Directed by: Simon West
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Josh Lucas, Danny Huston, Malin Akerman
Distributed by: Millennium Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 96 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When it comes to Nicolas Cage, I never ask questions.  In the last few years his choice of scripts have been, well not the best, but he has never done wrong in my eyes.  “Stolen” is a film that came completely out of nowhere.  I had no idea at all it was being released.  But I was very glad to get a chance to check it out because it is a very well directed kick ass action film. The plot well…well…did I mention it is action packed? Simon West, who also recently directed “The Expendables 2”, reunites with Cage for the first time since “Con Air”. West knows action and delivers the goods in this film.  Cage also knows action, whether his acting is A-grade or not, he still knows how to tear shit up and kick some ass.

Here is the film’s official premise: “STOLEN” follows Will Montgomery (Nicolas Cage), a master thief who has been sent to prison for 8 years after being double-crossed in a heist gone awry. Upon his release, he’s ready to leave his criminal past behind and rebuild his relationship with estranged daughter, Alison Loeb (Sami Gayle). Montgomery’s former criminal cohorts and FBI agent Tim Harlend (Danny Huston), are all convinced that the $10 Million dollars was hidden away by Montgomery before he was sentenced. In order to get his hands on it, former partner in crime, Vincent (Josh Lucas), kidnaps Alison and demands the missing loot as ransom; giving Montgomery one day to deliver. Montgomery is left with only one choice: To trust his instincts and join forces again with another old partner in crime, the beautiful, sexy and smart Riley Jeffers (Malin Akerman). Together they must pull off one more heist so he can get his daughter back… before its too late.

The Simon West and Nicolas Cage team-up is one smart move for this film, two for two! Honestly though major-major props needs to go to Josh Lucas for playing one crazy son-bitch.  I was shocked and very impressed with his performance. This was shot in New Orleans, Louisiana and definitely has that certain feel to it.  It is like an additional character in the film, which is always great.  I wish this film would have gotten more of a push because it definitely deserves it. You can thank Millennium Entertainment for at least putting this out.  They also released two other great films in the last month or so, like “Red Lights” and “The Babymakers”.  I am curious to see what they will have out next since they are three for three this year with me personally! If you are just looking for a quick and mindless action-packed thriller, I would recommend this film for sure.

Directed by: Andrew Stanton
Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe
Distributed by: Walt Disney Pictures
Release date: September 14, 2012
MPAA Rating: G
Running time: 100 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
3D: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Finding Nemo” is one of Pixar’s best films to date.  It not only has heart but is action packed and has some of the best jokes ever. I mean the fine touching in this film are just amazing.  One of my favorite are after the mines explode, a little bubble comes up behind two bird sitting on the water surface and one says…”Nice!” and flies away.  Classic! I remember seeing this film in theaters back in 2003 and like a fine wine, “Finding Nemo” gets better with age. It is hard to imagine that this film came out almost 10 years ago now. With a child of my own now (4 months old), I just can’t wait to share this film with her. Watching the film on the big screen was just such a wonderful experience again, the film itself pops off the screen…literally (more on that in a little bit). But the highlight of seeing this film is sitting in the theaters again was watching it with all the kids that are seeing it for the first time.  Just listening to their reactions to the characters and laughing at the jokes was just priceless.  Oh BTW if that all isn’t enough, did I mention the film is in 3D now.

As with past Disney 3D re-releases like “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast”, this film looks just amazing.  There are a few stand out scenes like the first encounter with Bruce the Shark.  I seriously got goose bumps, when this scene came on the screen.  The Deep Sea Angler scene was also very impressive as well, including a few great jumps from the audience. The 3D on the scenes are honestly worth the price of admission alone. Besides those the overall depth of the presentation looks very impressive overall. To be honest though, the 3D really wasn’t the main draw for me on this release.  I just wanted to experience this film on a big screen once more.  I think kids though are really going to be blown away and eat up the third dimension effects for sure.  They even have collectible kids 3D glasses that are mini orange swimming goggles. Trust me you will leave the theater quoting the film.  “Where I am going? I’m going to P. Sherman – 42 Wallaby Lane, Sydney.  If you can’t make it to theater to see this film in 3D, don’t worry the Blu-ray comes out for the first time on December 4th, 2012.

