HANNA

☆☆☆1/2

+
In this engaging suspense thriller, Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan (Atonement, The Lovely Bones) delivers an excellent performance as Hanna. Raised in Finland by her father (Eric Bana) to be the perfect assassin, Hanna fights to survive as she faces secrets about who she really is.
_
Violent
Disappointing performance by Cate Blanchett (CIA operative).

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 51 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Water for Elephants

☆☆☆☆

+
“Water for Elephants" (based on the bestselling novel) is the compelling story of Jacob (excellent performance by Robert Pattinson), a young college student, and Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), a Big Top performer, who meet and fall in love while working with Rosie…a special elephant in the circus.
Christoph Waltz as August (Marlena’s abusive husband) turns-in a strong performance as well.
_
Predictable
Some fans of the novel expressed disappointment in the film version.

Rated PG-13
2 hrs. 2 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer!

Rio

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Rio” (from the makers of “Ice Age”) is the fun, colorful, and family friendly animated story about Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), a rare macaw, who leaves his comfortable life in Minnesota to travel to Rio to meet another rare macaw named Jewel (Anne Hathaway).

The two macaws, along with a menagerie of characters (George Lopez, Jaime Fox, Will.i.am), face the adventure of a lifetime.

Excellent in 3-D…worth the extra money.
_
Looking for a little more “heart.”

Rated G
1 hr. 36 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer!

Win Win

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
“Win Win” is a heartwarming comedy from writer-director Tom McCarthy (“The Station Agent” and “The Visitor”) starring Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, and newcomer Alex Shaffer.
Mike Flaherty (Giamatti), a struggling lawyer trying to make ends meet, grabs a moneymaking opportunity by becoming the guardian of one of his clients. When the runaway grandson of the client (Shaffer) shows-up on grandpa’s doorstep, life changes for the Flaherty family.
Amy Ryan turns in an excellent performance…and Bobby Cannavale (“The Station Agent and “Will and Grace”), as Flaherty’s best friend, adds some fun.

The best film I've seen in 2011!
_
This independent film isn’t getting the “BUZZ” it deserves.

Rated R
1 hr. 46 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer!

The Lincoln Lawyer

☆☆☆☆

+
In this edgy thriller, based on Michael Connelly’s book, Matthew McConaughey (in one of his best performances) stars as Michael "Mick" Haller, a slick Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back of his Lincoln Continental (license plate…NTGUILTY).
Mick lands a case (defending the wealthy Louis Roulet…played by Ryan Phillippe) that takes a turn and challenges his view of right and wrong.
_
May be considered predictable and/or confusing.

Rated R
1 hr. 58 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!

Source Code

☆☆☆☆
+
In this exciting science fiction thriller (from director Duncan Jones and writer Ben Ripley), Captain Colter Stevens (spot-on performance by Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up in another man’s body on a Chicago commuter train that’s about to be bombed. His mission is to find the bomber in the last 8 minutes of the other man’s life.

Solid supporting performances by Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga.
_
Some say the movie just doesn’t make sense.
Disturbing Images


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 33 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer!

Limitless

☆☆☆

+
In this engaging sci-fi thriller, Bradley Cooper stars as Eddie Morra…a down and out writer who discovers a pill that can activate 100% of a person’s brain (experts claim we only use 20%)…making it possible to learn, understand, and process information much faster.
Creative visual effects capture Eddie’s movement through time and his access of memories.
_
The movie seems a little glib about the subject.
There is a subplot about a murder that raises questions…that don’t get answered.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 45 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer!

The Adjustment Bureau

☆☆

+
In this romantic thriller (based on Philip K. Dick’s “Adjustment Team”)…politician David Norris meets and falls in love with Elise Sellas (solid performances by Matt Damon and Emily Blunt).
Since this relationship is not part of Norris’ destiny, according to “The Chairman,” the Adjustment Bureau intervenes.
_
The story moves from excitement to silliness…ridiculous conversations between the men of The Bureau (wearing magical fedoras and acting like robots) and Norris who is determined to change “The Chairman’s” (God’s) plan.

