Smash or Flop: The Movies

'The Time Traveler's Wife'

2009-08-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

Starring: Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams

Director: Robert Schwentke

8/19/09

SMASH

'(500) Days of Summer'

2009-08-18T16:21:00.000-07:00

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel

Director: Marc Webb

8/15/09

SMASH

'Julie & Julia'

2009-08-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

Starring: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci

Directed By: Nora Ephron

8/14/09

SMASH

With a touch of one woman's passion, mixed with a dash of great direction, and topped with delicious performances by all members of the cast, 'Julie & Julia' is a finger-licking good time!

Critic: A-

Fan: A

'Valkyrie'

2009-01-10T20:35:00.001-08:00

Starring: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson

Directed By: Bryan Singer

1/10/09

SMASH

Tom Cruise never disappoints. Valkyrie is a top notch thriller injected with more anxiety and heart-pounding suspense than one could ever find in a history book. Operation "Tom Cruise" is still in effect.

Critic: B

Fan: A

'Doubt'

2009-01-10T20:34:00.000-08:00

Starring: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour-Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis

Directed By: John Patrick Shanley

1/5/09

SMASH

Studded with all-stars and beaming with jaw-dropping performances, this stage to screen adaptation of the Tony Award winning play is a surefire Oscar contender, no Doubt about it.

Critic: A

Fan: A

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

2009-01-10T20:33:00.001-08:00

Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson

Directed By: David Fincher

12/27/08

SMASH

Jam-packed with emotion and intrigue, this two and a half hour giant conveys the simple message of humanity: everyone lives and everyone dies, they just do it in different ways. Benjamin Button is an instant classic and will ramain timeless, living on even after our mortal souls have passed.

Critic: A

Fan: A

'Seven Pounds'

2009-01-10T20:32:00.001-08:00

Starring: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson

Directed By: Gabriele Muccino

12/19/08

SMASH

The Fresh Prince can act. We know. Teeming with heart-wrenching emotion, Seven Pounds takes the audience along with Ben Thomas on his quest for redemption and leaves them contemplating their own answer to the question, "are you a good person?". When hitting the multiplex this Winter, be sure to bring seven pounds of tissues.

Critic: A-

Fan: A

'The Day the Earth Stood Still'

2009-01-10T20:31:00.000-08:00

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith

Directed By: Scott Derrickson

12/13/08

FLOP

Hats off to Jennifer Connelly for carrying 103 minutes of F/X driven, extra-terrestrial poop on her back. You'd think an alien from another planet sent to destroy Earth would be interesting...until you find out the alien is Keanu Reeves. 12/12/08 was the day the box office stood still.

Critic: C+

Fan:C

'Australia'

2009-01-10T20:30:00.000-08:00

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham, Brandon Walters

Directed By: Baz Luhrmann

12/6/08

SMASH

The cinematic stylings of Baz Luhrmann alone is enough to more than perk one's interest. Throw in a love story, intense action, weepy drama, and top it off with Nicole Kidman and the sexiest man alive and you've got yourself a pretty good mixture well worth the exclamation, "Crikey!".

Critic: B-

Fan: B

'The Incredible Hulk'

2008-12-01T17:54:00.000-08:00

Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson

Directed By: Louis Leterrier

12/1/08

HULK SMASH

Edward Norton has consistently proven himself in every genre of film. The Incredible Hulk is no exception. With an all star cast and intense action sequences, the movie is a strong, blockbuster thrill ride sure to leave one with an extra burst of adrenaline.

Critic: B

Fan: B+

'Girl With a Pearl Earring'

2008-12-01T17:43:00.000-08:00

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth, Tom WIlkinson

Directed By: Peter Webber

11/30/08

SMASH

The film beautifully captures the untold story behind one of the most famous paintings in history and Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth light up the screen with as much intrigue as the painting itself.

Critic: A-

Fan: A-

'Twilight'

2008-11-22T13:39:00.000-08:00

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart

Directed By: Catherine Hardwicke

11/22/08

FLOP

Robert Pattinson delivered remarkably, while the rest of the movie, (all inclusive), was more dreary than the Forks, Washington weather forecast.