Albert Brooks as Marlin and Ellen DeGeneres as Dory are really such a wonderful cast together. There is just something so timeless about these characters. In fact that is one of the things that Pixar is so great at doing…creating memorable characters. They characters have changed everything.  Whenever you see a clownfish or a Pacific Regal Blue Tang, you always think now, it’s Nemo or Dory…sorry Marlin. Disney is very smart in re-releasing this film, especially in 3D and I highly recommend it. Next up we have the re-release of “Monsters Inc” in 3D this December and also if you are looking for more “Finding Nemo”, director Andrew Stanton recently announced there is a sequel currently in development and is to be released in 2016.  This will land the sequel 13 years after the first film, following the similar path of the 11 year span between “Toy Story 2 & 3”. I have a felling that they are going to do this sequel up real good.  But until then, don’t miss the opportunity to see this great film in theaters again and experience i for the first time in 3D.

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana and Jeremy Irons
Directed by: Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 36 mins
CBS Films

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

An author (Dennis Quaid) approaches a podium before a packed house. He announces the title of the book he’s just written, “The Words,” and begins to read a passage. It relates the story of another author, Rory Jansen (Cooper). We meet Rory and his wife, Dora (Saldana) in the back of a limousine, celebrating the publishing of Rory’s book. Almost incredulous to the response at his work Rory tells Dora, “it was just a little book.”
Actually, it was a little book with a big back story. But that story gets jumbled up with the rest of the plot in the new film, “The Words.”

Basically a story told within a story told within a story (which sounds a lot like Joe Pesci in “JFK” lamenting “It’s a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma!”), “The Words” follows the life of a man who, against his better judgment, takes credit for a hidden manuscript he finds in an old briefcase and passes it off as his. Things go well for him until he is confronted by the “old man” (Irons) who claims authorship of the book. Things get confusing whenever Quaid appears as the audience is never sure if he is the real bogus author or if Cooper even exists. A flashback tale of love and loss only helps to confuse the story more.

Performance wise the film is also all over the map. Cooper really has nothing more to do here then stare off into space, the better to wrestle with his conscience. Quaid manages to show a little bit of his old fashioned charm, especially when trying to seduce an attractive fellow writer (Olivia Wilde). Saldana is solid as Dora as is J.K. Simmons, who has a small part as Rory’s father. The standout is Oscar winner Irons. His stories of the lives he led, both happy and tragic, are delivered with emotion and for that brief time you manage to get lost in the film. Unfortunately the time is, indeed, brief. Blame this on co-directors Klugman and Sternthal, who also shared the scripting duties here. The fact that the duo also shared writing credits with six other people on the latest “Tron” film only serves to make me want to avoid their third film!

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dania Ramirez and Michael Shannon
Directed by: David Koepp
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 31 mins
Columbia

Our Score: 2 out 5 stars

There are 1500 bicycle messengers on the street in Manhattan every day. At least that is what we’re told in the opening narration of “Premium Rush.” If you’ve ever been to Manhattan (guilty) you can’t help but marvel at how these two-wheeled delivery boys (and girls) risk serious injury to speed through some of the most congested traffic in the world. Wilee (Gordon-Levitt) is one of those delivery boys. A former BMX/trick rider he zooms through the streets on a bike with one speed and no brakes. When a last minute delivery order comes in,with instructions to get the package to Chinatown before a certain time, Wilee jumps at the chance to get the gig. But when he finds himself being chased and harassed though rush hour traffic, for the envelope he’s carrying, he may decide to quit his day-job!

An almost thrilling 90 minutes, “Premium Rush” begins very slowly to set up the speed in which director Keoepp’s cameras speed recklessly through the streets. As the audience goes along for the ride you’ll marvel at how our two wheeled heroes maneuver around cabs and pedestrians to ensure they’re packages arrive, be it rain, sleet, snow or maniac.