Is it metaphysical…is it science fiction (not really)?
It’s mostly just a movie that doesn’t work.

1 hr. 49 min.
Rated PG-13

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Rango

☆☆☆☆

+
Johnny Depp turns in a terrific performance as Lars, a pet chameleon who (after an accident that separates him from his human family) ends up in the town of Dirt where he creates a new persona for himself…Rango…the brave hero of the West.
The residents of Dirt, devastated by the mysterious disappearance of all their water, welcome Rango as their new sheriff.

The animation is exceptional and the film offers laughs for young and old…the owl mariachi band was a favorite.



_

Parents need to observe the PG rating…as some of the content may “cross the line” (rude humor, some adult language, action, and smoking).

Even though 3D has been overused in the last few years…a 3D version of Rango would have been fun!

Rated PG
1 hr. 47 min.

Visit the "Rango" website and watch the trailer!

2011 Academy Award Winners

Best Picture
“The King's Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers

Directing
“The King's Speech” Tom Hooper


Actor in a Leading Role
Colin Firth in “The King's Speech”

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale in “The Fighter”

Actress in a Leading Role
Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”

Actress in a Supporting Role
Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”

Animated Feature Film
“Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich

Foreign Language Film
“In a Better World” Denmark

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
“The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin

Writing (Original Screenplay)
“The King's Speech” Screenplay by David Seidler

Art Direction
“Alice in Wonderland” 
Production Design: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara

Cinematography
“Inception” Wally Pfister

Costume Design
“Alice in Wonderland” Colleen Atwood

Documentary (Feature)
“Inside Job” Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs

Documentary (Short Subject)
“Strangers No More” Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon

Film Editing
“The Social Network” Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

Makeup
“The Wolfman” Rick Baker and Dave Elsey

Music (Original Score)
“The Social Network” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Music (Original Song)
“We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3" Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

Short Film (Animated)
“The Lost Thing” Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann

Short Film (Live Action)
“God of Love” Luke Matheny

Sound Editing
“Inception” Richard King

Sound Mixing
“Inception” Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick

Visual Effects
“Inception” Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb

StarMovieReviews Oscar Predictions 2011

Picture: "The King's Speech

Actor: Colin Firth "The King's Speech"

Actress: Natalie Portman "Black Swan"

Supp. Actor: Christian Bale "The Fighter"

Supp. Actress: Melissa Leo "The Fighter"

Director: David Fincher "The Social Network"

Original Screenplay: David Seidler "The King's Speech"

Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin "The Social Network"

Art Direction: "The King's Speech"

Cinematography: "True Grit"

Costume Design: "The King's Speech"

Editing: "The Social Network"

Makeup: "The Wolfman"

Score: "The Social Network"

Song: "We Belong Together" ("Toy Story 3")

Sound Editing: "Inception"

Sound Mixing: "Inception"

Visual Effects: "Inception"

Foreign Language: "In a Better World"

Animated Feature: "Toy Story 3"

Animated Short: "The Gruffalo"

Documentary Feature: "Inside Job"

Documentary Short: "Strangers No More"

Live Action Short: "Wish 143"

Visit the official Oscar website!

Unknown

☆☆☆

+
In this “keep-you-guessing” thriller, Liam Neeson plays Dr. Martin Harris…who finds upon awakening from a coma that another man (Aidan Quinn) has stolen his identity…even his wife (January Jones) doesn’t recognize him.
Dr. Martin forms an unlikely alliance with Gina (Diane Kruger) a Berlin taxi driver, who joins him in his fight to uncover the truth.
_
Neeson seems a little off his game in this one…maybe miscast?
The answers to this mystery were almost disappointing.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 49 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer!

Just Go With It

☆☆☆

+
In this fun romantic comedy, Danny (Adam Sandler) gets Katherine (Jennifer Aniston) to agree to pose as his soon-to-be-divorced wife and her kids to pretend to be his children…all in the hopes of winning the heart of Palmer (Brooklyn Decker).

