"Lawless" (2012)

Lawless is the true story of the infamous Bondurant Brothers: bootlegging siblings who made a run for the American Dream in Prohibition-era Virginia. In this epic gangster tale, inspired by true-life tales of author Matt Bondurant's family in his novel "The Wettest County in the World", the loyalty of three brothers is put to the test against the backdrop of the nation's most notorious crime wave. 

For me, this Depression-era crime drama has a lot going for it but slightly misses the mark on being the gangster epic that it strives for. The film greatly benefits from a wonderful cast consisting of Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, and Jessica Chastain. Gary Oldman gives a brief but still good turn as the ruthless gangster Floyd Banner while Guy Pearce gives a great scene-stealing performance as the disturbing federal agent Charley Rakes. Pearce manages to make the character fun but also so despicable that you still root for his defeat. Director John Hillcoat succeeds in conveying a gritty and convincing atmosphere of 1930's Virginia, with plenty of creative sequences to go around. It's a bit of the shame that the narrative does not quite work as whole though, as it's bogged down by an unnecessary romance subplot, lack of character arcs, and a too-good-to-be-true happy ending that robs the film of being provoking in a meaningful way. Still recommended viewing though.

I'll give it 6 out of 10 stars. =)

"Zero Dark Thirty" (2012)

For a decade, an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret across the globe, devoted themselves to a single goal: to find and eliminate Osama bin Laden. 

One of the best pictures of the year!! A heart-pounding and adrenaline-charged thriller that will keep you captivated from the start to it's incredible finish. 

Director Kathryn Bigelow crafts an incredible, in dept and profoundly realistic piece of work that won't soon be forgotten. It's a must-see movie experience that digs deep and digs into your head hard with its power, intense interrogation scenes and character interaction . 

A thriller that truly thrills and has lots of juicy and intense characters. An outstanding cast of actors who all deliver great performances, especially Jessica Chastain. 

Jason Clarke gives an excellent performance that truly stands out, he's leading man material for sure.

I'll give it 9 out of 10 stars. =)

"Kaboom" (2010)

This movie tells the story of Smith (Thomas Dekker), an 18-year-old film student who is bisexual and has a ravenous erotic appetite; his best friend is Stella (Haley Bennett), who prefers the company of women but is just as enthusiastic about pursuing new lovers. Smith has been haunted by a series of recurring dreams featuring two beautiful women, one dark and enigmatic, the other similarly spectral with flaming red hair. This wouldn't bother him, except that the women from his dreams have begun appearing in real life - Lorelei (Roxane Mesquida), Stella's new partner, is a magic aficionado who's a dead ringer for the dark-haired woman, and the red-haired girl (Nicole LaLiberte) is being pursued by a gang of masked assassins. 

For me, this film doesn't have a sense of purpose and the scenes aren't quite connected to each other so it gets a bit confused sometimes. The script lacks focus, the directing is clumsy and it's not absolutely categorized since it's not as funny as a hipster comedy nor intriguing enough for a mystery as it wants to be.

I'll give it 5 out of 10 stars.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961)

A young New York socialite becomes interested in a young man who has moved into her apartment building.

There is something about Audrey Hepburn that made me smile throughout the whole movie. Her smile, her acting and her silly sense of humour were probably the reason why. The story was different from the other movies I've seen from the 60's and the music of Henry Mancini was genious. It's very well worth watching with its very quick dialogue and obscure characters.

I'll give it 8 out of 10 stars. =)

"Vertigo" (1958)

A retired San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's much-younger wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.

Greatest movie ever made? Maybe, but that doesn't really matter as this is one of the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, finest work. Amazing acting, specially from James Stewart, great suspense, astonishing cinematography and the score by Bernard Herrmann 
is superb.

 This movie offers you a lot of twists and turns that will keep you guessing till the end.

I'll give it 9 out of 10 stars. =)

"Rear Window" (1954)

Laid up with a broken leg, photojournalist L.B. Jeffries (James Stewart) is confined to his tiny, sweltering courtyard apartment. To pass the time between visits from his nurse (Thelma Ritter) and his fashion model girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly), the binocular-wielding Jeffries stares through the rear window of his apartment at the goings-on in the other apartments around his courtyard. As he watches his neighbors, he assigns them such roles and character names as "Miss Torso" (Georgine Darcy), a professional dancer with a healthy social life or "Miss Lonelyhearts" (Judith Evelyn), a middle-aged woman who entertains nonexistent gentlemen callers. Of particular interest is seemingly mild-mannered travelling salesman Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr), who is saddled with a nagging, invalid wife. One afternoon, Thorwald pulls down his window shade, and his wife's incessant bray comes to a sudden halt. Out of boredom, Jeffries casually concocts a scenario in which Thorwald has murdered his wife and disposed of the body in gruesome fashion. Trouble is, Jeffries' musings just might happen to be the truth. One of Alfred Hitchcock's very best efforts, Rear Window is a crackling suspense film that also ranks with Michael Powell's Peeping Tom (1960) as one of the movies' most trenchant dissections of voyeurism. As in most Hitchcock films, the protagonist is a seemingly ordinary man who gets himself in trouble for his secret desires.

