The Stepfather

Michael Harding (Penn Badgley) returns home from military school to find his mother (Sela Ward) happily in love and living with her new boyfriend, David (Dylan Walsh). As the two men get to know each other, Michael becomes more and more suspicious of the man who is always there with a helpful hand. Is he really the man of her dreams or could David be hiding a dark side?


Yet another movie this month that is just kind of there. This might really be one of the most boring "thrillers" of all time. At no point was I scared, thrilled, or actually interested in what was going on. You knew everything that was going to happen a good 20 minutes before it did. Who am I kidding? You knew everything that was going to happen before you even sat down in the theater.


I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Its really boring and is a total waste of your time.

The Time Traveler's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife is based on the best-selling book about a love that transcends time. Clare (Rachel McAdams) has been in love with Henry (Eric Bana) her entire life. She believes they are destined to be together, even though she never knows when they will be separated: Henry is a time traveler—cursed with a rare genetic anomaly that causes him to live his life on a shifting timeline, skipping back and forth through his lifespan with no control. Despite the fact that Henry's travels force them apart with no warning, Clare desperately tries to build a life with her one true love.


This movie is just plain dumb. Seriously. This is a movie that only girls who like to cry just for the sake of crying could like. It was a silly sapfest that the director/editor barely bothered to actually put together. It was essentially a bunch of vignette conversations between Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana that were just mushed together and thrown up on the screen. There were numerous times where you couldn't even tell at what point in the overall "story" the scene was taking place. Then, as if the movie wasn't absurd enough, they introduced the baby portion of the "story" that just made me get that "what the f@ck" look on my face. It then stayed there for the rest of this movie as it continued to get dumber and dumber.This movie is garbage.


I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their money or time on this. Its just plain silly. They try to take themselves seriously but when audience members are laughing out loud at some of the most serious scenes - you've clearly missed your mark.

A Serious Man

A Serious Man is the story of an ordinary man's search for clarity in a universe where Jefferson Airplane is on the radio and F-Troop is on TV. It is 1967, and Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), a physics professor at a quiet Midwestern university, has just been informed by his wife Judith (Sari Lennick) that she is leaving him. She has fallen in love with one of his more pompous colleagues, Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed), who seems to her a more substantial person than the feckless Larry. Larry's unemployable brother Arthur (Richard Kind) is sleeping on the couch, his son Danny (Aaron Wolf) is a discipline problem and a shirker at Hebrew school, and his daughter Sarah (Jessica McManus) is filching money from his wallet in order to save up for a nose job. While his wife and Sy Ableman blithely make new domestic arrangements, and his brother becomes more and more of a burden, an anonymous hostile letter-writer is trying to sabotage Larry's chances for tenure at the university. Also, a graduate student seems to be trying to bribe him for a passing grade while at the same time threatening to sue him for defamation. Plus, the beautiful woman next door torments him by sunbathing nude. Struggling for equilibrium, Larry seeks advice from three different rabbis. Can anyone help him cope with his afflictions and become a righteous person – a mensch – a serious man?


This was actually a really great (and actually funny) movie . . . . . . once you make it through the first 40 minutes. I was very close to pulling the plug on this because it was all about being Jewish and I was convinced that since I wasn't there was no way this movie was going to be be understandable. However, once they waded through the very thick religious portion of the movie, it became a character study about a guy who had no control whatsoever about what was going on with his marriage, kids, friendships or career. Michael Stuhlbarg was hilarious as the pressure got to him more and more and you find yourself dying to see him pop.


I would recommend this movie to artistic movie fans. Its not mainstream by any means and while I'm not sure that it was worthy of a Best Picture nomination for 2009 it is very well crafted . . . . . . once you get past the first 40 minutes.

Zombieland

Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) has made a habit of running from what scares him. Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) doesn't have fears. If he did, he'd kick their ever-living ass. In a world overrun by zombies, these two are perfectly evolved survivors. But now, they're about to stare down the most terrifying prospect of all: each other.

