This was the second move on the flight from NYC to Salt Lake City? Enough said I think.
Plot: Charlie Wilson was a senator during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. This movie tells the story of how he was able to covertly arm Afghans with weapons to defend themselves against Soviet control.
Twist: Stopping the invasion of Afghanistan would be a crippling blow to the Soviets, but Wilson must first overcome several personal and political obstacles to pull it off.
Memorable Quotes: You know you’ve hit rock bottom when you’re told you have character flaws by a man who hanged his predecessor in a military coup.
My Thoughts: This movie basically boils down to a very entertaining history lesson. Tom Hanks makes Charlie Wilson a very likeable man from Texas and Phillip Seymour Hoffman really sells his part as the loveable jerk. In the end you get almost exactly what you were led to expect…perhaps with a little less conclusion.
Who Will Like This Movie: Anybody who likes to get their history lessons in movie form.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Categories: Comedy · Drama
What do you do when you are stuck on a flight from NYC to Salt Lake City? You pick two in-flight movies to watch that you wouldn’t normally rent of course. And this is the first one.
Plot: Jack Nicholson is a wealthy business man who ends up in one of his own hospitals being treated for cancer. His roommate is Morgan Freeman who plays a mechanic who is far more intelligent than one might imagine. The two soon become friends and start a “Bucket List” of all the things they would like to do before they die.
Twist: Not everyone agrees with the idea and the two men have differing ideas about the point of the list.
Memorable Quotes: Somewhere, some lucky guy is having a heart attack.
My Thoughts: This movie was pretty much exactly what I expected. We know both actors are very good, but it is even easier when they are pretty much playing themselves. The story doesn’t offer too many surprises, but is still heartwarming at times. Overall, it was solid and worth a look on a Sunday afternoon.
Who Will Like This Movie: Anyone who likes Nicholson or Freeman…or girls who enjoy a good cry. (Something tells me Mandy will dig it.)
Rating: 6 out of 10
Categories: Comedy · Drama
I decided I wanted to see this the minute I heard that Robert Downy Jr. was going to play a superhero. And after hearing several good reviews from friends it was an easy pick.
Plot: A famous arms designer and dealer, Tony Stark, has a change of heart after being kidnapped by an independent terrorist group. His creation used for his escape becomes his greatest weapon yet.
Twist: Friends soon become enemies as Stark wrestles with his new found ambitions.
Memorable Quotes:
Christine: After all these years, Tony still has you picking up the dry cleaning?
Pepper: I do anything and everything Mr. Stark requires…including occasionally taking out the trash. Will that be all?
My Thoughts: As superhero movies go I thought this one was very good. I really like the casting of Robert Downy Jr. in the lead role since he does a great job as an unlikely hero type. As one might expect the science leaves a lot of holes for explanation, but the effects were entertaining without being over the top. Of course the final scene with Samuel L. Jackson to setup future Avengers movies is exciting, but also makes me nervous about a future let down.
Who Will Like This Movie: Anyone who enjoys the unlikely hero or has stacks and stacks of Marvel comics in a closet somewhere.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Categories: Action
Another classic that is one of my friend’s favorites. Two down…but four left to go.
Plot: John Robie, a master thief living in the French Riviera, comes back into question by the police when jewelry starts getting stolen at luxury resorts. The man must find the true thief in order to prove his innocence.
Twist: Robie gets involved with a beautiful woman in an effort to get closer to capturing the thief, but the woman is much more clever than he assumes.
Memorable Quotes: Why buy an old car if you can get a new one cheaper? It will run better and last longer.
My Thoughts: Although I found it a bit predictable, I really enjoyed this movie. The story and characters are excellent and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a remake someday. Cary Grant plays his usual, smooth part and Grace Kelly is quite the looker in the role of the young, pampered heiress.
Who Will Like This Movie: If you like old movies with smooth, shifty protaganists…then this is right up your alley.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Categories: Drama · Mystery
Now that I’m back from my vacation in the Dominican Republic, I’m finally able to start watching some movies again. Since I was in withdrawls I thought I’d start by catching a new flick in the theater.
Plot: The story is just as the title would suggest. A man who gets dumped by his celebrity girlfriend retreats to Hawaii in an effort to forget about her.
Twist: As fate would have it the man’s ex-girlfriend is also on holiday at the same resort where he is vacationing. And she is with her new boyfriend. Hilarity ensues.
Memorable Quotes: When life gives you lemons, just say, “F*CK THE LEMONS!” and bail.
My Thoughts: This is another movie written by Jason Segel and it is every bit as good as his last box office film, Knocked Up. The film combines an entertaining story with a good mix of dark and slap stick humor. Although there was a lot of dudity, it was always for the sake of humor and balanced out by a very sexy Mila Kunis. Even my date agreed that she has never looked hotter then she does in this movie. Seeing them make fun of Horatio from CSI: Miami was just icing on the cake.
