Oscar Predictions 2013

Best Picture:

"Beasts of the Southern Wild"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
"Zero Dark Thirty"
"Lincoln"
"Les Miserables"
"Life of Pi"
"Amour"
"Django Unchained"
☆"Argo"

Best Actor:

☆Daniel Day Lewis, "Lincoln"
Denzel Washington, "Flight"
Hugh Jackman, "Les Miserables"
Bradley Cooper, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Joaquin Phoenix, "The Master"

Best Actress:

Naomi Watts, "The Impossible"
Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty"
☆Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Emmanuelle Riva, "Amour"
Quvenzhané Wallis, "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

Best Supporting Actor:

Christoph Waltz, "Django Unchained"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "The Master"
Robert De Niro, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Alan Arkin, "Argo"
☆Tommy Lee Jones, "Lincoln"


Best Supporting Actress:

Sally Field, "Lincoln"
☆Anne Hathaway, "Les Miserables"
Jacki Weaver, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Helen Hunt, "The Sessions"
Amy Adams, "The Master"

Best Director:

David O. Russell, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Ang Lee, "Life of Pi"
☆Steven Spielberg, "Lincoln"
Michael Haneke, "Amour"
Benh Zeitlin, "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

Best Original Screenplay:

"Zero Dark Thirty"
☆"Django Unchained"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
"Amour"
"Flight"

Best Adapted Screenplay:

"Lincoln"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
☆"Argo"
"Life of Pi"
"Beasts of the Southern Wild"

Best Animated Feature:

"Frankenweenie"
"The Pirates! Band of Misfits"
"Wreck-It Ralph"
"Paranorman"
☆"Brave"

Best Foreign Feature:
☆"Amour"
"A Royal Affair"
"Kon-Tiki"
"No"
"War Witch"

Best Visual Effects:

☆"Life of Pi"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"The Avengers"
"Prometheus"
"Snow White and the Huntsman"

Best Cinematography:

"Skyfall"
"Anna Karenina"
"Django Unchained"
☆"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"

Best Costume Design:

☆"Anna Karenina"
"Les Miserables"
"Lincoln"
"Mirror Mirror"
"Snow White and the Huntsman"

Best Documentary Feature:

☆"Searching for Sugar Man"
"How to Survive a Plague"
"The Gatekeepers"
"5 Broken Cameras"
"The Invisible War"

Best Documentary Short:

☆"Open Heart"
"Inocente"
"Redemption"
"Kings Point"
"Mondays at Racine"

Best Film Editing:

"Lincoln"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
"Life of Pi"
☆"Argo"
"Zero Dark Thirty"

Best Makeup and Hairstyling:

"Hitchcock"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
☆"Les Miserables"

Best Music (Original Score):

"Anna Karenina"
"Argo"
☆"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Skyfall"

Best Music (Original Song):

"Before My Time" from "Chasing Ice"
"Everybody Needs A Best Friend" from "Ted"
"Pi's Lullaby" from "Life of Pi"
☆"Skyfall" from "Skyfall"
"Suddenly" from "Les Misérables"

Best Production Design:

"Anna Karenina"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
☆"Les Misérables"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"

Best Short Film, Animated:

"Adam and Dog"
"Fresh Guacamole"
"Head over Heels"
"Maggie Simpson in 'The Longest Daycare'"
☆"Paperman"

Best Short Film, Live Action:

"Asad"
"Buzkashi Boys"
☆"Curfew"
"Death of a Shadow (Dood van een Schaduw)"
"Henry"

Best Sound Editing:

"Argo"
"Django Unchained"
"Life of Pi"
"Skyfall"
☆"Zero Dark Thirty"

Best Sound Mixing:

"Argo"
☆"Les Misérables"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Skyfall"

Django Unchained

☆☆☆☆


+
Quentin Tarantino delivers a film that is dramatic, funny, and campy all at the same time. He manages to lighten very serious and at times violent subject matter with quirky music or a well-placed joke.
Jamie Foxx gives an excellent performance as Django.
_
Be ready for brutal violence and very bloody scenes.

Rated R
2 hr. 46 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer!

Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films

☆☆☆
"Adam and Dog"


☆☆☆
"Fresh Guacamole"


☆☆☆☆
"Head over Heels"


☆☆☆1/2
"Maggie Simpson in 'The Longest Daycare'"


☆☆☆1/2
"Paperman"


See the trailers for these films!

