Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story - 6 stars out of 10

Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story - 6 stars out of 10

"Under The Boardwalk" is a two-fold documentary that tells the history of Monopoly and also follows several players competing in the Monopoly National Championship.  Although this board game may not seem like the most exciting subject matter in the world, the documentary never drags on or has an opportunity to get boring because it is constantly interspersing segments about the competitions, history, and quirky players of Monopoly.  It is definitely a film that all viewers can relate to, since this is essentially a part of every person's childhood.  After seeing "Word Wars" (a similar documentary about Scrabble), I am so thankful that this film is G-rated and does not contain so much profane language that it is nearly unwatchable.  It is interesting to see how the places on the board were determined, the original intent of this game, and how it eventually was picked up by Parker Brothers, but my personal favorite segment of the film is the one entitled "Collectors."  This segment brings attention to the people who take Monopoly fandom a step (or three) too far.  Nothing beats that Monopoly bathroom!  Whether it means to or not, the segments about the people who treat Monopoly as a lifestyle provide the comic relief that prevents the film from dragging on like the actual game often does.   Regardless of your interest in the game, this documentary provides a unique insight into the history and modern world of Monopoly and is definitely worth a watch.

Rope - 8 stars out of 10

Rope - 8 stars out of 10

"Rope" may not be the best story of all time, but it is darn impressive.  Hitchcock manipulates the screen into a stage with this film that creates the illusion of a single take.  Special effects and camera tricks have no place in this film as the story is told from a single camera angle taking place in an apartment.  "Rope" is unlike any other film that you will ever see.  It is amazing how much suspense develops without ever leaving the room.  This film is all about good acting.  Like "Twelve Angry Men," the film's energy relies on the delivery of lines and subtle acting gestures.  John Dall's stutter is nothing short of genius, while Phillip Morgan's shifting eyes continually remind us of his guilt and paranoia at hosting this dinner party with a dead body in the room.  The subtlety of Jimmy Stewart picking up the wrong hat to solve the mystery is perfection, as no action is out of place in this film.  It is such a typical party, but so much more is going on.  Joan Chandler is lovely as Janet, the sweet but spunky fiancee, but my favorite character is definitely the flighty Mrs. Atwater.  Constance Collier brings the perfect amount of charm and confusion to the role.  The film is slow at times, often times using one-on-one dialogue to give the other actors a moment to rest before the long and uncut scene continues, but it still manages to tell this philosophical murder story in a room filled with people.  It must have been a sight to see, actors navigating over wires, walls moving in and out, and a crew constantly manipulating the set in a madly choreographed dance, all while the camera continued to roll.  Even though the film uses a single set, the skyline in the background is incredible with a sky that progresses from afternoon to night, clouds that move and change shape eight times throughout the film, and chimneys with smoke rising from them.  It also provides some symbolism as their master plan progresses from pure excitement to being caught, with the blinking light from the sign outside eventually illuminating them in red.  The film only allows for a few of Hitchcock's cool visuals, like when the door swings open and we see Dall dropping the rope into the drawer, but you can feel his hand on every inch of the film as his signature dark tone looms over the entire film.  Some might refer to this single take illusion as a gimmick, but it is just another testament to Hitchcock being one of the most innovative directors in the history of cinema.

Stuart Little - 5 stars out of 10

Stuart Little - 5 stars out of 10

"Stuart Little" is definitely geared for kids, but it does so in impressive fashion.  The computer animation is impressive by today's standards, and it is hard to believe that they were able to make a film that so seamlessly integrated CGI into a real-world atmosphere in 1999.  You couldn't find a better voice for Stuart than Michael J. Fox... although every time that the mouse says "George" (which is quite often), you can't help but think of "Back to the Future."  But the voice perfectly fits the image, full of animation and kid-like quality.  And then Nathan Lane as the cat!  That was a very unexpected surprise, on top of Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis in live-action roles.  Jonathan Lipnicki is not as good as he was in "Jerry Maguire," but the presence of Jeffrey Jones (Principal from Ferris Bueller) and Steve Zahn's voice as Monty distracts from the areas of the film that lack refined acting skill.  The casting really is great, as the directors chose actors whose voices perfectly match the visual characters that they play.  The plot is definitely that of a kids movie, but some of the humor in the script (like the cream of mushroom soup dialogue was just awesome) will keep adults watching.  The film is overly cheesy at times, but in the end  it's good for all ages to be reminded of the important lesson that it doesn't matter if you are different - the key to love is having a big heart.

