The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear - 5 stars out of 10

The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear - 5 stars out of 10

"The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear" feels very tired.  Unlike the first film in the series which is fresh and unexpected, 2 1/2 turns into the same joke over and over again.  It has a few memorable moments like the many Barbara Bush incidences, the tank, and the mariachi band, but it isn't a never-ending series of iconic comedy moments.  A lot of the comedy made me roll my eyes instead of burst into laughter.  The story was really a disappointment when compared with the Queen Elizabeth story of the first film and the prison/Oscar story of the third film.  It hones in on the stereotyped Cold War plot but doesn't do it very well.  Character-wise, this sequel really made me fall in love with Priscilla Presley.  While Leslie Nielsen's character lost some of his charm and O.J. Simpson was basically M.I.A., her character developed really nicely.  I am a huge fan of the first and third films in this series but unless you really love these characters, you can easily skip from 1 to 33 1/3 without missing anything (except for a boring 85 minutes of your life).

42 - 8 stars out of 10

42 - 8 stars out of 10

"42" is the no-details-spared portrayal of Jackie Robinson's racial struggles as he broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball.  With great acting from top to bottom, the cast goes beyond the script to make a thematic statement.  Chadwick Boseman comes out of nowhere to nail this starring role, bringing the attitude and emotion necessary to create a believable Jackie Robinson.  His outburst in the dugout tunnel is chilling.  Harrison Ford steps away from his typical roles to play Branch Rickey, nearly unrecognizable through his age and accent.  It would be easy for this role to be lost but Ford turns him into a hero.  I can't decide if it is the acting or the script, but Alan Tudyk's scene as the taunting Phillies manager Ben Chapman was incredibly effective, filling me with rage toward the bigotry in this world.  It is difficult to listen to all of the n-words throughout this film but the script captures an important part of American history and I think that it brings attention to the need for this prejudice to disappear from our society today.  Whether you are a lover of baseball or simply a movie fan, "42" is a home run.

The Great Gatsby (2013) - 7 stars out of 10

The Great Gatsby (2013) - 7 stars out of 10

"The Great Gatsby" was really good but it wasn't great.  The trailers set a very high expectation for the artistic vision and, while it achieved that visual splendor in many of the scenes, it didn't carry from the start of the film to the end.  It needed to be all-or-nothing when Director Baz Luhrmann took a risk with his modernist approach to the 1920's story, but he sometimes held back and the film fell short.  "Moulin Rouge" is one of my favorite films because, while Luhrmann's vision is bizarre, it makes the film unforgettable.  "Gatsby" gets stuck in the middle, sometimes pushing the envelope (like the incredible car chase scene) but sometimes retreating back to F. Scott Fitzgerald's original world.  The rap soundtrack captured the essence of Gatsby's parties but didn't work for the core of the story.  I did love how they turned songs like Beyonce's "Crazy In Love" into old-timey tunes.  During the first scene, Craig Armstrong's incidental soundtrack music actually made me say  "I'm going to like this film" out loud.  While I was bothered that the artsy approach wasn't consistent from start to finish, the acting was.  Leonardo DiCaprio is as charming as ever as Gatsby, Tobey Maguire (who I usually cannot stand) actually delivered his roll without any overtly bad acting, and Carey Mulligan was lovely as Daisy.  I could not help but wish that I could just be friends with these lead characters and live happily ever.  Joel Edgerton brought the perfect amount of grit to Tom, particularly by eliminating any sympathy through his early infidelity.  The biggest surprise of the film for me was Isla Fisher as Myrtle.  Movies like "Wedding Crashers" have put her into a box but it's so great to see her breaking out into "real" roles..  Finally, the main draw for this film is the fantastic story.  It has the perfect amount of surprises and ends just the way that it needs to, even though an ending that we wish we could change.  Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" didn't live up to the hype but it was an awesome introduction to this story and now I cannot wait to discover the 1974 Robert Redford version.

Brewster's Millions (1945) - 4 stars out of 10

Brewster's Millions (1945) - 4 stars out of 10

"Brewster's Millions" is a classic story that has been put onto the silver screen several times.  The 1945 version is not my favorite version but it still brings the story to life in an entertaining way.  I think that the problem with this film is its cast.  Dennis O'Keefe is good in the titular role as he has to spend a fortune in as many clever ways as he can muster.  I also really enjoyed Eddie Anderson as the loyal servant who is overly supportive of his boss' spending.  But the rest of the cast is flat and unmemorable.  Although the story is a comedy, this version may be a bit too lighthearted and losing the anxiety for Brewster to succeed.  The horse race scene is definitely memorable and I thought that the ending was very clever and comical.  While I much prefer the 1985 Richard Pryor version, this edition of "Brewster's Millions" still creates that exhilaration as one man throws away everything that he has.

The Crow - 5 stars out of 10

The Crow - 5 stars out of 10

While "The Crow" enjoyed critical and box office success, I just wasn't impressed.  The film is legendary as the final performance of Brandon Lee, who was accidentally killed during the production of the film.  Perhaps every frame would appear more haunting (like footage of Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight") if I had been aware of what was occurring when the film came out, but it was just another film to me.  The concept is interesting as a murdered man has the opportunity to avenge his own death.  While the concept is obviously science fiction, too much mysticism (invincibility through the crow, transferring pain) takes any realism out of the film and kept me from emotionally committing to it.  The violence is graphic in an awesome way and, from a special effects standpoint, "The Crow" really pushed the boundaries of realism and was very innovative for its time.  While I didn't love it, the critics validate this film's quality and its audience appeal makes it worth seeing at least once.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - 10 stars out of 10

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - 10 stars out of 10

This is one of those rare nearly-perfect movies that has left its impression on so many of the films that we see today.  The acting of Paul Newman and Robert Redford is spot on as they bring comedy to their tragic roles.  Their banter is hysterical, even in the most dire of situations and you will fall in love with their friendship as the movie progresses.  I love the unique sequence with the still pictures - it breaks the movie up and gives an old-time feel to it.  Mr. Garris (played by Strother Martin) provides the perfect amount of comic relief just when the audience might start to lose interest.  The interpretation of these true events is perfect as the audience's only choice is to root for Butch and Sundance to win in the end.

The Art Of The Steal - 7 stars out of 10

The Art Of The Steal - 7 stars out of 10

"The Art Of The Steal" is a sometimes-dry-but-oft-informative documentary about the dirty politics that led to $4.5 billion worth of art being taken over by the city of Philadelphia.  The famous Barnes collection, the world's greatest collection of post--Impressionist artwork, has a rich history that is explained throughout the film, all centered around the litigation that slowly broke Barnes' will.  The pieces were never to leave their home in Lower Merion, PA and yet, lawyers and politicians managed to send the collection on a world tour and eventually move it to a permanent home in downtown Philadelphia.  This one hits close to home as it takes place in our own backyard and involves several figures that we know, including former Gov. Ed Rendell and the Pew family (contributors to Grove City College).  The editing helps the film to have a good pace and focuses in on the intrigue, although it doesn't come off as a thriller like "Man On Wire."  There isn't as much artwork in the film as I would have liked but I am very excited to visit the Barnes Foundation someday now that I know it's rich history and list of paintings by Renoire, Cezanne, Matisse, Degas, Van Gogh, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc!