There really are no words to describe how this makes you feel. It is a closer look at the man that was a mystery to us all, but is a daunting reminder of the talent that was lost too soon and a show that was sure to be one of the greater stage productions ever seen, that never went on. Michael Jackson, simply stated, is one of the greatest entertainer to ever live-and while watching 'This Is It' you will forget the legal battles taht surround his death, you will forget the media scrutiny that took over his persona in the mid-90's up until the day he died. You will let all of that go and finally realize why he was once the undisputed king of pop music. He shows no sign of age-he still sings with that powerful, soulful voice-he still moves better than anyone, even at 50 he exceeds the back-up dancers that are nearly thirty years younger than him. This is about the music and what was put into every single song to make this show something that no one had ever experienced. We see Michale take on and control every aspect of the show, from hand-picking the dancers, coaching the back-up singers and the band to pretty much directing the video segments that would play behind him on the enormous screen. In the end though, it is about the songs, every single one of them being masterpieces in...[more]...

I remember the book, I do, but it wasn't a huge part of my childhood or anything like that. Although after seeing Spike Jonze's adaptation/interpretation I wish I would have become more attached to it. Jonze's film is A) beautiful to look at, its tone, color palette and specifically planned money shots are treats to the eyes, and B) it is a film about childhood, but not a film necessarily for children. That may sound odd seeing as there are creatures running around, talking that look specifically designed to entertain and delight a young mind, but honestly they only appear that way because that is what a child would imagine. During the adventures of Max, played by the wonderfully natural Max Records, we witness his solitude in which he exists. He loves his mother and his sister, it is difficult to understand why they don't notice him more, it is painfully obvious that he seeks their approval-but from his pain and loneliness Max does find comfort in his imagination as a king and thus we meet "The Wild Things"-each seeming to represent a personality trait of Max's. Most obvious of which us Carol whom he connects the most with. Carol, voiced with heartfelt whimpers and heartbreakingly tinged cries by James Gandolfini is that part of Max that feels ignored and not good enough to fit in with his own family. The two go on a journey together, one that shows Max how...[more]...

...[more]...

It is odd to see the critics respond so harshly to this film. It may not be the most intellectual piece of filmmaking, but it is intriguing to the brim and has two dependable lead actors that seem very in tune with the characters they are portraying, not to mention a great supporting cast as well. Butler has been a busy man this year, but probably made his best choice with this one, he is a loving caring family man-that is illustrated in a few nicely constructed bits of interaction between him and his daughter, the film starts with a bang though, and there isn't much time to get to know Butler's character, Clyde Shelton, as the nice guy. We get to see him as the grieving father and the man who not only seeks the justice of his family but to find true justice in the judicial system-to make these people understand it isn't all about the technicalities and what can be proven in court, but about the truth that can sometimes be eluded through the technicalities of the laws. Jamie Foxx's character, Nick Rice, understands this but due to his profession and 96% conviction rate, he plays more on the side having to do with the system and all the cracks and loopholes it contains. Im not the smartest guy in the world, but im not dumb either and 'Law Abiding Citizen' is a sweet revenge tale, that goes a little over...[more]...

Going into this, I knew what to expect, I knew I was probably about to experience a lame horror film (especially after seeing 'Paranormal Activity' the night before) but I still tried to convince myself it might exceed expectations, maybe even pass them. The trailer was convincing and hinted at, if played right, what could be an interesting and entertaning slasher take on the divorced family dynamic. But, what I knew came true, it was bad, and not just worse than I thought, it was laughable. First and foremost, the acting. It was rough the entire time, and you couldnt help but chuckle at Dylan Walsh as he stared stone-faced as if he knew he was in a horror film, but when Amber Heard starts backing off from him and covering herself up, there is no way of avoiding the awfulness this movie has sunk to. Heard, who the makers know is nice to look at and owns about twenty swimming suits, came off as the only sane and trustworthy chaacter for most of the first part of the film so it was sad to see that leave once things finally began to pick up which leads to the next point that it was just extremely slow and boring. The "Stepfather" hardly does anything scary the entire film, he offs a neighbor and in a little bit of a shock, the "real dad", but these are quick and painless, they have no effect on the audience and we are...[more]...

