The Wolf Of Wall Street(2013 - December 25)
2 hr 59 min.
Rated: R | graphic nudity, drug use, language throughout, some violence and strong sexual content. Common Sense Media says Not for kids. More on child suitability
Grade: D This is a three hour assault on the senses. The vulgar, crass, filthy language is appalling. It is based on a true story, which would make it a bit more relevant and interesting except who cares about the story when when you are relentlessly subjected to so much debauchery and filth. Once again I suffer for breaking my vow to never see another Martin Scorsese film, so it's my own fault. Beyond that the acting was over the top, caricatures, with endless mugging. I kept finding myself thinking I wish I'd left the theater 30 min. ago. This film robbed me of 3 hours I'll never get back. It is a cautionary morality tale but when the film sets the record for the most use of the 'F' word (supposedly around 700 times in a 3 hour period and that isn't counting all the other profanities and vulgarities which include every one in the book). I can't recommend it to anyone. The production values were to industry standards like for instance it was in focus and the costumes and sets and lighting were good, otherwise it wouldn't have gotten a D grade. Of course, 'values free' Hollywood adores trashy filth like this awarding it a Best Picture and other Oscar nominations.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writers: Terence Winter (screenplay), Jordan Belfort (book)
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie | See full cast and crew
In 1987, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) takes an
entry-level job at a Wall Street brokerage firm. By the early 1990s,
while still in his 20s, Belfort founds his own firm, Stratton Oakmont.
Together with his trusted lieutenant (Jonah Hill) and a merry band of
brokers, Belfort makes a huge fortune by defrauding wealthy investors
out of millions. However, while Belfort and his cronies partake in a
hedonistic brew of sex, drugs and thrills, the SEC and the FBI close in
on his empire of excess.
Frozen(2013 - November 27)
Animation | Adventure | Comedy
1 hr. 48 min.
Rated: PG | Some action and mild rude humor. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 5+. More on child suitability
Grade: A- This is classic Disney animation and storytelling. The songs and musical score are excellent. This is s film you can feel comfortable taking your family to see, event the youngest ones. It's good to see Disney hit one out of the park for a change. Disney studios are so schizophrenic these days. They announced (Feb. 2014) that they would no longer support the Boy Scouts of America because of it's refusal to allow openly gay scoutmasters. along with the R rated films released by the studios, Walt is probably spinning in his grave at the direction his successors have taken the traditional family values empire he created.
Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee Writers: Jennifer Lee (screenplay), Hans Christian Andersen (inspired by the story "The Snow Queen" by), 3 more credits
Stars: Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel | See full cast and crew
In "Frozen," fearless optimist Anna (voice of 'Kristen Bell' ) teams up
with rugged mountain man Kristoff (voice of 'Jonathan Groff' ) and his
loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like
conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race
to find Anna's sister Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), whose icy powers
have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering
Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named
Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the
kingdom.
The Book Thief(2013 - November 27)
Drama | War
2 hr. 11 min.
Rated: PG-13 | Nothing in the way of sex, nudity and profanity. The rating comes from the violence of the Nazi war setting.
Grade: A- | Ranks on my list of the best films of the year. Good moral values featuring role models for all ages. The performances are very strong. The film is carried on the able shoulders of relatively unknown Sophie Nélisse. Geoffrey Rush (reminded me of Max Von Sydow) and Emily Watson were superb as Liesel's new adoptive parents. Some may feel that the direction is a bit soft on its handling of Nazi Germany but the film is not a documentary on the war but a film about the human condition and coping under the stressful weight of life changing circumstances that are far beyond one's control.
Director: Brian Percival Writers: Markus Zusak (novel), Michael Petroni (adaptation)
Stars: Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson | See full cast and crew
Based on the beloved international bestselling book, THE BOOK THIEF
tells the story of an extraordinary, spirited young girl sent to live
with a foster family in WWII Germany. Intrigued by the only book she
brought with her, she begins collecting books as she finds them. With
the help of her new parents and a secret guest under the stairs, she
learns to read and creates a magical world that inspires them all.
A young girl (Sophie Nelisse) living with foster parents (Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson)
in Nazi Germany begins collecting forbidden books and sharing them with
the Jewish refugee hiding in her home in this war drama adapted from Markus Zusak's book by screenwriter Michael Petroni (The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys) and director Brian Percival (Downton Abbey). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
ABOUT TIME(2013 - November 8)
Comedy | Drama | Sci-Fi
2 hr. 03 min.
Rated: PG-13 | Language and some sexual content. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 16+ Read more
Grade: B | The film starts out well then bogs down a bit (especially when it focuses on the sexual relationship of the main characters) but it rebounds for a strong and touching finish. Domhnall Gleeson (Tim Lake) is excellent and Bill Nighy (Tim's father) is superb as usual (you may remember him from 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel', incidentally Marigold Hotel Pt. 2, the sequel is in the works). The film is strong on familial bonding, love of family, and offers some powerful life lessons.
Director: Richard Curtis Writer: Richard Curtis
Stars: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy | See full cast and crew
At the age of 21, Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers he can travel in time...
The night after another unsatisfactory New Year party, Tim's father (Bill Nighy) tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Tim can't change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life so he decides to make his world a better place...by getting a girlfriend. Sadly, that turns out not to be as easy as you might think.
Moving from the Cornwall coast to London to train as a lawyer, Tim finally meets the beautiful but insecure Mary (Rachel McAdams). They fall in love, then an unfortunate time-travel incident means he's never met her at all. So they meet for the first time again and again but finally, after a lot of cunning time-traveling, he wins her heart.
Tim then uses his power to create the perfect romantic proposal, to save his wedding from the worst best-man speeches, to save his best friend from professional disaster and to get his pregnant wife to the hospital in time for the birth of their daughter, despite a nasty traffic jam outside Abbey Road.
But as his unusual life progresses, Tim finds out that his unique gift can't save him from the sorrows and ups and downs that affect all families, everywhere. There are great limits to what time travel can achieve, and it can be dangerous too. "About Time" is a comedy about love and time travel, which discovers that, in the end, making the most of life may not need time travel at all.
Thor: The Dark World(2013 - November 8)
Action | Adventure | Fantasy
1 hr. 52 min.
Rated: PG-13 | Some suggestive content and intense sci-fi action/violence. Mild language. Read more
Grade: B
| Thor is a good effort for the genre but the super hero genre has hit a glass ceiling. Hollywood's whore mongering of the Marvel super hero mania is so over visited that it is becoming threadbare and tiresome. Each movie is just like the last, all you have to do is change the costumes. Like any addiction they crave more and more until it kills the host. Note to Hollywood: Take a break. You would do well to step back awhile and show some restraint before you kill the golden goose. Admittedly, I enjoy a good Si-Fi/Action/Fantasy/Adventure film yet even I am becoming jaded. You go to the film hoping to see and A or and A+ but must settle for a B because the series has nowhere to go.
Director: Alan Taylor
Writers: Christopher Yost (screenplay), Christopher Markus (screenplay), 6 more credits »
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston | See full cast and crew
Director: Alan Taylor
Writers: Christopher Yost (screenplay), Christopher Markus (screenplay), 6 more credits »
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston | See full cast and crew
Marvel's "Thor: The Dark World" continues
the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to
save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates
the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel's "Thor" and "Marvel's
The Avengers," Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an
ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe
back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard
cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal
journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to
sacrifice everything to save us all.
Ender's Game(2013 - November 1)
Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
1 hr. 54 min.
Rated: PG-13 | Some violence, sci-fi action and thematic material Read more
Grade: A- | I enjoyed this so much more than 'Gravity', which had me nodding off. Certainly the story is more 'Sci-fi' and it relies on more characters and actors, but beyond that in my opinion, it has more of a story. I have not read the novel so I can't say how true to the text it is but I found it engaging. Alongside the big name star power 16 year old Asa Butterfield holds his own. Ender's Game is head and shoulders above the disappointing Elysium and the dreadful After Earth.
Director: Gavin Hood Writers: Gavin Hood (screenplay), Orson Scott Card (based on the book Ender's Game by)
Stars: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld | See full cast and crew
In the near future, a hostile alien race
called the Formics have attacked Earth. If not for the legendary heroics
of International Fleet Commander Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley), all
would have been lost. In preparation for the next attack, the highly
esteemed Colonel Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford) and the International
Military are training only the best young minds to find the future
Mazer.
Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a shy but strategically brilliant boy, is recruited to join the elite. Arriving at Battle School, Ender quickly and easily masters increasingly difficult challenges and simulations, distinguishing himself and winning respect amongst his peers. Ender is soon ordained by Graff as the military’s next great hope, resulting in his promotion to Command School. Once there, he’s trained by Mazer Rackham himself to lead his fellow soldiers into an epic battle that will determine the future of Earth and save the human race.
Based on the best-selling, award winning novel, "Ender's Game" is an epic adventure which stars Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, with Abigail Breslin and Harrison Ford.
Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a shy but strategically brilliant boy, is recruited to join the elite. Arriving at Battle School, Ender quickly and easily masters increasingly difficult challenges and simulations, distinguishing himself and winning respect amongst his peers. Ender is soon ordained by Graff as the military’s next great hope, resulting in his promotion to Command School. Once there, he’s trained by Mazer Rackham himself to lead his fellow soldiers into an epic battle that will determine the future of Earth and save the human race.
Based on the best-selling, award winning novel, "Ender's Game" is an epic adventure which stars Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, with Abigail Breslin and Harrison Ford.
(2013 - Octobrt 25)
Comedy
1 hr. 32 min.
Rating: R | Strong crude and sexual content throughout, language, some graphic nudity and brief drug use. Common Sense Media say definitely deserving of its R rating. Read more
Grade: B- | I shouldn't have laughed at this film...but I did. In fact this film made me laugh harder than I have at any movie in a long time. The merging of a hidden camera-prank/stunt type movie and a road movie is very effective. This is not everyone's type of humor, there is a lot that is crude and raunchy, cheap sex humor, but that is not what I found funny, Johnny Knoxville and 8 year old Jackson Nicoll are actually a talented comedy team that in time grows on you.
Director: Jeff Tremaine Writers: Fax Bahr (story), Spike Jonze (story), 3 more credits
Stars: Johnny Knoxville, Jackson Nicoll, Greg Harris | See full cast and crew
86-year-old Irving Zisman is on a journey
across America with the most unlikely companions, his 8-year-old
Grandson Billy in "Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa." This October, the
signature Jackass character Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) and Billy
(Jackson Nicholl) will take movie audiences along for the most insane
hidden camera road trip ever captured on camera.