Critic: C

Fan: C+

'Quantum of Solice'

2008-11-17T10:14:00.000-08:00

Starring: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Judi Dench

Directed By: Marc Forster

11/14/08

SMASH

Critic: B-

Fan: B+

'Hotel Rwanda'

2008-11-17T10:11:00.000-08:00

11/8/08

SMASH

Critic: A-

Fan: A

'High School Musical 3: Senior Year'

2008-11-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

10/24/08

SMASH

Critic: A-

Fan: A+

'Flawless'

2008-10-27T11:10:00.000-07:00

10/24/08

SMASH

I consider Demi Moore (pronounced deh-mee, not demmy) the ultimate cigarette actor. Just light up, give her the stick, let her go, and reap the benefits of a perfectly executed scene. It seems that Hollywood directors and producers have caught on to this tactic as well, because nowadays she seems to be holding a cigarette more often in her films. I give her credit too, because very few actors can make that roll work the way Demi does. She thrives off the cig. Her performance is fueled by the cig. If the cig ain’t deliverin’, Demi don’t deliver. But I digress. What does Demi Moore’s on-screen tobacco addiction have to do with Flawless? Well, she smokes in the flim, so… That much I guess.

Flawless, in it’s own right, is just as the title describes. The story, albeit on the surface sounds like one we’ve heard/seen a million times over, is enough to perk one’s interest. A bank heist set in late 1950’s-early 1960’s London starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore. Find me a person who wouldn’t want to see it. A more in depth synopsis perks the ears further. Laura Quinn (Moore) works as the only female executive at the London Diamond Corporation. Although perfectly qualified, if not more so than the rest, her consideration for promotion in the company is consistently thwarted by her gender. (Cue cigarettes.) The janitor, Hobbs (Caine), has been with the company for fourteen years and has been in acquaintance with Ms. Quinn, but only as much as his caretaking skills were required. Hobbs, having a bone to pick with London Diamond, plans to rob the bank and steal a handful of diamonds, a scheme fourteen years in the making. (Caine’s handicapped old janitor is a perfect mix of tenderness and intrigue, sure to keep the audience wondering about his true motives in the scam.) Hobbs needs Laura’s help. Laura, irritated by the fact that she has once again been rejected for a promotion, consents. From there the film goes off on a very fun ride full of ploys, lies, anger, and suspense, and keeps one’s breath short, heart rate up, and stomach churning with nerves. Michael Caine turns in yet another magnificent performance, proving that no matter how many times he’s asked to play the unusual cockney character, he’ll still make it brilliant. The chemistry between the two leads was very natural and believable. And in a plot to steal a most treasured stone, (quite a few to be exact), on the Earth from the largest Diamond distributor on the Earth, being natural is a must. I’ve seen diamonds and I’ve seen movies, but the combination of movie and radiance is almost as rare as the rock itself. In cutting diamonds, anything short of immaculate precision and you wind up with another piece of gravel. Flawless was the Crown Jewel.

Critic: A-

Fan: A

'Made of Honor'