Who Will Like This Movie: Anyone who liked knocked up or every wanted to see a smarter version of Jackie from That 70’s Show.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Categories: Comedy
So I’ve been slacking lately on my movie watching. What can I say except work has been busy. And it came at a bad time because my friend, Mandy, brought me several of her favorite old movies to watch and I’ve only had time for this one so far.
Plot: Robert Redford and Jane Fonda play the Bratters, newlyweds who are starting their new life together in a loft in New York City.
Twist: While adapting to their new lifestyle the couple discovers that they may not be as happy (or as similar) as they thought.
Memorable Quotes: Paul, I think I’m gonna be a lousy wife. But don’t be angry with me. I love you very much - and I’m very sexy!
My Thoughts: What was shaping up to be a funny, witty movie due to the banter between husband and wife, slowed a bit as the plot started to develop. Maybe I was expecting too much, but the movie definitely dragged for me. I thought the acting was very good and the dialogue between the couple was also very entertaining. However, it still wasn’t all I’d hoped for at the beginning.
Who Will Like This Movie: Mandy, my Mom and anyone who really likes old love stories.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Categories: Drama
I had already seen this movie several months ago, but I watched it again because it was coming on as I was sitting down to have a very high-class dinner. And by high-class I mean eating in my living room, sitting in my leather chair, and using the ottoman as my table. Bon appétit!
Plot: The story follows a lobbyist for “Big Tobacco” as his career begins to take off, despite the serious health risks associated with smoking.
Twist: As the man’s son begins to take an interest in his work, he finds himself in a moral dilemma.
Memorable Quotes: BR: We don’t sell Tic Tacs for Christ’s sake. We sell cigarettes. And they’re cool, available, and ADDICTIVE! The job is almost done for us!
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this movie, especially since I’m a big fan of playing the devil’s advocate for the sake of argument. I think it was even better the second time around. I thought the writing was genius due to the cross of quick witted banter and methodical sarcasm. All in all, it was a good story with great dialogue.
Who Will Like This Movie: Anyone who likes to argue for no reason.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Categories: Comedy
I never really played this game before, but I was still fascinated by the previews. What guy doesn’t love a good assassin movie?
Plot: An assassin, who is being closely followed by men from Interpol, is hired to do a job on the President of Russia.
Twist: When the target turns out to alive he must scramble to find the truth.
Memorable Quotes: Stop talking or I’ll put you back in the trunk.
My Thoughts: As far as assassin movies go this wasn’t one of my favorites. The main character seemed overly robotic at times and the twist at the end left me pondering too many “what ifs”. As for the action itself I thought it was pretty good and seemed to be relatively believable. The guy definitely came off looking like a badass instead a freaking super-hero, which is ideal for an assassin. I almost gave the movie an extra point because Olga Kurylenko is smokin’ hot, but since her role is fairly small and seemingly useless I can’t really justify that sort of bonus. Tough break Hitman.
Who Will Like This Movie: Big time gamers or people with a sniper obsession.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Categories: Action
Another movie that a friend of mine suggested. He did good on the previous recommendation so I rented this one when I returned the other.
Plot: The story is about a man named Robert Green (Joaquin Phoenix), who is making a name for himself in the NYC club scene despite his family ties to the NYPD.
Twist: When his brother Joseph Grusinsky (Mark Whalberg) gets shot by a Russian drug lord, Robert begins to use his connections to bring the man to justice.
Memorable Quotes: Better to be tried by twelve men than carried by six.
My Thoughts: Another very solid movie. The story was entertaining and the all star cast did a fantastic job. It did seem to drag in a couple of places, but this could have been due to the fact that I was incredibly tired when I watched it.
Who Will Like This Movie: Anybody who appreciates vindicated justice. (Mandy again.)
Rating: 7 out of 10
Categories: Drama
While watching the Oscars, this movie caught my attention. After a friend of mine suggested that I would really like this movie, I went out and rented it.
Plot: The movie is about a couple who work as private investigators in Boston. When they are approached to take the case of a missing little girl they begin working side by side with the Boston PD to find the missing child.
Twist: As the case begins to unravel the couple believes that the police may not be telling them the whole truth.
Memorable Quotes: Get that sausage off my lawn.
My Thoughts: As I had been previously told, this movie was very good. The story is excellent, original, and poses some serious questions about morality. Casey Affleck proves once again that he is a better actor than his brother. Maybe Ben should stick to writer and director. I got lost in the language several times, but I didn’t want to miss anything so I had to back it up several times. Of course it takes place in Boston…so what can you expect.
Who Will Like This Movie: Mandy and anybody who likes movies that make you ponder the decisions in life.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Categories: Uncategorized
