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jucie3689
Reviews
The Ides of March (2011)
Good acting but disappointing ending in my books
The movie's premise is a good one. Coming at a time when America is rich with political strife, the ideas of march brings a few key issues to light and attempts to wrap it all up in a pretty bow, with a couple twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed the first half of the movie. The writing in on point as is the acting. Given the star studded cast you would expect nothing less. It gives you a sense that there could be some good politicians out there, ones willing to stand by their morals and principals and change the great United states of America. It covers such topics as our reliance on oil, our religious debates as well as gender classification, gay rights and abortion. It pretty much touches on so many topics that every single person in the audience will find themselves at one point or another personally vested in it's outcome. It does a good job keeping you wondering. Where it loses me is the ending. Nothing irks me more than a movie that doesn't take ownership of it's plot and grant the viewer the courtesy of an ending. Now albeit I was disappointed with Inceptions ending as well, which I know is not in agreeance with a lot of people. Personally I just felt let down when Ryan Goslings character never reaches the final climax. He sits down- looks at the camera and that's it. I get it, the premise is he's going to out the whole scandal and you can argue that the title of the movie alludes this but I'm sorry, I just feel let down and robbed that the writer/director didn't think enough of me to shoot that final scene.
Drive (2011)
Worth a watch but couldn't get me all the way there
This movie does a few things well. This movie also does a few things poorly. All in all I was left with a sense of emptiness and a lot of questions for the director. Being the first movie by this Nicolas Winding Refn, but from browsing his other titles this brand of gritty uberviolent flocks doesn't seem to be that far off.
First off the good. The cinematography as well as musical score is great. It does a fantastic job of making you feel like you're watching a 1980's movie and I absolutely loved that. From the wardrobe down to set decor this is one of the best examples of taking the viewer back in time and making it convincing. The intro scene as well as first third of the movie also carries with it a great sense of building tension. Problem is this continues on until the bitter end of the movie, with scene after scene of mounting tension capped off with gratuitous violence. Many of these scenes attempt to make Ryan Gosseling the coolest most dangerous man on the planet but I had a hard time believing this. I truly think he is a talented actor but I feel like he was just trying a little to hard and the character never really came through for me and was equally difficult to get attached to. Perhaps if I had seen this with rapt attention and been totally focused it would have been a better experience but alas I wouldn't run to the theater to see this one.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Great movie
Really well done. Had zero expectations coming into this and was very happy after watching it. James Franco did a phenomenal job convincing me he is more than a flash in the pan. The depth of characters(mainly Caesars and Franco's character) had me vested in both of them and watching the whole time. The latter half of the movie over a little too quick for my tastes but all in all it was a great watch. My woman had some issues with the subject of animal testing but really loved this movie for what it was. A step above a popcorn flick but a step under a movie with too much depth, this hit everything for me. Again very happy after watching this as I had not expected much from it and walked away wanting to revisit the other films. Best of the planet of the apes series by far.
Bad Teacher (2011)
One of the worst movies I have ever seen
I will do my best to fill this review with something other than the line"Worst movie ever". Cameron Diaz has always managed to convince me that she has a place amongst many top actresses. This movie showed me just how contrived her acting can be. I'm not one to bash people and for al I know she is still op notch but it seemed like throughout this whole movie she was trying too hard to get her character across. Far be it from me to single her out as Timberlake falls in the same category. Perhaps it was the directors fault for pushing the actors over the top but the whole thing came across contrived and feeling forced. I wish I had the ability to take back watching this movie but alas it is done and that time is gone from my life. Please don't watch this movie.