Identity Thief

☆☆☆1/2

+
Two of the best comedic actors in the business (Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy) team-up to tell the hilarious story of Diana (McCarthy), a woman living it up by stealing other people’s identities and Sandy (Bateman), who once his life is turned upside down by this thief sets out on a mission to clear his name and bring Diana down.

Bateman and McCarthy make a great comedy team!
_
Give this movie a chance in spite of what other critics are saying.
Funny is Funny...and these two are hilarious.

Rated R
1 hr. 47 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!

Zero Dark Thirty

☆☆☆☆☆

+
One of the Best Movies of the Year!
“Zero Dark Thirty” is the riveting story (directed by Kathryn Bigelow…Oscar winning director of “The Hurt Locker”) of the hunt and eventual assassination of Osama bin Laden.

Outstanding (Oscar Nomination) performance by Jessica Chastain, who plays the intelligence expert who dedicated 10 years of her life to finding the world’s most dangerous man.
_
The interrogation depicted in the film has created a political controversy…which may have come between Bigelow and a Best Director nomination.

Rated R
2 hr. 37 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

The Impossible

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
J.A. Bayona (“The Orphanage”) brings us the gripping and emotional story, based on one family’s actual experience, of the 2004 Thailand tsunami.
In an Academy Award nominated performance Naomi Watts stars as Maria, and Ewan McGregor stars as Henry…a mother and father who along with their three boys fight to survive one of the worst natural disasters of all time.

One of the best movies of 2012!

Amazing effects.
_
Most viewers probably know the outcome.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 47 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer!

Academy Award Nominations 2013

Best Picture:
"Beasts of the Southern Wild"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
"Zero Dark Thirty"
"Lincoln"
"Les Miserables"
"Life of Pi"
"Amour"
"Django Unchained"
"Argo"

Best Actor:
Daniel Day Lewis, "Lincoln"
Denzel Washington, "Flight"
Hugh Jackman, "Les Miserables"
Bradley Cooper, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Joaquin Phoenix, "The Master"

Best Actress:
Naomi Watts, "The Impossible"
Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty"
Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Emmanuelle Riva, "Amour"
Quvenzhané Wallis, "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

Best Supporting Actor:
Christoph Waltz, "Django Unchained"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "The Master"
Robert De Niro, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Alan Arkin, "Argo"
Tommy Lee Jones, "Lincoln"


Best Supporting Actress:
Sally Field, "Lincoln"
Anne Hathaway, "Les Miserables"
Jacki Weaver, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Helen Hunt, "The Sessions"
Amy Adams, "The Master"

Best Director:
David O. Russell, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Ang Lee, "Life of Pi"
Steven Spielberg, "Lincoln"
Michael Haneke, "Amour"
Benh Zeitlin, "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

Best Original Screenplay:
"Zero Dark Thirty"
"Django Unchained"
"Moonrise Kingdom"
"Amour"
"Flight"

Best Adapted Screenplay:
"Lincoln"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
"Argo"
"Life of Pi"
"Beasts of the Southern Wild"

Best Animated Feature:
"Frankenweenie"
"The Pirates! Band of Misfits"
"Wreck-It Ralph"
"Paranorman"
"Brave"

Best Foreign Feature:
"Amour"
"A Royal Affair"
"Kon-Tiki"
"No"
"War Witch"

Best Visual Effects:
"Life of Pi"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"The Avengers"
"Prometheus"
"Snow White and the Huntsman"

Best Cinematography:
"Skyfall"
"Anna Karenina"
"Django Unchained"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"

Best Costume Design:
"Anna Karenina"
"Les Miserables"
"Lincoln"
"Mirror Mirror"
"Snow White and the Huntsman"

Best Documentary Feature:
"Searching for Sugar Man"
"How to Survive a Plague"
"The Gatekeepers"
"5 Broken Cameras"
"The Invisible War"

Best Documentary Short:
"Open Heart"
"Inocente"
"Redemption"
"Kings Point"
"Mondays at Racine"

Best Film Editing:
"Lincoln"
"Silver Linings Playbook"
"Life of Pi"
"Argo"
"Zero Dark Thirty"

Best Makeup and Hairstyling:
"Hitchcock"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"Les Miserables"

Best Music (Original Score):
"Anna Karenina"
"Argo"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Skyfall"

