I live in Oceanside, Ca. north of San Diego, and I went to see an original play that a friend of mine acted in. So being the good friend and also being a critic, I told my friend, Anyelid Meneses that not only would I attend, but I would write a review on it. "Real Women Have Curves" has only five actors-- all women in the entire cast, and I felt, knowing this information, it should be good. Not many plays/movies with a small cast have the tendency to be bad, and I was right.
This is a comedy about five beautiful, but curvaceous women Carmen, Ana, Pancha, Rosali, and Estela (Melba Novoa, Yesenia Ramos, Hannah Dohrer, Dana Fares, and Anyelid Meneses) respectively, that work together in a garment factory. But as you watch this, it transcends far beyond five co-workers in a factory. These are friends, whether they be related or not that share each others sorrows, joys, challenges, fears, obstacles and happiness and still are able to stick together, because they are all they've got.
This play, written by Josefina Lopez, faces challenges that hit women right between the eyes practically every day, such as poor self-esteem, abusive relationships, eating disorders, financial dilemmas, and they still come back together at that factory the next day clearly with the knowledge that working there is keeping them poor. What they come to realize is they may be poor (financially), but they are rich in their relationship with each other.
This was brilliantly directed by Tracy Williams in that these women each had there own distinct persona as they interacted with one another and they melded so well that you'd swear these five knew each other for years and years. I know these actors had to look into themselves to get into character, but Williams went from there and molded these women to the point where their relationship was effortless when viewing this.
Even the production values were great. Kelly Kissinger's set design was simple, but so much went into it to pull off that factory look. Certain costumes by Roz Lehman were stunning and matched the character of each woman. The lighting design by Justin Hall was right on the money where the light was needed and where it was not.
Whether you're into women's issues or not, this will definitely cause anyone to be thoughtful well after they leave the theater. But isn't this what Lopez was trying to achieve?
Out of 4 stars: 4 Approx. 105min. + a 15min. intermission
We've all seen murder mysteries before, but how many have we seen where you take a fictitious story and combine it with a fact-based person? Just thinking off the top of my head, I'd say none. This is probably the very thing that kept my interest with "The Raven".
In this whodunit set in the 19th century, a serial killer begins murdering victims using methods from Edgar Allan Poe's fictional stories. Poe (John Cusack) reluctantly teams up with a young Baltimore detective, Fields (Luke Evans) in order to get inside the murderer's mind and try to stop more of his fictional works becoming more gruesome fact. As the hunt intensifies, Poe's own love, Emily Hamilton (Alice Eve), becomes a target for the killer much to the chagrin of her father, Capt. Hamilton (Brendan Gleeson).
Others to round out the cast are Kevin McNally as Henry Maddux, Poe's editor at the newspaper, Oliver Jackson-Cohen as John Cantrell, one of the cops involved, Jimmy Yuill as Capt. Eldridge, the cop in charge, Sam Hazeldine as Ivan, and Pam Ferris as Mrs. Bradley.
This was directed with grittiness by James McTeigue ("V for Vendetta" '05, "Ninja Assassin" '09), and the way he could pull such pathos out of his characters, such as with Evans' Fields character was amazingly effective. This was equally well written by Ben Livingston and Hannah Shakespeare. As stated prior, the combination of a fictional story and a real person of history-- Poe, was certainly original. Cusack does give his usual power to the lead role as he does with just about any role he's done in the past.
The special makeup effects and visuals flowed like water, so the R rating was needed for some gruesome and violent scenes. But if you are the sort of person who likes this kind of fare, you'll revel, otherwise this may be a bit tough to watch.
Out of 4 stars: 3 Rated: R 111min.
Franchises. You gotta love 'em. This is where a film is made, and because it makes more money than most expected, they make another one. Then another. Get it? Well, it's been nine years since the American Pie franchise has produced their last theatrical release. They have made video versions of the franchise since. With "American Reunion", they're a little older, but definitely not wiser.
Over a decade has passed and the gang return to East Great Falls, Michigan, for the weekend. They will soon discover how their lives have developed as they congregate for their high school reunion. How has life treated Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs), Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), Heather (Mena Suvari), Oz (Chris Klein), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Vicky (Tara Reid), Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), Stifler (Seann William Scott), Jim's Dad (Eugene Levy) and Stifler's Mom (Jennifer Coolidge)? In the summer of 1999, it was four boys on a quest to lose their virginity. Now Kara (Ali Cobrin), who Jim used to baby sit, is now a cute high school senior looking for the perfect guy to lose her virginity to. Some things just never change.