Along the way, Irving will introduce the young and impressionable Billy
to people, places and situations that give new meaning to the term
childrearing. The duo will encounter male strippers, disgruntled child
beauty pageant contestants (and their equally disgruntled mothers),
funeral home mourners, biker bar patrons and a whole lot of unsuspecting
citizens.
Real people in unreal situations, making for one really messed up comedy.
12 Years A Slave(2013 - October 18~Limited) [Best Picture 2013]
2 hr 14 min
Rated: R | violence/cruelty, some nudity and brief sexuality. Common Sense Media says Pause for kids 14 & under. More on child suitability
Grade: C | Well, I am in total dissagreement with the Academy, but that's not unusual. It's hard to express how much I disliked this film. I so wanted to leave before its interminable two and a quarter hour running time had expired. I recognize the value of the source material but Steve McQueen's direction just drove me insane. His work is so heavy handed and preachy, and the over use of the word 'nigger' was like he felt a 'subtle' need to bang us all over the head with a 2X4 as if to say 'Do you get it...ALL whites south of the Mason Dixson Line were hateful, racist, bigots! Always have been and always will be! And furthermore I suspect that the rest of you whites still are today'. It's like being lectured to by Spike Lee, or Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Slavery was bad. Slavery and racism was AND IS wrong. We get it. We don't condone it. We don't defend it. Of course Hollywood praises films like this because they think it gives them a pass on racism and bigotry. That happens in the fly over country...but not in Hollywood.
Technically the costumes were good, the sets were good, the acting was good, but none of it was remarkable and the script and direction were awful mediocre at beat. Of course you can't say that without being accused of racism, so go ahead and trow your slings and arrows. The Best Picture Oscar, like the Nobel Peace Prize, have become so political that they have become totally meaningless. They have little to do with artistry and craft, its all about making a 'feel good' statement.
Director: Steve McQueen
Writers: John Ridley (screenplay),
Solomon Northup (based on "Twelve Years a Slave" by)
Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael K. Williams, Michael Fassbender | See full cast and crew
Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave stars Chiwetel Ejifor as Solomon
Northup, a free black man in 1840s America. He makes his living as a
fiddle player, and his wife is a teacher. He is shanghaied by a pair of
nefarious white men, and soon finds himself on a ship headed to New
Orleans where he is informed he will be called Platt and is sold into
slavery by an unscrupulous businessman (Paul Giamatti). As he toils away
for the kindhearted but conflicted plantation owner Mr. Ford (Benedict
Cumberbatch), who recognizes that Platt is both educated and an artist,
he butts head with Ford's underlings, especially the casually cruel
Tibeats (Paul Dano). After they have a violent altercation, Ford fears
for his slave's life and sells him to Mr. Epps (Michael Fassbender), an
alcoholic sadist who owns a cotton plantation.
Though Epps reads from the bible to his property, as he frequently
refers to his slaves, he is himself not immune to sins of the flesh. He
has taken the young Patsey (Lupita Nyong'o) - his best cotton picker --
as his lover, and this doesn't sit well at all with his severe wife
(Sarah Paulson), whose particular hatred for blacks and her jealousy
fuels her many degrading actions toward Patsey. Solomon bides his time,
attempts to preserve a modicum of self-respect, and waits for the chance
to reclaim his rightful name as well as his family. ~ Perry Seibert,
Rovi
(2013 - October 18)
Action | Mystery | Thriller
1 hr. 55 min.
Rated: R |Violence and Language Throughout. Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+ Read more
Grade: B
| Not a
big fan of prison break movies, but this one is different. I went in
with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. The language was a
major turn off but is what is the standard for Hollywood these days
unfortunately. It would have been much more enjoyable without it. The
story has some unexpected twists that helps to hold your interest. You
get pretty much what you would expect from Schwarzenegger and Stallone
(but better than their recent efforts), and Jim Caviezel (Passion of the
Christ) is exceptional.
Director: Mikael HåfströmWriters: Miles Chapman (screenplay), Jason Keller (screenplay), 1 more credit
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Caviezel, 50 Cent | See full cast and crew
One of the world's foremost authorities on
structural security agrees to take on one last job: breaking out of an
ultra-secret, high-tech facility called "The Tomb." Deceived and wrongly
imprisoned, Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone) must recruit fellow inmate
Emil Rottmayer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to help devise a daring, nearly
impossible plan to escape from the most protected and fortified prison
ever built. "Escape Plan" is the first pairing of action legends
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in leading roles, and
co-stars Jim Caviezel, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Vinnie Jones, Vincent
D'Onofrio and Amy Ryan.
Captain Phillips (2013 - October 11)
Action | Adventure | Biography
2 hr. 14 min.
Rated: PG-13 | Sustained intense sequences of menace, some violence with bloody images, and for substance use. Common Sense Media says Iffy for 13+. Read more
Grade: A- In spite of Tom Hanks with his very unconvincing New England accent this is a good film. Very well made with the exception of the, yet again, very annoying hand-held camera technique. Captain Phillips becomes one more film that suffers from this vapid moviemaking fad. My interest started to wane about 3/4 of the way through the film, I think in part to the distracting film technique.
Director: Paul Greengrass
Writers: Billy Ray (screenplay), Richard Phillips and Stephan Talty (based upon the book "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea")
Stars: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman | See full cast and crew
Columbia Pictures' action-thriller "Captain
Phillips" stars two-time Oscar® winner Tom Hanks in the true story of
Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the
US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be
hijacked in two hundred years. The film is directed by Oscar® nominee Paul Greengrass, from a screenplay by
Billy Ray and based upon the book, "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates,
Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea," by Richard Phillips with Stephan
Talty. The film is produced by Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, and Michael
De Luca.
(2013 - October 9 [Limited])
Action | Drama
1 hr. 47 min.
Rated: PG-13 Tense thematic elements involving kidnapping and hostage situations, guns and some smoking.
Grade: A-
This
is one of the best films I've
seen in a long time. It is a quality production, the script, the
direction and acting are all up to par. One negative, at least for my
tastes, is the jittery hand held camera technique. I hate that in any
movie. This is a film that can take the entire family to see, well, 8
and under might be iffy, you may end up creating mission phobia in your
little ones. Truth is often more incredible than fiction and this is a true story. I remember when the events were playing out in the papers and on the TV. This action/drama will appeal to a universal audience its story is
not limited to an LDS audience or market or even those who are familiar with Mormon culture. The Saratov Approach is an uplifting and
inspiring experience.
Director: Garrett Batty
Writer: Garrett Batty
Stars: Corbin Allred, Maclain Nelson, Nikita Bogolyubov | See full cast and crew
Two missionaries are kidnapped and held for ransom while serving in Russia.
Inspired by actual events, THE SARATOV APPROACH is the extraordinary,
untold story of Elders Travis Tuttle and Andrew Propst and their
week-long abduction in Saratov, Russia. On what seemed like any other
day during their two-year LDS missions, Elders Travis Tuttle (Corbin
Allred) and Andrew Propst (Maclain Nelson) are approached by Nikolai
(Nikita Bogolyubov) to meet a friend. But then the missionaries
experience the unimaginable -- kidnapped, beaten, and held for ransom
for nearly a week -- on
the other side of the
world in Saratov, Russia. While their family, friends and the world pray
for their safe return, Tuttle and Propst are tested physically,
emotionally and most of all -- spiritually. (c) Saratov Films
Pulling Strings(2013 - October 4)
Comedy | Romance
1 hr. 52 min.
(Spanish and English with English subtitles)
Rated: PG | Very little to offend here.
Grade: C A harmless yet very predictable romantic comedy. Seemed like a poor man's Instructions Not Included, fairly bland performances except for Jaime Camil, his singing was a standout, and Omar Chaparro. Tom Arnold and Stockard Channing were particularly unconvincing. The subtitles go by so fast that it is hard to get through them and still be able to watch the action.
Director: Pedro Pablo Ibarra Writers: Issa López (screenplay), Georgina Riedel (screenplay), 2 more credits »
Stars: Laura Ramsey, Jaime Camil, Omar Chaparro | See full cast and crew
"Pulling
Strings" is a bilingual comedy starring Jamie Camil. Alejandro (Jaime
Camil) and his loyal best friend Canicas (Omar Chaparro) are hardworking
mariachi singers looking for fame in Mexico City. More than just a
mariachi, Alejandro has a second full time job he's a single dad. When
Alejandro tries to secure a visa for his young daughter to visit her
grandparents in the U.S. Alejandro's request is flatly denied by a young
embassy worker, Rachel (Laura Ramsey.) Later that evening, Alejandro
and Canicas run into Rachel while playing a gig which turns out to be a
celebration of her promotion to a post in London. Alejandro seizes the
coincidental encounter as a chance to change her mind on his rejected
visa, and with Canicas by his side, they whisk her into an unforgettable
adventure. And, while he gets busy pulling strings for a visa, it turns
out the strings of his heart are pulled too.
Gravity(2013 - October 4)
Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller
1 hr. 30 min.
Rated: PG-13 | Intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief strong language: Common Sense Media says OK for kids 14+. More on child suitability
Grade: B- Well made but thin scripted, implausible and boring in my opinion. Sandra Bullock escapes unscathed from too many million to one chances. All the damage and neither Bullock or Clooney's space suits are ever torn or compromised...seriously? I had a hard time staying interested...found myself actually dozing off. The cinematography is however quite stunning. Lots of eye candy but a film need more that that.
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Writers: Alfonso Cuarón,
Jonás Cuarón
Stars: Sandra Bullock,
George Clooney,
Ed Harris |
See full cast and crew
Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a medical engineer on her first
shuttle mission. Her commander is veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky
(George Clooney), helming his last flight before retirement. Then, on a
routine space walk, disaster strikes -- the shuttle is destroyed,
leaving Ryan and Matt stranded in deep space with no link to Earth and
no hope of rescue. As their fear turns to panic, they realize that the
only way home may be to venture further into space.
(2013 - October [limited])
"Lemale et ha'halal" (original title-opened Israel October 18 2012)
Drama
1 hr. 30 min.
(Hebrew ~ English subtitles)
Rated: PG | Mild Thematic Elements and Brief Smoking
Grade: C+ Difficult to follow if you are not familiar with the Hasidic Jewish culture. The subtitles are also a bit too fast.
