The Adjustment Bureau - 8 stars out of 10

The Adjustment Bureau - 8 stars out of 10

"The Adjustment Bureau" is just one of those movies that will blow your mind and still have you comprehending its conceptual implications 24 hours later.  I was initially surprised to see Matt Damon's name on the film, expecting it to be another gimmicky Hollywood money-maker.  Little did I know that it is exactly his type of film: a great one.  The awesomeness begins with the concept that is progressively revealed throughout the film.  Who are these adjusters and what is their purpose?  The perfect amount will be revealed in due time, but a limited amount so that our imaginations are allowed to do their job.  Outside of the great chemistry between Damon and Emily Blunt, this movie drew me because of its open-ended interpretation.  It was really interesting to put this story into the context of God and His angels.  It brings the debate between predestination and free will into a real-world context while keeping it from being an obvious religious theme for the first half of the film.  I love that we never get to meet the Chairman, giving the impression that he is omnipotent and can only be seen in this world through others.  The most impressive aspect of the film is that we are drawn into this sci-fi world and never have the chance to question the bizarre content of the film - we just accept it from the start.and never look back.  "The Adjustment Bureau" is a solid film that is sure to bend your imagination and leave you contemplating far after the credits roll.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2011) - 3 stars out of 10

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2011) - 3 stars out of 10

I don't understand how a movie whose trailer looked so incredible could end up being completely lackluster.  "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" misses its mark, replacing psychological chills with CGI fairies.  After seeing the trailer where Sally is crawling under the covers and the creature jumps out at her, this film jumped to the top of my "must see" list... but even when that scene occured in the movie, they overdid it with CGI and it was no good.  This whole film is completely unlike Guillermo del Toro and I pray that he isn't suffering from "M. Night syndrome."  It's tough to pinpoint why, but the whole thing is just poorly done.  Guy Pearce and Katie Holmes are talented actors but they can't do much with what they're given in this instance.  A little girl being terrorized in a horror film is integral to the audience's fear in that we fear for her, but in this case, I couldn't have cared less what happened to her.  Bailee Madison's performance is just very off-putting.  As far as a supernatural horror film's villain, less is generally more as our imaginations fill in the horrific details.  This film takes the opposite approach, leaving little to the imagination.  The opening sequence has so much potential, with these creepy voices from the fireplace driving a character to madness, but they show the source of the voices early on and it's a progressive downward spiral from there.  The concept of the film is good, the story develops well, the ending leave you thinking, but the execution is just bad.  The movie has its moments, like the opening sequence and the bathtub scene, but these filmmakers need to take a lesson from classic horror films.  Keep us in suspense and don't show us the villain too soon - we think that we want to see every detail but we are wrong and so were the filmmakers of "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark."

Driving Miss Daisy - 9 stars out of 10

Driving Miss Daisy - 9 stars out of 10

"Driving Miss Daisy" is truly one of the best (and most unexpected) stories of friendship that I have ever seen.  Alfred Uhry's play has never looked better than it does in this film adaptation that won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.  I regard this film so highly because it is basically a workshop in incredible acting.  There is no need for special effects or elaborate sets when you have two acting performances as fine as these.  Jessica Tandy lights up the screen at the age of 81, earning her Best Actress Oscar and truly embodying that character.  The delivery of the lines is perfect, justifying every action when it appears that she acted with a kind heart.  Morgan Freeman is one of my favorite actors and this performance is exactly why.  His uneducated Southern accent is absolutely perfection from his pronuncation of the letter "r" to each grammatical imperfection.  I am blown away that he performed this role in the same year that he played the principal in "Lean On Me" and it is truly a testament to his acting diversity.  I don't blame the Academy to giving the Best Actor Oscar to Daniel Day-Lewis in "My Left Foot," but if ever there was a performance worthy of an Oscar, it was this one.  The film establishes a duality of comedy and drama and I credit that to the banter between these two main characters.  Although the situations in the film are of a serious nature, their interactions are so cute and funny that you cannot help but smile.  This film proves that a family-friendly PG film is deserving of a Best Picture Oscar and I wish that more producers would invest in this clean entertainment.  It may not be the most complex story but the characters are vivid, the acting is superb, and the tears will flow in its final two scenes.

