Category: Film

Title: The Descendents

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: George Clooney, Robert Forster, Beau Bridges, Alexander Payne- Director

Review: This film made me cry a lot- but not in a clichéd way. Clooney is really magnificent is this role- against type. The two young daughters are great and the supporting cast is sterling. The cinematography of Hawaii is worth the price of admission and the soundtrack is a good one. Payne is a talented director (Sideways) who tackles a serious story without going for cheap thrills. I liked this move a lot.

Title: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Genre: Film

Grade: B+

Notable People: Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer, Robin Wright, Rooney Mara

Review: I really resisted seeing this- because I like indie films and I don’t like Hollywood blockbusters. Frankly, the Swedish original was not going to be topped. But, I got bored one Friday night and it was at the local theater five minutes away and I was out at the right time….so what the hell. Well, a pleasant surprise; a pretty good adaptation and Rooney Mara is a match for the original Lisbeth who I thought jumped off the pages of the book. Daniel Craig is better than I would have guessed- but still does not measure up to the original Bloomqvist. Christopher Plummer continues to be a revelation. Nice soundtrack and well filmed in remote Sweden. The movie is fun- but if you want to have the real experience- do yourself a favor and see the original.

Title: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Genre: Film

Grade: B+

Notable People: Gary Oldman

Review: this is classic cold war espionage stuff. Very tricky story and definitely for those who like movies that are challenging to track and figure out what is going to happen. Dark, well filmed, good authenticity for the era. A definite portrait of a time it might be hard to remember. Gary Oldman is perfect in the role of a semi retired spy called back into action to find a Russian mole in the British Secret Service (called the “Circus”). If you like British film- you’ll like this.
This is Stu’s most recent obsession; something to do from hotel rooms on the road and share a bit of life’s artistic experience. If you prefer to not get it- let me know and I will remove you from the mailing list. If you like getting it- enjoy!!!

Title: My Week with Marilyn

Genre: Film

Grade: A

Notable People: Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Eddie Redmayne, Emma Watson

Review: I was moved by this film which explores a week in London at the height on MM’s career while making a comedy with Sir Laurence Olivier. Eddie Redmayne shines at the young man who stumbles into a filming role and gets close to the star (he pays Colin Clark- from whose memoir the movie is derived) . Michelle Williams is absolutely luminous as MM and Branagh nails Olivier. If you are of an age to remember how big she was – this is quite illuminating. I just loved Judi Dench.

Title: Duets Two

Genre: Album

Grade: A-

Notable People: Tony Bennett

Review: a beautiful and varied album of duets from a true American master- lots of interesting singing partners. What’s not to like?

Title: Young Adult

Genre: Film

Grade: B-

Notable People: Jonathan Reitman (Director), Charlize Theron

Review: this is a mediocre movie with some funny and poignant moments. Charlize is really, really bad; everyone’s high school girl from hell- and she pulls it off well. Worth seeing just for that and awful 80s music.

Title: Hugo 3D

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Martin Scorsese(Director), Ben Kingsley

Review: I really liked this movie a lot. The 3D was amazing and the cast is really good. The shots of Paris from the train station tower are wonderful and the clips from the early days of film are astonishing. Great movie for all ages; definitely a love letter from Scorsese to the movies. Must see in a theater.

Title: Double Feature- Moneyball/Ides of March

Genre: Films

Grade: B-/B

Notable People: Money- Brad Pitt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jonah Hill……Ides- George Clooney, Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti, Ryan Gosling

Review: cold winter day- went to a special two for one. These are both basic Hollywood films. Very good casts and the acting is good. Stories are both predictable and Moneyball was really long; you got to really like inside baseball stuff. Ides was more intriguing and Clooney directed. I’d save them both for video.

Title: The Skin I Live In

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Pedro Almaldovar(Director), Antonio Banderas

Review: I loved this movie. Spanish with sub titles. Almaldovar is brilliant and this movie is really haunting in a horror meets morality way. Banderas is striking and it is shot really well. Very dark, quirky and unpredictable. Run out and see it

Title: 50-50

Genre: Film

Grade: B+

Notable People: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick

Review: this movie was a sleeper. Went to see at the dollar theater and was really pleasantly surprised. Could be a tear jerker-and comes close- but it’s not. VERY emotionally moving film and I thought the acting was tremendous; subtle and complex characters. Rogen is mostly Rogen but with enough of an underlying twist to make it a new place for him. Oh and by the way- its the story of a young guy who suddenly finds he has potentially terminal cancer and how everyone around him handles that. Great turn by the long missing Angelica Huston as his mother.