Director: Rama BurshteinWriter: Rama Burshtein
Stars: Hadas Yaron, Yiftach Klein, Irit Sheleg | See full cast and crew
A family crisis puts a young woman in a difficult position in this drama from Israeli filmmaker Rama Burshtein. Esther (Renana Raz) is the daughter of an Orthodox Rabbi who follows her father's faith, and she and her husband Yochay (Yiftach Klein)
are happy to soon be welcoming their first child into the world. Joy
turns to sorrow when Esther dies in childbirth; Yochay is devastated,
and despite their own heartache, her mother Rivka (Irit Sheleg) and
younger sister Shira (Hadas Yaron) step forward to help the widower look after his newborn son. Esther's father Rabbi Aharon (Chayim Sharir)
counsels Yochay that it would be best for him and his young son if he
remarried as soon as he feels capable, but finding a fit mother is no
simple task. Rivka comes up with what she feels is a perfect solution --
an arranged marriage between Yochay and Shira, who has already grown
fond of the baby. Yochay isn't sure he's comfortable with wedding his
sister-in-law, and Shira feels no better about it, preferring to save
herself for a virgin like herself, but the demands of her family may
weigh more strongly than her own desires. Lemale et ha'chalal (aka Fill
the Void) received its American premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film
Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Thanks For Sharing (2013 - September 20 [limited])
Comedy | Drama
1 hr. 52 min.
Rated: R Language and some strong sexual content: Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+. More on child suitability
Grade: B- Not for everyone. Well directed and acted but could be very difficult to watch for some simply that for many it will hit a little too close to home. Damaged and flawed as the characters are they are played with enough finesse that they are not completely unlikeable. I liked the film, in spite of Tim Robbins' appearance, but I can't really say I that enjoyed it.
Director: Stuart Blumberg
Writers: Stuart Blumberg (screenplay), Matt Winston (screenplay)
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Gwyneth Paltrow | See full cast and crew
From Academy Award®-nominated screenwriter and first-time director Stuart Blumberg ("The Kids Are All Right"), "Thanks for Sharing" is a sharply comic and deeply moving look at a new kind of modern family, as a group of friends in recovery learns to face life together with heart, humor and humility. Academy Award-nominee Mark Ruffalo, Academy Award-winner Tim Robbins and Broadway star Josh Gad ("The Book of Mormon") anchor a stellar ensemble that includes Academy Award-winner Gwyneth Paltrow and pop star Alecia Moore ("Get the Party Started") in her first film role.
(2013 - September 20)
Crime | Drama | Thriller
2 hr. 33 min.
Rated: R | Language Throughout, Disturbing Violent Content and Torture: Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+. Read more on child suitability
Grade: B- Well
made and acted with good character development with good lessons about jumping to conclusions, but it felt like they
were trying to see how many characters and just how often they could
incorporate the use of profanity, especially the 'F' bomb and its
variations, into their dialogue. It became distracting. It also portrays religion in a negative light.
Director: Denis Villeneuve Writer: Aaron Guzikowski
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis | See full cast and crew
Keller Dover is facing every parent's worst
nightmare. His 6-year-old daughter and her young friend are missing,
and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a
dilapidated RV that had been parked on their street. Heading the
investigation, Detective Loki arrests its driver, but a lack of evidence
forces the only suspect's release. Knowing his child's life is at
stake, the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take matters
into his own hands. The desperate father will do whatever it takes to
find the girls, but in doing so, may lose himself, begging the question:
When do you cross the line between seeking justice and becoming a
vigilante?
Insidious Chapter 2(2013 - September 13)
Horror | Thriller
1 hr. 46 min.
Rated: PG-13 Intense sequences of terror and violence, and thematic elements.
Grade: B-
Director: James Wan
Writers: Leigh Whannell (screenplay, story and characters), James Wan (story)
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey | See full cast and crew
The famed horror team of director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell
reunite with the original cast of Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye,
Barbara Hershey and Ty Simpkins in INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2, a terrifying
sequel to the acclaimed horror film, which follows the haunted Lambert
family as they seek to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has
left them dangerously connected to the spirit world.
Instructions Not Included(No se Aceptan Devoluciones)
(2013 - September 6 [USA])
Comedy | Drama
1 hr. 55 min.
(Spanish and English with English subtitles)
Rated: PG-13 Language, Thematic Elements and Sexual Content. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+. More on child suitability
Grade: A- Heart warming with a good message with twists that you won't see coming. Eugenio Derbez delivers an excellent performance. Arguably not the best but certainly one of the most enjoyable films of 2013 thus far.
Director: Eugenio Derbez Writers: Guillermo Ríos, Leticia López Margalli, Eugenio Derbez (contributing writer)
Stars: Eugenio Derbez, Karla Souza, Jessica Lindsey, Daniel Raymont | See full cast and crew
Valentin (Eugenio Derbez) is Acapulco's resident playboy until a former
fling leaves a baby on his doorstep and takes off without a trace.
Valentin leaves Mexico for Los Angeles to find the baby's mother, but
only ends up finding a new home for himself and his newfound daughter,
Maggie (Loreto Peralta). An unlikely father figure, Valentin raises
Maggie for six years, while also establishing himself as one of
Hollywood's top stuntmen to pay the bills, with Maggie acting as his
on-set coach. As
Valentin raises Maggie,
she forces him to grow up too. But their unique and offbeat family is
threatened when Maggie's birth mom shows up out of the blue, and
Valentin realizes he's in danger of losing his daughter- and his best
friend. (c) Official Facebook
The Ultimate Life(2013 - September 6)
Drama1 hr. 45 min.
Rated: PG Brief violence and mild language i.e. 'hell'. Common Sense Media says: Best suited for tweens and up.
Grade: C+Director: Michael Landon Jr.
Writers: Brian Bird (screenplay), Cheryl McKay (screen story by), Lisa G. Shillingburg (screenplay), Jim Stovall (novel)
Stars: Logan Bartholomew, Peter Fonda, Ali Hillis | See full cast and crew
The sequel (and prequel) to the award-winning The Ultimate Gift. Between the pressure of running a foundation started by his late grandfather, being sued by his greedy extended family, and seeing his beloved Alexia leave on an extended mission trip to Haiti, Jason Stevens' world is unraveling. But when Jason discovers the lifelong journal his grandfather began as a Depression-era lad, Red Stevens' writings transport Jason to a front-row seat on an incredible rags-to-riches ride. With everything he loves hanging in the balance, Jason hopes he can discover "The Ultimate Life."
Riddick(2013 - September 6)
Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller
1 hr 59 min
Rated: R | Some sexual content and nudity with very vulgar sexual inuendos, strong language and graphic violence.
Grade: C+
Director: David Twohy
Writers: David Twohy, Jim Wheat (based on characters created by), 3 more credits
Stars: Vin Diesel, Karl Urban, Katee Sackhoff | See full cast and crew
Riddick, the latest chapter of the groundbreaking saga that began with
2000's hit sci-fi film Pitch Black and 2004's The Chronicles of Riddick
reunites writer/director David Twohy (A Perfect Getaway, The Fugitive)
and star Vin Diesel (the Fast and Furious franchise, xXx). Diesel
reprises his role as the antihero Riddick, a dangerous, escaped convict
wanted by every bounty hunter in the known galaxy. The infamous Riddick
has been left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears to be
lifeless.
Soon, however, he finds
himself fighting for survival against alien predators more lethal than
any human he's encountered. The only way off is for Riddick to activate
an emergency beacon and alert mercenaries who rapidly descend to the
planet in search of their bounty. The first ship to arrive carries a new
breed of merc, more lethal and violent, while the second is captained
by a man whose pursuit of Riddick is more personal. With time running
out and a storm on the horizon that no one could survive, his hunters
won't leave the planet without Riddick's head as their trophy. (c)
Universal
(2013 - August 16, 2013 [NY, LA])
Comedy | Romance
1 hr. 36 min.
Rated: PG-13 Innuendo and Suggestive. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 12+. Read more
Grade: C-
Director: Jerusha Hess
Writers: Jerusha Hess (screenplay), Shannon Hale (screenplay), 1 more credit »
Stars: Keri Russell, JJ Feild, Jennifer Coolidge | See full cast and crew
Socially
awkward Jane Hayes (Keri Russell) is obsessed with the works of Jane
Austen and fantasizes about the character of Mr. Darcy. She scrapes
together as much money as she can and takes off for Austenland, a
British theme resort where guests immerse themselves in a romantic
fantasy worthy of Austen herself. However, because Jane's limited funds
do not allow as many privileges as other guests, her chance at a fling
with her very own Mr. Darcy may be limited as well.
A HijackingOriginal Danish title:
Kapringen
(2013 - June 21)[US limited]
Part Danish part English with English subtitles
Drama | Thriller
1 hr. 33 min.
Rated: R Language and some violence
Grade: A-
Director: Tobias Lindholm
Writer: Tobias Lindholm
Stars: Pilou Asbæk, Søren Malling, Dar Salim, Roland Møller, Gary Skjoldmose Porter, Abdihakin Asgar, Amalie Ihle Alstrup | See full cast and crew
The cargo ship MV Rozen is heading for harbor when it is hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. Amongst the men on board are the ship’s cook Mikkel (Pilou Asbæk) and the engineer Jan (Roland Møller), who along with the rest of the seamen are taken hostage in a cynical game of life and death. With the demand for a ransom of millions of dollars a psychological drama unfolds between the CEO of the shipping company (Søren Malling) and the Somali pirates.
The Grandmaster(2013 - August 30)
Action | Biography | Drama
Chinese: English subtitles
2 hr 10 min
Rated: PG-13 Brief language, brief drug use, some smoking and violence | Common Sense Media says OK for kids 14+. Read more
Grade: B-
Director: Kar Wai Wong
Writers: Kar Wai Wong (story), Kar Wai Wong (screenplay), Jingzhi Zou (screenplay), Haofeng Xu (screenplay)
Stars: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Ziyi Zhang, Jin Zhang | See full cast and crew
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Wong Kar Wai, THE GRANDMASTER is an epic action feature inspired by the life and times of the legendary kung fu master, Ip Man. The story spans the tumultuous Republican era that followed the fall of China’s last dynasty, a time of chaos, division and war that was also the golden age of Chinese martial arts. Filmed in a range of stunning locations that include the snow-swept landscapes of Northeast China and the subtropical South, THE GRANDMASTER features virtuoso performances by some of the greatest stars of contemporary Asian cinema, including Tony Leung and Ziyi Zhang.
