127 Hours (2010)

Going into this movie, you'd think it would get dull quickly, seeing as how it is nearly 2 hours of a man whose arm is stuck under a rock. Fortunately, you'd be wrong.

'127 Hours' is the true story of Aron Ralston (played by James Franco), a fearless mountaineer who winds up falling down into the crack of a canyon and having a large rock pin his arm down. As the name implies, Aron is trapped for 127 hours until he finally musters the strength and will to do whatever is necessary in order to survive -- even if it means cutting his own arm off with a dull knife.


Franco gave a compelling performance, despite his main co-star being a rock. The audience gets to see the stages, both physical and mental, that Aron endured during his fight for survival. What I found most profound were the images that came to him (and probably saved him), along with his reflections on past regrets. The movie really makes you question your will to survive and what's most important in your life.

Aron, who did not tell anyone where he was going, starts to re-examine the life choices that led him to the position he became *pardon the pun* stuck in. Aron had been living a life of solitary independence -- he pushed people away, neglected his family's phone calls, and never told anyone where he was going. So what's truly remarkable is how Aron ultimately responds to the rock. He sees it as a symbol that maybe he does need people in his life, and that no man is an island. "This rock has been waiting for me my whole life," Aron says. While most people would have accepted their fate, Aron conjures up the energy to fight for his life, despite having run out of food and water and having recorded his final goodbyes to his mother and father on his camcorder. And although the scene where Aron has to savagely cut his own arm off is undeniably disturbing, the movie's lasting impression is one of triumph and determination.

This movie was compelling and powerful, and I challenge anyone who watches it to ask themselves if they, too, have what it takes to overcome almost certain death.

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Genre: Drama
Synopsis: A mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive. A mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive.

Rated: R for language and some disturbing violent content/bloody images
Running Time: 1 hr. 35 min.
In Theaters: Nov 5, 2010 Limited
Box Office:$13.4M

Distributor:Fox Searchlight
Directed By: Danny Boyle
Written By: Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy

Red (2010)

When you take legends like Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Karl Urban and top if off with shots of Helen Mirren firing a sniper rifle, you really can't go wrong.

'Red' is an action-comedy about a retired -- and somewhat bored with all his new-found free time  -- black-ops agent named Frank Moses (played by Willis) who unexpectedly becomes the target of a CIA hit mission. Frank rounds up his old team (Freeman, Malkovich and Mirren) in effort to get to the bottom of what is really going on. Mary-Louise Parker plays Sarah, the case worker at the government pension processing center, and Fank's only recent joy. Because Sarah's life is also at stake, she is taken along for an experience she only read about in her action-romance novels.

I enjoyed this movie thoroughly. It combined just enough action, comedy and romance. My favorite scene would have to be the throwdown between Willis and Karl Urban, who plays William Cooper -- the lead agent on the case to hunt down Frank. Despite the age difference, William still had his ass handed to him on a silver platter. Mid-brawl, while Frank has William's faced pressed against a table, he asks "Kordeski trained you?" to which William answered yes, and Frank retorted with "I trained Kordeski." Seemingly a bunch of over-the-hill ex-CIA agents, the team kicks some serious ass. Cue Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle." 


The dynamic cast makes for a fun film to watch. And, on a personal note, it was a treat to see Mirren in such a kick-ass role.

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Genre: Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy
Synopsis:  Based on the cult D.C. Comics graphic novels by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner, RED is an explosive action-comedy starring Bruce Willis, Morgan... Based on the cult D.C. Comics graphic novels by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner, RED is an explosive action-comedy starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren. Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA's top agents - but the secrets they know just made them the Agency's top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.

Rated: PG-13   for intense sequences of action violence and brief strong language
Running Time: 1 hr. 51 min.
In Theaters: Oct 15, 2010 Wide
Box Office:$90.4M

Distributor:Summit Entertainment
Directed By: Robert Schwentke
Written By: Erich Hoeber

The Kids Are All Right (2010)

So... I don't know if it was all the pre-Oscar buzz or all the raving reviews, but I was somewhat disappointed with this film.

'The Kids Are All Right' is the unconventional story of a lesbian couple (played by Julianne Moore and Annette Bening) and their two children (played by Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson). Before the daughter Joni goes to college, her brother Laser convinces her to contact their biological father (Mark Ruffalo), whose donated sperm was used by each of the two mothers. The kids decide to keep the meeting a secret for the time being.

Paul, the donor, takes to the kids instantly. What's interesting is how the kids respond to him. Joni, who had initially shown little interest in meeting Paul, appeared to quickly seek his approval and attention while Laser seemed disappointed in Paul's lack of machismo.

The parents eventually find out what's going on and they form their own relationships with Paul. Bening plays Nic, the slight control freak and overworked doctor who is very fond of her wine, while Moore plays Jules, the free-spirited landscaper. Nic doesn't initially warm up to Paul, which adds further anxiety to an already strained relationship. It is clear things have been rocky between the couple for a while now, which may lead to the (*spoiler alert*) affair between Jules and Paul. The couple eventually confronts the situation, but there is no real resolution. And the kids (who also discovered the truth about their mom's affair) are forced to sever ties with their father, who ends up being banned from their lives as a result.