I was skeptical about the hype that built so quickly around this little film. I saw the preview a few weeks before it became a big "Demand It" option, and thought it looked genuinley creepy. I am happy to report the hype is not making this film into something it isn't-It may only work the first time, but this film is the first one to genuinely scare me in a long time. It is shot as a couple trying to catch whatever it is that haunts their house, there are no credits no nothing that suggests this is anything but actual footage, the first big hurdle with this film is to create the perfect, believable atmosphere, and it suceeds at this by only letting us see what Micah catches on his camera. We don't get any different angles, no cuts, no music-it is raw and real-it builds at a pace that will have the audience questioning whether this is the movie they have heard is "so scary", and right when you begin to doubt the hype around how scary it is, it lures you in. You are given the opportunity to get to know these people, you relate to their personalities and really put yourself in their shoes. As the movie moves from very subtle effects that create plenty of chiils to the bigger stuff that starts the audience screaming out loud, I couldn't help but smile in knowing that they were getting it,...[more]...

It feels as if 'Surrogates' should have been a summer tentpole, it has the scope, the leading man and plenty of action. It also posesses a story that may be the most original of its kind especially with how familiar this kind of movie feels. At times it is like we are watching a thriller made in the mid 90's and other times its as if we are seeing the eigth 'Die Hard' film in which McClane tackles the 'I, Robot' world. It has many of the same themes and ideas of that film, but the extra layer of story that deals with actual people not interacting with one another and how much these surrogates take away from living one's own life and the relationships we develop is something that could have been taken further and explored in more detail. 'Surrogates' seems only to hint at all this, it is there and we are aware this is Willis' motivation for shutting down the surrogates as well as solving the crime, but in the end the film feels like a pilot for a series. At an hour and a half, it feels like it takes its time setting everything set-up and nicely layering in a few of the clues that lead to a quick and easy resolution. The tension doesnt build as it should and the story is cut off too quickly to really allow the audience to get into what is going on. James Cromwell serves as...[more]...

There have been many great computer animated films coming out lately that have nothing to do with the Disney/Pixar brand. This is impressive because before what seems like last year, the only other success outside of the Disney realm was the 'Shrek' franchise. Though I didn't enjoy 'Cloudy' as much as the Madagascar films or Kung Fu Panda, it is a ton of fun and uses the 3-D to greater effect than my only other venture into the IMAX/3-D world that was 'Monster vs Aliens'. That film was fun as well, great characters and entertaining to both children and adults. 'Cloudy' is very much the same and even though its voice cast may not be as famous as 'MVA' it is just as stellar in their performances. The great Bill Hader gets a lead role here and is perfect for the goofy yet super intelligent Flint Lockwood. Lockwood is a struggling inventor, who comes up with a way to turn water into whatever food he wants, this just so happens to occur around the time the mayor of the small town Flint is from invites a national reporter to witness the small towns renovations. This allows a weather reporter to be on sight when it starts raining food as well as providing a love interest played by Anna Faris. Faris is nice here, not the bimbo we are used to seeing her as, and the makers of the film limit her screen time so we...[more]...

...[more]...

It's all about expectation with this one. I was hoping for a great throwback to the 'Swingers' days and also that Vaughn could re-claim his spot near the top of the comedy kingdom with this. Needless to say, I was hoping for a lot, but what fan wouldnt? I mean, you have Vaughn and buddy Favreau who also wrote the film, then you have the most popular guy in Hollywood right now, Jason Bateman joining his gang and not to forget they gave old friend Peter Billingsley a shot at directing with this one. It is fun to see what Vaughn and co. would do with a seemingly simple set-up and a group of close friends and beautiful scenery. What it comes down to is how much you enjoy these actors, this may not be their best material, the film is a little too long and is shot in a very traditional manner, it isn't always as funny as it could be and some of the writing, to be honest, seems lazy at times. The characters are given a few distinct characteristics that allow them to fall into their archetypes and the structure is so familiar at this point we all know how its going to end. I don't know that I should forgive Vaughn and Favreau for the lazy writing-Favreau has been a busy man, but Vaughn has only done one film a year for the past 3 or 4 now, so there...[more]...