Katherine’s daughter, Maggie (Bailee Madison), steals the show!
_
Nicole Kidman (Devlin Adams) is entertaining as Katherine’s old sorority sister…but the performance is a little “over-done.”

Silly
Crude Sexual Content

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 50 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer!

Biutiful

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Biutiful” (Academy Award Nomination for best foreign film) is the powerful and heartbreaking story of Uxbal (Academy Award nominated performance by Javier Bardem)…a criminal, a father, and a man who is facing death and struggling to provide for the future of his children.
-
Disturbing Images, Language, Drug Use
Spanish with English subtitles

2 hr. 28 min.
Rated R

Visit the website and watch the trailer!

The Illusionist

☆☆1/2

+
“The Illusionist” (written and directed by Sylvain Chomet - “The Triplets of Belleville”) is the Oscar nominated story of an aging magician forced to travel from town to town and country to country to find opportunities to perform his act. At a stop in Scotland he meets Alice, a young girl who follows him to his next job in Edinburgh. The two develop a father daughter relationship…
_
that is reminiscent of the children’s story “The Giving Tree” (Shel Silverstein). The girl continues to ask for more and more of the illusionist (shoes, dresses, coats)…who continues to give and is happy…but not really.

Rated PG
1 hr. 23 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Academy Award Nominations 2011

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids are All Right
The King's Speech
The Social Network
The Town
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone




Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Annette Bening (The Kids are All Right)
Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)
Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone)
Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Javier Bardem (Biutiful)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
Colin Firth (The King's Speech)
James Franco (127 Hours)
Jeff Bridges (True Grit)


Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Christian Bale (The Fighter)
John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)
Jeremy Renner (The Town)
Mark Ruffalo (The Kids are All Right)
Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech)

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams (The Fighter)
Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech)
Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)
Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom)

Achievement in Directing
Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan)
David O. Russell (The Fighter)
Tom Hooper (The King's Speech)
David Fincher (The Social Network)
Joel and Ethan Coen (True Grit)

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3

Best Documentary Short Subject
Killing in the Name
Poster Girl
Strangers No More
Sun Come Up
The Warriors of Qiugang

Best Short Film (Animated)
Day & Night Teddy Newton
The Gruffalo Jakob Schuh and Max Lang
Let's Pollute Geefwee Boedoe
The Lost Thing Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary) Bastien Dubois

Best Short Film (Live Action)
The Confession Tanel Toom
The Crush Michael Creagh
God of Love Luke Matheny
Na Wewe Ivan Goldschmidt
Wish 143 Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite

Achievement in Art Direction
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Inception
The King's Speech
True Grit

Achievement in Cinematography
Black Swan (Matthew Libatique)
Inception (Wally Pfister)
The King's Speech (Danny Cohen)
The Social Network (Jeff Cronenweth)
True Grit (Roger Deakins)


Achievement in Costume Design
Alice in Wonderland (Colleen Atwood)
I Am Love (Antonella Cannarozzi)
The King's Speech (Jenny Beaven)
The Tempest (Sandy Powell)
True Grit (Mary Zophres)


Best Documentary Feature
Exit through the Gift Shop Banksy, director (Paranoid Pictures)
Gasland Josh Fox, director (Gasland Productions, LLC)
Inside Job Charles Ferguson, director (Representational Pictures)
Restrepo Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger, directors (Outpost Films)
Waste Land Lucy Walker, director (Almega Projects)

Achievement in Makeup
Barney's Version
The Way Back
The Wolfman


Achievement in Film Editing
Black Swan (Andrew Weisblum)
The Fighter (Pamela Martin)
The King's Speech (Tariq Anwar)
127 Hours (Jon Harris)
The Social Network (Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall)

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Biutiful (Mexico)
Dogtooth (Greece)
In a Better World (Denmark)
Incendies (Canada)
Hors la Loi (Algeria)

