Rodney Ascher’s Room 237 (B-), the documentary about eccentric conspiracy theories around Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, is an intriguing dissection of one puzzling, polarizing movie. Despite the crazy rabbit holes ranging from the film being a subliminal meditation on genocide or a cover-up for the director’s alleged involvement in a fake lunar landing, the proceedings and format are all a bit silly. Movie buffs may still get a kick out of it.
Category Archives: Rent It Tonight
“The Way Way Back” is Nostalgic Summer Comedy
Being a sucker for movies about lonely teens gaining new confidence, it’s no surprise that I adored Jim Rash and Nat Faxon’s The Way Way Back (A), a coming of age dramedy buoyed by a charming ensemble including Liam James as the troubled hero and Sam Rockwell as his unlikely role model. A beachside summer domicile and a classic water park become the East and West Egg of the action as the protagonist maneuvers life with his insecure mom (the always marvelous Toni Collette) and her slick suitor (a restrained Steve Carell) and his new set of secret friends. Allison Janey is also a delight as the sauced-up next door neighbor. Funny, moving and fun in all the right measures.
“Man of Steel” Flies Some of the Time
Director Zack Snyder completely reboots the Superman legend with an otherworldly alien quality to the superhero’s power and backstory in Man of Steel (B-). Henry Cavill was effective as the outsider, and Snyder enjoyably shakes up the formula with flashbacks and a story told out of order. Amy Adams plays a plucky Lois Lane (Daily Planet as blog) and Michael Shannon is decent in an underwritten role as villainous General Zod. The Smallville sequences were nicely done, and the themes of pleasing one’s father (Jor-El/Superman has earthly father played by Kevin Costner and Krypton father played by Russell Crowe) were strong throughout. Some of the action sequences are tedious with too high a body count. But ultimately the reinvention afoot here is fascinating and helps the franchise fly with renewed purpose.
Soderbergh’s “Side Effects” Takes on Big Pharma
Steven Soderbergh’s Side Effects (B+) is both a twisty psychological thriller and a cunning examination of the pharmaceutical industry with an all-star cast including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Channing Tatum and Jude Law. Soderbergh uses his trademark ability to showcase characters in shades of gray to leave viewers guessing about a death and who is to blame. It’s a smart and sometimes wickedly on the mark indictment of medicine’s role in modern day relationships.
Musical Movie “Les Misérables” is an Intimate Story Against Sprawling Landscape
As a movie musical, Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables (A) gets nearly every sonic and emotional note right. Hugh Jackman, Eddie Redmayne and Anne Hathaway are the standout performers in this silver scall-singing spectacular that toggles between moments both intimate and epic. Fans of the theatrical show will have a lot to love, and the modest revisions nearly all serve to clarify the story in its cinematic translation. Themes of rebellion and redemption ring true through the urchins, anthems, baritones and barricades of a gangbuster movie musical.
Powerful “Perks of Being a Wallflower” is a Coming of Age Stunner
Writer/director Stephen Chbosky has expertly adapted his own novel into a cinematic masterpiece – The Perks of Being a Wallflower (A+) featuring fresh performances by Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and a splendid cast. A rhapsodic, often heartbreaking high school story about the friendships that define us, this one is up there with Breakfast Club, Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting and Stand By Me in terms of sheer emotional power.
“Promised Land” (2012) a Compelling Cautionary Tale
Gus Van Sant’s Promised Land (A-) is a thought-provoking small-town parable about the people we become when wrestling with the dual responsibilities of capitalism and being caretakers of the planet. Instead of taking a scorched-earth approach relying on histrionics or heavy-handed plot devices, co-screenwriter/actors Matt Damon and John Krasinski closely observe characters both native and new to town as folks are faced with the potential riches of natural gas beneath family farms. There are shades of The Graduate here as the film passes generational torches. Filled with smart dialogue, fully realized performances and idyllic imagery, it’s a reminder that films can teach without being preachy.
“Amazing Spider-Man” a Fun Reboot
A reboot that couldn’t come soon enough after the mediocrity of the Sam Raimi trilogy, Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man (B) focuses firmly on the human dynamic of the Peter Parker/Spider-Man character and succeeds largely on the strength of inspired casting with Andrew Garfield in the leading role plus Emma Stone as love interest Gwen Stacy. Garfield wields considerable charms with wit and webslinging, and the chemistry with Stone is palpable. Neither the obligatory re-tracing of the Spidey backstory nor the clashes with a supervillain (Rhys Ifans as The Lizard) are the film’s strongest suits, but it’s so refreshing to witness good acting in this comic book canon after a decade of Maguire/Dunst that many cinematic sins can be quickly forgiven. Overall, it’s exciting, the effects are good, the screenplay has a pulse and you care about the characters. Color me satisfied.
Comedic “21 Jump Street” a Showcase for Central Stars
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s very loose comedic remake of an ’90’s police TV series of the same name, 21 Jump Street (B+) is a riotously funny buddy comedy about older guys posing as high schoolers to help bring down a drug ring. The unlikely pairing of schlubby, hilarious Jonah Hill with hunky and surprisingly witty Channing Tatum is the inspiration that makes this film so successful. The duo’s outrageous misadventures make for a magnificent story punctuated with laughter, nostalgia, wit and raunch. One of the best bits involves the protagonists accidentally ingesting the drug that is circulating throughout the school: the effects on them in art class and physical education make for some great comedy. The film is a bright example of starting with subject matter that seems the fodder of cynical Hollywood studio executives and making something original and special out if it.
Comedy “Pitch Perfect” Takes Viewers Inside A Capella Competitions
Jason Moore’s Pitch Perfect (B) is a charming, often funny and very musical look at the world of competitive collegiate a capella singing groups. It’s a great showcase for Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin and Rebel Wilson, who often steals the show as “Fat Amy.” Just when it seems to devolve into gross-out humor or overly formulaic characters, the film trots out new surprises and dazzles with its bag of vocal tricks. All in all, it’s well worth a watch and a listen.
“Hunger Games” a Dystopian Original
The Hunger Games (B+), directed by Gary Ross, imagines a dystopian future in which territories of our modern land have to fight against each other on live television as sacrifice and bloodsport for the ruling political regime. Jennifer Lawrence, our archer heroine, is ready to break all the rules as she enters the arena. The film has an interesting vocabulary and fascinating details, plus there are nice supporting turns from Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz and others. It’s very high-concept, but I liked the way the protagonist handled the tablestakes.
“Cabin in the Woods” (2012) an Inventive Horror Film
Director Drew Goddard’s film of a story he co-wrote with Joss Whedon, Cabin in the Woods (B+) is a funny and subversive deconstruction of the horror genre with shocks and surprises to delight terror flick enthusiasts and virgins alike. From the opening frames, it’s clear this is a bit of an upstairs/downstairs tale with parallel dimensions to the story. It’s quite a cozy conundrum.