Hitchcock is certainly a man of his art!! I loved this movie a lot and despite the fact that I watched one of  Rear Window's remakes (Disturbia), I was totally involved in the story and couldn't always tell what was happening next. Amazing performances from all the actors. I also liked the way some scenes were shot because  you could see the whole environment of the neighborhood and that really helped understand the story and the other "secundary acts".

I'll give it 10 out of 10 stars. =)

"Bandslam" (2009)

A gifted young singer-songwriter recruits the new kid in town to manage her fledgling rock band in this music-driven comedy starring Vanessa Hudgens and Gaelan Connell. Charlotte Banks (Aly Michalka) has what it takes to be a true rock star, and with the battle of the bands approaching she's determined to win. Her chief opponent in the upcoming competition is none other than her egotistical ex-boyfriend Ben (Scott Porter). Ben may be cocky, but there's no denying his charisma when he takes the stage. With a little help from new arrival Will Burton (Connell), Charlotte's band begins to develop a unique sound and starts writing some original songs. Meanwhile, as Will and singer/guitarist Sa5m (Hudgens) start to make a love connection, disaster strikes, and the band is forced to choose between conceding the competition or standing tall and finally living up to their true potential. 

Although this movie has good reviews, it didn't gave me what I expected and I was bored after half an hour watching it. Also, for a movie where the main character as such a large interest in good music the soudtrack didn't show that and it sounded like everything else out there. Besides, I thought that Vanessa Hudgens' voice was a little annoying, even more than Rihanna's ;) At the end, it wasn't a terrible movie, but it's a story that has been told over and over again and it's getting a little tired of hearing the same thing.

I'll give it 6 out of 10 stars.

"Dream House" (2011)

Successful publisher Will Atenton (Daniel Craig) quit a job in New York City to relocate his wife, Libby (Rachel Weisz), and their two daughters to a quaint New England town. But as they settle into their new life, they discover their perfect home was the murder scene of a mother and her children. And the entire city believes it was at the hands of the husband who survived. When Will investigates the tragedy, his only lead comes from Ann Paterson (Naomi Watts), a neighbor who was close to the family that died. As Will and Ann piece together the disturbing puzzle, they discover that the story of the last man to leave Will's dream house will be just as horrifying as the one who came next. 

From watching the trailer I was given the impression that this movie was going to be a creepy scary thriller. But instead what I got was a waste of time. The film is not creepy at all, nor is it scary and it drags way too long in to many spots. It's very clear what is going on and the twists aren't surprising at all. I thought I was going to watch a haunted house type flick, definitely not the case with this film. The acting wasn't great either. The only one's pulling out great performances in this mess was Rachel Weisz and the two little girls. Daniel Craig was OK but Naomi Watts is forgettable. I probably wouldn't have minded this film so much if it was portrayed to be what it is, a suspense thriller, then what the trailer showed as a scary thriller. Disappointed. :(

I'll give it 1 out of 10 stars.

"Marvel's The Avengers" (2012)

Marvel Studios presents Marvel's The Avengers: the Super Hero team of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes like Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. 

What a great action film!!  I had my doubts that they would give everyone in the film a respectable amount of screen time, but they managed to pull them all together quite nicely. I have many favorite parts. I will only list a couple: The first scene with Black Widow. She kicked some major ass and I was impressed. When the Hulk sucker punched Thor, very funny. Then I would have to say most of Downey's lines. He's quite the smartass and I enjoy that kind of humor considering I speak that language. I know Loki is suppose to be the bad guy, but I can't help but like him. I find him humorus and bratty. In all the film was fantastic. Plus it didn't hurt that it had so much fine males in the film for us ladies and some of you gents to look upon ;) I can't wait for the second one!!

I'll give it 9 out of 10.

