Cinema Verite

A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the first American family to be the subjects of a reality 70's TV show.

Steph... James Gandolfini, Diane Lane, Tim Robbins, and Patrick Fugit (or as I call him, the kid from Almost Famous. So adorable) star in this movie about the Loud family, America's first reality tv stars. I thought this movie was interesting. I liked how in some scenes they showed actual footage from the "An American Family" tv show split screened with this movie. Overall I think it was just ok. Nothing you need to rush out and watch but if you come across it, its worth a watch.

Kris... I liked this one. It would be hard not to. It has a top notch cast and a really good story. Totally check it out on cable when you get a chance.

The Experiment

26 men are chosen to participate in the roles of guards and prisoners in a psychological study that ultimately spirals out of control.


Steph... Based on the Stanford College Prison Experiment (1971) that was supposed to last 14 days but only lasted 6 because "the guards" got out of control. This movie was pretty good. It stayed true to the real experiment it was based on but because it's a movie gets a little dramatic. Overall an interesting movie to watch.

Kris.... Adrian Brody is one of my favorite actors and he delivers yet again in this one. A tight philological drama from the get go, this one starts slow but builds pace till the conclusion. Its hard to believe this is based on a real event but that makes it even more powerful. Totally check this one out when you get the opportunity.

Dorian Gray

Fresh-faced and innocent, Dorian Gray (Ben Barnes) arrives in London to move into the house he has inherited. Almost immediately he falls under the influence of amoral and calculating Lord Henry Wotton (Colin Firth), leading to a life of increasing debauchery and even violence. Through many years Gray stays as young-looking as ever, while a portrait painted when he arrived grows old, reflecting his increasing excesses. Eventually the picture, now secreted in his attic, becomes almost hideous to behold. When true love finally enters his life he realises he must guard his secret at all costs.


Steph... I love English movies. I love English movies based on old English books. And I love it even more when the book is slightly sick and twisted. I really enjoyed this movie. Colin Firth is wonderful as the amoral Lord who realizes he may have set Dorian Gray on the wrong path. And Ben Barnes was great as the once naive Dorian Gray who becomes twisted and depraved but always looking young and innocent. If you come across this check it out :)

Justified

U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens is a modern day 19th century-style lawman, enforcing his brand of justice in a way that puts a target on his back with criminals and places him at odds with his bosses in the Marshal service. That conflict results in a reassignment for Givens to the U.S. District covering the town where he grew up. He is an anachronism - a tough, soft spoken gentleman who finds his quarry fascinating, but never gives an inch. Dig under his placid skin and you'll find an angry man who grew up hard in rural Kentucky, with an outlaw father, who knows a lot more about who he doesn't want to be than who he really is.

Kris.... Not a movie but a kick ass TV show. If you haven't been watching Justified you have to start asap. The writing is amazing here and the acting is top notch. Timothy Olyphant is mesmerizing as the lead actor. Anyway check Justified on the F/X channel.

Steph... I tried it on once and it just fit. Love it! :)

Tron Legacy

Sam Flynn, the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 20 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant, father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.


Kris.... Visually stunning. I really liked how they used a lot of the same designs as the original but just bumped up the quality with modern computer animation. The actors are all solid here. Olivia Wilde is smokin hot. I am torn over the younger computer generated Jeff Bridges. Its amazing how far this has come but every time he is onscreen you are totally aware that he is computer generated. But this dosent take away from a very good movie. Watch it on a big screen tv on blue ray. Amazing.

Toy Story 3

The toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it's up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren't abandoned and to return home.

Kris.... Its cute. I'm not a big fan of the series but it is really good. All the usual voices are back and its Pixar so the animation is top notch. If your a fan of animation then this is a must see.

Arthur

Irresponsible charmer Arthur Bach (Russell Brand) has always relied on two things to get by: his limitless fortune and the good sense of lifelong nanny Hobson (Helen Mirren) to keep him out of trouble. Now he faces his biggest challenge–choosing between an arranged marriage that will ensure his lavish lifestyle or an uncertain future with the one thing money can’t buy, Naomi (Greta Gerwig), the only woman he has ever loved. With Naomi’s inspiration and some unconventional help from Hobson, Arthur will take the most expensive risk of his life and finally learn what it means to become a man, in this re-imagining of the classic romantic comedy “Arthur.”

Steph... Very Good! Everybody in this movie is great(love you Helen Mirren) but the real reason to watch this is for the wit and charm of Russell Brand. He is just too funny. Definitely worth a watch :)

Kris.... This is all about Russell Brand. If you like him you will love this movie. If you dont like him than stay away. I'm not sold on brand as an actor but this role is right up his alley. He is hilarious here and all the actors around him are solid.

127 Hours

127 Hours is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he can be rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers, family, and the two hikers he met before his accident. Will they be the last two people he ever had the chance to meet? Written by Fox Searchlight Pictures

Steph... I liked this movie. It wasn't perfect, it drags a bit in the middle and gets kind of artsy at times, but overall its was good. The only real reasons to watch this is 1) James Franco is really good in it, and 2)Come on, lets be honest, *Spoiler Alert* you just want to see him cut off his arm and see how he gets out of the cave. That part does not disappoint. Its pretty gruesome. So this I would say this movie is worth a rent.

Kris..... I like this one but thought it didn't live up to the hype. Franco is very good and its really just a long build up to him hacking his arm off. Anyway i say go see it for his performance alone.

Love and Other Drugs

Maggie (Hathaway) is an alluring free spirit who won't let anyone - or anything - tie her down. But she meets her match in Jamie (Gyllenhaal), whose relentless and nearly infallible charm serve him well with the ladies and in the cutthroat world of pharmaceutical sales. Maggie and Jamie's evolving relationship takes them both by surprise, as they find themselves under the influence of the ultimate drug: love. Based on Jamie Reidy's memoir "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman."

Steph... Generally I don't like so called, "Chick Flicks," but since Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway were in it I gave it a shot. The verdict? I LOVED this movie! It was so cute. Hathaway had the perfect combo of sassy and vulnerable and Gyllenhaal managed to pull off slightly douchey but sweet. Definitely worth checking out :)