Albert Nobbs - 7 stars out of 10

Albert Nobbs - 7 stars out of 10

"Albert Nobbs" is one of the strangest movies that I have ever seen.  And yet, that is why I liked it so much.  Its unique story is unlike any other.  The idea of a character changing their gender to deal with the situation at hand is not uncommon in the film industry.  It's been done in comedies like "Tootsie" and "Some Like It Hot," and even in Disney films like "Mulan", always with a specific purpose to resolve part of the story.  But in "Albert Nobbs," it is a way of life, not a means of resolution.  I can't describe it, but this film just feels different than any due to its atmosphere.  The only way to describe Glenn Close's performance is "unbelievable."  You would never believe that this is the same woman who starred in "Fatal Attraction" and then played Cruella DeVil.  In fact, in the moment when it comes time for her to try to act as a woman, she really gives the impression that it is more natural for her to be a man than a woman.  It truly feels as if Albert Nobbs is actually played by a man throughout the film.  You just have to see it to understand how incredible this performance is.  Thank goodness that she was recognized with an Oscar nomination, though it was a very challenging Oscar class with Viola Davis nominated for "The Help" and Meryl Streep being nominated for anything.  The acting is strong all around, Janet McTeer also pulling her weight as a man.  Once again, the role is so convincing that I honestly cannot envision her as a woman.  Both actresses (actors?) have many mannerisms but Close is timid and McTeer is agressive, adding more layers to the incomprehensible nature of the film.  Other performances of note are Aaron Johnson who has established his ability to play versatile roles, whether comedic or dramatic.  I also really loved Mia Wasikowska's performance in the way that she treated her two romances - using Albert and feeling passion for Joe.  Although the acting is the true reason to see this film, the script itself impressed me as the film takes several unexpected twists and turns.  It is truly difficult to describe this film so just go and see it - it will be unlike anything that you have ever watched.

The Conspirator - 6 stars out of 10

The Conspirator - 6 stars out of 10

"The Conspirator" is an interesting period piece that brings to life one of America's toughest historical circumstances.  The entire film carries a sense of tension similar to what must have been felt as the North and South were at odds following Lincoln's assassination.  The film is slow-moving but I liked the script, developing sympathy for Mary Surratt and making a compelling court case for her innocence.  The strongest actor in the film is Robin Wright as Mary Surratt, portraying the entire spectrum of emotions from anger to fear to helplessness.  I also enjoyed Tom Wilkinson as the Senator, Danny Huston as the Prosecutor, and Kevin Kline as the Secretary of War.  James McAvoy and Evan Rachel Wood didn't reach the full potential of their lead roles and as a result, the film is just lacking something.  Even though the film doesn't have my highest rating, it is worth watching just for the cinematography of the final 10 minutes.  The images are vivid and the hanging is very artistic.  It isn't the best courtroom drama or Civil War period piece, but aspects of this Robert Redford-directed film make it worth watching.

Metropolis (1927) - 4 stars out of 10

Metropolis (1927) - 4 stars out of 10

Before you read this review, I should give the disclaimer that silent films are not my thing.  I know that it is highly respected in film circles and my low rating is merely a reflection of my trouble getting into silent films.  And it is just so long for a silent film.  Most silent films are 70 minutes long and feel like two hours.  This film is 150 minutes long and feels like it goes on for days.  The dystopian atmosphere is very cool as the world is inhabited by an entitled high class and a manure-shoveling lower class.  I was impressed with the elaborate sets and special effects incorporated into the film - Fritz Lang had great vision considering that this was made in the 20's.  However, that glamour was the main draw as the story does not accomplish much for a 2+ hour runtime.  The real highlight for me were the gorgeous musical themes created by Gottfried Huppertz.  I would gladly put this film on in the background late at night and fall asleep to this gorgeous Wagnerian music.  I'll credit Brigitte Helm for convincingly playing two personas.  Her dancing sped up into fast motion made her into a really creepy robot, not to mention the strange winking facial expressions.  I actually wish that I could see the shorter version of this film before they rediscovered the lost footage.  150 minutes is just way too much time to invest into a silent film with a simplistic plot.

Jane Eyre (2011) - 3 stars out of 10

Jane Eyre (2011) - 3 stars out of 10

Excellent story, average execution.  The 2011 version of "Jane Eyre" takes a few different approaches to Charlotte Bronte's famous story, particularly through its use of flashbacks and an ending without a conclusion.  I criticize this film because of my love for the 1943 Orson Welles/Joan Fontaine.version, but that one is so amazing that major changes are unnecessary.  I did not care for the flashback storytelling technique because there isn't really anything to gain by seeing where she is at that "present time" point in her life.  In fact, all that it does is dramatically shorten the telling of Jane's childhood, which is vital to understanding her character's disposition.  The flashback technique also kept the writers from concluding the film properly.  Once the flashback catches up to the present, time has more of a "real time" feel which would make it awkward to suddenly jump ahead 9 months.  Outside of the script, I don't feel that Mia Wasikowska or Michael Fassbender  reached the potential depth of their lead characters.  Dame Judi Dench is wonderful as Mrs. Fairfax (when isn't she wonderful?), but I don't feel that there are any other actors worth noting.  Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that this film is overwhelmingly boring.  I mean, I love this story and it STILL put me to sleep!  The shaky camera cinematography gives this film a realistic feel, but I can't say that it makes the film worth watching.  The only real reason to watch "Jane Eyre" is for Bronte's classic story, but I'd definitely recommend the 1943 version over this one.