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)
How to Train Your Dragon (John Powell)
Inception (Hans Zimmer)
The King's Speech (Alexandre Desplat)
127 Hours (A.R. Rahman)
The Social Network (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross)

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
"Coming Home" from Country Strong Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
"I See the Light" from Tangled Music and Lyric by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater
"If I Rise" from 127 Hours Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
"We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3 Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

Achievement in Sound Editing
Inception
Toy Story 3
TRON: Legacy
True Grit
Unstoppable

Achievement in Sound Mixing
Inception
The King's Speech
Salt
The Social Network
True Grit

Achievement in Visual Effects
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Hereafter
Inception
Iron Man 2

Adapted Screenplay
127 Hours (Simon Beaufoy and Danny Boyle)
The Social Network (Aaron Sorkin)
Toy Story 3 (Michael Arndt, story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich)
True Grit (Joel Coen and Ethan Coen)
Winter's Bone (Debra Granik and Anne Rossellini)

Original Screenplay
Another Year (Mike Leigh)
The Fighter (Paul Attanasio, Lewis Colich, Eric Johnson, Scott Silverand Paul Tamasy)
Inception (Christopher Nolan)
The Kids are All Right (Stuart Blumberg and Lisa Cholodenko)
The King's Speech (David Seidler)

___

Blue Valentine

☆☆☆☆
+
Blue Valentine is an intimate story that moves between a couple’s past and present. Filmmaker Derek Cianfrance skillfully captures the early years when Cindy (Michelle Williams) and Dean (Ryan Gosling) enjoyed a passionate romance…as well as their current fight to hold together a dying relationship.
Look for Oscar nominations for Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling who give two of the most outstanding performances of the year…natural, raw, and believable.
_
This romantic drama is one to add to the list of depressing films.

Rated R
1 hr. 52 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Rabbit Hole

☆☆☆☆☆


+
“Rabbit Hole” (based on the play by David Lindsay-Abaire) is the gripping drama about, Becca and Howie Corbett, a married couple dealing with the accidental death of their young son.

Director…John Cameron Mitchell manages to avoid what could be a gloomy story…by providing hope and a few smiles along the way.

Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, and Dianne Wiest give outstanding performances in one of the best films of the year.
_
Don’t feel guilty about having a few laughs.


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 31 min.

Visit the Rabbit Hole website and watch the trailer.

True Grit

☆☆☆☆

+
In this entertaining and well-acted western drama, Joel and Ethan Coen give us a fresh new adaptation of Charles Portis' original novel.
Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) hires a drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to find her father’s killer, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin).
Texas Ranger, LeBoeuf (Matt Damon) joins Ross and Cogburn in the hunt.

Expect nominations for Bridges, Damon, and possibly Steinfeld.
_
Slow Start
A Few Violent Scenes

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 50 min.

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer!

How Do You Know?

☆☆

+
In this romantic comedy (that offers a few laughs) we meet Lisa (Reese Witherspoon)…who after being cut from the USA softball team begins dating Matty (Owen Wilson)…a Major League womanizer and baseball player.
George (Paul Rudd), who is down on his luck…facing financial ruin…meets Lisa and the love triangle is complete.

Jack Nicholson stars as George’s father.
_
This film just doesn’t work.

The characters have no chemistry.

It’s just too hard to believe that Witherspoon’s character, Lisa, would make such stupid decisions…go on a second date with Matty after being disgusted by his behavior on their first date…and even worse…move in with Matty without even knowing if the relationship is monogamous.


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 56 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer!

The Fighter

☆☆☆☆1/2


+
Based on a true story, “The Fighter” is the dramatic story of "Irish" Micky Ward's (Mark Wahlberg) journey to the light welterweight title…supported along the way by drug addicted half-brother Dicky (Christian Bale), Alice (Ward’s mother played by Melissa Leo), and girlfriend Charlene (Amy Adams).

Nomination worthy performances by Bale, Leo, and Adams.
_
Hard to believe the group of adult sisters never left the house without each other.

