, I was wondering what else they could possibly do with the story... then the momentum began to build as each facet of this complex story was revealed.  They do a great job of convincing you that there is no solution to this conundrum, and then the details strategically placed throughout the story come together.  I particularly love the restatement of the opening sequence, adding details to give a complete perspective change of the main character (and that's all that I can say to avoid major spoilers).  The film's 90-minute run-time is perfect to keep the time loop concept from getting old but to properly tie up all of the loose ends.  It is sort of a horror film with some graphic imagery but I believe that any viewer can appreciate this for its story and unexpected pay-off in the end.  This film is definitely under the radar but any fan of psychological films, time-travel films, or alternate reality films needs to add this to the top of their list.

The Iron Lady - 8 stars out of 10

The Iron Lady - 8 stars out of 10

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny! What we think we become. My father always said that... and I think I am fine."  Meryl Streep offers one of her finest performances in this bold portrayal of Margaret Thatcher.  It is almost disgusting that any actor could be THIS GOOD as Streep goes beyond portrayal and becomes this historical figure.  It doesn't hurt that the Oscar-nominated make-up stunningly turns Streep into the 86-year-old former Prime Minister, but it is truly Streep's acting chops that give this character her unquestionably authentic voice.  A unique aspect of her performance is that her acting continuously gains momentum throughout the film, beginning with a soft conversation, building through her bone-chilling speeches, and reaching her climactic tear in the final 5 minutes of the film.  I was also very impressed by Alexandra Roach as the young Maragaret Thatcher, perfectly creating a lovable character for the audience to latch on to.  "The Iron Lady" has been criticized for its portrayal of Thatcher's dimentia and while it does seem a bit insulting to the still-living Thatcher, the writers effectively use it as a story-telling tool.  At first, I was not sure how I felt about the shifting between old woman and flashback but this was the perfect way to highlight the big moments of her career without creating a typical biography.  The script really impressed me with its shifting between Thatcher as the Prime Minister, young member of Parliament, and old woman.  My main complaint is the discord between Thatcher as a political figure and Thatcher as a loving wife.  The film begins with a focus on the heart-warming interactions with her husband (entertainingly played by Jim Broadbent).  It then spends the majority of the film paying tribute to the most important moments of her political career before awkwardly returning to her love for her husband for the conclusion.  The writers took on too much for a 105-minute film and should have either focused on 1. her career and its effects on her in the present or 2. the relationship with her husband and the effects of her career on that - not both at once.  In the end, does it really matter since Meryl Streep graces the screen with such a fine performance, beautifully ending with a little symbolism in the form of a tea cup?  It may not be the greatest biopic of all time but Streep indisputably earns another Oscar nomination by creating 2 separate portrayals of Britain's only female Prime Minister in this film: one in the prime of her career and full of youthful energy, the other reliving the memories as she struggles to hold her life together.  Forget what the critics say - it's Meryl Streep!  That is all.