Closed Circuit(22013 - August 28)
Crime | Drama | Mystery
1 hr 36 min
Rated: R Language and brief violence Read more
Grade: C
Director: John Crowley
Writer: Steven Knight (screenplay)
Stars: Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall, Jim Broadbent | See full cast and crew
A terrorist attack in London results in the capture of suspect Farroukh Erdogan (Denis Moschitto). The attorney general appoints Claudia Simmons-Howe (Rebecca Hall) as special advocate on Erdogan's legal team. On the eve of the trial, Erdogan's lawyer dies, and a new defense attorney, Martin Rose (Eric Bana), steps in. Martin and Claudia are former lovers, a fact which must remain hidden. As Martin assembles his case, he uncovers a sinister conspiracy, placing him and Claudia in danger. Full synopsis
(2013 - August 24)
Horror | Thriller
1 hr. 34 Min. Rated: R Strong Bloody Violence, Some Sexuality/Nudity and Language Read more
Grade: C+
Director: Adam Wingard
Writer: Simon Barrett
Stars: Sharni Vinson, Joe Swanberg, AJ Bowen | See full cast and crew
One of the smartest and most terrifying films in years, YOU'RE NEXT
reinvents the genre by putting a fresh twist on home-invasion horror.
When a gang of masked, ax-wielding murderers descend upon the Davison
family reunion, the hapless victims seem trapped...until an unlikely
guest of the family proves to be the most talented killer of all. (c)
Lionsgate
(2013 - August 21)
Action | Adventure | Drama
2 hr 10 min
Rated: PG-13 Intense sequences of fantasy violence and action, and some suggestive content. Read more
Grade: C-
Director: Harald Zwart
Writers: Jessica Postigo (screenplay), Cassandra Clare (based on the novel by)
Stars: Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jemima West | See full cast and crew
Set in contemporary New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager, Clary
Fray (Lily Collins), discovers she is the descendant of a line of
Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of young half-angel warriors locked in an
ancient battle to protect our world from demons. After the disappearance
of her mother (Lena Headey), Clary must join forces with a group of
Shadowhunters, who introduce her to a dangerous alternate New York
called Downworld, filled with demons, warlocks, vampires, werewolves and
other deadly creatures. Based on the worldwide best-selling book
series.Written by
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Elysium(2013 - August 8)
Action | Drama | Sci-Fi
1 hr, 39 min.
Rated: R Strong bloody violence and language throughout, dozens of uses of "f--k" and its variations. Common Sense Media says Iffy for 15+ Read more on child suitability
Grade: C
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Writer: Neill Blomkamp
Stars: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley | See full cast and crew
In the year 2154, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy, who
live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest,
who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. The people of Earth are
desperate to escape the planet's crime and poverty, and they critically
need the state-of-the-art medical care available on Elysium - but some
in Elysium will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and
preserve their citizens' luxurious lifestyle. The only man with the
chance
bring equality to these
worlds is Max (Matt Damon), an ordinary guy in desperate need to get to
Elysium. With his life hanging in the balance, he reluctantly takes on a
dangerous mission - one that pits him against Elysium's Secretary
Delacourt (Jodie Foster) and her hard-line forces - but if he succeeds,
he could save not only his own life, but millions of people on Earth as
well. -- (C) Sony
We're The Millers(2013 - August 7)
Comedy | Crime
1 hr. 50 min.
Rated: R This is a "Hard R" trashy comedy, with extremely crude sexual content with graphic sexual references and repetitive jokes centered on genitalia and sex acts; sexually charged scenes, raunchy conversations; half naked women and brief graphic nudity; pervasive language, expect lots of swearing ("f--k," "s--t," and much, much more); The entire plot is based on sexual perversions and the humor of drug smuggling.
Grade: D- I
reviewed this film against my better judgement after being told it was
very funny from start to finish and not nearly as bad, language-wise, as
one would expect. True? NOT EVEN! You
can view the sanitized official trailer followed by the RED BAND
trailer in my full review on the home page of the blog. If you are
seriously planning on seeing this film you should watch the RED BAND
trailer before you decide to waste your money.
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber Writers: Bob Fisher (screenplay), Steve Faber (screenplay), 4 more credits
Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, Emma Roberts | See full cast and crew
David Burke (Jason Sudeikis) is a small-time pot dealer whose clientele includes chefs and soccer moms, but no kids-after all, he has his scruples. So what could go wrong? Plenty. Preferring to keep a low profile for obvious reasons, he learns the hard way that no good deed goes unpunished when he tries to help out some local teens and winds up getting jumped by a trio of gutter punks. Stealing his stash and his cash, they leave him in major debt to his supplier, Brad (Ed Helms). In order to wipe the slate clean-and maintain a clean bill of health-David must now become a big-time drug smuggler by bringing Brad's latest shipment in from Mexico. Twisting the arms of his neighbors, cynical stripper Rose (Jennifer Aniston) and wannabe customer Kenny (Will Poulter), and the tatted-and-pierced streetwise teen Casey (Emma Roberts), he devises a foolproof plan. One fake wife, two pretend kids and a huge, shiny RV later, the "Millers" are headed south of the border for a Fourth of July weekend that is sure to end with a bang. (c) WB
The Spectacular NOW(2013 - August 2) [Limited]
Comedy | Drama | Romance
1 hr 35 min
Rated: R Language, alcohol use and some sexuality - all involving teens. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 16+. More on child suitability
Grade: C-
Director: James Ponsoldt
Writers: Scott Neustadter (screenplay), Michael H. Weber (screenplay), Tim Tharp (novel)
Stars: Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Kyle Chandler | See full cast and crew
With
sly humor and an intensity of feeling, THE SPECTACULAR NOW (directed by
James Ponsoldt) creates a vivid, three-dimensional portrait of youth
confronting the funny, thrilling and perilous business of modern love
and adulthood. This is the tale of Sutter Keely (Miles Teller), a high
school senior and effortless charmer, and of how he unexpectedly falls
in love with "the good girl" Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley). What
starts as an unlikely romance becomes a sharp-eyed, straight-up snapshot
of the heady confusion and haunting passion of youth - one that doesn't
look for tidy truths. The film was written by Scott Neustadter and
Michael Weber (500) DAYS OF SUMMER and also features wonderful
supporting turns from Brie Larson, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Jason Leigh,
and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
2 GUNS(2013 - August 2)
Action | Comedy | Crime
1 hr. 49 min.
Rated: R Violence and torture throughout, language (including frequent use of 'F**k) and brief nudity.| Read more
Grade: C
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Writers: Blake Masters (screenplay), Steven Grant (based on the Boom! Studios graphic novels by)
Stars: Denzel Washingtn, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton | See full cast and crew
For the past year, DEA agent Bobby Trench (Denzel Washington) and U.S.
Navy intelligence officer Marcus Stigman (Mark Wahlberg) have been
working under cover as members of a narcotics syndicate. The twist:
Neither man knows that the other is an undercover agent. When their
attempt to infiltrate a Mexican drug cartel and recover millions goes
haywire, the men are disavowed by their superiors. Trench and Stigman
must go on the run lest they wind up in jail or in a grave.
The To Do List(2013 - July 26)
Comedy | Romance
1 hr 44 min
Rated: R | Pervasive strong crude and sexual content including graphic dialogue, drug and alcohol use, and language - all involving teens.
Grade: Not Reviewed This is another
film I have no intention of seeing. It is another 'Let's loose our
virginity' movie, with people in their late 20s and 30s playing high
school teenagers (unconvincingly) and based on the premise that everyone
in high school is very experienced sexually by the time graduation
comes along and strongly suggests that if you aren't you are a freak and a looser. Judging
from the uncensored trailer, it is trashy, vulgar, and has no social
redeeming value.
Director: Maggie Carey Writer: Maggie Carey (screenplay)
Stars: Aubrey Plaza, Johnny Simmons, Bill Hader | See full cast and crew
Featuring an all-star comedy cast including
Aubrey Plaza, Johnny Simmons, Bill Hader, Alia Shawkat, Sarah Steele,
Rachel Bilson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Donald Glover, Scott Porter,
Andy Samberg, Connie Britton and Clark Gregg, "The To Do List" is a
comedy about close friends and a special summer project, loosely
inspired by the real-life adventures of first-time writer/director
Maggie Carey. Set in 1993, valedictorian Brandy Klark wants to shed her
uptight image before college, so she assembles a to do list of all the
“activities” she missed out on in high school. Quickly realizing that
she's way out of her depth, Brandy solicits her best friends, older
sister and burnt-out boss for their help and advice. If the group is
going to complete the list by September they'll need plenty of
imagination and very open minds.
(2013 - July 26)
Action | Adventure | Fantasy
2 hr. 6 min.
Rated: PG-13 Language, Intense Sci-Fi Action, Some Sexuality and Violence | Read more
Grade: B-
Director: James Mangold
Writers: Mark Bomback (screenplay), Scott Frank (screenplay)
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima | See full cast and crew
Hugh Jackman returns as Wolverine in this sequel to the member of the
X-Men's first solo outing. Mark Bomback and The Usual Suspects'
Christopher McQuarrie penned the script, which takes its inspiration
from the Chris Claremont/Frank Miller Marvel miniseries from the 1980s
dealing with the character's adventures in Japan as he fights ninjas in
the ceremonial garb of the samurai. Knight and Day's James Mangold
directs. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
Lured to a Japan he hasn't seen since World War II, century-old mutant
Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) finds himself in a shadowy realm of yakuza and
samurai. Wolverine is pushed to his physical and emotional brink when he
is forced to go on the run with a powerful industrialist's daughter
(Tao Okamoto) and is confronted -- for the first time -- with the
prospect of death. As he struggles to rediscover the hero within
himself, he must grapple with powerful foes and the ghosts of his own
haunted past.
The Way, Way Back(2013 - July 26 / July 5 Limited release)
Comedy | Drama
1 hr 43 min.
Rated: PG-13 Some Sexual Content, Language, Brief Drug Material and Thematic Elements. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+. Read more
Grade: B+
Directors: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Writers: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Stars: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney | See full cast and crew
THE WAY, WAY BACK is the funny and poignant coming of age story of
14-year-old Duncan's (Liam James) summer vacation with his mother, Pam
(Toni Collette), her overbearing boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and
his daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). Having a rough time fitting in, the
introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in gregarious Owen (Sam
Rockwell), manager of the Water Wizz water park. Through his funny,
clandestine friendship with Owen, Duncan slowly opens up to and begins
to finally
find his place in the world - all during a summer he will never forget. (c) Fox Searchlight
RED 2(2013 - July 19)
Action | Comedy | Crime
1 hr. 56 min.