Best Music (Original Song):
"Before My Time" from "Chasing Ice"
"Everybody Needs A Best Friend" from "Ted"
"Pi's Lullaby" from "Life of Pi"
"Skyfall" from "Skyfall"
"Suddenly" from "Les Misérables"

Best Production Design:
"Anna Karenina"
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"
"Les Misérables"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"

Best Short Film, Animated:
"Adam and Dog"
"Fresh Guacamole"
"Head over Heels"
"Maggie Simpson in 'The Longest Daycare'"
"Paperman"

Best Short Film, Live Action:
"Asad"
"Buzkashi Boys"
"Curfew"
"Death of a Shadow (Dood van een Schaduw)"
"Henry"

Best Sound Editing:
"Argo"
"Django Unchained"
"Life of Pi"
"Skyfall"
"Zero Dark Thirty"

Best Sound Mixing:
"Argo"
"Les Misérables"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Skyfall"

Any Day Now

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Any Day Now” is the heart-wrenching story (based on true events) of Rudy (Alan Cumming) and Paul (Garret Dillahunt) a male couple in 1970’s Los Angles trying to adopt Rudy (Isaac Leyva) a loving teenage boy with Down syndrome.
Up against a biased legal system, the couple passionately fights for what’s best for Rudy.
Strong performances by the main characters: Cumming, Dillahunt, and Leyva
_
This is the rare occasion where the film could stand to add another twenty minutes to help strengthen a story that just moves too quickly.

This one is a tear jerker…be ready.

Rated R
1 hr. 37 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Les Misérables

☆☆☆☆☆

+
The best movie of 2012!

Tom Hooper (Academy Award®-winning director: “The King’s Speech”) gives us an outstanding stage to screen adaptation of one of the most popular Broadway plays of all time…“Les Miserables.”

Hooper makes the story of Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), an ex-prisoner who breaks parole and is hunted for years by policeman…Javert (Russell Crowe) much more accessible…and consequently more enjoyable.

Outstanding cast (Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Russell Crowe) with stand-out performances by Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean) and Anne Hathaway (Fantine).

Look for a few Academy Award nominations.

_
While Crowe’s performance (specifically his singing voice) is good…it doesn’t always “keep-up” with the rest of the cast.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 38 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer!

Hyde Park on Hudson

☆☆☆1/2

+
In spite of the fact that “Hyde Park…” is about infidelity, it’s a charming story based on actual events (informed by Suckley’s diaries and correspondence with FDR).

Bill Murray (strong performance, Golden Globe Nominated) stars as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who even through married to Eleanor (Olivia Williams), manages to have many extramarital escapades…including one with his distant cousin Daisy Suckley (spot-on performance by Laura Linney).

Samuel West and Olivia Colman add a great deal of humor as the King and Queen of England.
_
The film could be seen as too light on story.

It’s easy to forget that this is the president who is leading the country through the Great Depression.

Rated R
1 hr. 35 min.

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

☆☆☆☆

+
In this visual masterpiece, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) recruits Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) to join forces with thirteen dwarves to reclaim the Kingdom of Erebor…lost to the dragon Smaug.

Excellent Special Effects
_
Too Long

The film would benefit by a few less battle scenes (or at least shorter battle scenes).

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 50 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away” is a young woman’s enchanting search for a circus performer through the worlds of Cirque du Soleil.

A story that allows viewers to see some of the best of several Cirque shows.
_
I disagree with critics that believe this film is a commercial for all of the Cirque shows.

The 3D should have been even better.

Some of the amazement of the real show is lost in movie format.


Rated PG
1 hr. 37 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Rise of the Guardians

☆☆☆

+
The kids will enjoy this tale of Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, The Sandman, and Jack Frost joining forces to defend the world’s children against Pitch…the villain who threatens to rob them of their beliefs, dreams, and imaginations.

Excellent Animation
_
The “So-So” storyline may scare very young children.

Rated PG
1 hr. 37 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!

Life of Pi

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Life of Pi” from director Ang Lee (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Brokeback Mountain”) is the fascinating story of Pi, a 16 year old who along with a Bengal tiger survived the sinking of a cargo ship.
As an adult, Pi tells the story to a writer…but there is a surprising twist.
_
A Little Long

The scenes of Pi (as an adult) recounting his story are a little distracting and may not have been necessary.

Rated PG
2 hr. 7 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!