2008-10-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

10/8/08

SMASH

Chemistry 101: Lead Male+Lead Female+Both Attractive+Lead Male is in love with Lead Female+Lead Female falls for another man+ Lead Female getting married+Lead Male going to lose her forever+Wedding between Lead Female and new love interest+Lead Male stops wedding and confesses love for Lead Female+Lead Female ditches other guy and gets hitched with Lead Male=Love Story Formula. Love Story Formula=Made of Honor. Sorry if I’ve ruined the surprise ending for the six of you who didn’t see it coming or who haven't seen the trailer… We’ve seen this story a million times and yet, somehow, it still works. Made of Honor is not a film one watches to be enlightened/moved/wowed/etc, and is not Oscar material in the least bit. That doesn’t mean that it wasn’t done well. It simply means that it is a movie that a group of women who dragged their men along with them can watch to spend time with each other and enjoy a cute story. That is all the filmmakers intended. And to that extent, the movie delivers remarkably. Patrick Dempsey is perfect in his sexy man/bachelor/quick-witted character, and gives one of his best, most comfortable performances. Men will enjoy the film because Dempsey is so relatable. Even though it is clearly a chick-flick, the masculine element is not forgotten and is supported by Dempsey’s group of guys and their willingness to help a bro that is in need. Michelle Monoghan is incredibly talented, and the female audience is able to relate to her just as well. I like her more and more each time I see her. She is incredibly beautiful. She is able to convey so much emotion with one small expression, and doesn’t need to say any words to let us know what she is thinking. Cliché though the story may have been, I still felt for the characters and wanted the best for them. The supporting cast wasn’t of much support to the film (excluding Kathleen Quinlan who is incredible and had barely any screen time and deserves more Oscar Worthy roles...) as it was solely carried by Dempsey and Monoghan. The guys tried to be dudes, while the girls tried to be funny. Neither worked. Nor did the openeing of the story in which a "younger, ten years earlier" Dempsey, sporting a rat nest wig, a Bill Clinton mask, and an “I’m so hot” attitude, first meets with Monoghan’s character, (he was originally looking for “Monica”), in an awkward “switcheroo” moment that ultimately results in their life long friendship. Apparently it worked for the characters, but it was weak for the storyline. All in all, Made of Honor encompasses everything one would look forward to in a relaxed evening of romantic-comedy Red Box DVD rentals. I enjoyed it. And for those of you suffering from problems in your own relationships, be sure to refer back to the Love Story Formula to put you back on track. It works in the movies, it should work in real life…right?

Critic: B-

Fan: B-

'Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist'

2008-10-04T22:10:00.001-07:00

10/3/08

FLOP

To start off, my Sunny Delight that I am drinking right now is better than this movie. Initially what drew me to the film was Michael Cera, (who turned in yet another very Michael Cera-ish role that left me feeling inferior to his wit), and then I saw that Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly gave it an A-. Now, usually Lisa Schwarzbaum and Owen Gleiberman don’t give out anything above a B+ unless the movie is actually deserving of the grade. This was not the case with Nick and Norah. But I took Lisa’s advice and went and saw the movie… We start off with the opening scene, (naturally), with Cera’s character Nick leaving a very long and insistent voicemail for his apparent ex-girlfriend. Classic Cera. Cool, the movie is going to be really good, I can tell already. Unfortunately, I was wrong. We meet Nick’s friends, (Aaron Woo among them, who I enjoy, playing the same character he always does: Aaron Woo) They need Nick to play in their band for a performance that night. Supposedly Nick’s favorite band “Fluffy Something” (not literally ‘something’. I just can’t think of the band's name, that’s how much of an impact it had on me…) is supposed to be playing at the venue as well. Fluffy Something happens to be the favorite band of Norah (Kat Dennings), the soon to be accidental love interest, and she attends the venue as well. Blah blah blah stuff happens, she kisses Nick, Nick’s ex gets mad, Norah’s friend is annoyingly drunk the entire movie, Nick and Norah have to spend the evening hunting down the drunk friend, Nick’s friends are in a van helping out as well, Nick’s ex (who by the way is supposed to be hot but really didn’t hit the mark. No offense to her, just the casting director…) is trying to get Nick to like her again while lugging around the dufus “boyfriend” that she snagged for some late night canoodling, the drunk girl’s gum tries to steal the scenes by proclaiming itself as an actual character, Nick and Co. go to a drag Christmas production to pick up the lost drunk girl, Nick and Norah split up, the non-hot ex does a terribly awkward strip tease for Nick who leaves her in the dust and leaves us sinking in our chairs, Norah ditches her boyfriend as well, they (Nick and Norah) get back together, then they go to the recording studio that Norah’s daddy owns. This, the pivotal moment in the film, when N&N are supposed to FINALLY get together works beautifully, Norah reciting lyrics that Nick had written about love, Nick in awe of where the night has taken him, but it comes to an abrupt halt after the first couple of kisses. What was supposed to be a very romantic and very cute scene in the film was overly awkward-ized when the camera panned out to reveal Norah’s changes in decibel range on the sound mixer in the recording booth as her and Nick expressed their young love for each other, creating an infinite amount of playlist no one EVER wanted to hear. Aside from the stupid-ness (I know, big critic words here, try to keep up) of the whole thing, the film had two things going for it: Michael Cera and Kat Dennings, who stayed true to their characters, made them believable, and who’s on-screen chemistry worked far better than any sequence in the film. I loved the music as well. It sounds as if I didn't, but I actually enjoyed the movie, enjoyed the "love in New York City" feel, but I'm not going to justify the fact that it was a complete let down and did not live up to any expectations of mine. Anyway, I’ve finished my Sunny-D, which actually wasn’t as good as I had originally hoped for, but at least it didn’t cost me $9.75…