Rated: PG-13 Pervasive action and violence including frenetic gunplay, some language and drug material. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 14+. Read more on child suitability
Grade: C
Director: Dean Parisot
Writers: Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, Warren Ellis (characters), Cully Hamner (characters)
Stars: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Mary-Louise Parker | See full cast and crew
In RED 2, the high-octane action-comedy sequel to the worldwide sleeper
hit, retired black-ops CIA agent Frank Moses reunites his unlikely team
of elite operatives for a global quest to track down a missing portable
nuclear device. To succeed, they’ll need to survive an army of
relentless assassins, ruthless terrorists and power-crazed government
officials, all eager to get their hands on the next-generation weapon.
The mission takes Frank and his motley crew to Paris, London and Moscow.
Outgunned and outmanned, they have only their cunning wits, their
old-school skills, and each other to rely on as they try to save the
world—and stay alive in the process.
The Conjuring(2013 - July 19)
Horror | Thriller
1 hr. 52 min.
Rated: PG-13 Sequences of disturbing violence and terror.
Grade: B+
Director: James Wan
Writers: Chad Hayes, Carey Hayes
Stars: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor | See full cast and crew
Paranormal
investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized
by a dark presence in their farmhouse. Forced to confront a powerful
entity, the Warrens find themselves caught in the most terrifying case
of their lives.
Before there was Amityville, there was Harrisville. "The Conjuring"
tells the true story of Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera
Farmiga), world renowned paranormal investigators, who were called to
help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse.
Forced to confront a powerful demonic entity, the Warrens find
themselves caught in the most horrifying case of their lives. -- (C) WB
R.I.P.D.(2013 - July 18)
Action | Comedy | Crime
1 hr. 36 mi.
Rated: PG-13 Violence, sci-fi/fantasy action, some sensuality, and language including sex references
Grade: C-
Director: Robert Schwentke
Writers: Phil Hay (screenplay and story), Matt Manfredi (screenplay and story), David Dobkin (story)
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon | See full cast and crew
A recently slain cop joins a team of undead police officers working for
the Rest in Peace Department and tries to find the man who murdered him.
(2013 - July 11)
Comedy
1 hr. 41 min.
Rated: PG-13 Crude, sophomoric sequel, strong language, lewd and suggestive content including rude and sexist bathroom humor and some male rear nudity Read more
Grade: D+
Director: Dennis Dugan
Writers: Fred Wolf, Adam Sandler, Tim Herlihy
Stars: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock | See full cast and crew
The all-star comedy cast from "Grown Ups"
returns (with some exciting new additions) for more summertime laughs.
Lenny (Adam Sandler) after moving his family back home to the small town
where he and his friends grew up, Lenny finds out that between old bullies, new bullies,
schizo bus drivers, drunk cops on skis, and 400 costumed party crashers
that sometimes crazy follows you.
(2013 - July 3)
Action | Adventure | Western
2 hr. 29 min.
Rated: PG-13 Sequences of intense action and violence, and some suggestive material. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+. Read more on child suitability
Grade: C-
Director: Gore Verbinski
Writers: Justin Haythe (screenplay), Ted Elliott (screenplay), 4 more credits »
Stars: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, William Fichtner | See full cast and crew
Native
American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales
that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a
legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic
surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to
work together and fight against greed and corruption.
(2013 - July 3)
Animation | Comedy | Crime
1 hr. 38 min
Rated: PG
Grade: A-
Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Writers: Ken Daurio (screenplay), Cinco Paul (screenplay)
Stars: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt | See full cast and crew
Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's worldwide
blockbuster Despicable Me entertained audiences around the globe in
2010, grossing more than $540 million and becoming the 10th-biggest
animated motion picture in U.S. history. Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed
filmmaking team create an all-new comedy animated adventure featuring
the return of Gru (Steve Carell), the girls, the unpredictably hilarious
minions... and a host of new and outrageously funny characters.
White House Down(2013 - 28 June)
Action | Drama | Thriller
2 hr. 11 min.
Rated: PG-13
Grade: D I have in the past, at times, liked Channing Tatum (after Magic Mike and White House Down, I may have to reassess that), and I have never understood the obsequious fawning over Jamie Foxx or Maggie Gyllenhall. White House Down
has to rank among the worst big-budget films of the year. You would
have to be a liberal UN loving, globalist, die hard Obama acolyte to
find the machinations of this insipid, jejune, avalanche of fecal pellets even remotely plausible or the tiniest bit intriguing. I would have walked out on this hegemonic regurgitant but my movie companion needed a ride home.
The only positives I can think of are that the cameras were in focus,
the costumes, lighting and sets met industry standards, the stunts
although incredulous were executed professionally, there were no graphic
sex scenes and the dialogue was not constant foul language.
Director: Roland Emmerich Writer: James Vanderbilt
Stars: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal | See full cast and crew
While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter, a Capitol
policeman springs into action to save his child and protect the
president from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders.
The HeatAction | Comedy | Crime
1 hr. 57 min.
Rated: R Pervasive language, strong crude content and some violence: Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+. More on child suitability
Grade: C-
Director: Paul Feig
Writer: Katie Dippold
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Demian Bichir | See full cast and crew
Uptight and straight-laced, FBI Special
Agent Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) is a methodical investigator with a
reputation for excellence--and hyper-arrogance. Shannon Mullins
(Melissa McCarthy), one of Boston P.D.'s "finest," is foul-mouthed and
has a very short fuse, and uses her gut instinct and street smarts to
catch the most elusive criminals. Neither has ever had a partner, or a
friend for that matter. When these two wildly incompatible law officers
join forces to bring down a ruthless drug lord, they become the last
thing anyone expected: buddies. From Paul Feig, the director of
"Bridesmaids."
(2013 - June 30)
Comedy | Drama
1 hr. 26 min.
Rated: R Language and graphic sexual references
Grade: D+
Director: Noah Baumbach
Writers: Noah Baumbach (screenplay), Greta Gerwig (screenplay)
Stars: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver | See full cast and crew
A
story that follows a New York woman (who doesn't really have an
apartment), apprentices for a dance company (though she's not really a
dancer), and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as their
possible reality dwindles. Frances wants so much more than she has but
lives her life with unaccountable joy and lightness. "Frances Ha" is a
modern fable in which Noah Baumbach ("The Squid and the Whale,"
"Greenberg") explores New York, friendship, class, ambition, failure,
and redemption.
World War Z
(2013 - June 21)
Action | Drama | Horror
1 hr. 56 min.
Rated: PG-13
Grade: C-
Director: Marc Forster
Writers: Matthew Michael Carnahan (screenplay), Drew Goddard (screenplay), 4 more credits »
Stars: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz | See full cast and crew
World War Z(2013 - June 21)
Action | Drama | Horror
1 hr. 56 min.
Rated: PG-13
Grade: C-
Director: Marc Forster
Writers: Matthew Michael Carnahan (screenplay), Drew Goddard (screenplay), 4 more credits »
Stars: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz | See full cast and crew
When former U.N. investigator Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) and his family get
stuck in urban gridlock, he senses that it's no ordinary traffic jam.
His suspicions are confirmed when, suddenly, the city erupts into chaos.
A lethal virus, spread through a single bite, is turning healthy people
into something vicious, unthinking and feral. As the pandemic threatens
to consume humanity, Gerry leads a worldwide search to find the source
of the infection and, with luck, a way to halt its spread.
Man Of Steel(2013 - June 14)
Action | Adventure | Fantasy
2 hr. 23 min.
Rated: PG-13 Intense sequences of Sci-Fi violence, action and destruction, and for some language | Read moreGrade: B+
Director: Zack Snyder
Writers: David S. Goyer (screenplay), David S. Goyer (story), Christopher Nolan (story), Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (Superman created by)
Stars: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe | See full cast and crew
A
young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this
Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and
what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to
save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all
mankind. -- (C) Warner Bros
Much Ado About Nothing
(2013 - June 7)
Rated: PG-13 Brief drug use and some sexuality. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+. Read more
Grade: C+
Director: Joss Whedon
Grade: C+
Director: Joss Whedon
Writers: Joss Whedon (written for the screen by),
William Shakespeare (play)
A modern retelling of Shakespeare's classic comedy about two pairs of
lovers with different takes on romance and a way with words. Much Ado About Nothing, set in modern day Los Angeles, is given a contemporary spin by director Joss
Whedon.The film was shot in just 12 days,
using the original text, the story of sparring lovers Beatrice and
Benedick offers a dark, sexy and occasionally absurd view of the
intricate game that is love.
The Internship
1 hr. 59 min.
Rated: PG-13 Partying, Language, Sexuality and Some Crude Humor: Common Sense Media says Iffy for 13+. More on child suitability
Grade: C
Director: Shawn Levy
Grade: C
Director: Shawn Levy
Two salesmen whose careers have been torpedoed by the digital age find their way into a coveted internship at Google, where they must compete with a group of young, tech-savvy geniuses for a shot at employment.
Billy (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Owen Wilson) are salesmen whose careers have been torpedoed by the digital world. Trying to prove they are not obsolete, thet defy the odds by talking their way into a coveted internship at Google, along with a battalion of brillian college students. But, gaining entrance to this utopia is only half the battle. Now they must compete with a group pf the nation's most elite, tech-savvy geniuses to prove that necessity really is the mother of re-invention.
Billy (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Owen Wilson) are salesmen whose careers have been torpedoed by the digital world. Trying to prove they are not obsolete, thet defy the odds by talking their way into a coveted internship at Google, along with a battalion of brillian college students. But, gaining entrance to this utopia is only half the battle. Now they must compete with a group pf the nation's most elite, tech-savvy geniuses to prove that necessity really is the mother of re-invention.
The Purge(2013 - June 7)
1 hr. 25 min.
Rated: R Strong disturbing violence and some language: Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+. More on child suitability
Grade: C * * This is a very unnerving film...mostly due to the reactions of the audience
Director: James DeMonacoWriter: James DeMonaco
Stars: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder | See full cast and crew
If on one night every year, you could commit any crime without facing consequences, what would you do? In "The Purge," a speculative thriller that follows one family over the course of a single night, four people will be tested to see how far they will go to protect themselves when the vicious outside world breaks into their home.
In an America wracked by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity—including murder—becomes legal. The police can't be called. Hospitals suspend help. It's one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking.
When an intruder breaks into James Sandin’s (Ethan Hawke) gated community during the yearly lockdown, he begins a sequence of events that threatens to tear a family apart. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary (Lena Headey), and their kids to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from whom they hide.
(2013 - May 31)
Crime | Thriller
1 hr. 56 min.
Rated: PG-13 Language, some action and sexual content. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+ Read more
Grade: C
Director: Louis Leterrier
Writers: Ed Solomon (screenplay), Boaz Yakin (screenplay and story), Edward Ricourt (screenplay and story)
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson | See full cast and crew
NOW YOU SEE ME pits an elite FBI squad in a game of cat and mouse
against "The Four Horsemen", a super-team of the world's greatest
illusionists. "The Four Horsemen" pull off a series of daring heists
against corrupt business leaders during their performances, showering
the stolen profits on their audiences while staying one step ahead of
the law. (c) Summit/Lionsgate
(2013 - May 31)
Drama | History
Rated: PG
Grade: B
Director: T.C. Christensen
Writer: T.C. Christensen
Stars: Darin Southam, Joseph Paur, Rick Macy | See full cast and crew
By listening to and following his heart, Ephraim Hanks finds his way in
life and eventually provides relief and rescue to the suffering Martin
Handcart Company. Based on a true story.
"... The sun was about an hour high in the west when I spied something in the distance that looked like a black streak in the snow. As I got near to it, I perceived it moved; then I was satisfied that this was the long-looked-for handcart company, led by Captain Edward Martin." -Emphraim Hanks
After Earth(2013 - May 31)
Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
1 hr. 40 min.
Rated: PG-13 Sci-fi action violence and some disturbing images
Grade: C-
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writers: Gary Whitta (screenplay), M. Night Shyamalan (screenplay), Will Smith (story)
Stars: Jaden Smith, Will Smith, Sophie Okonedo | See full cast and crew
A crash landing leaves teenager Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) and his
legendary father Cypher (Will Smith) stranded on Earth, 1,000 years
after cataclysmic events forced humanity's escape. With Cypher
critically injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal
for help, facing uncharted terrain, evolved animal species that now rule
the planet, and an unstoppable alien creature that escaped during the
crash. Father and son must learn to work together and trust one another
if they want any
chance of returning home. (c) Sony
Before Midnight (2013 - May 24)
Drama
1 hr. 49 min.
Rated: R Sexual Content/Nudity and Language: Common Sense Media says OK for kids 16+ More on child suitability
Grade: C
Director: Richard Linklater
Writers: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, 3 more credits
Stars: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick | See full cast and crew
Starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, "Before Midnight" is the third installment in Richard Linklater's series that, so far, has included "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset." As with the previous film, the third entry is written by Academy Award nominees Linklater, Hawke and Delpy.
In "Before Midnight," we meet Celine and Jesse 9 years on. Almost 2 decades have passed since that first meeting on a train bound for Vienna, and we now find them in their early 40's in Greece. Before the clock strikes midnight, we will again become part of their story.
(2013 - May 24)
Action | Crime | Thriller
2 hrs. 10 min.
Rated: PG-13 Intense sequences of violence, action and mayhem throughout, some sexuality and significant profanity Read more
Grade: C+
Director: Justin Lin
Writers: Chris Morgan (screenplay), Gary Scott Thompson (characters)
Stars: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson | See full cast and crew
Hobbs has Dom and Brian reassemble their crew in order to take down a
mastermind who commands an organization of mercenary drivers across 12
countries. Payment? Full pardons for them all.
Iron Man 3(2013 - May 3)
Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
2 hrs. 10 min.
Rated: PG-13 sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief suggestive content | Read more
Grade: B-
Director: Shane Black
Writers: Drew Pearce (screenplay), Shane Black (screenplay), 6 more credits »
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle | See full cast and crew
Marvel Studios' "Iron Man 3" pits
brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy
whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world
destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find
those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle.
With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own
devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest
to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the
question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or
does the suit make the man?
The Iceman(2013 - May 3 - Limited Release)
Crime | Drama | Thriller
1 hr. 45 min.
Rated: R strong violence, pervasive language and some sexual content Read more
Grade: B-
Director: Ariel Vromen
Writers: Morgan Land (screenplay), Ariel Vromen (screenplay), Anthony Bruno (book "The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer"), Jim Thebaut (documentary "The Iceman Tapes: Conversations with a Killer")
Stars: Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Chris Evans | See full cast and crew
Inspired by actual events, The Iceman follows notorious contract killer
Richard Kuklinski (Academy Award (R) nominee Michael Shannon) from his
early days in the mob until his arrest for the murder of more than 100
men. Appearing to be living the American dream as a devoted husband and
father; in reality Kuklinski was a ruthless killer-for-hire. When
finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor daughters have any clue
about his real profession.(c) Millennium
(2013 - May 16)
Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
2 hr 12 min
Rated: PG-13 | Intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence. Read more
Grade: B+
Director: J.J. Abrams
Writers: Roberto Orci (written by), Alex Kurtzman (written by), Damon Lindelof,
(written by), Gene Roddenberry (television series "Star Trek")
Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Benedict Cumberbatch, See full cast and crew
The
crew of the Starship Enterprise returns home after an act of terrorism
within its own organization destroys most of Starfleet and what it
represents, leaving Earth in a state of crisis. With a personal score to
settle, Capt. James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) leads his people (Zachary
Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoë Saldana) on a mission to capture a one-man
weapon of mass destruction, thereby propelling all of them into an epic
game of life and death.
(2013 - April 26)
Action | Comedy | Crime
2 hr. 9 min.
Rated: R Crude Sexual Content, Bloody Violence, Drug Use, Language Throughout and Nudity. NOT FOR CHILDREN it should have been rated NC-17 in my opinion. Read more
Grade: D+
Director: Michael Bay
Writers: Christopher Markus (screenplay), Stephen McFeely (screenplay), 1 more credit »
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie | See full cast and crew
From acclaimed director Michael Bay comes "Pain and Gain," a new action
comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie. Based
on the unbelievable true story of a group of personal trainers in 1990s
Miami who, in pursuit of the American Dream, get caught up in a criminal
enterprise that goes horribly wrong. (c) Official Site
(2013 - April 26)
Drama
2 hr. 10 min.
Rated: PG-13 Language, violence and some sexual references
Grade: B
Director: Jeff Nichols
Writer: Jeff Nichols
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland | See full cast and crew
Mud is an adventure about two boys, Ellis and his friend Neckbone, who
find a man named Mud hiding out on an island in the Mississippi. Mud
describes fantastic scenarios-he killed a man in Texas and vengeful
bounty hunters are coming to get him. He says he is planning to meet and
escape with the love of his life, Juniper, who is waiting for him in
town. Skeptical but intrigued, Ellis and Neckbone agree to help him. It
isn't long until Mud's visions come true and their small town is
besieged by a
beautiful girl with a line of bounty hunters in tow. (c) Roadside Attractions
Oblivion(2013 - April 19)
Action | Adventure | Mystery
2 hr. 6 min.
Rated: PG-13 Sci-fi action violence, brief strong language, and some sensuality/nudity Read more
Grade: A-
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Writers: Joseph Kosinski (screenplay), Karl Gajdusek (screenplay), Michael Arndt (screenplay), Joseph Kosinski (comic book), Arvid Nelson (comic book)
Stars: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko | See full cast and crew
Jack Harper is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack's mission is nearly complete. Living in and patrolling the skies from thousands of feet above, his existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands. -- Universal Pictures
The Place Beyond The Pines(2013 - March 29)
Crime | Drama
2 hr. 20 min.
Rated: R Very strong language throughout, some graphic violence, teen drug and alcohol use, and sexuality. Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+ Read more (I personally would not subject a 16 year old to this film)
Grade: B+
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Writers: Derek Cianfrance, Ben Coccio, Darius Marder
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes | See full cast and crew
The highly anticipated new drama from director Derek Cianfrance ("Blue
Valentine") powerfully explores the consequences of motorcycle rider
Luke's (Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling) fateful decision to commit a
crime to support his child. The incident renders him targeted by
policeman Avery (Golden Globe Award nominee Bradley Cooper), and the two
men become locked on a tense collision course which will have a
devastating impact on both of their families in the years following. (c)
Focus
Evil Dead(2013 - April 5)
Horror
1 hr. 31 min.
Rated: R Strong bloody violence and gore, some sexual content and language. Common Sense Media says iffy for 17+. More on child suitability
Graded: B+
Director: Fede Alvarez
Writers: Fede Alvarez (screenplay), Diablo Cody (screenplay), Rodo Sayagues (screenplay)
Stars: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas | See full cast and crew
Five
friends head to a remote cabin, where the discovery of a Book of the
Dead leads them to unwittingly summon up demons living in the nearby
woods. The evil presence possesses them until only one is left to fight
for survival. Evil Dead is a remake of Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead, the 1981 horror classic, starring Bruce Campbell, both of whom are producers of this film.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation(2013 - March 29)
Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
1 hr. 40 min.
Rated: PG-13 Intense sequences of combat violence, brief sensuality, language and martial arts action. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+ Read more
Grade: C-
Director: Jon M. Chu
Writers: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, D.J. Cotrona, Channing Tatum | See full cast and crew
The G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are
forced to contend with threats from within the government that
jeopardize their very existence.
The Host(2013 - March 29)
Action | Adventure | Romance
2 hr 5 min
Rated: PG-13 Some sensuality and violence
Grade: C-
Director: Andrew Niccol
Writers: Stephenie Meyer (novel), Andrew Niccol (screenplay)
Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel | See full cast and crew
When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over their bodies and erasing their memories, Melanie will risk everything to protect the people she cares most about, proving that love can conquer all in a dangerous new world.
(2013 - March 22)
Action | Thriller
2 hrs.
Rated: R Strong violence and language throughout Read more
Grade: B-
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Writers: Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt
Stars: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman | See full cast and crew
The unthinkable happens when heavily armed and highly trained terrorists
launch a bold daytime attack on the White House. The building is
overrun, and President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) and his staff are
taken hostage. Luckily for Asher, former presidential security officer
Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is on the scene. With time running out,
it's up to Banning to locate Asher's son before the extremists do and
rescue the president before his captors unleash their ultimate plan.