The cast is so-so, with Gordon-Levitt having nothing more to do then ride a bike through traffic and antagonize the police. The first cop (Michael Shannon) was apparently told to do a comical yet serious imitation of Christopher Walken, which is a shame because when necessary Shannon is one hell of an actor. Here he bugs his eyes and whines his dialogue as he tries to recover what he thinks is his. He is truly one person to avoid on the streets, this current film included.

There is also a romance and scenes of what may or may not be human trafficking but unless the action is happening on the back of a Schwinn it pretty much is only hinted at on screen. The story is also very reminiscent of a 1986 film entitled “Quicksilver,” which starred Kevin Bacon and Jami Gertz. “Premium Rush” only comes to life when Gordon-Levitt plays “what if” – imagining the outcome on his person depending on which route he takes before he takes it. Clever, yes, but not enough to rescue this package!

Starring: Dax Shepard, Kristin Bell and Bradley Cooper
Directed by: Dax Shepard and David Palmer
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 40 mins
Open Road Films

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Charlie Bronson (Shepard) and his girlfriend, Annie, (Bell) lie in bed, making the kind of promises only people in love make. A loud car outside alerts them that they have company. The driver is Randy (Tom Arnold). A U.S. Marshal, Randy can best be described as “clutzy.” One more spilled coffee or accidental discharge of his weapon and he’s going to lose his gig guarding people in the Witness Protection Program. What? You didn’t think Charlie Bronson was his real name, did you?

A collection of car chases and occasionally hilarious one-liners, “Hit and Run” is a promising sophomore project for star Shepard, who not only stars and co-directs but also wrote the script. As a former member of a bank robbery gang who turned state’s evidence for love, Shepard is an appealing lead. He gives a solid performance, as does Bell. Cooper, who apparently had his hair done at the same salon as the Simpson’s Sideshow Bob, has fun in a role much smaller than advertised. Think of him as Eddie Murphy in “Best Defense” – a strategic guest star. The always underappreciated Tom Arnold steals most of his scenes. Why he’s never had a bigger career has always amazed me. The man is funny. As are the various cameo performers, including Kristin Chenowith, David Koechner, Justin Bateman, Sean Hayes and Beau Bridges.

Shepard’s script runs the gambit from maudlin to outrageous. Some of the dialogue is pretty forgettable but a few comments hit dead center on the funny bone. The direction is fine though I did get tired of seeing cars doing donuts in parking lots over and over and over again. Kudos to whoever put the soundtrack together. A great assortment of Lou Rawls, Kool and the Gang, the Dazz Band and, if my ears didn’t betray me, a quick snippet of instrumental music from “Rocky.”

Directed by: Michael Biehn
Starring: Michael Biehn, Jennifer Blanc-Biehn, Ryan Honey, Denny Kirkwood, Danielle Harris
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Running Time: 83 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

This film is really the Michael Biehn show. He not only stars, he also wrote and directed this and even co-produced with his wife, Jennifer Blanc-Biehn under BlancBiehn Productions. I have been tracking this film for a little over a year now and let me tell you, I was left very satisifed. The film is very intelligent and sharp. It passes back and forth in time without getting confusing, while releasing little bits of critical plot. It also packs a hell of an ending as well. Michael Biehn really did a great job in this film, as did Jennifer Blanc-Biehn. Really top notch performances all around. The film also was really smartly shot and really keep you interest the entire time.

When two best friends, Annie (Jennifer Blanc-Biehn) and Mary (Danielle Harris) go out on a date with two Sheriff’s Deputies (Ryan Honey, Denny Kirkwood), there life’s will never be the same. When Annie’s witness a violent act at the hands of two, she barely escapes and hides from them with the help of Kyle (Michael Biehn), a recluse living in the middle of the woods. Kyle’s solitary life is turned upside down into chaos after helping Annie.. It is up to both of them to expose the corrupt cops and put this to an end. But who is the real Victim here?