"21 Jump Street" (2012)

In the action-comedy 21 Jump Street, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) are more than ready to leave their adolescent problems behind. Joining the police force and the secret Jump Street unit, they use their youthful appearances to go undercover in a local high school. As they trade in their guns and badges for backpacks, Schmidt and Jenko risk their lives to investigate a violent and dangerous drug ring. But they find that high school is nothing like they left it just a few years earlier - and neither expect that they will have to confront the terror and anxiety of being a teenager again and all the issues they thought they had left behind.

Not the most memorable comedy but it's good enough. The chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum is great, but not only that, they create likable characters that we can relate to. There's a couple gross-out gags that I found unfunny, but otherwise 21 Jump Street succeeds in bringing laughs.

I'll give it 8 out of 10 stars. :)

"Anastasia" (1997)

The only surviving child of the Russian Royal Family hooks up with two con men while the undead Rasputin seeks her death.

This is actually my favourite animated movie ever!! I think although it talks about a princess, it's about a real one. It is a fairytale in some ways, but is distinctly different from  Cinderella or Snow White. While it is almost a complete contradiction to historical fact, it is a fun story. The voice talents are probably one of my favorites also. I mean, you can't go wrong with Meg Ryan, John Cusack and Christopher Lloyd. :)

I'll give it 8 out of 10 stars.

"Orphan" (2009)

An outwardly angelic little girl displays an unforeseen devilish streak upon moving into the home of her new adoptive parents in this shocking movie, starring Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga. In the aftermath of a miscarriage, prospective parents Kate (Farmiga) and John (Sarsgaard) find their lives turned upside down; their marriage is falling apart, and the demons of Kate's past begin manifesting themselves in a series of horrifying nightmares. Deciding that the best means of achieving some semblance of normalcy is to simply adopt, the dejected couple visits a local orphanage. There, they are both drawn to a nine-year-old girl named Esther. But Esther isn't as sweet as first impressions suggest, and almost immediately after welcoming the young child into their home, Kate and John suspect that something is terribly wrong with their adoptive daughter. Kate can see right through Esther's seraphic charm, though her attempts to convince everyone else of the truth go unheeded by her skeptical family and friends. By the time anyone bothers to take Kate seriously, it may be too late to prevent a devastating tragedy from unfolding. 

What I didn't enjoy about the film mostly was I didn't think Esther was very intimidating. The plot was really simple, we adopt a kid and now she wants to kill us. One pro to the movie was Vera Forminga's character, she was very believable and cool. What I want in a horror movie is an ending to scar me for life. Esther's character wasn't scary for me, she just seemd like a rip off of The Omen kid Damien. There were cheesy moments and stupid plots. Although I did not expect that Esther she was a 33 year old woman.

I will give it 5 out of 10 stars. :)

"Now Is Good" (2012)

Tessa is seventeen and passionate about life. Diagnosed with a terminal illness, she determines to use every moment, compiling a catalogue of what a normal teenager would experience, including losing her virginity and taking drugs. With the help of her friend Zoey, she sets the list in motion. While her family deals with fear and grief, each in their own way, Tessa explores a whole new world. Falling in love with Adam, her new neighbour, wasn't on the list, but it proves to be the most exhilarating experience of them all.

Tessa is not a likable character and her relationship with her family and friends is not an easy one to understand. She is dying and instead of helping the people that are about to lose her she makes their lives miserable and herself in the process. In the very end she has changed, but that is really only because she has to face the reality of her death much earlier than anticipated which shocks her out of her bad behavior. At the end, it's not a bad movie, but it's also not an original one. :(

I will give it 5 out of 10 stars.

"The Breakfast Club" (1985)

John Hughes wrote and directed this quintessential 1980s high school drama featuring the hottest young stars of the decade. Trapped in a day-long Saturday detention in a prison-like school library are Claire, the princess (Molly Ringwald), Andrew, the jock (Emilio Estevez), John, the criminal (Judd Nelson), Brian, the brain (Anthony Michael Hall); and Allison, the basket case (Ally Sheedy). These five strangers begin the day with nothing in common, each bound to his/her place in the high school caste system. Yet the students bond together when faced with the villainous principal (Paul Gleason), and they realize that they have more in common than they may think, including a contempt for adult society. "When you grow up, your heart dies," Allison proclaims in one of the film's many scenes of soul-searching, and, judging from the adults depicted in the film, the teen audience may very well agree. Released in a decade overflowing with derivative teen films, The Breakfast Club has developed an almost cult-like status. 

This film is about four really different teens that end up in detention for very different reasons. At first they do not get along but over the course of the day they learn how to accept each other. They also learn that people form different backgrounds could be friends. This movie has a very good plot and good acting. The scene that cracks me up the most is when they started whistling and they got in trouble for it. It really shows what high school kids were like. One of the best 80's films ever made. I do not think this is a chick flick. If you are  looking for a high school drama/comedy you should give this one a try. :)

I will give it 9 out of 10 stars.

