Category Archives: 2011

2011, Crime, Drugs, Mayhem, Mediocre, Violent

Trespass (2011)

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From NetFlix:

A husband and wife find themselves pushed to their absolute limit when they’re held for ransom by brutal thugs who invade their home. As tensions escalate and shocking revelations emerge, the couple is forced to take ever-more desperate measures.

Blood, bullets, fake diamonds, psychotic young man (played by 29 year old Cam Cigandet from “Priest”, “Pandorum”, and “Never Back Down”), etc. all add up to the mediocre mayhem produced by a house invasion gone terribly wrong. Were Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman that desperate to be in a film?

You can do better, yawn!

2011, Acceptable for children, DO NOT MISS, Sports, True Story

Moneyball (2011)

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From NetFlix:

An all-star cast brings to life the true story of Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), a former jock turned general manager who uses unconventional methods to bring the best players to the Oakland A’s, a major league baseball team struggling against financial hardship.

You need not be a baseball fan or even understand all the complexities of the game to enjoy this wonderful film. After all, it is really as much about personal relations, life’s goals and disappointments, as it is about baseball history.

Brad Pitt (age 45) fits the manager’s role perfectly. But for me the real marvel was Jonah Hill (age 25) as the number crunching geek from Yale. Jonah was friends with the children of Dustin Hoffman and through Hoffman got a role in the 2004 film “I Heart Huckabees”.

Be sure to read the very final on-screen textual followup about Billy Beane.

Not much more to say except DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!!

2011, Based on true facts, Conspiracy, DO NOT MISS, Drugs, Lawyers, Medical Theme, Nudity, True Story

Puncture (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Drug-addicted attorney Mike and his business partner Paul take on a case involving an emergency room nurse who has been pricked by an infected needle. Uncovering a web of corporate conspiracies, Mike and Paul quickly find themselves outmatched.

According to the Wikipedia review of this film:

——————— START OF QUOTE ———————————-

The story is based on two young lawyers and a syringe manufacturer who had invented a safety syringe that he was unable to sell. The safety syringe manufacturer filed an antitrust lawsuit against the two largest hospital group purchasing organizations and a large syringe manufacturer claiming he was being shut out of the market.[3] The case was settled before trial for $150 million dollars.[4]

In addition the film brings to light several issues affecting American health care:
1. Accidental needle sticks cause thousands of US nurses to be infected by HIV, Hepatitis C and other infectious diseases every year. [5]
2. Needle reuse in Africa and Asia directly cause 1.3 million deaths annually, 23 million hepatitis infections annually and 260,000 HIV/AIDS infections annually. [6]

A passing reference in the movie also touches on whether AIDS in Africa is spread by sex or needle reuse. Research has found needle reuse, rather than sex, may have been the main cause of the rapid spread of AIDS in Africa. [7] Fearing that if this comes to light Africans will refuse needle immunization and other important treatments, some health care professionals allege that the UN and WHO have moved to suppress this information. [8].

———————– END OF QUOTE ———————————-

Footnote 3 leads to an article in the New York Times that identifies the guilty medical supply companies as Premier and Novation.

Mark Weiss was indeed a young lawyer fairly out of control. Possibly for titillation purposes we see him engaging in drug use often, at times nude next to a nude woman also using the drugs. But do not let that dissuade you from continuing with this worthwhile and engaging film. In fact Mark Weiss dies of a drug overdose at the age of 32. His partner continued the good fight.

Be sure to watch the final credits because they tell us a bit of what follows the end of the film.

Four of the actors are principal:

  • Chris Evans (age 30) who plays Mark Weiss was Captain America.
  • Mark Kassen is a very young looking 40 year old who does not have many screen credits to his name. He plays Mark’s lawyer partner.
  • Marshall Bell (age 69) plays the inventor. He has taken many supporting roles, for example in the “Rum Diary”.
  • Brett Cullen (age 55) plays the opposing lawyer who has sold out for money. He plays Captain Perkins in the TV series “Body of Proof”

Better than the usual big bad guys versus honest lawyers. DO NOT MISS!