I have always been a fan of Biehn since “The Terminator” and “Aliens”, I mean who isn’t. But he is really kicking some ass in the last few years with this film and even “The Divide”. He’s been putting out some really good shit. I really hope he plans to step behind the camera again but he is definitely one of the few actors, who is able to wear all these different types of hats and still make the film kick-ass. You can tell that a lot of love and labor went into this film for sure and I think that is why it succeed so well. This will entertain a wide variety of genre fans from thriller to horror. Don’t miss this for sure.

Starring: Ai Weiwei
Directed by: Alison Klayman
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 31 mins
IFC Films

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

If you spent any time watching the 2008 Summer Olympics you most probably saw the amazing art work of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei (pronounced “Eye Way-way”), most notably the “Birdsnest” stadium. But it is not only for his art that Weiwei is known. He has been very vocal about his political leanings and his troubles with the Chinese government are well known. And though this film purports to be about the man and his craft, it’s much more than that.

Ai Weiwei is a man whose vision is often achieved with the help of others. “I’m his hands,” explains one sculptor, working on a piece for an upcoming exhibit. As we get to know Weiwei we also get to know those around him, from his friends to his mother to his young son. He is very charismatic and it’s easy to see why those close to him love him.

But even those he is closest to can’t often protect him. After reporting an assault a year ago with no assist from authorities in solving the case, he marches to the local police station, followed by a camera crew, to find out why. Eventually he angers those in charge enough that he is detained for 81 days, only allowed to visit with his mother for one twenty-minute period during that time. When he is released he seems contrite, but soon he returns to his “in your face” ways and attitudes. When his fellow countryman Liu Xiaobo is awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, an award that was mostly kept from the Chinese people because of Liu’s beliefs, Weiwei is shown celebrating the award, going as far as to mention the prize on Twitter. He shares a favorite saying of Weiwei’s that permeates his character: “Never retreat – – -Re-Tweet!” This allows the outside world to learn of crucial things happening in the country, 140 characters at a time.

A powerful film that teaches us as much about ourselves as it does it’s subject, “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry,” is a sure bet to be nominated for an Oscar come January 2013.

Starring: Jordin Sparks, Carmen Ejogo and Whitney Houston
Directed by: Salim Akil
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 56 mins
Tri Star

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

In 1968 Detroit, if you wanted to make it big as a singer you tried your luck at the Discovery Club. A place that gives you the chance to make your dreams come true. But what price would you pay to make those dreams come true?

A remake of the 1976 film of the same name (best known for introducing Irene Cara and “Miami Vice’s” Rico Tubbs), “Sparkle” is a film that shines when the music is playing and is dull as a butter knife when it’s not. The story follows the paths of the three daughters of Ms. Emma (Houston, in her final film role). The oldest, Tammy (Ejogo) – who everyone calls “Sister”- has just moved back into her mother’s house after trying unsuccessfully as a singer in New York. Middle sister Dolores (Tika Sumpter) – “Dee” – is currently applying to medical schools. At age 19, Sparkle (Sparks) is a budding songwriter who wants to sing but is afraid she’s not as good as her sisters. The three sing in the church choir and, when Ms. Emma falls asleep, sneak out to play local clubs. But as their popularity grows so do the pitfalls that come with it.

Let’s deal with the elephant in the room – the late Whitney Houston. Like Heath Ledger she has left us with a fine performance. Her face weathered from her hard living younger years (both in the film and in real life), Houston’s Ms. Emma is a God-fearing woman whose love and over protectiveness for her daughters becomes smothering. When things go wrong for Tammy, Ms. Emma fills the church with a shaky yet strong rendition of “His Eye Is On the Sparrow.” There is irony in many of her lines, including one where she warns her girls about a life of show business, asking “Is my life not a cautionary tale?” Along with Houston, the rest of the cast give strong performances, including former “American Idol” winner Sparks. She is following in “Idol” alumni Jennifer Hudson’s Hollywood footsteps (“Dreamgirls” is a very similarly themed film) though I don’t look for her to win an Oscar here. Male characters come and go, most notably comic Mike Epps in a rare dramatic turn and Derek Luke, who plays the groups manager and Sparkle’s possible love interest. And Curtis Armstrong has a nice role as a music executive who may or may not want to sign the group (Armstrong also played another famous music executive, Ahmet Ertegun, in “Ray”).