"Silver Linings Playbook" (2012)

Life doesn't always go according to plan. Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) has lost everything: his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother (Jacki Weaver) and father (Robert DeNiro) after spending eight months is a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat's parents want is for him to get back on his feet (and to share their family's obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team). When Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he'll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives. 

If you were to look up the term "feel-good movie", this movie should be its main definition. It's thoroughly brilliant from beginning to end by staying on point with fantastic acting, comedy, drama, and engaging scenes. It's not often you get a movie that's very good as an all around film (comedy, drama, etc.) but you have a winner here. :)

I will give it 9 out of 10 stars.

"The Help" (2011)

The Help stars Emma Stone as Skeeter, Viola Davis as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny, three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s, who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks society rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed, even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times.

Overlooking the simplicity of a complicated situation and the sugar-coating of a sour era, I was still pretty impressed with The Help. It's hype is justified, it is a great story with great characters, played by very a very competent cast who all do very well - although Bryce Dallas Howard could have toned it down a bit, she was verging on cartoon character in her performance at times. I think it is probably the ending that disappointed the most though, did they really all live happily ever after? Not quite but then you have to take it as it is and for what it is, and what it is ain't bad. :)

I will give it 7 out of 10 stars.

"Agora" (2010)

A fourth century slave (Max Minghella) is confronted with his love for his intellectual alchemist master, Hypatia of Alexandria (Rachel Weisz), and the temptations of freedom spurred by the rise of Christianity in this historical epic from acclaimed filmmaker Alejandro Amenábar. 

A movie not against spirituality, but against intolerance, and religious dogma as a way of life. Well acted and directed, goes without saying that this kind of material won't get many accolades. A shame because Agora's message is as relevant as ever, we can't let superstition rule our lifes, and the world we live in. It's a constant struggle that will keep going as long as the human race walks this planet. :)

I will give it 5 out of 10 stars.

"Black Swan" (2010)

A psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet, Black Swan stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a featured dancer who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the company (Mila Kunis). A Fox Searchlight Pictures released by visionary director Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan takes a thrilling and at times terrifying journey through the psyche of a young ballerina whose starring role as the duplicitous swan queen turns out to be a part for which she becomes frighteningly perfect. Black Swan follows the story of Nina (Natalie Portman), a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who zealously supports her daughter's professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her. 

Beautiful, haunting, and thrilling. This is one of the best films in years. Natalie Portman steals the show with a raw and brilliant performance. This is more than a film. This is a work of art!! :)

I will give it 8 out of 10 stars.

"Stranger Than Fiction" (2006)

A socially isolated IRS agent whose every move is documented by a disembodied female voice discovers that his life is the subject of a book currently being written by a best-selling author, whose creative block has stunted her repeated efforts to kill him off, in a quirky fantasy comedy written by Hollywood hot property Zach Helm and directed by Finding Neverland's Marc Forester. Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) lives a life of solitude. Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson) can't seem to find a way to finish her latest book. Though Harold and Kay have never actually met, their fates are about to become intertwined in a most unusual manner. With her publishers growing increasingly impatient with her apparent inability to put the finishing touches on her latest novel, Kay is assigned a new assistant whose task it is to help provide the creative push needed to get her book finished and into the hands of her many eager fans. The subject of Kay's novel is a lonely and despairing IRS agent named Harold Crick, who believes that his life has lost any real meaning. As Kay continues to weave Harold's woeful tale without realizing that her protagonist is actually a living human being unable to concentrate on his life and career due to the constant interference of the narrator who inexplicably seems to anticipate his every move and read his every thought, her continued efforts to kill her perplexed subject finally provide him with the incentive needed to fully experience life by seeking out the source of the voice that plagues him. Stranger Than Fiction also features supporting performances by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, and Queen Latifah. 

Amazing movie. And I mean amazing. It's funny and with lots of heart. 
Will Ferrell  delivers an outstanding performance as the IRS Agent Harold Crick, whose life has been interrupted by a narrator controlling his every feeling and action, including the way he dies. It sounds completely ridiculous, but what this film really is, shows the intensity of a man, knowing that his life is in the hands of an author. 

The acting in this movie is amazing. This isn't Will Ferrell's normal comedy role, it's actually an emotional breakdown of a normal man. The other actors include Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, and Emma Thompson. 

This is a must-see. You won't regret it! :)

I will give it 7 out of 10 stars.