This movie was fun. Its exactly what is advertised. Its a zombie movie with laughs. Sure that sounds pretty demented, but it was a lot of fun even with the nasty gore. The characters were very enjoyable, especially Columbus. His narration was very well written and delivered. The movie is also super short. Always a huge bonus for me. I don't want to give anything away to anyone interested in seeing this, but I must say that the part of the movie featuring Bill Murray was hysterical.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out. It is ultimately a zombie movie so if you aren't in to that - you should definitely pass on it. But if you like those kind of movies - this one is great and very, very funny.

Love Happens

Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston star in the romantic drama Love Happens. When a self-help author arrives in Seattle to teach a sold-out seminar, he unexpectedly meets the one person who might finally be able to help him help himself. Dr. Burke Ryan (Eckhart) is on the precipice of a major multimedia deal, but the therapist who asks his patients to openly confront their pain is secretly unable to take his own advice. Eloise Chandler (Aniston) has sworn off men and decided to focus on her floral business. However, when she meets Burke at the hotel where he's speaking, there is an instant attraction. But will two people who have met the right person at exactly the wrong time be able to give love another chance? As each struggles with the hurt of love and loss, they realize that in order to move forward, they need to let go of the past. And if they can, they'll find that, sometimes, love happens when you least expect it.

This movie is beyond falsely advertised. It is in no way romantic. Jennifer Aniston is only in about 1/4 of the movie. The movie ends up being all about Aaron Eckhart (who at this point should probably just go ahead and legally change his name to Harvy Dent) dealing with the loss of his wife. The chemistry between Jennifer Aniston and Harvy Dent is totally forced and unrealistic . . . . . and barely on screen. The movie starts off slightly promising but rolls in to a giant ball of hot mess.

I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their time of this giant, steaming turd. Its a blatant waste of time and you will not be happy.

Amelia

After becoming the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, Amelia was thrust into a new role as America's sweetheart - the legendary "goddess of light," known for her bold, larger-than-life charisma. Yet, even with her global fame solidified, her belief in flirting with danger and standing up as her own, outspoken woman never changed. She was an inspiration to people everywhere, from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (Cherry Jones) to the men closest to her heart: her husband, promoter and publishing magnate George P. Putnam (Richard Gere), and her long time friend and lover, pilot Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor). In the summer of 1937, Amelia set off on her most daunting mission yet: a solo flight around the world that she and George both anxiously foresaw as destined, whatever the outcome, to become one of the most talked-about journeys in history.

This was really one of the more boring biopic movies I've ever seen. At the risk of offending those who do, I never really cared about Amelia Earhart prior to this movie. I certainly do not care about her anymore now after seeing the movie. I'm also not a big fan of Hilary Swank or Richard Gere so that just put even more nails in the coffin of this movie.

I wouldn't really reccomend anyone checking this movie out. Just wait for cable and you are too lazy to get out of bed or change the channel.

New York, I Love You

In New York, I Love You, 12 segments will be connected together via transitional linking sequences. New York City is the main unifying character and the Film will show the city as a living, breathing and loving whole. In the end, the audience will not only understand each individual story, but they will also see the integrated whole of chance encounters through these unique transitions.

This movie was just plain boring. You are not able to really connect with any of the different segments even though this movie has stars galore in it. I couldn't believe some of the people that kept popping up in this. I kept wishing that it would all come together in some way but it never does. Its literally 12 "short stories" that all take place in New York . . . . . . without any real hook to pull you in.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone checking this out. Its not a horrible movie, but it is ultimately pretty boring.

Michael Jackson's This Is It

Michael Jackson's This Is It will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London's O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at Jackson as he has never been seen before.


I have always been and will always be a huge Michael Jackson fan. As big of a freak as he became in his later years - he will always be one of - if not the number one - best entertainers of all time. That being said, I dreaded seeing this movie. I figured it would be the biggest sham and just a way for his estate to milk as much money out of the movie going public as possible. And that is exactly what it is. In terms of movies or documentaries or concerts - this is horrible. Its all rehearsal footage so Michael only gets in to the performances or parts of them featured in the movie to a certain extent. The scenes in between the songs show both the musical genius that was Michael Jackson and the nutjob that he had unfortunately become. There were times where I think they put in footage that just made him seem silly and nonsensical with his inability to function properly. All of that being said - I still managed to enjoy this movie. I bopped in my seat and I sang along. I think that if these concerts were to have taken place, they probably would have been the greatest shows ever put on. The crowd that was in the theater I saw it in was dead though. That was unfortunate. If you could see this movie in a full crowd of real Michael Jackson fans instead of a bunch of lumps watching a movie (which again - this is not!), this would probably be a really good time.