On the downside, when the story leaves the stage, or church, the film loses its ability to entertain. The audience is really given no timeline…the film starts in 1968 but by the end it could be 1970 or 1990! Characters, most notably Omari Hardwick’s Levi, come and go, often for huge chunks of time, with no real explanation of where they were or what they were doing. Which is a shame because there are characters here that you’d like to know more about.

Directed by: Sam Fell, Chris Butler
Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, John Goodman, Leslie Mann
Jeff Garlin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Elaine Stritch
MPAA Rating: PG
Distributed by: Focus Features
Running time: 92 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“ParaNorman” is the latest film from Laika, the studio behind one of my favorite films “Coraline”. It is a 3D stop-motion animated adventure but may be too scary for the kids and not entertaining enough for the adults.  The film starts off really great  straight through the middle but fails through a in the end.  I am a sucker though for stop-motion animation and you can just tell how much work actually went into this film. I was very impressed with its blend of CG as well.  It is also the first one of them to utilize a 3D Color Printer to create replacement faces for its puppets.   The 3D effects are very impressive and does add a lot to the film.  This is a decent follow-up feature for Laika but it doesn’t come close to the charm of “Coraline”.

The film takes place in the small town of Blithe Hollow.  The town is cursed by a 3,000 year old witches curse. We meet a young boy named Norman (Smit-McPhee), who is misunderstood by everyone around him, and is also the only person that can save the day.  He has the ability to speak with the dead and it is up to him to stop the undead from taking over and prevent the witch from destroying the town.

When it comes to the voice cast in an animated film, the casting is very important.  The main cast here are impressive choices sporting Kodi Smit-McPhee (“Let Me In”), Anna Kendrick (“Twilight” series), Casey Affleck (“Ocean’s Eleven”) and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (“Fright Night”). The supporting cast includes Leslie Mann (“Knocked Up”), Jeff Garlin (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and John Goodman (“RoseAnne”). Casey Affleck was the real shocker of the group and is completely unrecognizable.  There are also a lot of little surprise Easter eggs included for hardcore horror fans, so be sure to keep an eye…and an ear out for them.  Personally I may just be getting old myself but having a younger daughter, I wouldn’t want her seeing this film until she is much older.  “Coraline” is a dark creepy film but this one is a little more edgy.  It does have some really great laughs and looks absolutely amazing, so it is guess overall it is fair toss-up.

Starring:  Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones and Steve Carell
Directed by:  David Frankel
Rated:  PG 13
Running time:  1 hour 40 mins
Columbia

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Kay (Streep) and Arnold (Jones) have been married for 31 years.  Their daily routines have become just that…routine.  Kay rises early to make Arnold’s breakfast (2 eggs and 1 strip of bacon) and watches him go off to work.  She has his dinner waiting when he comes home.  Then she wakes him up after he’s fallen asleep in front of the television watching the Golf Channel.  They sleep in seperate bedrooms.  Kay longs for the times when Arnold thought of her more as a wife then a roommate.  Arnold is clueless, considering his presentation of an expanded cable subscription ideal for their most recent anniversary.  At the end of her wits, Kay books her and Arnold into an intensive week-long couples therapy session run by relationship expert Dr. Feld (Carell).  Will Arnold join Kay in Maine?  And if so, can the spark be rekindled?