Sam Mendes knows how to reach past the surface and really get at what makes characters tick, what in their life has led to them to this current point in which his film captures. This skill along with a script from real life couple Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida allows this movie to provide a closer than normal portrait of a couple that is not only in love and dealing with things they had not planned, but a couple that is honest and relatable-they are with one another because they want to be, not because it is written that way. The two leads only enhance this film, John Krasinski, finally making a film that is up to the standards everyone imagined he could act in, while it is just nice to finally see Maya Rudolph getting the chance she deserves at a lead role in a film that if not getting the widest theatrical release, at least is highly praised on the festival circuit. Mendes has put together an impressive supporting cast as well, Allison Janney is hilarious as this awful character that is married to the criminally underused Jim Gaffigan. As Krasinski and Rudolph's characters travel the country searching for a place to call home, it becomes apparent Mendes and the script is not only telling a story about this couple, but of the life they are heading into as well as some of the obstacles that not only they will face in life, but that the...[more]...

Uneven, but interesting and very entertaining at times, 'Assassination of a High School President' is a trippy little tale that desperatley wants to expose how difficult and complicated high school students make their own lives. In this case, especially the life of sophomore Bobby Funke who aspires to be a great journalist and in an attempt to become the best writer of his high schools paper takes an assignment to profile the rich, popular kid on campus a little too far and turns everything into a conspiracy. Though there is plenty for him to work with including a story about stolen SAT's, he seems to find it necessary when given the slightest bit of evidence to connect it all, it would be just the thing to him noticed. This is high school though, and it probably has nothing more to it than a few kids running a scheme to make a quick buck. Though this may turn out to be true it is entertaining to see Funke crack the case, it is like a Ferris Bueller detective story with a darker tone. The writing is sharp, the characters aren't always archetypes, with the acception of Mischa Barton, and the adult cast featuring Bruce Willis who seems to be having a great time, letting loose and playing the principal as well as an unexpected turn for Kathryn Morris from 'Cold Case' is pure hilarity. I wouldn't exactly rush out to rent 'Assassination' but it is interesting and put...[more]...

Though I can't say I was expecting much from 'Jennifer's Body' I figured it would have a cool edge to it, the concept was interesting enough and the tone of the film looked as if it fit the story and coolness of the idea. And was it wrong for me to expect this to be a slice of hipster horror since Diablo Cody had penned it? Maybe it was alot better on paper than it turned out to be on film, but I can't imagine so-in fact some of the dialogue is just downright awful. Amanda Seyfried plays the nerd by putting on a pair of thick-rimmed glasses while Megan Fox essentially plays what she has been built up by in the press, besides the whole demon part. Director Karyn Kusama does give the film a nice, sleek approach that allows it to play like a conventional high school comedy and love story with the wrench of Jennifer being a demon thrown in-the real problem is we could care less about these people, even Seyfrieds character who we are supposed to empathize with isn't always an appealing protagonist and her boyfriend Chip isn't given enough screen time or character development for us to really even get to know him more than as Needy's boyfriend. There are a few redeeming qualities here, J.K. Simmons pops up from time to time, probably as a favor to Cody and though the ending feels...[more]...

I find Jennifer Aniston to be completely irresistable. She is a very famous woman, yet she does not seem to care what roles interest her and though she may say this is false, it seems she has no fear of playing someone most big name actresses wouldnt touch. In 'Management' a rather slow and subdued romantic comedy Aniston plays a woman stuck in a routine, one that has hopes but is afraid to risk anything on them-she wants the sure bet and Mike is anything but-Steve Zahn, one of the seemingly most talented, underrated actors working today allows the film to come off genuine and sweet rather than the weird and creepy it could have so easily fallen into. This is an odd little film, one the critics didnt take too much of a liking too, but it has enough redeeming qualities to at least warrant a rental, if not for the awkward chemistry between the two leads, then for the fun relationship between Zahn and James Hiroyuki Liao as well as Woody Harrelsons funny bits he is able to throw out in his limited screen time. The movie may fail on some levels, but it certainly is able to connect amotionally when it counts, especially in one scene where Zahn and his father spread his mothers ashes-it is very powerful, and the image and thoughts that are conveyed without being voiced in that scene will stay with me.

With a worn-out premise and a small budget director Ruben Fleischer's debut is a two man/two-woman show that may be the most fun I have had in the theater this year, besides 'The Hangover'. Honestly though, 'Zombieland' is great, it is funny and scary when it needs to be. It has a slick yet disgusting style, and may be the greatest performance Woody Harrelson ever gives, heres hoping we see Tallahasee again in the sequel. Eisenberg, though at first comes off a Michale Cera type is proving to be more reliable and Emma Stone is perfectly cast and looking better than ever. Abigail Breslin doesnt have much to do, but she is growing up and is already making great film choices. Other than that you have one of the greatest cameos ever and a whole bunch of zombies. It is pure entertainment. It is fun, it is gruesome and it is short-doesn't get much better.

Though it is obvious Gervais and writing and directing partner Matt Robinson have an interesting concept and plenty of good ideas to go along with it, they never take it as far as they seem able and the film falls into conventions of the romantic comedy. You may have heard by now the second half of the film deals heavily with a religious theme and seeing as Gervais is an aethiest you may imagine the side he takes, it is not completely offensive, though it does pretty much state that God and everything having to do with him is purely made up fairy tales to complete a construct present in the world. It is odd though Gervais goes the way of having the ability to lie as something justifying promising his mother something better in the afterlife. He stumbles upon this "God" character by caring and he only exaggerates it more to give the people something to believe in, hope for, if not only to make his own self rich and famous. It is hard to say how much offense one who does believe in God should take, it seems to be all in good fun and speculation, and I can certainly respect that as long as they respect religion in turn which sometimes isn't the case. The film features a great cast with a few great cameos (probably the best part of the film) and is funny enough to satisfy your expectations. Sadly, it doesn't exceed them,...[more]...

It is an interesting chemistry between the two very likeable lead stars. You trust both of them, which is important in a movie about love that hardly has a strong relationship in it until the end. Eckhart is a good guy in a bad place, one that has turned his grief into the self-help seminar entitled A-Okay. He has a rather weak meet-cute with Anistons character but pursues her anyway for no particular reason, he is lucky enough she is wortht he chase though, the first date is rough, but they still see each other, and the movie kind of drags, it doesnt turn into the romantic film it was advertised as, but is really a film about healing, that theme is shown best through a dad who recently lost his son plyed by John Carroll Lynch. Lynch is probably the best part of the film, but you also dont mind watcing Eckhart and Aniston fall for one another no matter how long it takes and how rush this movie actually feels.

Matt Damon has officially secured himself as an actor not constrained by the limits of his trademark face. It feels like he impressed director Soderbergh enough in the 'Ocean's' films to land him in the lead role here. 'The Informant!' is a comedy dealing with corporate America, one that takes in the audience and lets them get to know Mark Whitacare, a goofy yet smart guy who is moving up fast in the workplace. He is odd, there is something we are unsure of about this guy, but we trust he is a genuinley good man who happens to walk into the peculiar predicament of becoming an informant for the FBI when his company gets involved in some illegal activity.

Though it is very hard to dislike Sandra Bullock, it is just really hard to see how one could not be annoyed by her character here. She is written to be odd and eccentric, a genius in kind of an insane way, but she honestly is just annoying and you can't wait to get away from her no matter how "different" she is. The film itself is sloppily edited and looks as if it was thrown together in a week or so. It is odd that this much talent and so many big names were attracted to the project, it certainly had to be the salary and not the story that wobbles from one ridiculous set-up to the next as Bullock stalks Bradley Coopers weirded out cameraman. The cast is likeable, but the film just isn't good, simple as that, and no matter how much the actors may attempt to elevate this material, there is no point. There are one too many inspirational song moments, one too many ridiculous news stories and no realistic touches that allow us to believe any of this could really happen. 'All About Steve' is a slap of a bad decision between 'The Proposal' and what looks to be an inspired performance in 'The Blind Side' for Bullock, if she could have just held out on her regular schtick. Its not in her best interest at the moment.

Though it is very hard to dislike Sandra Bullock, it is just really hard to see how one could not be annoyed by her character here. She is written to be odd and eccentric, a genius in kind of an insane way, but she honestly is just annoying and you can't wait to get away from her no matter how "different" she is. The film itself is sloppily edited and looks as if it was thrown together in a week or so. It is odd that this much talent and so many big names were attracted to the project, it certainly had to be the salary and not the story that wobbles from one ridiculous set-up to the next as Bullock stalks Bradley Coopers weirded out cameraman. The cast is likeable, but the film just isn't good, simple as that, and no matter how much the actors may attempt to elevate this material, there is no point. There are one too many inspirational song moments, one too many ridiculous news stories and no realistic touches that allow us to believe any of this could really happen. 'All About Steve' is a slap of a bad decision between 'The Proposal' and what looks to be an inspired performance in 'The Blind Side' for Bullock, if she could have just held out on her regular schtick. Its not in her best interest at the moment.