Anna Karenina

☆☆☆

+
Director Joe Wright (“Pride and Prejudice,” “Atonement,” and “Hanna”) brings Tolstoy’s novel, “Anna Karenina” to the big screen with amazing costumes, art direction, and set design (possible Oscar consideration).
At times, Wright manages to dazzle viewers as he flawlessly moves from one scene to the next with beautifully unique and well-timed choreography.
_
His unique direction becomes so self-aware that it detracts from the story.
Keira Knightley is good…but it feels like this performance is similar to so many others…nothing new.

The film lacks emotion.

Rated R
2 hr. 10 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Hitchcock

☆☆☆☆

+
“Hitchcock” is not only an entertaining behind the scenes look at the making of “Psycho,” but it is also an engaging glimpse into the personal life of one of the most influential filmmakers of the century.
Anthony Hopkins gives an excellent performance as Alfred Hitchcock, and Helen Mirren stars as Alma Reville...his powerful, talented (and at times jealous) wife.
All Star Cast Includes: Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel, James D’Arcy, and Toni Collette
_
The information regarding the strained relationship between Hitchcock and Reville is said to be factually inaccurate.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 38 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Silver Linings Playbook

☆☆☆☆

+
Writer-director David O. Russell provides an excellent balance of drama and comedy while dealing with a serious story of mental illness.
Pat Solitano (well-played by Bradley Cooper) moves in with his parents after eight months in a mental institution. He meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a woman dealing with her own set of problems, and the two face their demons head-on.

Solid Supporting Performances: Jackie Weaver and Robert De Niro
_
Predictable

Serious Subject – Some will laugh more than others.

Rated R
2 hr.

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2

☆☆☆1/2

+
“…Breaking Dawn – Part 2” tells the story of Renesmee (Bella and Edward’s daughter), who is mistakenly identified to the Volturi as an immortal child changed into a vampire.
The action and excitement begin as the Cullens family unite to save themselves and Renesmee.

This installment offers a great surprise and slightly better acting, special effects, and storyline.
_
Only One Gratuitous Shirtless Scene
Special effects could still be improved…only a few scenes where the effects are so bad they are distracting.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 55 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer!

Lincoln

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Written by Tony Kushner and directed by Steven Spielberg, “Lincoln” is the engaging and very human story of the 16th President of the United States…played with great finesse by Daniel Day-Lewis (look for an Academy Award nomination).

Lincoln is portrayed as intelligent, flawed, soft-spoken, sensitive, and at the same time bigger-than-life. The film captures his quest to abolish slavery and ratify the 13th Amendment.

Sally Field skillfully captures the complicated Mary Todd Lincoln, and Tommy Lee Jones delivers an excellent performance as Thaddeus Stevens.

Extra half star for Day-Lewis' performance!
_
A Little Long

Underdeveloped story of Lincoln’s son Robert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 29 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Skyfall

☆☆☆☆

+
Director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) brings us the best 007 installment yet. James Bond (strong performance by Daniel Craig) faces the bizarre mastermind villain Silva (award winning performance by Javier Bardem) to save M16.

Also starring Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney.
_
Many miss the old bond…haven’t accepted Daniel Craig as 007.

Visit the website and watch the trailer!


Rated PG-13
2 hr. 25 min.

Seven Psychopaths

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Seven Psychopaths,” from writer/director Martin McDonagh (“In Bruges”), is a truly entertaining dark comedy starring Colin Farrell as a struggling screenwriter who is trying to get through his latest project…with a little help from his psychopath best friend Billy (Sam Rockwell) and Billy’s psychopath partner in crime Hans (Christopher Walken).
_
It is a DARK comedy….violent in parts.
Sometimes it just feels wrong to laugh at a dark comedy.

Rated R
1 hr. 49 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Cloud Atlas

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Cloud Atlas” is the engaging, epic drama exploring how the actions of one’s lifetime affect future lifetimes.

All-star-cast (Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant) deliver fine performances as multiple characters.
_
Confusing at times…difficult to tell how one person’s life was connected to and affecting their next life.

Subtitles would have helped at times.

Rated R
2 hr. 43 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Taken 2

☆☆1/2

+
With a little action and a little suspense “Taken 2” reunites viewers with CIA agent Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson), who invites his ex-wife and daughter to join him in Istanbul for a get-away that goes bad when the father of a man Mills killed (when saving his daughter in “Taken”) shows-up for revenge.
_
It’s just too close to “Taken.”