Others to round out the cast are John Cho as MILF Guy #2, Jay Harrington as Dr. Ron, and Chuck Hittinger as AJ.
This was written and directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg based on characters by Adam Herz. This had the same feel as the original "American Pie" '99 in that this was about as adolescent. Come now, After more than 10 years later, one would think these guys were a little more mature than this. Stifler, I understand. He was a screw-up in the original, again in "American Pie 2" '01 and still again in "American Pie: The Wedding" '03, but you know this. He is the kid that never grew up-- foul-mouthed, animated, over-the-top, always talking about sex.
So in this incarnation, one can't expect any more out of Stifler. Actually, Scott as Stifler was the character that saved this film at all, because he was so over-the-top with everything. In one scene, Jim is trying to explain why he called Stifler a dick. He says, "OK, you're a-a dick, but a good dick; you're our dick". And they both chuckle and Stifler accepts this by not feeling left out. This is how you explain things to someone who's never grown up.
Anyway, certainly if you've liked this franchise, you'll revel in this, because it's like going back in time. Yes, they may be a little older, but definitely not any wiser.
Out of 4 stars: 2.5 Rated: R 113min.
One thing that has always amazed me with films that are based on a Nicholas Sparks novel is that they are usually better than I always expect. Look at his past and you'll see-- "The Notebook" '04, "Dear John" '10 and "The Last Song" '10. All these films, however weren't great films, they certainly were good films. Typically romantic drama films usually aren't well executed, but with the premises Sparks give are usually ones that attract people to the multiplex.
U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Zac Efron) returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he credits with keeping him alive-- a photograph he found of a woman he doesn't even know. He saw the photograph glimmering in sun amongst the rubble. When he approached the picture, a bomb exploded behind him.
After searching the Internet, he discovers her name is Beth (Taylor Schilling) and where she resides. He shows up at her door, and ends up taking a job at her family-run local kennel/training facility for dogs also run by Beth's grandmother, Ellie (Blythe Danner). Despite her initial mistrust and the complications of life in raising her son, Ben (Riley Thomas Stewart) and dealing with her ex-husband, Keith Clayton (Jay R. Ferguson), a romance develops between them, giving Logan hope that Beth could be much more than his good luck charm.
Others to round out the cast are Adam LeFevre as Judge Clayton, Keith's dad, Robert Hayes as Victor, and Joe Chrest as Deputy Moore.
The pacing of this was well executed by director Scott Hicks ("The Wanderer" '74, "Down the Wind" '75, "Freedom" '82, "Sebastian and the Sparrow" '88, "Call Me Mr. Brown" '90, "Shine" '96, "Snow Falling on Cedars" '99, "Hearts in Atlantis" '01, "No Reservations" '07, "The Boys are Back" '09).The way he got Efron to represent himself as this marine with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disease) without him looking psychotic was very effective. This was written by Will Fetters based on a Sparks novel.
If you liked the aforementioned films, you'll love this. But even if you're not particularly into this genre, because of Sparks' premise, it will still hold your interest even though you think you shouldn't like this.
Out of 4 stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 101min.
We've all seen films about the distant and not so distant future before, i.e. "Rollerball", "The Andromeda Strain", "I Am Legend", "I, Robot", "Escape from New York", "Logan's Run", "Silent Running", "The Hunger Games", "The Book of Eli", "A.I.", "Total Recall". Frankly, the list is endless. Well, another one can be added to the heap and that one is in the form of "Lockout".
The year is 2079. A man, Snow (Guy Pearce) wrongly accused of killing one of his colleagues and is accused and subsequently convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage against the U.S. is offered his freedom if he can rescue the president's daughter, Emilie Warnock (Maggie Grace) from an outer space prison taken over by violent inmates lead up by Alex (Vincent Regan) and his psychotic brother, Hydell (Joseph Gilgun).