Iron Man 2 - 9 stars out of 10

Iron Man 2 - 9 stars out of 10

"Iron Man 2" is a worthy successor to its predecessor.  While it can't compare to its origin story (as few superhero sequels can), it packs an awesome punch with just as much attitude and intensity as the first one.  The special effects are incredible (particularly the road race carnage and then the "briefcase" that installs itself on Tony Stark's body as the Iron man suit) and the script is fresh so that this doesn't feel like "another Iron Man movie," but the thing that resonates the most with me is the cast of awesome actors.  This isn't your cheesy superhero film from the 70's.  It is a dramatic presentation of characters who have depth and evolve from the beginning of the film through the end.  Of course Robert Downey Jr.'s arrogance is a perfect match for this character and Gwyneth Paltrow is the perfect choice for Pepper, taking responsibility and fixing all of his mistakes.  But the great thing about these two is their chemistry.  You just want them to be together so bad, even when he is a jerk.  Then when you add Don Cheadle in a supporting lead where he gets to kick some butt, and Scarlett Johansson who ALSO gets to kick some butt (in a very attractive way, if I may add), you just gain a certain energy from the intensity of their acting.  Mickey Rourke makes a very frightening villain and facilitates the government doubting Iron Man's ability to be a savior, which opens up several other plot lines that the film explores.  And finally, Sam Rockwell brings that sneaky, cowardly approach that makes you hate him, but you hate him because he acts it so well.  This story creates an interesting adventure for Iron Man, develops the characters, and addresses the issue of the palladium in Tony Stark's system, all while setting us up for "The Avengers."  The first "Iron Man" is slightly better, just because you can't beat a good origin story, but this is a solid film that can be easily understood, even if you haven't seen the original.

The Reef - 3 stars out of 10

The Reef - 3 stars out of 10

"The Reef" succeeds at building suspense but fails at delivering the thrills that we expect in a shark horror film.  The scripting of this film seems very confused, almost improvisatory.  They spent the first 5 minutes trying to develop the characters, then they just sort of gave up on that.  Then they took the tension approach, but the "reaching into a dark hole trying to find something so that the audience thinks that a shark is about to bite their hand off but they just end up pulling out the thing that they were looking for" gag got old after the third time.  Then there is also the lack of sharks.  I mean, it took a solid 45 minutes for the first shark to appear.  Since the character development was basically non-existent and the first half of the movie is "Our ship just wrecked... should we stay on board or attempt to swim for safety?", I would actually really like to give this film a second try, starting at the 40-minute mark and just watching the second half when all of the good stuff occurs.  The reason that I'm not completely writing this film off is because its sharks are much more realistic than "Shark Night 3D" and the circumstances are much more feasible (like, no Deliverance hicks that are filming shark attacks for Shark Week on the Discovery Channel).  "The Reef" stays true to the old philosophy that "the unseen is scarier than what you do see."  It builds suspense through the paranoia of its victims and then only needs to show the shark for a few seconds at the climax of the attack.  This film is built on tension, but it lacks the characters, storyline, and bite of "Jaws."  I would stay away from "The Reef" unless you decide to just watch the second half for a few shark thrills.

Being Flynn - 6 stars out of 10

Being Flynn - 6 stars out of 10

While "Being Flynn" didn't turn out to be the life-changing film that I had hoped for, its realistic approach to the homeless and life in general deserves attention.  The trailer led me to believe that this film would be a heartwarming reconnection between a son and his long-lost father, but it was anything but heartwarming with such a gritty, relentlessly depressing storyline.  If this was a work of fiction, the writers likely would have changed a lot to appeal to theater-goers... but that is the amazing thing.  The real-life Nick Flynn was on set to guarentee an accurate recreation of the events in his life.  Even though it is a downer, this true story is an inspiring reminder that, even when you are at your lowest point and think that there is no hope, you can turn your life around and succeed.  It is hard to believe that Flynn actually endured these events and I am glad that his story is being told.  It isn't the greatest film in the world but Robert DeNiro makes this a must-see.  His depiction of the eccentric Jonathan Flynn is outstanding and may be his best performance since "Awakenings."  The anger, disillusionment, and complete disregard for others that DeNiro brings to this character make you despise him and cheer for him at the same time.  He just creates so many incredible memorable movie moments like sleeping outside of the library, yelling in the middle of the night, or simply every line about being a classic writer.  He is so good that you simply won't notice any of the other actors.  Paul Dano has a nice emotional performance and Olivia Thirlby's sweet smile is about the only relief that you get from the madness, but all pale in comparison to DeNiro's Oscar-worthy performance.

Le Voyage dans la lune (A Trip to the Moon) - 10 stars out of 10

Le Voyage dans la lune (A Trip to the Moon) - 10 stars out of 10

"Le Voyage dans la lune" is simply one of the most important films in the history of cinema.  This adventure, created by film pioneer Georges Méliès, is credited as the first science fiction film EVER.  It is best remembered for its image of a bullet-shaped rocket crashing into the eye of the man in the moon, but the special effects extend far beyond that.  While most people were still trying to figure out how moving pictures work, Méliès was pushing the boundaries of special effects in his glass-house film studio.  The use of scale models, smoke, and quick cuts allowed Méliès to make characters disappear before our very eyes and transport us to places that mankind had never seen.  I can't even comprehend how Méliès created the image of the man in the moon without modern film technology.  But my favorite moment of the entire film is when the astronomers are standing on the moon and watch the Earth rise in the distance.  It is an absolutely chilling moment, almost foreshadowing films like "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Apollo 13" that would be created nearly a hundred years later.  I definitely recommend seeing Scorsese's "Hugo" - it is a beautiful tribute to Méliès and a great insight into the mind of this famed filmmaker.  Some people might not take the time to look this masterpiece up on youtube because it is antiquated, but "Le Voyage dans la lune" is film history in its purest form and is an incredible lesson about the progression of cinema.