Why would Mills take his daughter and his ex-wife to a Istanbul?
In the main chase scene…it was amazing how Mills’ daughter (who doesn’t even have her license) drove like a pro through the streets of this foreign county.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 30 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

☆☆☆☆

+
“Perks…Wallflower” is the funny…yet stirring story of Charlie (strong and nuanced performance by Logan Lerman), a fifteen-year-old anxious about starting high school.
His year ends-up being filled with unexpected events: friends, love, and some real fun, but at the end of the school year a disturbing family secret…that Charlie had repressed since he was a young child…is revealed.

Emma Watson proves that she can play more than Harry Potter’s friend Hermione.
_
Needs stronger character development.
Some confusion here and there.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 43 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Argo

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Argo is a high-tension drama (with some much appreciated comedy relief) based on the covert operation concocted by Tony Mendez (strong performance by Ben Affleck) to rescue six Americans during the Iran hostage crisis by making a fake movie.

Based on true events that were declassified during the Clinton era.
_
Limited Character Development
Some say attention and praise is because of subject matter.

Rated R
2 hr.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Pitch Perfect

☆☆☆☆

+
Rebel Wilson (Fat Amy) delivers the laughs in this laugh-out-loud comedy about an a cappella college group that gets a past-due makeover when Beca (Anna Kendrick) joins the team.

The perfect mix of fun, music, competition, and a little drama.
_
Some crude college humor...potty humor

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 52 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Trouble with the Curve

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
“Trouble…Curve” tells the heart-tugging story a father (Gus – Clint Eastwood) and his daughter (Mickey – extra star for Amy Adams' performance) trying to mend their broken relationship while on the road scouting baseball players.

Solid supporting performance by Justin Timberlake
_
Clint Eastwood plays the same character he has played in his last three movies (cranky old man).

Predictable


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 50 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Arbitrage

☆☆☆☆

+
“Arbitrage” is the smart and engaging suspense thriller starring Richard Gere as Robert Miller, a New York businessman trying to complete the sale of his company before his fraud is revealed.

Excellent Performance by Richard Gere
_
You may find yourself rooting for Gere’s character as he digs himself deeper and deeper into trouble.

Rated R
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

The Bachelorette

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Bachelorette” may have touches of “Bridesmaids” and even “The Hangover,” but it stands alone as a solid comedy about three high school friends (Regan: Kirsten Dunst, Katie: Isla Fisher, and Jenna: Lizzy Caplan)…fraught with personal issues and character flaws… getting back together to attend Becky’s wedding (another high school friend played by Rebel Wilson).
_
Yes…the girls are mean to Becky, but deep down they do care about her.

Rated R
1 hr. 31 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

Hope Springs

☆☆☆

+
Once again Meryl Streep lights-up the screen…and is the best reason to see “Hope Springs,” the story of Kay, a woman determined to get her marriage to Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) back on track by travelling to a small town in Maine for a week of intense marriage counseling with Dr. Bernie Feld (Steve Carell).
_
We have two characters that are clearly stuck in a routine (we get it) and always grumpy (Arnold) or always unhappy (Kay).

Elisabeth Shue and Jean Smart are wasted in this film.


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Premium Rush

☆☆☆1/2

+
Written and directed by David Koepp (writer: “Spider-Man,” “War of the Worlds”), “Premium Rush” is the well-paced action-packed story of a Manhattan bike messenger (good performance by the ubiquitous Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is asked to make a delivery that puts his life in jeopardy.
_
Some may find they just don’t care much about the bike messenger culture or the types of bikes they ride (a lot of talk about Levitt’s super lightweight bike with no brakes and only one gear).


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 30 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

ParaNorman

☆☆☆

+
Done in exceptional stop-motion animation, “ParaNorman” (written and co-directed by “Coraline’s” Chris Butler) is the story of a boy who can communicate with the dead…and is bullied because of it.

Great voice cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, John Goodman, Leslie Mann, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (aka McLovin’)
_
The story tries too hard to be more than it needs to be…especially when it becomes all about the curse put on Norman’s town by a witch centuries ago.

May be a little too scary for young children (Rated PG).

Stick around for the credits and see a time-lapse sequence showing how the animation team built Norman.

Rated PG
1 hr. 32 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer!