It comes to a point where Snow wonders if he needs to be concerned more about the attacking convicts or of the politics going on at a nearby station that are helping him via radio which is lead up by interrogators, Langral and Harry Shaw (Peter Stormare and Lennie James) respectively.
Others to round out the cast are Jacky Ido as Hock, special agent to Emilie, Tim Plester as Mace, Snow's important contact, Mark Tankersley as Barnes, Anne-Solenne Hatte as Kathryn, Peter Hudson as President Warnock, Nick Hardin as hostage negotiator, and Dan Savier as Duke.
This was effectively directed by James Mather, also cinematographer ("Prey Alone" (short) '04) and Stephen Saint Leger ("Prey Alone" (short) '04). It was written by these two guys and Luc Besson based on an original idea by Besson. The key word here is 'original'. Even though there were some unique aspects in this and a nifty twist, the basic idea is very much akin of that of John Carpenter's 1979 film, "Escape from New York" whereas convict Snake (Kurt Russell) is given his freedom if he rescues the president's daughter from a prison where there are violent inmates. Instead of outer space, this prison was a walled up Manhattan where all the lowlifes of the country are thrown in and the inmates can just duke it out. Sound familiar?
I have to say, though, even knowing this, I still got more out of this than I thought I would. Truly, what really made this was Pearce as Snow. He played this tough, beefy guy, but with a heart so as to make him more human, and he pulled it off well. If you want to see Pearce in one of his best performances to date, rent "Memento" about a man who had to take Polaroid pictures to solve a case, because of the fact he had an extreme short-term deficit condition.
There were very few inconsistencies in this and it didn't come from a totally original idea, but all in all this film was not only explosive with great sets, but kept you right on the edge of your seat until the very end and isn't that the important ingredient to make it that much more entertaining?
Out of 4 stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 95min.
As the horror genre goes, there are horror films, and then there's "The Cabin in the Woods". The selling slogan to this film is: "You think you know the story" is extremely accurate. This basically turns the entire genre totally inside out.
Five friends, Dana, Curt, Jules, Marty and Holden (Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz and Jesse Williams) respectively, decide to take a break and go to a remote cabin in the woods for a week-end getaway vacation. After hearing odd noises and voices and go searching in the cellar, bad, really bad things start happening. As they try to leave, they inadvertently start realizing some truths about the cabin, but as they learn these truths, things continue to get more horrific and unexplainable.
Others to round out the cast are Richard Jenkins as Sitterson, Bradley Whitford as Hadley, Brian White as Truman, Amy Acher as Lin, and Sigourney Weaver as ' the Director'.
It was very adequately directed by relative newcomer to theatrical films, Drew Goddard, whose done a ton of TV, but this is basically his theatrical directorial debut. He was effective in that he really knew how to get terror and fear out of these people. This was written by Joss Whedon ("Toy Story" '95, "Alien: Resurrection" '97, "Titan A.E." 2000, "Serenity" '05, "The Avengers" '12) and Goddard ("Cloverfield" '08). Even though the premise to the film was original, because of the total obscurity of it, I believe the cohesiveness was compromised and there were things that were not explained well or not at all which made it frustrating. To tell you the inconsistencies and non explained things could ruin the story for you. Suffice it to say, you will not be able to figure out this plot unless you see it. Even after seeing it, one still might have a tough time figuring it out. It's kind of like figuring out some of M. Night Shyamalan's work in that it really puts the 'W' in weird.
It had great visual and special make-up effects which is great for the large screen, but for story and continuity of it, this lacks. If you are a horror affictionado and like a ton of gratuitous gore, this will probably turn your crank. If you're not, I would just leave this one alone.
Out of 4 stars: 2 Rated: R 95min.
The date is December 19th 1997. James Cameron's 200+ million-dollar long awaited epic, "Titanic" has finally hit the multiplex to what will be the highest grossing film of all time. I guess Cameron didn't make enough money the first time around, so this being the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the ill-fated ship, he decided to re-release the film. Not only did he re-release it, but he did it in Cameron fashion-- in 3D process.