The Croods(2013 - 22 March)
Animation | Adventure | Comedy
1 hr. 38 min.
Rated: PG Some scary action: Common Sense Media says OK for kids 8+ More on child suitability
Grade: C+
Directors: Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders
Writers: Chris Sanders (screenplay), Kirk De Micco (screenplay) | 3 more credits
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds | See full cast and crew
THE CROODS is a comedy adventure that follows the world's first modern
family through the journey of a lifetime. When the cave that has always
been their home is destroyed – with the rest of their world not far
behind it – The Croods are forced to set off on the first family road
(or path) trip. Rocked by generational clashes and seismic shifts, The
Croods discover an incredible new world filled with fantastic creatures,
and a future beyond any they imagined.
Admission(2013 - March 22)
Comedy
1 hr. 57 min.
Rated: PG-13 Language and some sexual material Read more
Grade: C-
Director: Paul Weitz
Writers: Karen Croner (screenplay), Jean Hanff Korelitz (novel)
Stars: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Nat Wolff | See full cast and crew
Tina Fey (Date Night, 30 Rock) and Paul Rudd (I Love You Man, Knocked
Up) star in Admission, the new film directed by Academy Award nominee
Paul Weitz (About a Boy), about the surprising detours we encounter on
the road to happiness. Straight-laced Princeton University admissions
officer Portia Nathan (Fey) is caught off-guard when she makes a
recruiting visit to an alternative high school overseen by her former
college classmate, the free-wheeling John Pressman (Rudd). Pressman has
surmised that Jeremiah (Nat Wolff), his gifted yet very unconventional
student, might well be the son that Portia secretly gave up for adoption
many years ago. Soon, Portia finds herself bending the rules for
Jeremiah, putting at risk the life she thought she always wanted--but in
the process finding her way to a surprising and exhilarating life and
romance she never dreamed of having.
(2013 - March 15)
Thriller
1 hr 36 min
Rated: R Violence, some language and disturbing content. Read more
Grade: C-
Director: Brad Anderson
Writers: Richard D'Ovidio (screenplay), Richard D'Ovidio (story), Nicole D'Ovidio (story), Jon Bokenkamp (story)
Stars: Halle Berry, Evie Thompson, Abigail Breslin | See full cast and crew
When veteran 911 operator Jordan Turner receives a call from a girl who has just been abducted, she soon realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life.
Wonderstone
(2012 - March 15)
Comedy
1 hr. 40 min.
Rated: PG-13 Sexual content, dangerous stunts, a drug-related incident and language. Read more
Grade: D+
Director: Don Scardino
Stars: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Luke Vanek, Mason Cook, Jim Carrey | See full cast and crew
Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas
strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt's
growing ego. But lately the duo's greatest deception is their public
friendship, while secretly they've grown to loathe each other. Facing
cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim
Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even
their show looks stale. But there's still
a chance Burt and Anton
can save the act-both onstage and off-if Burt can get back in touch with
what made him love magic in the first place. -- (c) WB
(2013 - March 8)
Adventure | Family | Fantasy
2 hrs. 10 min.
Rated: PG-13
Grade: B+
Director: Sam Raimi
Writers: Mitchell Kapner (screenplay), David Lindsay-Abaire (screenplay), L. Frank Baum (novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz")
Stars: James Franco,
Michelle Williams,
Rachel Weisz |
See full cast and crew
Disney's fantastical adventure "Oz The Great and Powerful," directed by
Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum's beloved wizard
character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician
with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant
Land of Oz, he thinks he's hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for
the taking-that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis),
Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not
convinced
he is the great wizard
everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems
facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is
good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to
use through illusion, ingenuity-and even a bit of wizardry-Oscar
transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man
as well. When small-time magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco) pulls one
flimflam too many, he finds himself hurled into the fantastical Land of
Oz where he must somehow transform himself into the great wizard-and
just maybe into a better man as well. -- (C) Walt Disney
(2013 - March 8)
Drama | History | War
1 hr. 38 min.
Rated: PG-13
Violent content, brief strong language and smoking (historical)
Grade: B-
Director: Peter Webber
Writers: Vera Blasi (screenplay), David Klass (screenplay), Shiro Okamoto (book)
Stars: Matthew Fox, Colin Moy, Tommy Lee Jones | See full cast and crew
A gripping tale of love and honor forged
between fierce enemies of war, "Emperor" tells the story, inspired by
true events, of the bold and secret moves that won the peace in the
shadows of post-war Japan. Starring Academy Award-winner Tommy Lee
Jones, Matthew Fox, and newcomer Eriko Hatsune, "Emperor" brings to life
the American occupation of Japan in the perilous and unpredictable days
just after Emperor Hirohito's World War II surrender. As General
Douglas MacArthur (Jones) suddenly finds himself the de facto ruler of a
foreign nation, he assigns an expert in Japanese culture - General
Bonner Fellers (Fox), to covertly investigate the looming question
hanging over the country: should the Japanese Emperor, worshiped by his
people but accused of war crimes, be punished or saved?
Dead Man Down(2013 - March 8)
Action | Crime | Drama
1 hr. 58 min.
Rated: R Violence, harsh language throughout including the F and a scene of sexuality
Grade: C+
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
Writer: J.H. Wyman (screenplay)
Stars: Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Dominic Cooper | See full cast and crew
Director Niels Arden Oplev (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo)
makes his eagerly anticipated English-language-feature debut with this
action thriller about a tough New York City enforcer and an alluring
blackmailer who both put their lives on the line to seek vengeance
against one of the city's most powerful crime bosses. Victor (Colin Farrell)
isn't the type of man you want to come knocking at your door. A deadeye
who always hits his mark, Victor works for the man who controls New
York's entire underworld. But when the ruthless crime lord gives an
order that results in the deaths of Victor's right-hand man's wife and
daughter, he earns himself a dangerous enemy. Meanwhile, as Victor
attempts to identify the unknown figure who's threatening his boss's
life, the mysterious Beatrice (Noomi Rapace)
ensnares the sleuthing hit man in a dangerous web of blackmail and
seduction. Later, when the bullets start to fly, the lust for vengeance
threatens to consume everyone involved. Terrence Howard and Dominic Cooper co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
(2013 - March 1)
Adventure | Drama | Fantasy
1 hr. 54 min.
Rated: PG-13 Fantasy violence eased by humor in tween-friendly adventure. What parents should know.
Grade: B
Director: Bryan Singer
Writers: Darren Lemke (screenplay), Christopher McQuarrie (screenplay), Dan Studney (screenplay), Darren Lemke (story), David Dobkin (story)
Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor | See full cast and crew
Jack the Giant Slayer tells the story of
an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens
a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on
the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim
the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle
of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the
love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable
warriors he thought only existed in legend—and gets the chance to become
a legend himself.
The Last Exorcism Part II
(1013 - March 1)
(1013 - March 1)
1 hr. 28 min.
Rated: PG-13 Horror violence, terror and brief language
Grade: D+Rated: PG-13 Horror violence, terror and brief language
Director: Ed Gass-Donnelly
Writers: Damien Chazelle (screenplay), Ed Gass-Donnelly (screenplay), Damien Chazelle
(story), Huck Botko (characters credited by), Andrew Gurland
(characters credited by)
Stars: Ashley Bell, Julia Garner, Spencer Treat Clark | See full cast and crew
Continuing where the first film left off, Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell) is
found terrified and alone in rural Louisiana. Back in the relative
safety of New Orleans, Nell realizes that she can't remember entire
portions of the previous months only that she is the last surviving
member of her family. Just as Nell begins the difficult process of
starting a new life, the evil force that once possessed her is back with
other, unimaginably horrific plans that mean her last exorcism was just
the beginning.
(2013 - February 22)
Action | Drama | Thriller
1 hr. 52 min.
Rated: PG-13 Sequences of Violence and Drug Content. Common Sense Media says Iffy for 14+ What parents need to know
Grade: B+
Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Writers: Justin Haythe, Ric Roman Waugh
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Susan Sarandon, Jon Bernthal | See full cast and crew
In the fast-paced action thriller SNITCH, Dwayne Johnson stars as a
father whose teenage son is wrongly accused of a drug distribution crime
and is looking at a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years.
Desperate and determined to rescue his son at all costs, he makes a deal
with the U.S. attorney to work as an undercover informant and
infiltrate a drug cartel on a dangerous mission -- risking everything,
including his family and his own life. (c) Summit
(2013 - February 22)
Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller
1 hr. 35 min.
Rated: PG-13 Violence, Language, Drug Content, All Involving Teens, Sexual Material and Terror Throughout
Grade: C
Director: Scott Stewart
Writer: Scott Stewart
Stars: Keri Russell, Josh Hamilton, Dakota Goyo, Kadan Rockett, J.K. Simmons | See full cast and crew
From the producers of Paranormal
Activity, Insidious, and Sinister comes Dark Skies: a supernatural
thriller that follows a young family living in the suburbs. As husband
and wife Daniel and Lacey Barret witness an escalating series of
disturbing events
involving their family, their safe and peaceful home quickly unravels.
When it becomes clear that the Barret family is being targeted by an
unimaginably terrifying and deadly force, Daniel and Lacey take matters
in their own hands to solve the mystery of what is after their family.
(2013 February 14)
Action | Crime | Thriller
97 min
Rated: R Violence and persistent profanity Read more
Grade: C-
Director: John Moore
Writers: Skip Woods, Roderick Thorp (certain original characters)
Stars: Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch | See full cast and crew
New York City cop John McClane (Bruce
Willis) arrives in Moscow to track down his estranged son, Jack (Jai
Courtney). McClane thinks his son is a criminal, so it comes as a shock
when he learns that Jack is actually working undercover to protect
Komarov (Sebastian Koch), a Russian government whistleblower. With
their own lives on the line, McClane and Jack must overcome their
differences in order to get Komarov to safety and thwart a potentially
disastrous crime in the Chernobyl region.
