Gone Girl - 10 stars out of 10

Gone Girl - 10 stars out of 10

“Gone Girl” is brilliant.  David Fincher uses his unique talent of creating films that are disturbing while remaining very entertaining to create a film experience that you will never forget.  He seems to be comfortable working in many different genres, from “Se7en” (crime thriller) to “Fight Club” (action) to “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (fantasy) to “The Social Network” (drama) and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ (mystery).  This time, he has managed to create the “Basic Instinct” for the next generation.  I never thought that anybody could surpass Sharon Stone’s psychopathic character, but Rosamund Pike may have earned an Oscar with this performance.  She makes your craziest ex-girlfriend look like a walk in the park.  It is difficult to discuss this film without giving away the amazing surprises, so I will be vague.  The majority of the story takes place in flashback, showing the deterioration of a marriage and the suspicions that result when Pike disappears.  The script does a great job of revealing new information at precisely the right time, toying with our brains, luring us into a false sense of security, and then turning our world upside down.  The story is shocking, not because it is scary, but because it is completely unpredictable.  I generally do not like Ben Affleck and this film is no exception.  His acting is far too emotionless to play this character that requires so much empathy from the audience.  Aside from Affleck, all of the acting is great.  Neil Patrick Harris has a small role but plays it memorably, and Tyler Perry shows that he can do a lot more than Madea.  The rest of the cast is generally composed of no-names who play the “townspeople” role in a way that makes us feel like one of them, observing and forming our own opinions about Affleck’s guilt.  My largest complaint about the film is the overt sexuality that defines Pike’s character and makes for an uncomfortable date-night movie.  I may not enjoy watching it, but can concede that it really elevates her character to the next level.  “Gone Girl” works because it is an emotionally engaging film.  You will find yourself angry and frustrated with the characters because they are simply so well written and executed.  The ending is the toughest pill to swallow, but that’s what makes it so awesome.  I hope to see “Gone Girl” on the Oscar ballot, particularly Fincher and Pike whose work deserves to be acknowledged by the entire film community.  Don’t miss out on this one!

[Pictured: Who wouldn't feel bad about if someone who looks so innocent went missing?]

Escape from Tomorrow - 2 stars out of 10

Escape from Tomorrow - 2 stars out of 10

I’m going to try my best to set my love of Disney World aside while reviewing this film, but I have to begin by saying that it’s sad that any person could have this much cynicism toward something that has brought joy to millions of families.  In concept, “Escape from Tomorrow” is incredible.  It took immeasurable planning to execute this production.  Director Randy Moore had to rehearse the film without setting foot on location, chart the position of the sun on the filming days to harness the natural lighting for each scene, use cameras that would be used by typical tourists, and he managed to successfully shoot this film in Disney without drawing the suspicion of the employees.  The concept alone could have elevated this film into the mainstream and even attracted the attention of the Disney Company to buy and distribute the film; however, as soon as they decided to create a story filled with sex, nudity, profanity, and a plot that nobody can seem to make sense of, it relegated itself to the status of “cult classic” forever.  As a Disney fan, I loved the idea of a guerrilla-style film created entirely in the parks but the plot is sure to turn away anybody who shares my fondness for Disney World (a.k.a. the majority of our society).  Not to mention that they didn’t even film the entire thing in the parks.  It was easy to see that some of this was filmed using green screen and alternate sets outside of Disney.  If the success of this movie hinges on the gimmick that they entire thing was filmed in Disney, why include plot elements that had to be filmed elsewhere?  They could have made a family-friendly thriller or even a horror film that made sense… but instead they created a Disney-bashing surrealist journey that concludes with a plot twist that seems to be intentionally random, stupid, and unexplained.  It’s like ending “The Shawshank Redemption” with Morgan Freeman moving to Tallahassee to become a racecar driver who can only drive in reverse.  Where did the cat flu come from?  Many critics have ignored the flawed plot in lieu of the impressive production challenges but, if this had been filmed in some random mall, everybody would be ripping it apart because the story is stupid.  In fact, we would have never even heard of it.  Although it bothered me that they interspersed scenes shot at Disney World and Disneyland, I believe that it was an intentional way of indicating to Disney fanatics that we were not watching reality.  I also have to admit that the CGI and editing was really impressive.  I like that this film features Fantasyland before the expansion and preserves rides like Snow White’s Scary Adventure, but it isn’t as if this is something that anybody can share with their kids anyways.  “Escape from Tomorrow” is impressive for its covert production but, love for Disney World aside, I can’t help but wonder why many people are praising a film with a weak plot and a nonsensical resolution.