Rated R
1 hr. 54 min.

Visit the movie site and see the trailer!

The King's Speech

☆☆☆☆☆

+
One of the best films of the year…”The King’s Speech” (based on actual events) tells the story of Bertie (expect an Academy Award nomination for Colin Firth), a man with a debilitating speed impediment who becomes King George VI.
In an attempt to overcome his stammer, Bertie begins working with an unconventional speech therapist, Lionel Logue…played exceptionally by Geoffrey Rush.
Director Tom Hooper manages to create a dramatic and moving story told with a sense of humor.
_
Was Guy Pearce the right choice to play King Edward VIII?

Rated: R
1 hr. 51 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!

Black Swan

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Black Swan” is the compelling story of New York City ballerina Nina (Natalie Portman…expect an Oscar nomination), who is competing with Lily (Mila Kunis)…a dancer new to the company, to keep her leading role in Swan Lake. As Nina prepares, she becomes increasingly obsessed with becoming the Black Swan.
_
“…Swan” is a disturbing story that lacks even a hint of joy.

Rated R
1 hr. 50 min.

Visit the "Black Swan" website!

127 Hours

☆☆☆1/2


+
“127 Hours,” brought skillfully to the screen by director Danny Boyle, is the incredible true story of Aron Ralston (James Franco), a mountaineer who becomes trapped in an isolated canyon in Utah. After five days, Ralston makes an agonizing choice in order to survive.

Oscar buzz about Franco’s performance.
_
Difficult to watch, disturbing content (bloody), claustrophobic

Rated R
1 hr. 33 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer!

Burlesque

☆☆☆☆

+
“Burlesque” is an entertaining musical drama featuring Christina Aguilera in her first role as Ali a small town girl who heads to Los Angeles to become a singer. She finds work and a little romance at Tess’ (Cher) Burlesque Lounge.

Terrific feel-good moments where you want to stand and cheer.

Stanley Tucci gives an excellent supporting performance.
_
The plot is a little thin…and it may not be Cher’s best…but it’s fun.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the movie's site and watch the trailer.

Love and Other Drugs

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Love and Other Drugs,” based on Jamie Reidy's memoir "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman," is a skillful blend of comedy, romance, and drama.
Anne Hathaway gives a fine performance as Maggie, the sexy and beautiful woman who won’t be tied down…until pharmaceutical salesman Jamie (excellent work by Jake Gyllenhaal) comes along and changes both of their lives.
_
A few over-the-top, poorly written characters.

Adult Content: sex scenes, nudity, strong language and some drug use

Rated R
1 hr. 53 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer!

Morning Glory

☆☆☆

+
In this enjoyable comedy, Becky Fuller (spot on performance by Rachel McAdams), hired as the new producer of “Daybreak”…a failing morning-news program, decides to revamp the show by adding famous anchorman Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford). Pomeroy, who believes in no nonsense journalism, clashes with Becky and his co-host (Diane Keaton).
_
A whole lot of fun is drained from this movie because Harrison Ford’s character is just too much of a jerk…for more than half of this predictable movie.


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 42 min.

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I

☆☆☆☆

+
Potter fans will enjoy “…Deathly Hallows, Part I” where we find Harry, Ron, and Hermione (Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson) on an exciting quest to find the remaining Horcruxes…in an effort to defeat the powerful Voldemort, who now controls the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts School.

Except for a few differences, Part I of this two-part finale stays true to the book.
_
Following the books…the films keep getting darker. Keep the little ones at home.


PG-13
2 hr. 26 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer!

Due Date

☆☆☆

+
Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) is detained on a flight from Atlanta to L.A. and in a desperate attempt to make it home in time for the birth of his child, decides to accept a cross-country ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (the wacky and ubiquitous Zach Galifianakis).

This entertaining journey ends up being the ride of Peter’s life.
_
“Due Date” is a little too silly and implausible.