(2013 February 14)
Drama | Fantasy | Romance
2 hr 4 min
Rated: PG-13 violence, scary images and some sexual material Read more
Grade: C-
Director: Richard LaGravenese
Writers: Richard LaGravenese (screenplay), Kami Garcia (novel), Margaret Stohl (novel)
Stars: Alice Englert, Viola Davis, Emma Thompson | See full cast and crew
A
supernatural love story set in the South which tells the tale of two
star-crossed lovers: Ethan Wate, a young man longing to escape his small
town, and Lena Duchannes, a mysterious new girl. When Lena arrives in
the small town of Gatlin, she
quickly captures the attention of Ethan, who only wants to escape
what he views as a boring and dead-end town. He quickly gets more than
he bargained for, Lena possesses strange powers that have long kept
her at a distance from others in her life. Lena and Ethan are drawn
together, but their romance is threatened by the dangers presented by
Lena's
being a Caster and her family's Dark powers. Together, they uncover
dark secrets about their respective families, their history and their
town. Lena, on her sixteenth
birthday, must undergo the 'Claiming', a process that will determine
forever her
fate: will she be Light or Dark.
(2013 February 14)
Drama | Mystery | Romance
1 hr 55 min
Rated: PG-13 Thematic material involving threatening behavior, and for violence and sexuality | Read more
Grade: B+
Director: Lasse Hallström
Writers: Leslie Bohem (screenplay), Dana Stevens (screenplay), Nicholas Sparks (novel)
Stars: Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel, Cobie Smulders | See full cast and crew
An affirming and suspenseful story about
a young woman’s struggle to love again, Safe Haven is based on the
novel from Nicholas Sparks, the best-selling author behind the hit films
The Notebook and Dear John. When a mysterious young woman arrives
in a small North Carolina town, her reluctance to join the tight knit
community raises questions about her past. Slowly, she begins putting
down roots, and gains the courage to start a relationship with Alex, a
widowed store owner with two young children. But dark secrets intrude
on her new life with such terror that she is forced to rediscover the
meaning of sacrifice and rely on the power of love in this deeply moving
romantic thriller.
Side Effects (2012 - February 8)
Crime | Drama | Thriller
106 min.
Rated: R Sexuality, nudity, violence and language. Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+ Read more
Grade: C+
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: Scott Z. Burns (screenplay)
Stars: Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum, Jude Law | See full cast and crew
Side Effects is a provocative thriller about Emily and Martin (Rooney Mara and Channing Tatum), a successful New York couple whose world unravels when a new drug prescribed by Emily's psychiatrist (Jude Law) – intended to treat anxiety – has unexpected side effects.
Identity Thief(2013 - February 8)
1 hr 51 min
Rated: R Sexual Content and Language. Be prepared for lots of crass sexual innuendos, an abundance of vulgarity and swearing (including repetitious "f---k" and "s--t") and some humorless racist jokes. Read more.
Grade: C
Director: Seth Gordon
Writers: Craig Mazin (screenplay and story), Jerry Eeten (story)
Stars: Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, John Cho | See full cast and crew
An accounts representative, Sandy Bigelow Patterson (Jason
Bateman - Arrested Development, Horrible Bosses) is a Denver
family man who has always been responsible with his personal finances
is shocked to learn that his credit score is in shambles. If he
can't clear his name in a week he will loose his new dream job and that bad score will haunt him to the day
he dies. The professional thief, Diana/Sandy Bigelow Patterson (Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids) has staked her claim to his
name and is living a life of luxury, joyously racking up charges
while on a massive spending spree. A little luck and a little detective
work leads Sandy to Winter Park, FL, where Diana/Sandy is actively
spending him into oblivion. When the Denver police refuse to offer any
help, Sandy realizes that his only choice is to catch the imposter
himself and bring her back to Denver to face justice. Unfortunately, for
Sandy,
this wily fraudster isn't going give up without a fight and the 2000
mile journey is going to be a struggle every step of the way.
Warm Bodies(2013 - February 1)
Comedy | Horror | Romance
97 min
Rated: PG-13 Zombie violence and some language | What parents should know.
Grade: B+
Director: Jonathan Levine
Writers: Jonathan Levine (screenplay), Isaac Marion (novel)
Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich | See full cast and crew
A funny new twist on a classic love story, WARM BODIES is a poignant
tale about the power of human connection. After a zombie epidemic, R (a
highly unusual zombie) encounters Julie (a human survivor), and rescues
her from a zombie attack. Julie sees that R is different from the other
zombies, and as the two form a special relationship in their struggle
for survival, R becomes increasingly more human - setting off an
exciting, romantic, and often comical chain of events that begins to
transform
the other zombies and maybe even the whole lifeless world. (c) Summit
ParkerAction | Crime | Thriller
118 min
Rated: R Brief sexual content, brief nudity, language throughout and strong violence. Information for parents: Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+ Read More
Grade: C
Director: Taylor Hackford
Writers: John J. McLaughlin (screenplay), Donald E. Westlake (novel)
Stars: Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Chiklis | See full cast and crew
Parker (Jason Statham) is a professional
thief who lives by a personal code of ethics: Don’t steal from people
who can’t afford it and don’t hurt people who don’t deserve it. But on
his latest heist, his crew double crosses him, steals his stash,
and leaves him for dead. Determined to make sure they regret it, Parker
tracks them to Palm Beach, playground of the rich and famous, where the
crew is planning their biggest heist ever. Donning the disguise of a
rich Texan, Parker takes on an unlikely partner, Leslie (Jennifer
Lopez), a savvy insider, who’s short on cash, but big on looks, smarts
and ambition. Together, they devise a plan to hijack the score, take
everyone down and get away clean.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters 3D (2013 January 25)
Action | Fantasy | Horror
88 min
Rated: R Strong fantasy horror violence and gore, brief sexuality/nudity and language. Common Sense Media says OK for 16+ Read more
Grade: D+
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Writers: Tommy Wirkola, Dante Harper
Stars: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton and Peter Stormare | See full cast and crew
In
this adult spin on the fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel are now
bounty hunters who track and kill witches all over the world. As the
fabled Blood Moon approaches, the siblings encounter a new form of evil
that might hold a secret to their past.
(2013- January 18)
Action | Crime | Thriller
1 hr. 47 min.
Rated: R Strong Bloody Violence and Language | Read more
Grade: C
Director: Jee-woon Kim
Writers: Andrew Knauer (screenplay), Jeffrey Nachmanoff (rewrite), George Nolfi (writing supervisor) and Andrew Knauer (story)
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker and Johnny Knoxville | See full cast and crew
After leaving his LAPD narcotics post
following a bungled operation that left him wracked with remorse and
regret, Sheriff Ray Owens (Schwarzenegger) moved out of Los Angeles and
settled into a life fighting what little crime takes place in sleepy
border town Sommerton Junction. But that peaceful existence is
shattered when Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega), the most notorious,
wanted drug kingpin in the western hemisphere, makes a deadly yet
spectacular escape from an FBI prisoner convoy. With the help of a
fierce band of lawless mercenaries led by the icy Burrell (Peter
Stormare), Cortez begins racing towards the US-Mexico border at 250 mph
in a specially-outfitted Corvette ZR1 with a hostage in tow. Cortez’
path: straight through Summerton Junction, where the whole of the U.S.
law enforcement, including Agent John Bannister (Forest Whitaker) will
have their final opportunity to intercept him before the violent
fugitive slips across the border forever.
MAMA(2013 - January 18)
Horror
1 hr. 40 min.
Rated: PG-13 Violence and terror, some disturbing images and thematic elements Read more
Grade: B
Director: Andrés Muschietti
Writers: Neil Cross, Andrés Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti
Stars: Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Megan Charpentier | See full cast and crew
On the day that their parents die, sisters Lilly and Victoria vanish in
the woods, prompting a frantic search by their Uncle Lucas (Nikolaj
Coster-Waldau) and his girlfriend, Annabel (Jessica Chastain). Five
years later, miraculously, the girls are found alive in a decaying
cabin, and Lucas and Annabel welcome them into their home. But as
Annabel tries to reintroduce the children to a normal life, she finds
that someone -- or something -- still wants to tuck them in at night.
The Impossible(2012 - December 21, 2012 (NY, LA; Expanded Release 01/04/13))
Action | Drama | Thriller
1 hr. 43 min.
Rated: PG-13 Intense realistic disaster seq, disturbing injury images and brief non-sexual nudity. Common Sense Media says iffy for 13+. Read More
Grade: A
Director: Juan Antonio Bayona
Writers: Sergio G. Sánchez (screenplay), María Belón (story)
Stars: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland | See full cast and crew
Maria (Naomi Watts), Henry (Ewan
McGregor) and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand,
looking forward to a few days in tropical paradise. But on the morning
of December 26th, as the family relaxes around the pool after their
Christmas festivities the night before, a terrifying roar rises up from
the center of the earth. As Maria freezes in fear, a huge wall of black
water races across the hotel grounds toward her. Based on a true story,
THE IMPOSSIBLE is the unforgettable account of a family caught, with
tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst
natural catastrophes of our time. But the true-life terror is tempered
by the unexpected displays of compassion, courage and simple kindness
that Maria and her family encounter during the darkest hours of their
lives. Both epic and intimate, devastating and uplifting, THE IMPOSSIBLE
is a journey to the core of the human heart.
(2012 - January 11, 2013 USA)
Action | Drama | History
2 hr 37 min
Rated: R Language, Brutal Disturbing Images and Strong Violence Information for parents: Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+. Read More
Grade: B+
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Writer: Mark Boal (screenplay)
Stars: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton and Chris Pratt | See full cast and crew
The Academy Award-winning duo behind The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow
and Mark Boal) reteams for this drama detailing the hunt for Osama bin
Laden, and starring Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain as the intelligence
expert who dedicated a decade of her life to tracking down the world's
most wanted terrorist. In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001
terrorist attacks, the CIA began interrogating suspected Al-Qaeda agents
across the globe in a bid to locate the elusive bin Laden. Upon
arriving at a CIA black site and witnessing the brutal interrogation
tactics firsthand, driven CIA operative Maya (Chastain) aids her
unpredictable colleague Dan (Jason Clarke) in gathering the intelligence
that will help bring bin Laden to justice. Over the course of the next
decade, numerous false leads and dead ends make the search seem more
futile than ever. Meanwhile, numerous suicide bombings all across the
Middle East and Europe hint that Al Qaeda won't go down without a fight.
Then, just when it seemed as if the trail of clues had finally dried
up, an old piece of evidence leads Maya to a suspect who may work
directly for the man charged with planning the worst act of terrorism
ever committed on American soil. Joel Edgerton, Edgar Ramirez, Mark
Strong, Chris Pratt, and James Gandolfini co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan,
Rovi
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