[Pictured: Scenes from Disneyland are thrown in to make us question Jim's reality]

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 - 8 stars out of 10

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 - 8 stars out of 10

“Mockingjay - Part 1” is really good and I don’t care what anybody else has to say about it.  I heard a lot of mixed reviews upon its release and was leery of a “nothing-really-happens-because-we’re-just-setting-up-the-big-finale” approach, but I found it to dodge the repetitiveness bullet by moving away from action and focusing on its riveting political subtext.  In fact, this film manages to hold its ground with its two extremely successful and entertaining predecessors.   For me, the success of the series begins with acting.  The producers of this film have been diligent about bringing in top-notch actors to make this into a movie series that will last beyond its hype (do you even know anybody who still watches “Twilight”?).  Jennifer Lawrence is the best investment.  Most people forget that she was nominated for an Oscar in 2010, two years before the first “Hunger Games” was released, but her acting drives the momentum of each film.  Her impassioned speech after the bombing of District 8 says it all.  That was the moment that I realized that she is one of the greatest actors of the next generation.  In the series, the key is that her powerful performance is matched by the rest of the cast.  Woody Harrelson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, and the introduction of Julianne Moore into the series provide Oscar-calibre acting paired with appeal to teenagers.  With such strong acting, everything else falls into place.  The writing of this script was great, creating an increasingly unsettling view of the Capitol’s power and developing the characters to draw us deeper into the “Which guy does she love?” debate.  The movie really surprised me with a tactical extraction sequence that rivals “Zero Dark Thirty.”  Everything really came together for this film, from concept to script to acting to editing.  My only complaint is that the cliffhanger ending is rough, though there are definitely worse spots that they could have ended the film.  “Mockingjay - Part 1” isn’t my favorite of the series, but it might be once it is connected with Part 2!

For my review of Part 2, click here: http://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-2-9.html

[Pictured: "And if we burn, you burn with us!" Still get chills thinking about that speech]

The Grand Budapest Hotel - 8 stars out of 10

The Grand Budapest Hotel - 8 stars out of 10

Wes Anderson’s signature style flourishes in “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”  That is a polite and complimentary way of saying “This movie is very odd.”  The ensemble cast alone is reason to watch (since everybody is bound to have a favorite on the list), but the way that each actor is utilized makes it even better.  The list includes Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Tilda Swinton, and Bill Murray, and that’s less than half of the list!  From F. Murray’s sophistication to Willem Dafoe’s cold-blooded intensity, you never know what type of character the next star will play.  My only complaint about the film is that I wish I could spend more time with each character.  The Russian Matryoshka Doll introduction of the story that quickly transports us from the present to 1985 to 1968 to 1932 seems a bit unnecessary but sets the tone for the entire film.  Anderson’s lighthearted approach to serious situations like death, prison, and war make for a viewing experience that I can only describe as “awkwardly enjoyable.”  It is amazing how much actually happens in the 100-minute runtime as characters fly in for a short chapter and then disappear for the rest.  I believe that this film will see some Oscar nominations, particularly for its screenplay and acting.  I wouldn’t consider it to be one of the best films that I’ve seen, but the unique style makes me anxious to revisit “The Grand Budapest Hotel” soon.

[Pictured: Wes Anderson's signature head-on shot. Can't get enough!]

Freaky Friday (2003) - 8 stars out of 10

Freaky Friday (2003) - 8 stars out of 10

Disney really knows how to do family movies.  “Freaky Friday” is filled with comedy, strong family themes, and excellent acting that make this movie just as entertaining for the adults as it is for kids.  Maybe it is because I watched this film within 24 hours of “Good Burger” (and its painfully annoying humor), but it truly helped me to appreciate Disney’s ability to cater to the entire family.  While family films often go unnoticed by the critics, Jamie Lee Curtis’s portrayal of a teenager is Oscar-worthy.  She is so convincing that, in the moments that I forced myself to acknowledge that she was acting, I was blown away by her attention to body language, facial expressions, and vocal inflection.  Lindsay Lohan does the same, though I think that it’s easier for a kid to mimic an adult than vice-versa.  Of course, this is helped along by a well-written script that spins the perspective of the adult and kid worlds.  The Disney casting team did a great job of assembling a strong group of actors that turn this fiction into reality, which is no small task in a comedy with supernatural circumstances.  Even the sequence with Mr. Bates is perfect because Stephen Tobolowsky plays the character so well.  There are some really nice moments of sentimentality like the little brother’s letter and the toast, not to mention a pretty wicked guitar solo.  The comedy is constant from the Chinese restaurant owners to Evan (the paranoid patient) and the ironic circumstances that each main character encounters during the switch.  Jake is one of the funniest running gags ever.  I was losing it toward the end when he kept popping up.  I have long-resisted this film because I assumed that it was cheesy and kiddish, but there is a lot of legitimacy in the acting throughout this film.  I cannot wait to share “Freaky Friday” on family movie night someday.

[Pictured: Jamie Lee Curtis' performance is genius]

Good Burger - 2 stars out of 10

Good Burger - 2 stars out of 10
1150th review

Oh. My. Gosh.  This movie is terrible.  Is this what children's entertainment is actually like?  I now understand why my mom wouldn’t take me to see “Good Burger” in theaters.  Or rent it for us.  Or let us watch it on tv.  It is painful to accept that this used to be hilarious.  Some of the dialogue has a good Abbot and Costello feel, but most of it is just annoying.  The "I'm a dude" song will forever haunt my dreams and I imagine that Kel's voice is still raspy from speaking in that way for an entire movie.  I feel like the writers tried to make it funny with cameos, physical comedy, dressing in drag (actually one of the funniest moments of the film), and even an insane asylum dance sequence, but the entire thing is an eye roller.  Kenan and Kel were my favorite characters on “All That,” but now I’m scared to go back and see what it was really like.  I know that I shouldn’t expect much from a kid’s movie, but I can’t understand why they didn’t consider the adults that would have to watch this with their children.  Maybe my disappointment is a result of the expectation that I developed at age 12, but I feel like I’m not the only one who walked away from this yelling a big Kenan “Whyyyyyyy!?!?!?!?”

[Pictured: The movie is just as perplexing as this screenshot]

My Girl (1991) - 9 stars out of 10

My Girl (1991) - 9 stars out of 10

“My Girl” is a beautiful coming-of-age story that effectively captures the music and culture of 1972 through the eyes of an eleven-year-old girl.  The story is actually quite strange as the main characters reside in a funeral home, but it provides the necessary components for this young girl to learn about friendship, death, her single father, her changing body, and love.  The setting also creates the cruel irony that makes the story so memorable.  This film does everything right, but it works because Anna Chlumsky gives such an honest performance.  It is hard to believe that this was her feature film debut.  Her acting is so confident and refined, melding childhood innocence with tough life experience.  When she breaks down during the service, it is one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in any movie.  Things like that really strike a chord when a great actor or actress puts their emotions out there, but the effect is so much deeper when it comes from an innocent child.  I can’t remember the last time that a movie was able to make me cry four different times, this may be the only one that has.  The film is well cast with veterans Dan Akroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis giving nice supporting performances.  Even though Macaulay Culkin’s acting pales in comparison to Chlumsky, he perfectly looked the role of Thomas J. and was a walking promotion for the film as it piggybacked off of the success of “Home Alone” a year earlier.  The critics had mixed feelings about it, but “My Girl” is a must-see coming-of-age story.

[Pictured: One of the best movie kisses of all time]

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride - 6 stars out of 10

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride - 6 stars out of 10

“The Lion King II” is the only direct-to-video Disney sequel that I believe is worth watching.  I am generally offended by the Disney Company’s exploitation of its classic animated tales (aka ruining them with new chapters that cheapen the original characters and themes).  “Simba’s Pride” is the exception, with an interesting story, great animation, and the original cast reprising their roles (minus Rowan Atkinson).  On a scale of 1-to-Frozen, I would only rate the film as average but it can hold its own with many of the theatrically released Disney classics.  The story does a good job of creating connections to the original, particularly by using Scar’s “legacy” to create a new conflict.  The two films flow together through shared characters, similar musical style, and the theme of pride.  Unfortunately, “The Lion King” makes “Simba’s Pride” look bad because it does everything a little bit better.  A prime example is the music.  While the music is good, it is hard to resist comparisons to the original.  The song selection seems to come from the same equation (song about the circle of life, song about murdering the protagonist, song that teaches a concept by using a Swahili word, a romantic love song), but none of the songs can match their equivalent in “The Lion King.”  The most important thing is that this film enhances the franchise instead of ruining it.  The writers don’t give flaws to the old characters, the new characters are complex and interesting, and the title contains an awesome double meaning.  “The Lion King” is one of the greatest Disney films and “Simba’s Pride” gives us an opportunity to enjoy our favorite characters in a new adventure about trust, forgiveness, and pride.

[Pictured: All of our favorites return for this new adventure]