Though advertised as a comedy, “Hope Springs” is one of the best dramas to come down the pipe in many years.  Written by Vanessa Taylor, a long time television writer (“Alias,” “Game of Thrones”) making her feature screenwriting debut, the film takes a look at the very core of a once loving couple that, due to familiarity and lack of change, has become nothing more then two friends sharing a house.  Her script is unfailingly quick to get below the surface of Kay and Arnold’s feelings.  That script is helped by a cast that delivers an acting tour de force.  Three time Oscar winner Streep is surely on the way to nomination number eighteen!  Whether toying with her hair while looking in the mirror, relieving some pressure with a few drinks at a local pub or confronting Arnold face to face, she is incredibly vulnerable and yet strong at the same time.  Within five minutes you’re convinced that you’re watching a woman named “Kay” share her story, never an actress playing a role.  Of course, that is why Streep will be remembered as the greatest film actress of her generation hundreds of years from now.  Jones, an Oscar winner himself, gives a performance that could have gone wrong in the hands of a less capable actor.  Yes, Arnold is neglective of his wife and her feelings.  But, thanks to Jones performance, you pity him more then loathe him.  But the acting surprise here is Carell.  He’s given strong performances in the past, most notably in “Dan In Real Life” and last years “Crazy, Stupid, Love.”  But here he’s sharply nuanced…there is no sly wink or quick one liner.  I look for all three to be recognized by the Academy next year.

Director Frankel, who directed Streep to one of her previous Oscar nominations in “The Devil Wears Prada,” takes his camera inside Kay and Arnold’s lives, allowing the audience to eavesdrop on their most inner thoughts.  In doing so, he has created one of the best adult dramas in some time.

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Starring: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Bryan Cranston
Directed by: Len Wiseman
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 58 mins
Columbia

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Remember the Arnold Schwarzenegger film “Total Recall?” Remember Mars, three breasted women, little Kuato and Arnie’s hilarious one-liners (“consider that a divorce!”)? Well, if you’re looking for a walk down memory lane (ooh, a “Total Recall” pun), unless you like the occasional extra boob you’re going to be sadly disappointed.

Doug Quaid (Farrell) lives on what’s left of a futuristic Earth on the former continent of Australia, now referred to as “The Colony.” The Colony is where the dregs of society seem to dwell. The only other inhabited part of the planet is a majority of Europe, know known as the United Federation of Britain (UFB). The main form of transportation is referred to as the Falls. Basically you get inside and travel the 17 minutes it takes to get from one place to another. Through the center of the Earth. Hold onto that coffee! Doug spends his days working at a factory where synthetic policemen (imagine the Storm Troopers in “Star Wars” starring in “Robocop”) and his nights waking up after having the same reoccurring dream. Looking to get out of his funk he decides to stop at a business known as REKALL. There you can have your brain fitted with fond memories of things that never happened. Want to be a pro basketball player? A singer. A secret agent? REKALL can make it seem like you’ve already been one. The only catch is that if you, say, want to have an affair behind your wife’s back, the only way REKALL can plant the memory is if you’ve never really had an affair behind your wife’s back, otherwise things can go really bad. Doug decides that he’d like the adventure of being a secret agent. How bad could that be?

Full of almost non-stop action the drawback to the new “Total Recall,” sadly, is that it’s full of almost non-stop action! Lots of gunfire and running across rooftops with an occasional line of dialogue does not a great movie make. As staged by director Wiseman, who did such a great job with the last “Die Hard” film, the action and stunts are over the top and sometimes breathtaking. However, when the cast stops to catch its breath, the film slows to a crawl. On the bright side, it appears that Wiseman is a fan of “Blade Runner” which, like “Total Recall,” is a film based on a Philip K. Dick story. His vision of the future is very similar to Ridley Scott’s; an overcrowded world with people literally living on top of one another. Apparently it’s also a future where cars now fly yet also use the side streets and giant elevators shuffle people here and there yet you have to run up a seven story staircase to catch the bad guy. Technology my butt!

At least the cast is up for the adventure. It’s been so long since I’ve seen Colin Farrell on screen (in a horrible comb-over in “Horrible Bosses”) that if this had been the early 1980s I would have thought I was watching Treat Williams. As Quaid’s “wife” Lori, Beckinsale is both cunning and bad ass. Former/future love interest Melina (Jessica Biel) matches Beckinsale in both brawn and brains. And both look good in black.

Directed by: Jay Chandrasekhar
Starring: Paul Schneider, Olivia Munn and Kevin Heffernan
Distributed by: Millennium Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 93 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When I saw Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan and Olivia Munn attached to this film, I was immediately interested. I am a big fan of Broken Lizard and G4’s “Attack of the Show”. This film is laugh-out-loud funny but takes a more mature route than past work from Jay and Kevin. Although Kevin said during an interview with us that he feels that his character is similar to his past Broken Lizard roles. Jay also has an acting role besides directing, playing Ron Jon and easily steals the show. I don’t feel that Olivia Munn was really used to her full potential but in the end she is still a hell of a sight to look at.

“The Babymakers” follows a married couple whose main objective is to have a baby. But after 9 months of trying, Audrey (Munn) and her husband Tommy (Schneider) are unable to get pregnant. After finding out that his sperm is lacking in the baby department, Tommy recruits his pals in order to steal a deposit he made at a sperm bank years earlier. Simple plot though this is not a one-joke comedy and does manage to entertain throughout.

Fans of Broken Lizard should keep an eye out for alums like Nat Faxon, M.C. Gainey and Philippe Brenninkmeyer. Also if you were a fan of Munn’s failed TV series “Perfect Couples” (like myself), keep an eye out for her co-star Hayes MacArthur who is a laugh riot in the film as well. Though if you are looking for another Broken Lizard film, you will be disappointed. I feel it still really delivers and “The Babymakers” is a simple yet very fun comedy. If you need something to do on a Saturday night, this is definitely worth checking out.

Directed by: Rodrigo Cortés
Starring: Robert De Niro, Sigourney Weaver, Cillian Murphy, Joely Richardson, Elizabeth Olsen, Toby Jones, Leonardo Sbaraglia
Distributed by: Millennium Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 113 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Hold on a sec, a paranormal thriller/horror film with Robert De Niro, Sigourney Weaver and Cillian Murphy? Where do I sign up? This little film has flown under my radar this summer with big budget superhero movies taken the spotlight. “Red Lights” deserves some major attention.  It is extremely well-done and really delivers from the moment it starts through the its shocking ending. I am a big fan of Rodrigo Cortés, especially after his film “Buried”. He is really able to do a lot in a film with not much. Cillian Murphy also gives an amazing performance and really carries this film.

The film follows psychologist and paranormal investigator, Margaret Matheson, (Weaver), and her physicist assistant, Tom Buckley (Murphy) as they aim to disprove the paranormal experiences with science and technology. When they get involved with investigating a famous psychic, Simon Silver (De Niro) things get a little too hot and they find themselves in deeper than they expected. Is Silver a true psychic medium or just another fraud?

“Red Lights” does a great job of blending its horror, thriller and drama aspects all together to one entertaining film. It has some good spooks but isn’t full blown horror. With the televisions and cinemas being flooded with films about paranormal activities and ghost huntings, this will probably be filed in with the rest but is actually able to stand on its own. It is not only well directed and executed but also packed with impressive performances, I highly recommend checking this film out.

Starring: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill
Directed by: Akiva Schaffer
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 38 mins
20th Century Fox

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Remember those old commercials for Certs? “It’s a breath mint,” they’d say. No, “it’s a candy mint.” It was really “two…two…two mints in one.” I bring this up because the new film “The Watch” is like a Certs. Actually many Certs.

Evan (Stiller) is the guy every neighborhood has. Friendly and outgoing, Evan is eager to do anything and everything for his neighbors. He prides himself on his diversity. He includes among his friends a man from India and a Korean woman. He still doesn’t have any black friends but he’s working on it. Evan manages the local COSTCO store and seems to have the perfect life. And when tragedy strikes, it’s up to him to…..WHOA! I know just now you re-read this paragraph and mumbled to yourself, “tragedy? I thought this was a comedy.” It is. And a horror film. And a relationship drama. Have a Certs!

Sometimes side-splittingly funny, “The Watch” goes off in so many different directions that the pitch meeting must have sounded like, “it’s “The Burbs” meets “Alien” meets “Men In Black” meets “The Hangover” meets God knows what else. The film seems to have borrowed from every popular genre’ of the past 30 years. Which can lead to a film that’s occasionally hilarious but mostly uneven. The blame for this falls directly on the shoulders of script writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (who gave us the much better “Superbad”) with an assist from Jared Stern. It’s almost as if they were just throwing out ideas and incorporated them into one story.

