Just a couple of Movie Geeks exploring the world of cinema.
Chick 1 says: 
This has been one of my most anticipated movies of this year (and that includes Iron Man 2). The first trailer was so intriguing, and considering director Christopher Nolan’s ability to beautifully weave intricate plots with complex themes, when the big marketing push started a few weeks ago, I purposely avoided the new footage so I wouldn’t figure anything out. I’m glad I did but turns out, it didn’t matter. Read the rest of this entry »
Chick 1 says:
Yay!!!! It’s time for Iron Man 2. Can they repeat their success with even more moving parts? Let’s see!
The Basics: After outing himself as Iron Man, Tony Stark now has to deal with the added pressure & publicity, the US Government, and a new development with the arc reactor in his chest, and naturally a new round of villains.
What I Liked: The original cast return with extras and are still having a blast. Of course, Downey Jr is a hoot whenever he’s onscreen and excels at playing the arrogant ass that is also vulnerable and likeable. And while I liked Paltrow in the 1st movie I thought she was the weakest part of the original. But here she is hysterical, even stealing a couple of moments from Downey, not an easy feat. Cheadle does just fine as the replacement Rhodey and has great chemistry with his co-stars. Our villains are on fine form too; Sam Rockwell as the cheesy Justin Hammer & Mickey Rourke as the brooding Whiplash. And even Jon Favreau gets a piece of the action. The first & third acts move along nicely and the movie never takes itself too seriously.
What I Didn’t Like: The second act, which was the best part of the original, is actually a little slow in places, even when RDJ is onscreen (which seems impossible). Scarlett Johanson is stiff and cold and that works for her character sometimes but also feels one dimensional. There was also one scene in particular that I couldn’t tell if it was supposed to be serious but came off as funny.
Bottom Line: There’s action, comedy, drama, and a bit of romance; the perfect blend for a summer flick. (Did I mention how cute RDJ looks?)
Chick 1 says:
The Basics: Tina Fey & Steve Carrell combine their entertainment super powers to play a married couple on a date night (need I say “Spoiler”?) that goes very, very wrong.
What I Liked: Obviously, the stars. Carrell & Fey are both funny & smart and together they create a kind of vortex of hilarious. Each of them excels at playing very normal suburbia types that most of us relate to who are put in outrageous situations and that’s the case here. There were moments that, honestly, in the script weren’t that funny but these actors made them awesome. The outtakes at the end are proof that the funny is all about the actors.
What I Didn’t Like: The movie does have its moments when the humor falls short. And both the script and the pace is sometimes uneven.
Bottom Line: Not the funniest movie ever but if you make me wheeze when I laugh and then laugh later that night when I’m trying to fall asleep, you get my vote!
Chick 2 says:
I have been excited about this new Fox TV show because it comes from the producer, Simon West, and star, Mark Valley, of the short lived Keen Eddie. Keen Eddie was brilliant conceptually, but most likely got cancelled after only 13 episodes because its script couldn’t keep up with the high bar set by its production value. Ultimately the great characters and slick flash cuts were not enough to keep it on the air. I had high hopes for Human Target, thinking perhaps Simon West had brought along better writers. Read the rest of this entry »
Chick 1 says:
This little British pic has been wandering around Europe and the festival circuit for over a year now. Very glad to see it as award season kicks off.
The Basics: While there are plenty of movies about the later years of Queen Victoria, this one covers - Surprise! - her younger years, especially the first three years of her reign. Read the rest of this entry »
Chick 1 says:
I have to admit that despite the fact that this was James Cameron’s first feature since the gargantuan Titanic, I really didn’t get what all the fuss was about. But imagine with me, if you will, a world where George Lucas still had all this amazing technology available to him but he hadn’t forgotten how to direct actors or how to tell a decent story.
The Basics: I won’t give more away than what’s in the trailers; a planet called Pandora with a native population, a crippled marine with the chance to live through another body, and some cool new technology (both in the movie & in the making of the movie). Read the rest of this entry »
Chick 1 says:
Merry Christmas to me! Sherlock Holmes is out & it stars 2 very attractive men. Hee, hee.
The Basics: I’m assuming you know Sherlock from all the books, movies, and slew of cultural references (my favorite being “No s**t, Sherlock.”). Here Guy Ritchie directs the latest update on the Victorian sleuth with Robert Downey Jr in the lead and Jude Law as Watson. Read the rest of this entry »
Chick 1 says:
Apologies for the long silence. This fall I found myself searching for my first home in order to take advantage of the tax credit. I had no idea how much time that would take. Now we’ll see how much moving both my home & my office during the holidays will take!
Anyway, I have seen a few movies including this documentary on Vogue & its infamous editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. Read the rest of this entry »
Chick 1 says:
I actually came across the book that this movie is based on a couple of months ago in a thrift store. I bought it for $1 and read it pretty quickly. It’s a light, easy read. Was looking forward to this, especially seeing Meryl Streep as Julia Child. Yummo!
The Basics: Downtrodden & drifting Julie decides to write a blog, cooking her way through 524 recipes in Julia Childs’ Mastering the Art of French Cooking. We also see Julia Child’s time in Paris and her own journey from aimless housewife to one of the world’s most influential chefs.
What I Liked: Of course, Meryl Streep is magnificent. Read the rest of this entry »
Chick 1 says:
One of the smaller films on my I Can’t Wait! list, this Sundance entry took a while to come to a theater nearby. But I finally managed to see it and I was not disappointed.
The Basics: As the opening narration says, this is a story of boy meets girl but it is not a love story.
What I Liked: Pretty much everything. This is a fantastic lovely story, funny and touching. It showcases two of my favorite rising stars, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (that kid from Third Rock from the Sun) and Zooey Deschanel (the girl from Elf) and they both give wonderful performances. Read the rest of this entry »