The Campaign

☆☆☆1/2

+
Ferrell (Cam Brady) and Galifianakis (Marty Huggins) deliver some laugh-out-loud moments as they go head-to-head in a crazy congressional race that turns ugly.
_
Galifianakis is one of the best in the comedy business...and he and Farrell deliver…but the story falls a little short.

Adult humor (language and situations)

Rated R
1 hr. 25 min.



Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

The Bourne Legacy

☆☆☆1/2


“…Legacy,” the fourth installment in the Bourne film series, gives viewers plenty of action and a solid story centering on the CIA Director’s decision to eliminate Operation Outcome, one of the Department of Defense’s black ops programs. Operation Outcome’s agent Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) and scientist Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz) team-up in an attempt to avoid elimination.

Weisz and Renner make a great team.
_
No Matt Damon!

Some may be disappointed with the ending…definitely leaves the door open for a sequel.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 5 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

☆☆☆☆

+
“Beasts…” is the riveting story of a six-year-old named Hushpuppy, who lives in The Bathtub (a Louisiana community on the wrong side of the levee) and faces Hurricane Katrina with her ailing father and the close-knit community.

Amazing performances by Quvenzhané Wallis (Hushpuppy) and Dwight Henry (Wink – Hushpuppy’s Father)
_
Viewers may be put off by the squalor in this dirt-poor community, irritated by the shaky camera, or confused by the fantasy elements


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 31 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

The Dark Knight Rises

☆☆☆1/2

+
The much-anticipated action-adventure “The Dark Knight Rises” delivers a solid story that fans are sure to enjoy.
In this installment, Batman (Christian Bale)… after eight years in hiding because of assuming responsibility for the death of Harvey Dent…emerges to battle Bane, the masked terrorist who is planning to destroy Gotham.

Excellent performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Detective John Blake.
_
This installment feels a little long, and in spite of the decision to show very little blood…this is a violent movie.

Viewers may want to review the last few movies to completely understand the story…and the references to past storylines.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 45 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!

Brave

☆☆☆1/2

+
Disney and Pixar bring us a truly enjoyable (and beautifully animated) Scottish fairy tale about a young princess named Merida who is a headstrong young woman who defies marital customs…bringing about trouble she doesn't anticipate.
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Lacks emotional connection…and it is a little predictable.

Rated PG
1 hr. 33 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Magic Mike

☆☆☆

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In a story that gives a little more depth than expected, Channing Tatum plays Mike…a construction worker / entrepreneur by day and a headlining stripper by night...who befriends and teaches a 19-year-old (The Kid played by Alex Pettyfer – “Beastly”) all about dancing and the perks that come with it.
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Some may be disappointed that this film is not just good-looking guys stripping…it also takes a look at the downside of the business (drugs, ego, and in this case a sleazy boss named Dallas…a little overplayed by Matthew McConaughey).

It's not a great movie...but better than expected.

Rated R
1 hr. 50 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer!

Madea's Witness Protection

☆☆☆

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Once again writer, director, actor Tyler Perry brings us another outrageous (and funny) Madea adventure. This time Madea provides the home for George Needleman (Eugene Levy ) and his family…who have been placed in the witness protection program.
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The story falls a little short…poor character development…and one of the most unlikely movie couples ever (Denise Richards and Eugene Levy)


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 54 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!

Ted

☆☆☆1/2

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“Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane, in his directorial debut, gives us a funny…and raunchy at times…story of a teddy bear named Ted (voiced by MacFarlane) that comes to life because of young boy’s (John played as an adult by Mark Wahlberg) wish.
At 35 John and Ted are still living together and getting into a lot of trouble…until girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis) steps-in.
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Keep the kids at home…this film is rated R for a reason.
Some potty humor and the kidnapping storyline is a little weak.


Rated R
1 hr. 55 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer!

Intouchables (Untouchables)

☆☆☆☆1/2

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Take the time this summer to see a “real” story with a whole lot of humor and heart. The “Intouchables” (“Untouchables”) is a true story about an unlikely friendship between handicap millionaire (Francois Cluzet) and his ex-con caretaker (Omar Sy).
Cluzet and Sy give Oscar worthy performances.
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Some of Driss’ jokes about Philippe’s handicap were uncomfortable at times, but the humor seemed to be fine with Philippe…always making him laugh.

Rated R
1 hr. 52 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer.