127 Hours (2010)

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

Danny Boyle returns to the big screen again with his first movie since Slumdog Millionaire. Boyle seems intent on mastering every single genre of movies, and he doesn't disappoint with this psychological/thriller/adventure/action/drama. Boyle recreates the story of Aron Ralston, a hiker who gets trapped when a boulder comes loose pins his arm to the canyon wall. Over the next 127 hours he will have to deal with the physical and emotional struggle to survive, and eventually have to make the decision of how far he is willing to go to get out from under the rock.

James Franco plays Aron, and already there is oscar buzz about his performance. Its hard to even imagine what you would go through in that situation, and watching Franco's performance it seems that he must have spent a lot of time with Ralston,  trying to find the right emotions to put into each day that he is stuck under the rock. Franco's performance is great as he struggles between trying to survive and the realization that he is about to die, and he is not happy with the way that he left his relationships with family and friends.

The other thing I really liked about the movie was it had a message, it seems like most movies these days are just about the big action scenes or the creepy hauntings, but don't have much heart. This movie brings a great message whether you are rock climbing alone in Utah or driving your car on the 101. You never know what moment is going to be your last, either from a rock trapping you in a canyon or your car flipping over on the highway. No one ever goes out expecting it to happen to them,  so people don't think about the things that matter most in their lives until it is to late.

Danny Boyle seems to have a little bit of a goofy side that comes out of him every once in a while, and unfortunately I think its the biggest setback in some of his movies. The Beach has the scene where it turns into a video game, and 127 hours has little pieces that seem just a little out of place. It doesn't hurt the movie at all, but I couldn't help like it took me out of the movie at the moment.  Reviewer John Ott put it best I think when he said it's a small budget movie made with a big budget, and I think at times it can feel a little over done.

127 Hours is a very tense movie that isn't for the feint of heart, but it is a true story that will entertain you as well as make you think. While it isn't the masterpiece that Slumdog Millionaire was, it is another excellent film from Danny Boyle.


When To Watch Rating: Now


Now Playing in Theaters

Making the Movie Review - HERE

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Butch and Sundance are the two leaders of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. Butch is all ideas, Sundance is all action and skill. The west is becoming civilized and when Butch and Sundance rob a train once too often, a special posse begins trailing them no matter where they run.

There really isnt alot to review when it comes to a movie starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, that won 4 academy awards and was nominated for 7 total. It was a movie that I loved as a kid and is still one of my favorite westerns. The only reason I review it is in case some unlucky person has yet to watch it yet.

It has a little bit of everything it seems. comedy, action, romance and suspense throughout the movie. The dynamic between Redford and Newman is fantastic whether they are fighting with each other, making jokes before jumping off cliffs or in the middle of a shootout.

The film is also does things differently than most other films would. The film is split up into two segments that is split by pictures that moves the story from America to Bolivia. They also use "pop" music for the montage sequences which was sort of surprising to hear when I watched it again but I think it works very well.

The movie was shot by Conrad Hall so it looks beautiful and it goes in and out of a sepia color that gives a good old west feeling to the movie.

The end of the movie is classic, all the way up to the very last line the movie keeps you laughing and guessing what is going to happen next.

When to Watch Rating: NOW

Available on Netflix Instant View

Let The Right One In (2008)

Oscar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl who turns out to be a vampire.

If you have read the review for Let Me In, then you already know my feelings about the two movies. This was one of my favorite movies of 2008, and one of my favorite vampire movies of all time. Also one of my favorite foreign films, the movie is Swedish.

The film is shot very beautifully, from the opening shot of snow falling in the black of night you know what this movie is going to look excellent. They take advantage of shooting in Sweden, and even though most of the movie is at night you still get some beautiful shots of the woods in winter.

Sometimes it is hard to really judge the acting of foreign films actors, because you are to busy reading the subtitles to be able to focus on the character. This may be true in my case for this movie, but I think that it was excellently cast and Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson are fantastic.

The biggest complaint I have received about this movie is how slow it is.  It definitely has the the pacing of a foreign film and I think that it adds to the movie. Those who are looking for an action packed vampire movie will not get that, but you will get a great movie that focuses on the relationship of these two children build.

If you have to choose between Let The Right One In or Let Me In, go with the original. I can't find one thing in that is better with the new one. The best thing to do though is watch them both and find out for yourself which one you like better.


When To Watch Rating: NOW


Available on Netflix Instant View

The Social Network (2010)

A story about the founders of the social-networking website, Facebook.

A sharp script, great music and David Fincher being David Fincher makes for one of the best movies so far this year. As usual I will let a better writer do a good review.

Check out Making the Movie - The Social Network Movie Review


When To Watch Rating: Now

Now Playing in Theaters

Animal Kingdom (2010)

Tells the story of seventeen year-old as he navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective who thinks he can save him.

Animal Kingdom was the winner at Sundance of the World Cinema Jury Prize and one of my favorite films of the year. Check out the Making the Movie Review.

Making the Movie - Animal Kingdom Review 

When To Watch Rating: NOW

Animal Kingdom is available in select theaters.