I would only recommend this movie to the die hard Michael Jackson fans. Even then, please be warned that its just a mix and match of rehearsals. The concerts never sadly took place so there is no culminating scene.

Saw VI

Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood.

Why are they still making these movies? Why am I still watching them? I like the first three of this series. I cared about the pretty clever story line. However, the story line has now become so convoluted that they have to keep showing you flashbacks to random scenes in the first 5 movies in the franchise to refresh your memory. And even though they are showing you the flashback - I still don't remember it ever happening much less mattering. I mean someone is really writing parts in to Saw VI based on a random scene from Saw III from three years ago!?! That's just plain silly. And don't even get me started on how Jigsaw has now been dead for three movies. Would we still be watching Friday the 13th movies if Jason wasn't in them? Seriously! This franchise really needs to be put down.

I wouldn't recommend anyone checking this out. Avoiding this really is the only way to stop them from churning them out year after year.

Surrogates

People are living their lives remotely from the safety of their own homes via robotic surrogates—sexy, physically perfect mechanical representations of themselves. It's an ideal world where crime, pain, fear and consequences don't exist. When the first murder in years jolts this utopia, FBI agent Greer (Bruce Willis) discovers a vast conspiracy behind the surrogate phenomenon and must abandon his own surrogate, risking his life to unravel the mystery.


I was actually surprised that I enjoyed this movie. I thought that it looked ridiculously stupid from the trailer. I think that what saved this movie was the fact that it was less than 90 minutes long. The fact that it was so condensed prevented this movie from becoming craptastic. If this would have been a full 2 hours or so, I probably would have been miserable. The action, while cheesy, was enjoyable because of the sci-fi world that they took us to in the movie.


I would actually recommend people checking this movie out. Its not by any means a must see, but its surprisingly worth the 90 minute escape.

Whip It

Whip It stars Ellen Page as Bliss, a rebellious Texas teen who throws in her small town beauty pageant crown for the rowdy world of roller derby. Marcia Gay Harden plays Bliss' disapproving mother, while Kristen Wiig and Juliette Lewis play roller-derby stars.


I never imagined that I would enjoy this movie as much as I did. It was just plain fun. The movie is beyond formula and cliche in every way, but I was hooked by the characters. This movie was just plain fun and when you take in to account that it was directed by Drew Barrymore it made the movie that much better. She deserves credit for directing a fun and down to earth movie with good characters and an underdog story that sucks you in.


Again - I never thought I would say this - but I strongly recommend that people check this bad boy out. It really is a lot of fun.

The Boys Are Back

In the adaptation of Simon Carr's serio-comic novel "The Boys Are Back in Town," Owen plays a widower struggling to raise his two sons.


This movie is just kind of there. Its not necessarily bad. Its not too good. Its just there. I wasn't really hooked by either the story or the characters. Its a blatant heartstrings movie. The wife gets sick and passes away and the dad now has to raise his sons while having no prior practice at this because all he used to do is work. He adopts this "just say yes" philosophy which is actually pretty enjoyable at first, but that wears out pretty fast.


I wouldn't really recommend that anyone rush to check this out. Honestly, you probably don't have a choice anyhow seeing as how the movie is barely released in theaters. I'd just wait for this to be on cable and watch it in passing.

I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell

My name is Tucker Max. And, I am an *sshole. It's impossible to keep me away from what I want. My creed is to indulge every whim, ignore the consequences of my actions, mock idiots and posers, sleep with more women than is safe or reasonable, and just generally act like a raging dickhead. I can't be accountable for all that comes out of my mouth especially when I get excessively drunk at inappropriate times, disregarding social norms. I do contribute to humanity in one very important way though -- I share my adventures with the world -- and offer the best advice I know to friends faced with tough questions. "What would Tucker do? And you go out and do it," that's what I say. So that's me in a nutshell.