Rated R
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the Movie Website and Watch the Trailer

For Colored Girls

☆☆☆

+
“For Colored Girls,” based on Ntozake Shange's 1975 play, is the emotional story (told through poems) of several women of color who come together because of rape, abortion, abandonment, HIV infection, and murder.
A well-acted drama (directed by Tyler Perry) with an all-star cast including Kimberly Elise, Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, and Thandie Newton.
_
One too many poetic monologues…some forced into scenes where the content does not work.
Violence (rape, murder), sexual content, strong language

Rated R
2 hr. 0 min.

Visit the Movie Website!

Conviction

☆☆☆☆

+
In this amazing true story, Hilary Swank stars as Betty Anne Waters a high school dropout who spent nearly 20 years working as a single mother while putting herself through law school…all to become a lawyer to overturn her brother’s (Kenny Waters played by Sam Rockwell) unjust murder conviction.

Minnie Driver and Juliette Lewis add excellent supporting performances.
_
Some say we know the ending at the beginning.


Rated R
1 hr. 47 min.

Visit the Movie Website!

Hereafter

☆☆1/2

+
“Hereafter” (directed by Clint Eastwood) is an interesting story that explores the lives of three people who have a connection to the afterlife.
Matt Damon turns in a believable performance as psychic George Lonegan.

_
This slow moving story misses a perfect opportunity to go deeper into this fascinating subject.

I was expecting so much more.

PG-13
2 hr. 6 min.

Visit the Movie Website and See the Trailer!

It's Kind of a Funny Story

☆☆☆1/2

+
“It’s Kind…Story” is an entertaining dramedy with heart.

Craig (Keir Gilchrist), a depressed, suicidal teenager finds a friend (Bobby…Zach Galifianakis), a new love (Noelle…Emma Roberts), and himself during a short stay in the adult psychiatric ward of his local hospital.
_
May be a little slow at first and a little sentimental at the end.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 31 min.

Visit the Movie Site!

Life as We Know It

☆☆☆


+
In this fun romantic comedy, Holly (Katherine Heigl) and “Messer” (Josh Duhamel) go from having one terrible date together to being parents of the orphaned daughter of their mutual best friends who die in an accident.
_
No surprises here…very predictable.

Jean Smart (“Designing Women”), who plays Holly’s mother, is wasted as nothing more than an extra.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 52 min.

Visit the Official Website...See the Trailer

The Social Network

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
One of the most compelling movies of 2010...“The Social Network” is the story of Harvard undergrad, Mark Zuckerberg (outstanding performance by Jesse Eisenberg), who creates one of the largest and most popular social networking sites.

“Facebook” not only brings Zuckerberg riches…it also brings him personal and legal complications.
_
Mark Zuckerberg reports that the movie is almost entirely fictional, but…

Aaron Sorkin, the screenwriter, and David Fincher, the director, insist that the film is accurate.


Rated PG-13
2 hr.

Visit "The Social Network" Official Movie Site

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole

☆☆1/2


+
This wonderfully animated fantasy follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father's stories of the Guardian Owls, and his brother Kludd, who scoffs at the same stories. The owlets face kidnapping and battles between the Guardians and the Pure Ones.
_
“Legend…” lacks heart and a genuine connection to the the characters.

Rated PG
1 hr. 30 min.

Visit the Movie Site

The Town

☆☆☆1/2

+
In this engaging Boston crime-drama (directed by/starring Ben Affleck), longtime thief Doug MacRay (solid performance by Affleck), who has fallen for a bank manager from a recent job (Rebecca Hall), plans to leave his life of crime behind and start anew.

Strong supporting cast: Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively

_
Violent
A Little Long

Rated R
2 hr. 3 min.

Visit "The Town" Website

Going the Distance

☆☆☆1/2

+
In this heart-warming romantic comedy loaded with laughs, Erin (Drew Barrymore) and Garrett (Justin Long) meet, fall in love, and try to make their long distance relationship work.