Critic: B-

Fan: D

'Million Dollar Baby'

2008-10-04T22:08:00.000-07:00

10/2/08

SMASH

Although the film is now four years old, I finally watched it for the first time last night. I remember the Academy Awards that year when Hilary Swank took home the Oscar for Best Actress. Now I know why. Million Dollar Baby is one of those movies that rarely ever come around. It is too good to be true on every single level, i.e. Directing*, Supporting Characters*, Writing, etc. (*=Oscar win) Clint Eastwood has defined himself as one of the greatest story tellers in cinema. For this film, he had a lot of help from incredible storyteller Paul Haggis, who penned the script. On the surface, it looks like just another boxing movie. But at its heart, the story has absolutely nothing to do with fighting in the ring. It has everything to do with fighting for what you believe in. The movie takes an unexpected turn a little more than halfway through, and the ending is just as surprising. Being a critic, it would be my job to critique the film. But given that there is nothing for me to critique, I will tell you what I felt throughout my experience of watching this movie. The movie is flawless. Morgan Freeman gives one of his absolute best performances and the Oscar was well deserved. Every single person was so believable in their characters, and that is what sold the movie for me. I laughed, I got angry (literally screaming at the screen), I was happy, and I was sad. But most of all, I cried my eyes out. Sobbed. No movie, including Titanic, has ever done that to me. I felt for these characters. I wanted to reach into the screen and touch them, hug them, give them support, let them know that I cared. Movies like this rarely ever get made. They rarely ever come around. But when they do, they seem to draw the best of the best, and Million Dollar Baby was definitely a knockout performance from all who were involved.

Critic: A

Fan: A+

'Eagle Eye'

2008-10-04T22:05:00.000-07:00

10/2/08

SMASH

Great film. Shia LaBeouf gets progressively better with each one he does. He really got me with this one. There was a lot more emotional depth to his character Jerry Shaw than had been with his others and he more than pulled it off. Not to mention Michelle Monaghan, who’s talent far exceeded that which I had ever expected. Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, and especially Billy-Bob Thornton were perfectly cast, Billy-Bob being the coolest FBI agent to hit screens in a while. D.J. Caruso absolutely wowed me with his directing abilities in that this film is a complete opposite from ‘Disturbia’. It defined Caruso as a new leading man in the world of directing. There were a couple very cliche plot elements. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are phenomenal writers, but sometimes, among all of their incredible creativity, the dialogue and story fall short of the mark. This happened in ‘Eagle Eye’. I commend LaBeouf in his ability to take a weak or poorly written scene/piece of dialogue and supply it with way more talent and emotion than deserved. There were times when the movie crossed the line of being believable, and moved into “oh yeah right” territory, but then again it is a movie. There were a lot of original ideas pulled from unoriginal sources. It made references to I, Robot and Thornton’s character was a copy-paste of Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive. Also, D.J.’s directing style, (key word there), such as the jam-packed action sequences with more cuts than a pair of scissors, was a direct reference to Michael Bay, only Michael Bay doesn’t give us a headache to let us know that it is an action sequence. (I know, I complimented Caruso's directing ability. This is about the style of some of the sequences. Big difference.) From a critic’s standpoint, I give the movie a solid B-. From a fan’s standpoint, I give it a solid A. It rocked, was completely entertaining, kept my heart pounding, kept me at the edge of my seat, took me on an emotional roller coaster, and hit the mark with flying colors. It was fantastic and was everything I had hoped to see. Box Office Glory, you have been activated.

Critic: B

Fan: A

Shia LaBeouf is one of the most talented actors working today. His ability to connect with and draw audiences to the theater is what makes him so great. He understands the emotional connection between himself, his character, and the audience and that connection never breaks until the film is over. He has cemented himself a place in Hollywood for many years to come.