Series and Movie Reviews
Director Alejandro Gonzales Iñaritu crossed over to international fame with his gritty action thriller Amores Perros starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna. In his new film BIUTIFUL, the Mexican filmmaker returns to that formula with a Spanish language film set in the underbelly of a society with an Oscar worthy performance from Javier Bardem.
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We have all grown to love the Focker-Byrnes clan with the patriarch Jack Byrnes scaring the the bejeezus out of us. But what happens when that dynamic changes? In Little Fockers Jack Byrnes, Robert de Niro, is disgusted that his favored son-in-law Dr. Bob, Thomas McCarthy, has been caught cheating on his daughter. While he has been watching his other son-in-law Greg, Ben Stiller, his chosen one, Dr. Bob, has let him down. Now Greg looks like the prize son-in-law and everything Jack knows is being tested and challenged. Jack is feeling vulnerable these days, age is catching up with him and his heart is giving him problems. He needs someone strong and reliable to head the family when he dies and now that Dr. Bob is out, that role falls to male nurse Gaylord Focker.
With the coming 5-year-old birthday party of the Focker twins, Jack sees this as an opportunity to mentor his new favorite son. At first Greg is surprised and flattered by the attention but then he becomes suspicious. In trying to please his father-in-law Greg overextends himself financially and takes on a second position as a spokesperson for a new erectile dysfunction drug. The drug rep, Jessica Alba, is all flattery and praise and she even tries to seduce him. When Jack sees Greg in a compromising position he becomes irate at being fooled again. This leads to a confrontation and a comic meltdown which is the best part of the film.
Comically this movie felt like it had one bad spark plug. It would be chugging along firing on all cylinders and then bam, there would be a mis-fire. In the attempt to get all of the Focker-Byrnes in one film, some characters felt under-used and some felt out of place entirely. The Focker parents, Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman were practically cameos and the best part of the under-appreciated Blythe Danner was seeing her in pearls trying to bring sexy back.
To crowd the cast even more, Laura Dern plays the director of an exclusive humanistic pre-school, and Harvey Keitel plays a strange ear-ring wearing contractor who tangles with Jack. Owen Wilson is brought back to test the Focker marriage and poor Teri Polo is pretty much relegated into the background and given little to do.
This film feels like it is trying too hard to please every one and therefore it becomes too much and overblown. The parts that really work are the scenes between Jack and Greg. It’s tough for an old lion to pass on the mantle to someone younger. Especially when you have never really appreciated him before. And for Greg, it’s terrifying when you wake up and realize that suddenly “you’re the man”. Our Greg is growing up and Jack is getting old. It’s funny, but sad too. Luckily we still have the original film to cherish. Like a photograph it’s good to remember our glory days.
AFox Searchlight Pictures release by visionary director Darren Aronofsky (THE WRESTLER), BLACK SWAN takes a thrilling and at times terrifying journey through the psyche of a young ballerina whose starring role as the Swan Queen turns out to be a part for which she becomes frighteningly perfect.
Genres: Drama, Thriller
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder, Vincent Cassel, Janet Montgomery, Barbara Hershey
Directed By: Darren Aronofsky
Black Swan
Fox Searchlight
Release: 12/03/2010
CineMovie break downs Darren Aronofsky's BLACK SWAN starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Winona Ryder in this quick movie review.
One-Word Reaction: Trippy
Plot: Natalie Portman is Nina Sayers, a mousy ballerina who wins the coveted lead role of the White and Black Swan in the production of Swan Lake. Nina is perfect as the graceful White Swan but her innocence and naivity holds her back from becoming the possessed and sexually-charged Black Swan. Vincent Cassel and Mila Kunis try to bring out nina's inner wild side and seductress nature. The pressure to become the Black Swan leads to dangerous consequences for Nina.
Disney's 50th animation film, TANGLED, opens in theaters Thanksgiving weekend starring the voices of Mandy Moore, Chuck's Zachary Levi, and Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy). What do the fans think? Watch video reviews below.