Erin’s sister Corinne (Christina Applegate) and Garrett’s roommate Dan (Charlie Day) really add to the fun with strong comedic performances.
_
Predictable
Keep the kids at home: Adult Language and Nudity


Rated R
1 hr. 49 min.

Visit the Movie Site

Get Low

☆☆☆☆

+
In this humorous and heart warming film, which is a mixture of folk tale, fable and real-life legend, a 1930s Tennessee hermit named Felix Bush (award winning performance by Robert Duvall) threw his own funeral party... while he was still alive.

Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray, and Lucas Black add to this tale with fine supporting performances.
_
“Get Low” may have been released too early for top honors.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 43 min.

Visit the Movie Website

The Switch

☆☆1/2

+
In this rom-com, Kassie (Jennifer Aniston) 40 and unmarried decides to become pregnant using a donor, but best friend Wally (the always enjoyable Jason Bateman) doesn’t support the idea. Wally makes a secret move that changes everything.

Solid supporting cast (Jeff Goldblum, Juliette Lewis, Patrick Wilson).
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Haven't we have seen this story before?
Struggle between comedy and drama.

PG-13
1 hr. 41 min.

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Eat Pray Love

☆☆☆

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In this quietly engaging drama, Liz Gilbert (played with ease by Julia Roberts) is a happily married woman who realizes something is missing in her life and she needs to make a change (which includes a divorce). Liz decides to take off on a round-the-world journey…a quest for personal and spiritual growth.

Based on the popular memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert
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This story will be satisfying for individuals who also maintain an interest in personal and spiritual growth.

Rated PG-13
2 hr 13 min

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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

☆☆☆1/2

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In this wildly creative action comedy Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) falls for Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), but before they can be together he must defeat all seven of her evil exes.

The video game generation will appreciate the gaming details used throughout the film.
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The overall film (especially the fantasy elements) may be too quirky and off-beat for many movie goers.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 52 mins.

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Dinner for Schmucks

☆☆☆

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In this off-beat comedy…Tim (Paul Rudd), who is being considered for a promotion, is torn as to whether or not he should accept an invitation to a special dinner hosted by his boss where the execs bring unusual guests for laughs at their expense.
Tim meets Barry (Steve Carell “gets” this complex character and plays him with finesse) who would be the perfect dinner guest…sure to secure the promotion.
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“Dinner…” is wacky and at times stupid.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 54 min.

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The Extra Man

☆☆1/2

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"The Extra Man" is a quirky dramedy (from writer/directors Pulchini and Springer-Berman best known for "American Splendor") that follows Louis Ives (Paul Dano), a lonely writer (with a secret) who moves to New York City and rents a room from Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline), an eccentric playwright and social escort for wealthy widows. The two men form a unique relationship.
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Even with some laughs the film has a gloomy tone…similar to “American Splendor.”


Rated R
1 hr. 45 min.

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The Other Guys

☆☆☆1/2

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In this action-packed comedy two dysfunctional New York City detectives (Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg) take on a high profile case full of crazy antics.

Ferrell “reels it in” a bit to hit the right comedy mark as detective Allen Gamble.
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Be ready for some silliness.

Don’t’ leave too early…one funny scene after the credits.

PG-13
1 hr. 47 min.

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The Kids are Alright

☆☆☆☆


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In this well-acted (expect a nomination or two) and endearing dramedy Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore) have two children (conceived by artificial insemination) and are in a long-term relationship that is tested when the kids decide to contact their donor father (Mark Ruffalo).
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The storyline related to Jules’ indiscretion perpetuates the idea that being gay is a choice.

Rated R
1 hr. 44 min.

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Salt

☆☆☆1/2

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An action-packed mystery thriller (full of twists and turns) that answers the question, “Is Evelyn Salt (dynamic performance by Angelina Jolie) a CIA officer loyal to the United States or a Russian spy?”
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In a wild chase scene, there is just no way the CIA agents would be able to keep up with Salt as she jumps from a freeway overpass to the top of a semi…then to the top of another vechile…

The ending points to a “Salt” sequel.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 40 min.

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