I had heard so much about how awesome this book was that I actually kind of got excited for this movie even though the trailer made it look like yet another massively disappointing over the top sex comedy. I would say that the movie landed somewhere in the middle. It was slightly better than the flash flood of crap sex comedies to come out over the last couple of years, but it was nowhere near as good as I had heard the book was. There were some big laughs but it was mostly just a bunch of really raunchy conversations with a happy ending about how important friendship was.

I wouldn't all out recommend seeing this movie. Its not great, but its not bad. Be warned that there is quite possibly the nastiest scene I've ever seen in a movie in this film. Actual diarrhea happening. Seriously. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Gamer

Gamer is a high-concept action thriller set in a near future when gaming and entertainment have evolved into a terrifying new hybrid. Humans control other humans in mass-scale, multi-player online games: people play people... for keeps. Mind-control technology is widespread, and at the heart of the controversial games is its creator, reclusive billionaire Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall). His latest brainchild, the first-person shooter game "Slayers," allows millions to act out their most savage fantasies online in front of a global audience, using real prisoners as avatars with whom they fight to the death. Kable (Gerard Butler) is the superstar and cult hero of the ultraviolent "Slayers." Kable is controlled by Simon, a young gamer with rock star status who continues to defy all odds by guiding Kable to victory each week. Taken from his family, imprisoned and forced to fight against his will, the modern day gladiator must survive long enough to escape the game to free his family, regain his identity and to save mankind from Castle's ruthless technology.


This movie is a prime example of why going to the movies in September can be so painful. This movie was advertised as a crazy adrenaline action movie. It seemed like it would be a simple enough watch. Basically like Death Race but in a video game form instead of car racing. I really didn't think that they could screw up something so basic. Needless to say, they did. The script and acting was cheesy as expected, but the main bad guy played my Michael C. Hall (usually a great actor) was absolutey horrible. It was just annoying every time he was on the screen. The camera work was also some of the worst I've ever seen. The editing was choppy as hell as it was and then the director decided to start getting creative with camera angles and moving them around and it was just nauseating.


I wouldn't recommend that anyone bother checking this movie out. Its not even good as an adrenaline action movie. The went and porked the simplest movie formula possible here.

The Invention Of Lying

From Ricky Gervais comes the new romantic comedy The Invention of Lying, which takes place in an alternate reality where lying--even the concept of a lie--does not exist. Everyone--from politicians to advertisers to the man and woman on the street--speaks the truth and nothing but the truth with no thought of the consequences. But when a down-on-his-luck loser named Mark suddenly develops the ability to lie, he finds that dishonesty has its rewards. In a world where every word is assumed to be the absolute truth, Mark easily lies his way to fame and fortune. But lies have a way of spreading, and Mark begins to realize that things are getting a little out of control when some of his tallest tales are being taken as, well, gospel. With the entire world now hanging on his every word, there is only one thing Mark has not been able to lie his way into: the heart of the woman he loves.


This movie started out awesome. Watching everyone tell the truth as blunt as possible had me laughing my a$$ off. Unfortunately, it didn't last long enough. The movie was still great when Ricky Gervais realized the power of lying. Lots of huge laughs. Unfortunately, it didn't last long enough. Then the movie tailed in to a blah drama about Ricky Gervais becoming a prophet who is pining for Jennifer Garner's unbiased love. Unfortunately, this part of the movie lasted too long. Its really unfortunate that this movie kind of ended up falling flat because it started brilliantly. I think they could have either shaved 20-30 minutes off and made it much better or they could have expanded the truth telling and discovery of lying parts while cutting down the drama stuff that didn't really work and this movie would have been awesome.


I would lukewarmly recommend that people check this movie out. The first half of the movie is the same comedic brilliance that you've come to expect from Ricky Gervais but the movie doesn't end nearly as good as it starts.