On the plus side (the comedy side) the cast is first rate. Stiller has perfected the comic “everyman” persona and is in fine form here. Vaughn also plays off of his strength, that of the wise ass who seems to have everything (think “Old School”). Hill seems to still be in “21 Jump Street” mode as a wanna-be cop regulated to patrolling the neighborhood. Completing the quartet of “watchers” is Richard Ayoade, a very talented Brit filmmaker whose 2010 film “Submarine” was executive-produced by Stiller. Supporting work by R. Lee Ermey and a very creepy (and unbilled) Billy Crudup add to the laughs. On the minus side, you have an alien invasion story that includes some pretty graphic killings. You also have Stiller and his wife trying to have a baby while Vaughn frets about making sure his young teenage daughter doesn’t. I will say this – you get a lot thrown at you in an hour and a half. It’s up to you to decide what to catch.

Starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 2 hrs 44 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

They began showing up in the 1930s. Tough guys that took on crime. Dick Tracy. The Shadow. And Batman. Sorry, THE Batman. In my opinion, Batman was the first great hero (I hesitate to use the word “superhero” because people always point out that Batman doesn’t have any special powers – can’t fly, can’t run fast, can’t communicate with fish). The 1960s introduced a campy, cool Batman to television audiences. The late 1980s gave us Tim Burton’s visionary version. The 1990s saw Joel Schumacher drive a nail into the heart of the franchise. Enter Christopher Nolan. He took over the character and made him what he always was in the comic books…one bad ass Caped Crusader. In “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” we saw a Batman that thrived on vengeance and battled evil at all costs. Now, with “The Dark Knight Rises,” he may have to pay the ultimate price!

Gotham City. It has been eight years since District Attorney Harvey Dent was murdered by Batman. Or so the story goes. Only Police Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) knows the truth about what happened on that fateful night. However, the city took up Dent as a martyr. Laws were passed in his name that pretty much eradicated crime in the city. In fact, the only thing missing is Batman. In order to preserve Dent’s legacy he had to hang up the cape. Now the only reminder of him is Bruce Wayne. Wayne spends his days holed up in his mansion, rarely appearing in public, speaking only to his long time butler, Alfred (Michael Caine). But when a madman known as Bane (Hardy) threatens the all out destruction of Gotham City and its citizens, it’s time to take the cape off of the hanger!

With a running time of almost three hours, “The Dark Knight Rises” is like a carnival ride that seems like it will never stop. Through twists and turns, up and down and all around, the film hurls you into an adventure you’ll be anxious to ride again and again. Along with the action you get a first rate cast operating at the top of their game. Bale, his voice rough and menacing, shows us a more vulnerable side of Batman then we’ve seen before. The same is true in his portrayal of Bruce Wayne. His scenes with Alfred are particularly moving. Oldman also fleshes out Gordon more, showing him as a man torn between telling the truth about Dent or allowing the charade to continue for the good of his city. New to the cast is Hathaway, who plays Selina Kyle, a small time cat burglar caught up in a situation she can’t control and Hardy, whose performance as Bane is truly menacing. He’s like Robert Shaw’s Red Gant in “From Russia With Love” – the first bad guy that looked like he could kick James Bond’s ass. Also new to the cast is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays a young, idealistic Gotham police officer. If there is any drawback with the characters it is that Bane must speak through a mask that appears to have been mounted on his face. Unfortunately this makes him sound like Sean Connery playing Darth Vader. Not too disrupting but you need to listen hard to catch everything he says.

Visually the film is amazing. The special effects are top notch, including one scene highlighted in the coming attraction: the complete and utter annihilation of a football field. On game day! Throw in an assortment of new “Bat” vehicles and you’re in for the ride of your life. Move over, “Avengers.” You guys may be the latest but Batman was the first. And “The Dark Knight Rises” is the best!