2011, Based on true facts, Bullying, Conspiracy, Cynical, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Finance, Scam Artists

Margin Call (2011)

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From NetFlix:

An all-star cast shines in this engrossing drama about a critical 24-hour period at a high-profile investment bank in the early days of the 2008 financial crisis, when young analyst Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) uncovers information that could destroy the firm. When he alerts upper management to the precarious position of their risky investments, an emergency meeting is held to decide if they should alert clients or abscond with the profits.

Infuriatingly excellent, this financial “thriller” is a sad expose of America’s greatest enemy, her own financial industry. You need not understand the financial details to appreciate the plot.

Sometimes a large cast of well-known actors can be a disaster. But this time cast choices probably could not have been better. Old-timers include:

  • Kevin Spacey (age 52) is officially middle-aged. His role is thoughtful and sad.
  • Jeremy Irons (age 63) is his usual wonderfully creepy self playing the head honcho who makes 83 million dollars a year even if his clients lose all their investments.
  • Stanley Tucci (age 51) is another sad pawn in Jeremy Iron’s claws.
  • Demi Moore (age 49) is a pawn in a different way.

And then there are some relative new-comers:

  • Paul Bettany (age 40) was the albino Silas in “The Da Vinci Code”.
  • This is the first time I have seen Simon Baker (age 42) in something other than “The Mentalist”.
  • Zachary Quinto (age 34) was Spock in the 2009 “Star Trek”.
  • Zachary Quinto’s sidekick in the film is Penn Badgley (age 25) who plays the son in “The Stepfather”.

At times the script can be a bit preachy, especially when the characters rationalize their basically dishonest dealings.

Is our financial industry really completely corrupt? DO NOT MISS!

2011, Flirting, Imperfect, Love Story, Mediocre, Sex Scenes

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

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From NetFlix:

When Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) discovers that his wife (Julianne Moore) wants to end their marriage, he reluctantly faces the unwelcome prospect of single life with the counsel of the younger and smoother super-bachelor Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling). Meanwhile, Cal’s adolescent son, Robbie (Jonah Bobo), has formed an unquenchable crush on his 17-year-old babysitter (Analeigh Tipton) — but is she more interested in Robbie’s recently unwed father?

Steve Carell belongs in this shallow, unlikely, but possibly acceptable tale of love complications and family problems. His history in “The Office” and “Saturday Night Live” fits the bill.

But Julianne Moore can and has done much better: “Far From Heaven”, “The End of the Affair”, “The Shipping News”, “An Ideal Husband”, etc.

Most of all Ryan Gosling should be more careful in choosing movie roles. After such successes as All Good Things (2010) and Blue Valentine (2010) to say nothing of Lars and the Real Girl (2007), why choose lesser parts ?

Perhaps you can accept the plot, although I couldn’t buy it!

2011, Acceptable for children, Acceptable Trash, Cowboy, Mayhem, Sci-Fi

Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Scott Mitchell Rosenberg’s graphic novel series leaps to the screen as amnesiac gunslinger Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) stumbles into the Wild West town of Absolution, where he’s confronted by potent enemy Col. Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) and a terrifying problem: invading aliens. Aided by the lovely Ella (Olivia Wilde), Jake rallies a posse of the townspeople, Dolarhyde’s minions and local Apache warriors to fight off the extraterrestrial threat.

While flying us to London British Airways showed this film. Acceptable trash such as this is just fine for an unthinking air flight where the best outcome might be going to sleep.

Daniel Craig should stick to better films such as Defiance (2008). Maybe he is tired of being James Bond.

Harrison Ford was 69 years old for the filming. For me he will always be Indiana Jones.

Kids will love it!

2011, Bullying, Circus, Disturbing Image, Drama, Feel Good Not For Children, Love Story, Sex Scenes, Trains

Water for Elephants (2011)

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From NetFlix:

In this captivating Depression-era melodrama, impetuous veterinary student Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson) joins a celebrated circus as an animal caretaker but faces a wrenching dilemma when he’s transfixed by angelic married performer Marlena (Reese Witherspoon). An affinity for elephants brings together the young pair, but the warmth between them sends Marlena’s cruel husband, animal trainer August (Christoph Waltz), into a frightening fury.

After reading Sara Gruen’s popular novel “Water for Elephants” it is easy to see that the original story had to be adapted for a film. For example, in the book we read about Jacob’s life in a nursing home when he is in his nineties. Frankly, I preferred the film.

Someone once opined that one successful way to make a movie is to just tell a good story. Indeed this is a captivating story that held my attention for several reasons. August was so out of control that I kept waiting for the explosion. Jacob and Marlena made such a good couple that eventually they had to somehow get together.

You do see at least indirectly some cruelty to animals, especially Rosie the elephant. Mostly you see the bloody results of August’s anger toward Rosie, which could be difficult for young children.

And the ending is so goody good good that I just snickered a bit. Great film!

2011, Corny, Drugs, Mayhem, Occasional gore, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Trains, Violent

Super 8 (2011)

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From NetFlix:

With a nod toward producer Steven Spielberg’s landmark sci-fi films of the 1970s and ’80s, writer-director J.J. Abrams crafts a supernatural tale about six kids who witness something incredible while shooting a movie with their Super 8 camera.

After watching for awhile, I was sure this was a Steven Spielberg film because it had all the hallmarks: simplistic, bit maudlin, and a final shot of a space ship leaving earth. In fact it was produced by Steven Spielberg.

Intertwined with the alien thread are family problems in two tragically related families whose kids become friends as the film develops. Abrams gets the funny middle school dialogs and quips just right (like raving about the food at a wake).

Oddly enough the villain in the film is the actor Noah Emmerich who played Dr. Edwin Jenner in the “Walking Dead” TV series which was recently reviewed.

Warning: the film could frighten a small child. There is much mayhem, destruction, and the scary alien eats people.

This kids’ yarn might just hold your attention.

2011, Acceptable for children, Could be boring, Fantasy, Flirting, Graphic Novel, Mayhem, Mediocre, Military, Mixed Martial Arts, Motorcycles, Not Recommended, Sci-Fi, Trains, Violent

Captain America (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Marvel launches another super franchise with this action-packed origin story, which follows Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) as he volunteers for a secret experiment during World War II. Transformed into a superhero named Captain America, Steve goes after the Axis. With his perfect physique and heightened reflexes — and his sidekick, Bucky (Sebastian Stan) — Steve battles the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), a super soldier created by Italian fascists.

Because of the “quality” of this film I have just invented a new category “Not Recommended”. But then any PG-13 rating is automatically suspect. Unless you are a 14 year old male, I can’t find any reason to watch this comic book. What was I thinking ?

Physically weak but patriotic and stupidly brave Steve enters a machine and comes out looking like a buff Chris Evans. Thereafter Steve and his trusty and invincible shield defeat every obstacle. Oddly enough he does NOT get the girl at the end of the movie. Serves him right for making such a ludicrous film!

Here we have ample demonstration that you can spend a lot a money to produce absolutely nothing of value.

2011, Acceptable for children, Acceptable Trash, Could be boring, Fantasy, Mediocre, Sci-Fi, Super Hero

Thor (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Kenneth Branagh directs this Marvel Comics-inspired action flick about the thunder god Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful warrior whose father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins) — the king of Asgard — forces him to live among humans on Earth and learn humility. Once there, he finds a friend (Natalie Portman), along with unexpected enemies sent from his world. Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård and Rene Russo co-star.

Making this film at least helped keep the actors employed. What other reason could there be for a talented man like Kenneth Branagh using (wasting ?) his time directing this B- movie for kids ? Of course Anthony Hopkins has been appearing in junk films for a long while. Newer talent such as the 28 year old Australian Chris Hemsworth can use the screen time. But what is the ever beautiful “Black Swan” Natalie Portman doing in such schlock? Do you suppose I could have had at least a minor role in this film?

Fairly gratuitous special digital effects are what this adventure offers. Certainly kids will enjoy the often violent fun. But digital violence never seems as real as, say, a hurtful comment. As for sex, Natalie gives Chris a real smoocher of a kiss. Adults will just have to suffer along.

Adios, I am off to another superhero spectacle!