The movie does have it's funny moments, and Moore and Bening are truly great actresses. The plot just left me wanting more, and I was honestly quite surprised by how little of the film actually dealt with the kids. It also seemed like some of the characters were overworked. We get it... Nic really likes to drink, Jules is a free spirit and Paul is self-centered. For the most part, the plot seemed to center around the volatile relationship between the parents, who were definitely not all right.

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Genre: Drama, Comedy
Synopsis: Two children conceived by artificial insemination bring their birth father into their family life.

Rated: R   for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use
Running Time: 1 hr. 44 min.
In Theaters: Jul 9, 2010 Wide
Box Office:$20.8M

Distributor:Focus Features
Directed By: Lisa Cholodenko

Catfish (2010)

First of all, I went into this movie knowing absolutely nothing about it... and I'd recommend that everyone else do the same.

'Catfish' is a documentary about a young photographer by the name of Yaniv "Nev" Schulman and his bizarre relationship with a family he meets on the Internet. The story begins after Nev had one of his pictures published in a magazine, and shortly after, an 8-year-old girl from Michigan named Abby mails him a painting she drew of his photo. The two find each other on Facebook and begin corresponding via email and social networking. Nev also becomes close with Abby's mother and sister.

What's really interesting about the film is that right from the get-go, you can tell there is going to be some kind of twist, and luckily the movie doesn't disappoint. I was invested from the very beginning, and the film kept me guessing up until the end. I won't spoil the second half of the documentary, but I will say that things were not as they originally seemed.

Some things to take away from the film are the realities and dangers of the social networking age. Sites like Facebook are supposed to bring people closer together, when in reality, they are probably separating us more than ever before.  Think about it - we are siting in front of a screen with no idea what's on the other side.

At times, I wondered if the documentary was really factual. The pretense was that these men decided to film Nev's story on basically a whim (perhaps to observe the unique relationship taking place between Nev and this Michigan family he had never met), but what they end up stumbling upon makes for an incredible story. Either way, 'Catfish' is worth watching, and the message remains vital: there's something to be said for face-to-face interactions.

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Genre: Documentary, Drama, Special Interest
Synopsis: In late 2007, filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost sensed a story unfolding as they began to film the life of Ariel's brother, Nev. They had noidea that their project would lead to the most exhilarating and unsettling months of their lives. In late 2007, filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost sensed a story unfolding as they began to film the life of Ariel's brother, Nev. They had no idea that their project would lead to the most exhilarating and unsettling months of their lives. A reality thriller that is a shocking product of our times, Catfish is a riveting story of love, deception and grace within a labyrinth of online intrigue.-- (C) Official

Rated: PG-13 for some sexual references
Running Time: 1 hr. 26 min.
In Theaters: Sep 17, 2010 Limited
Box Office:$3.2M

Distributor:Universal Pictures/Rogue
Directed By: Ariel Schulman , Henry Joost

True Grit (2010)

For the Coen brothers, a movie is a piece of art. Every scene and every line is selected with purpose to create a stunning masterpiece, and 'True Grit' is no exception. 

With an all-star cast including Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin, the movie already promises to be an instant success. Bridges plays Rooster Cogburn, the "shoot first, ask questions later" gunslinging U.S. Marshal who, as the film puts it, "likes to pull a cork." Damon plays LaBoeuf, the goofy and arrogant Texas Ranger, while Brolin plays the notorious Tom Chaney. 

Also joining the cast is newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, who plays the young Mattie Ross whose father was ruthlessly killed by the fugitive Chaney. Steinfeld delivers an endearing performance and truly exhibits the classic female gumption rarely seen in modern cinema. 

The film follows the story of the silver-tongued Ross, who hires Cogburn in her quest to find and hang her father's killer. LaBoeuf, who has been searching for Chaney in regards to another murder, joins forces with the pair. 

I am an avid fan of westerns, so I was thrilled when I initially heard the Coens were remaking the classic. A good quality western in the box office has been long overdue. 

The Coen brothers said they were trying to focus the film around the 1968 novel by Charles Portis rather than making an exact replica of the Wayne film. While both films exhibit the same general story and much of the same dialogue, the Coen brothers brought a fresher and darker take on the classic. The characters also display much more depth as they truly come alive on screen.

Replacing 'The Duke' with 'The Dude' was an interesting, yet successful, choice. In the original, Wayne's role was a bit more tame and clownish. Bridges, however, provided more dimension. Yes, he was still a drunken mess who lived in the back of a Chinese man's restaurant, but you could also see there was more to his character than that. Bridges had a seamless way of transitioning from witty one-liners to a stern take-no-prisoners bravado. It was a stark contrast from Lebowski, but believable just the same.

Critics and fans alike were skeptical when the brothers announced they were remaking the classic western that won John Wayne his first and only Best Actor Oscar, but the Coens have once again created a cinematic masterpiece. With 'True Grit,' the Coen brothers address the age-old question of how to define courage, and the audience gets to go along for the ride.

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Genre: Western, Drama, Action & Adventure
Synopsis: A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer. A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer.

Rated: PG-13 
Running Time: 1 hr. 50 min.
In Theaters: Dec 22, 2010
Box Office:$126.2M

Distributor:Paramount Pictures
Directed By: Ethan Coen , Joel Coen
Written By: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen