The Illusionist (2006) - 8 stars out of 10

The Illusionist (2006) - 8 stars out of 10

Despite being released at the same time as the "other" magic movie of 2006 (The Prestige), this movie holds its own with a romantically-focused plot instead of a magic-focused plot.  Edward Norton steps out of his "bad guy" stereotype as a magician searching for a way to win back his childhood (but forbidden) love.  Though it is far from Norton's best performance, he displays his versatility as an actor and his chemistry with the beautiful Jessica Biel brings a certain realism to the film.  More important than the Norton/Biel chemistry is the chemistry of the child actors in the first 15 minutes of the movie - this is VITAL to the understanding of Norton's motivation when we see him as an adult (and also all of the moments that we do not see as he is growing up).  At times, it is difficult to distinguish whether Paul Giamatti or Rufus Sewell is the main antagonist but both put on a fantastic performance throughout.  A few big twists and turns will keep you on edge and wondering how the story can be resolved, though the movie is not nearly as enjoyable the second time since the surprise of the main twist is the most satisying part.  To enhance the drama, Phillip Glass delivers another beautifully dramatic score reminiscent of "The Truman Show."  See this movie but enjoy it the first time because it is never the same after that.

Primer - 8 stars out of 10

Primer - 8 stars out of 10

Wow...  After watching "Primer" twice and discussing it at length with a friend, I ALMOST have it figured out!  This is unquestionably the most realistic time travel movie ever made.  Shane Carruth refuses to dumb this movie down and it must be watched with 187% of your attention focused on it if you want any hope of understanding the math and ridiculous plot twists.  I'm glad that it was only 79 minutes long - my brain couldn't handle any more after it was over!  After setting up the plot and introducing us to a realistic concept of time travel, the end provides the most mind-blowing 20 minutes of any movie.  Good luck sorting it all out in your brain.  With clever lines like "Are you hungry?  I haven't had anything to eat since later this afternoon," Primer will not only challenge your open-mindedness toward mathematics but also keep you entertained.

Annie Hall - 9 stars out of 10

Annie Hall - 9 stars out of 10

"Annie Hall" is truly unlike any film that you have seen.  I can understand why this is most peoples' favorite Woody film, even though it falls behind "Radio Days" and "Midnight In Paris" for me.  If you are wondering how good this film is, just realize that it is the film that beat "Star Wars" for the Best Picture Oscar in 1978.  Woody provides the clever dialogue, situational irony, and interesting cinematography that we expect from his films.  My favorite aspect of "Annie Hall" is the moments that he strategically breaks the fourth wall, drawing the audience into the story.  The lead characters, played by Woody and Diane Keaton, provide an excellent reminder to appreciate the love of your life and show us why we should fight to keep the flame burning before it becomes too late.  Although I do not appreciate drug usage in movies, Annie's literal "out of body" experience when she smokes before bed is clever and very well done.  The script has a stream-of-consciousness feel to it, jumping back and forth throughout time so that we observe their relationship from a distance instead of following a chronological movie timeline.  The lobster scene, the split-screen psychoanalysis', and the first kiss are among the classic moments in this film.  Woody even appears as an animated character during an exaggeration of the rift in their relationship!  This film teaches a lot of lessons, and not necessarily on purpose.  Whether you realize that love is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity or that a happy ending isn't always the right ending, "Annie Hall" is a slice of life that will help you to see the world for what it is.

American Violet - 8 stars out of 10

American Violet - 8 stars out of 10

"American Violet" is based on the incredible true story of a Texas mother who was unjustly accused of dealing drugs and took a stand against the entire Texas justice system.  This film is all about Nicole Beharie and her powerhouse performance.  She absolutely becomes this character and, whether she is screaming at her ex-husband or quietly intimidated in prison, each line is delivered with poignant urgency.  I really enjoyed the script as it brought full disclosure to the unjust racism in our society.  The dialogue flows from start to finish and creates some amazing movie moments along the way, none better than Michael O'Keefe's racist outburst during his deposition.  Be prepared for an emotionally-charged experience when you turn on "American Violet" as it dives into life in the projects and a darker side of the justice system.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - 10 stars out of 10

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - 10 stars out of 10

“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” is one of the most highly revered foreign films of all time.  Its 97% on Rotten Tomatoes speaks volumes but that is nothing compared to its ten Oscar nominations including wins for Best Foreign Film, Art Direction, Score, and Cinematography.  These nominations are justified through its epic proportions and stunningly beautiful martial arts sequences.  This film went toe-to-toe with “Gladiator” and, while “Gladiator” took home Best Picture, you can’t help but note that the scenery and artistry of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” is on the same level (if not higher).  I don’t make these comparisons lightly, as I consider “Gladiator” to be one of the finest films of all time and Hans Zimmer’s beautiful scoring of the epic to be perfection.  Not that there is anything wrong with Tan Dun's incredible ethnic score, but I do have an issue with it film winning in this particular category.  This "Bruce Lee meets The Matrix" martial arts film is unlike anything that you have ever seen.  The strong combined performance of leads Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, and Zhang Ziyi energize the plot and the martial arts skills of the latter two are a true spectacle.  These women can really fight!  I found myself awestruck at the speed and agility of these women, especially once it was combined with Matrix-like special effects.  The fight sequences are reason enough to watch this film and the gripping story is an added bonus.  Even though the editors made Ziyi’s flashback too large of a percentage of this film, she expertly shows every moment of her transformation from innocent aristocrat to deceitful criminal.  I also enjoyed the development of the other characters and the unexpected direction of the story.  This is the complete package when you combine its stunning locations to its beautiful soundtrack and the very cool Wudang martial arts sequences.  This is a film that can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of your interest in/tolerance for foreign films.  From “Sense and Sensibility” to “Life of Pi” to “Brokeback Mountain,” director Ang Lee always delivers a critically acclaimed product but even amongst his masterpieces, few can compare to “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”

[Pictured: The martial arts sequences are out of this world]

The Lorax (2012) - 6 stars out of 10

The Lorax (2012) - 6 stars out of 10

I wasn't sure how I would react to "The Lorax," knowing that it contains a strong liberal environmentalist message, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film.  Some critics accused it of brainwashing kids but I think that it is simply sending a good message.  It is great for families but has more in common with children's 3D computer animated films than it does with the whimsy of Dr. Seuss.  The story and the characters are generally the same, but all of the dialogue (you know, the thing that distinguishes Dr. Seuss from every other children's author) is completely changed.  The music is fun, the voice acting is well executed, but placing Dr. Seuss' name on the title creates a script-based expectation that does not exist in this rhyme-less dialogue.  I like the addition of Grammy Norma (Betty White), Mr. O'Hare (Rob Riggle), and the expansion of Ted (ZEfron)'s role, but the best characters in the film are the ones that Dr. Seuss wrote.  Ed Helms is perfect as the Once-ler while Danny Devito's attitude is perfect for The Lorax.  This is definitely a great film to share with your kids - you may even find yourself with a tear in your eye at the end - but if you are expecting the classic Dr. Seuss book to come to life, you will not find it here.