84 years later, a 100-year-old woman named Rose DeWitt Bukater (Gloria Stuart) tells her story to granddaughter Lizzy (Suzy Amis), Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton), Lewis Bodine (Lewis Abernathy), Bobby Buell (Nicholas Castone), and Anatoly Mikailavich (Dr. Anatoly M. Sagalevich) on the Keldysh ship about her life set in April 10th 1912, on a ship called Titanic when young Rose (Kate Winslet) boards the departing ship with the upper-class passengers and her mother, Ruth DeWitt Bukater (Frances Fisher), and her fiance, Cal Hockley (Billy Zane).
Meanwhile, a drifter and artist named Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his best friend, Fabrizio (Danny Nucci) win third-class tickets to the ship in a poker game. At this point, she explains the whole story from departure, the meeting and getting to know Jack until the sinking of Titanic on its first and last voyage April 15th 1912 at 2:20 AM.
Others to round out the cast are Kathy Bates as Molly Brown, Bernard Hill as Capt. Edward Smith, David Warner as Spicer Lovejoy, Cal's man-servant, Victor Garber as Thomas Andrews, builder of Titanic, Jonathan Hyde as Bruce Ismay, owner of Titanic, Jason Barry as Tommy Ryan, a steerage-class passenger, Ewan Stewart as 1st Officer Murdoch, and Bernard Fox as Col. Archibald Gracie, a 1st class passenger.
This was wonderfully written and directed by Cameron ("The Terminator" '84, "Aliens" '86, "The Abyss" '89, "True Lies" '94, "Avatar" '09), and as one can see, with this epic of a resume, Cameron is the king of the high-budget epic film. This film was so grandiose, that the running time of it was 3 hours and 15 minutes, whereas it took only 2 hours and 40 minutes for Titanic to sink in the North Atlantic Ocean. Hey, there has to be a story in this, otherwise all we have is a documentary. Even though DiCaprio and Winslet weren't the best pairing with the then DiCaprio looking younger than the then Winslet, this story still kept one riveted.
I'm not usually a 3D fan, but this process made this film Rock! And with the visual effects predominantly by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) and Digital Domain, it made the combination that much more stunning. You've got to see this in the theater to even get the full impact that Cameron wanted to convey. All aboard!
Out of 4 stars: 4 Rated: PG-13 195min.
Mythology has never been one of my favorite topics, so I was probably not extremely fond of the previous "Clash of the Titans" '10, but when the sequel, "Wrath of the Titans" hit the multiplex, even though I was reluctant to see it, it actually was better than I thought it would be.
A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, which was the basic plot of the previous film, "Clash of the Titans" in 2010, Perseus (Sam Worthington)-- the demigod son of Zeus, is to live a quieter life as a fisherman and a widower parent to his 10-year old son, Helius (John Bell).
Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between gods and the Titans. Weakened by humanity's lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus (Liam Neeson), Hades (Ralph Fiennes), and Poseidon (Danny Huston). The trio had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld. Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus' godly son Ares (Edgar Ramirez), switch loyalty and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus.
Perseus has to reach Agenor (Toby Kebbell), son of Poseidon so as to lead him to Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), creator of Tartarus, in order to find Zeus. And once he does, Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Hephaestus, Agenor and Perseus start their trek to find Zeus and to stop Kronos.
This was directed by Jonathan Liebesman ("Darkness Falls" '03, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre- The Beginning" '06, "The Killing Room" '09, "Battle Los Angeles" '11). As you can ascertain by his resume, this genre is right down his alley. Except for dealing with all the special visual effects shots that the film had aplenty, this was probably a no-brainer for this guy.
It was written by Dan Mazeau and David Leslie Johnson based on a story by Greg Berlanti, Johnson, and Mazeau, which was based on Beverly Cross' 1981 screenplay, "Clash of the Titans".
If you like mythology, if you like high-end state-of-the-art visual effects, if you like a bunch of guys duking it out-- a lot, you'll revel. Granted, I've given you a good deal of ifs, but just for the shear escape factor and the fact the 3D version in this was better than the first installment, it will be worth heading down to the multiplex.
Out of 4 stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 99min.
I live in Oceanside, Ca. north of San Diego, and I went to see an original play that a friend of mine acted in. So being the good friend and also being a critic, I told my friend, Anyelid Meneses that not only would I attend, but I would write a review on it. "Real Women Have Curves" has only five actors-- all women in the entire cast, and I felt, knowing this information, it should be good. Not many plays/movies with a small cast have the tendency to be bad, and I was right.