In TANGLED, Rapuzel (Mandy Moore) is no longer the lady in distress waiting for her Prince Charming to save her from the tower. Prince Charming is a thief named Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi) hiding out in a mysterious tower when he is taken hostage by Rapuzel. Rapunzel strikes a deal with the handsome thief to guide her to see the lighted stars in a far away land but she has to be back before her wicked mother discovers her gone. The unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade.
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Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi Satisfy Their Inner Disney Nerd
Disney's First Real Kiss in TANGLED
EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK: Walt Disney's TANGLED
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Fans weigh in on Dwayne Johnson's action movie, FASTER also starring Billy Bob Thornton and Carla Gugino (The Watchmen).
After 10 years in prison, Driver (Dwayne Johnson) has a singular focus - to avenge the murder of his brother during the botched bank robbery that led to his imprisonment. Now a free man with a deadly to-do list in hand, he’s finally on his mission…but with two men on his trail – a veteran cop (Billy Bob Thornton) just days from retirement, and a young egocentric hitman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) with a flair for the art of killing and a newfound worthy opponent.
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INTERVIEW: Dwayne Johnson On Returning To Action In FASTER
Movie Trailer: Faster with Dwayne Johnson
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CineMovie sent Cher fan Gil Kaan to see BURLESQUE and below is his review for Christina Aguilera's acting debut.
The wait is over to the question in every Christina and Cher fans' minds -Burlesque is no Glitter or Showgirls as first rumored in the press.
Christina Aguilera fans will be rooting for her Ali, a wide-eyed, small-town aspiring singer who aggressively pursues a position in Cher's burlesque show in Hollywood. Christina's vocal and dancing talents are used to their full advantage in the movie's plot to audience's enjoyment.
Cher just seems to have fun with the been-there-done-that mentor role as Tess, the club owner. And Cher, er, Tess, gives two crowd-pleasing musical numbers as only Cher can do. The first, clad in a Bob Mackie ensemble and backed by the burlesque beauties, Cher puts her unique mark on "Welcome to Burlesque" and later in very random performance on her way out the door when asked to rehearse "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me."
Director/writer Steven Antin keeps the script simple and fairly plausible while pacing the plotline smoothly, interspersing the non-musical scenes within many of the musical numbers.
Each of the actors in the supporting ensemble have their moment to shine: Eric Dane as the rich mogul interested in Ali; Alan Cumming as the "Cabaret-esque" emcee; Peter Gallagher as Tess' stressed out ex. Kristen Bell and "Dancing With the Stars" Julianne Hough add as much fun onstage in the musical performances as they do offstage. Look for Kristen Bell's Nikki in a couple of not-to-be-forgotten bitch-fights!
Everyone should have a gay BBF like Sean, played by Stanley Tucci. He knows when to lie to make Tess feel good and when to tell the truth when things get tough.
Everyone should have a roommate like Jack played by the very handsome Cam Gigandet. Caring, sensitive, considerate, gorgeous-he would be a great partner for either sex! Look out for his Famous Amos cookie box scene!
But ultimately, "Burlesque" is all about the musical numbers, intricately choreographed by Denise Fay and Joey Pizzi, sensuously costumed by Michael Kaplan, and sharply edited by Virginia Katz.
You will leave the theatre humming at least one of the movie's hot, hot, hot numbers! You might even remember of the many great one-liners, like "And you're in my mirror because?" and "Would you like a cookie?"
The SAW horror franchise comes to an end with the final chapter SAW 3D.
As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw’s brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror... The film stars Tobin Bell, Cary Elwes, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell and Sean Patrick Flannery.
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While most Americans have no love for corporate America during the recession, you will be feeling sorry for these company men played by Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, and Chris Cooper. Spooky hauntings are once again the main course in this Paramount Pictures follow-up to Oren Peli's wildly successful supernatural thriller, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. Kip Williams directs from a script by Michael Perry.
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