The Place Beyong the Pines (2013)

Wow.  Holy wow!  I realize that I am totally susceptible to movies affecting my mood.  I mean, why shouldn't they?  I get goofed on football games as my wife and kids will attest to and so being affected by movies is only a natural extension.  This was a killer film.

The film was long but it was fully loaded with an incredible cast: Liotta, Cooper, Gosling, and Mendes (the best of the Alba Diaz trio of actresses).  Gosling is something...he has this brooding deal that he capitalizes on in just about every movie he is in, but you never tire of it.  Michael Cera uses the same deal, but his quirkiness gets way old way fast.  Gosling's roles always have this nuke inside that is just below the surface and you are always waiting for it to come out.  Losing 2 tires from his role in Drive (2011) (which kicked a$$), he replays his cold but compassionate self....all good.  Liotta jams in the dude you know is wrong but have to go along with.  Cooper, good deal dude.  He pulls off a killer deal with this role and shows a really good span and range.  Good call by his agent to get him in this one.  Man, it is a dark deal but really intriguing and good.

Acting ROCKED, cinematography ROCKED, script ROCKED, directing ROCKED and SPECIAL KUDOS to the soundtrack.  You noticed it because it just didn't seem to fit or it seemed off, but unlike other films in which you ask, "who wrote the music for this...the director's kid?" this soundtrack fit beautifully.

Journey to the West: 2013

Holy Wow!  This was pretty bizarre but man, it became pretty darn funny and was so good that I had to watch it again with the kids.  It was all subtitles and I believe that there were some liberties taken but they were well done.  This was a funny movie and it even got my wife to sit and watch.  Good deal. 

The acting was over the top but consistent so therefore it was good. The directing was consistent and did a good job of capturing some funny moments and enhancing them.  Scenes of the rookie demon hunter and his teacher running from a shop keeper becuase they stole a goose leg from her stand were straight out of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - 1966.  Buster Keaton all over that one.

Cinematography was good, music was good, directing, acting, and script...well, can 't really comment on the script but this is/was a good one!

The Way Way Back

Man!  This was a rare and most awesome find.  This was indeed a movie that I remebered during the day and looked forward to watching again.  Good actors can really make a subtle story just pop far more than lousy actors in a full on explosive laden film....this is an example.

I have never seen Liam James before but his on par with early Michael Cera but just great.  Steve Carell nails it, Toni Collette is full on awesome (she has been great in everything I have ever seen her in beginning with "Muriel's Wedding" - 1994) and I have to say that Sam Rockwell has definitely become one of my favorite actors.  Rockwell is just an excellent performer and from roles in "The Green Mile"- 1999 to "Moon"- 2009 and here, the range is there but way freakin' awesome.  Just an awesome film.

Music, hell, I don't remember it so it must have fit the film perfectly, acting...awesome, script....great, cinematography....great. 

SEEEEEEEEEEEEEE  THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

300: Rise of an Empire (2014)

Nice!  It is so rare that a film sequel matches the original and this one did.  Ladies, yes there is a ton of blood but a ton of eye candy for you.  Dudes, the previous point will make this something you can watch with that special lady....just don't tell your wives or you will end up like one of the Persians.

I saw this movie right after watching "3 Days to Kill" and seeing Amber Heard trying to portray a bad a$$, stone cold killer.  Man, if only the casting director of '3 Days' had waited till he met Eva Green.  She played Artemisia and kicked.  Brutal, cold, and good acting.

The directing of this was awesome and the cinematorgraphy just great.  It was dark and moody but not so dark that you couldn't see everything.  The action scenes and all were just awesome.  Good times.

Music was good and acting was above average so this was a good old popcorn chomping good time.

3 Days to Kill - (2014)

Kevin Costner seems to get movies where his acting is good, then not so good, then good, etc.  This was a GOOD job.  He played a mix of Bull Durham and whatever his character's name was in Waterworld (1995).

Overall this was a good film, the action, cinematography, music and all, but what was a REAL DRAG were the costars....most notably Amber Heard.  Who is she, where did she come from and how did she get this role...or others I have seen her in.  Her acting was really bad.  Her character could have been a really cool one had it been played by an Angelina Jolie or Kate Beckinsale.  Perhaps the only good part about her acting is that it possibly caused a short run of this film in the theaters and therefore sped its delivery into my hands.

Script and story were good, cinematography was good and the soundtrack okay.  I give the soundtrack the okay because I don't remember it.  To me that means that it neither added nor detracted from the film.  Costner, Hailee Steinfeld (daughter), and Connie Nielsen (estranged wife) were fine in the acting....Heard I have mentioned.  Directing and all was dandy too.

It is not a bad film to see but if there are other pressing ones, see them first.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

I really looked forward to this based on the comments and all that folks had given and that I had heard on the radio and so on.....I couldn't finish it.  One of the ways I judge a movie is by how much I passively think of it (when I am not watching it) during the 2 to 3 days/evenings it takes me to finish it.  Further, I only remembered what I was watching when M. Gustav played by Ralph Fiennes appeared upon my hitting 'Play' on my personal DVD player.

Watching it became a chore and I have enough chores during the day.  I quit and have accepted my lack of hipness.

Mechanically, the film was sound.  The characters remained their quirky weird selves, the sound track, directing, cinematography, and writing remained constant and quirky throughout as well and never swayed.  That was impressive; however, no matter how well prepared and delivered to me a plate of haggis might be, I still ain't eating it and would send it back too.

Closed Circuit

 2013: Fairly recent but, eh, nothing really to write home about.  Have you ever noticed that some things (just because of what they are) are automatically accepted as being superior and therefore overrated like blonds having more fun than the rest of us, Dutch, Swiss or German Chocolate is far superior to chocolate from anywhere else, French cheese is the best, Italian and British cars are superior (wait, that's a lie) and in this case....British Acting?

Really, I am not sure if the acting was superior to anything else but the British accent I guess adds that flair.  Okay, so the movie was...it was okay but there are so many more I could have seen.  I guess the thing that was bizarre and made the film a bit hard to follow was the court system in England....you get a defender and then a special advocate and the 2 are not to talk about the case....not sure.  Okay, so I did not get that and that led to some mysticism on my behalf.  One other thing that just made me turn away and investigate the lint content of my navel was that a 210lb 6'2" trained killer from MI6 couldn't sneak up on and take out a 115lb 5'3" waif of a woman.

When it was all said and done, what was distinct to me and very memorable is the standard plot line about how governments will do unsavory things "TO PROTECT US" and it is better, even if it may be unjust, that you just accept it and go along with it.  I don't know if I am getting older and more conservative or just burning out on that tired old plot line, but my goodness, give it a rest would you?

Okay so for the standard review:
Writing/Directing: Okay, no real whoop.
Music....didn't really remember it being an add or detractor from the film
Acting: it was British!  It was AWESOME!
Cinematography: Good