#tbt Blade Runner review

Loosely based on the terrific book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep By Philip K Dick, Blade Runner is a classic. It's about a bounty hunter, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) who hunts down murderous androids future L.A. In the story four particularly dangerous androids, or replicants, escape a ship and come to earth where they maim an important bounty hunter. Then Rick Deckard gets put to the job. The movie is really great with some cool action and it makes you question memory and existence like Moon did. The effects are great for an early '80's movie and Rutger Hauer is great as one of the murderous androids. Although I wish they were more faithful to the book, the movie stands alone as a science-fiction classic. I highly recommend reading the book first and then watching the film because you will appreciate it a whole lot more. Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook at Facebook.com/WhitsMovies. Happy Throwback Thursday and most of all, Happy Viewing!

#tbt Moon review

For today's Throwback Thursday review, I have decided to review the 2009 sci-fi movie Moon starring Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey. The first thing I have to say about Moon is how great it is. It's emotional and creative and really good considering Sam Rockwell is basically the only person in the movie, except for Kevin Spacey who plays a robot named GERTY. The movie is about Sam Bell, a guy stationed on the moon in the near future for three years to help harvest energy to Earth. Sam gets in an accident and learns a secret about himself and why he's truly there. Now that is really all I can tell you without spoiling it but it is good and brings up many questions about memory and existence. Just watch it and you will see. It's good, you'll probably like it. Happy Viewing! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook at Facebook.com/WhitsMovies.

Gangster Squad review

Campy, over the top, and violent. Gangster Squad is all these things and more. Now what you need to know before you go see it is not to take it too seriously. It's more of a fun action movie to take your mind off the week's worries. It's about a straight arrow hero cop John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) who puts together a ragtag team of cops to take down legendary mobster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn). The team consists of a smooth talking wiseguy Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), a sharpshooter Max Kennard (Robert Patrick), knife wielding cop Coleman Harris (Anthony Mackie), a smart wire-guy Conway Keeler (Giovanni Ribisi) and a wannabe hero Navidad Ramirez (Micheal Pena). O'Mara and the team go on different busts to stop Cohen and his reign of terror until a climactic ending. Now don't go in to this movie expecting L.A. Confidential or Chinatown. It's no great film, it's just something fun to go to with your friends. Also Emma Stone is pretty good as Mickey Cohen's "girlfriend", Grace Faraday. The story is okay and the some of the characters don't really develop but it's just a popcorn movie so what do you expect? I give Gangster Squad 3.8 out of 5 stars. Happy Viewing! Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and don't forget to like me on Facebook at Facebook.com/WhitsMovies.   

Lincoln review

Happy Martin Luther King Day! Here is my review of Lincoln:

The Civil War rages on as our 16th president tries to pass the 13th Amendment. The First Lady grieves over the loss of her child William some years ago. Their son, Robert, is coming home from school. This is Lincoln, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones, and James Spader. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Daniel-Day Lewis did particularly good in Lincoln as he usually does in most movies, but he movie itself was well, fine. The whole movie is basically about the passing of the 13th Amendment, so the long confusing political conversations can seem a bit dull. The movie is slow at times. I was thankful for the side story about Robert Lincoln, which gave you a slight reprieve from the bearded men yelling about slavery. Now don't get me wrong, I didn't hate this movie. It was actually pretty good. Daniel Day-Lewis and Tommy Lee Jones are very good and keep you watching while the rest of the movie is kinda boring. I thought the movie was good, but it could of been sped up a little. Daniel Day-Lewis looks so much like Lincoln it's uncanny, and Sally Field portrays the sadness and vulnerability of her character very well. My consensus? See it, but don't expect a Best Picture winner. I give Lincoln 3.9 out of 5 stars. Happy Viewing and Happy Martin Luther King Day! Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook at Facebook.com/WhitsMovies.     

Broken City review

Corruption, scandals, and a shady business deal. These are some of the many things that go on in the new film Broken City starring Mark Wahlberg, Russel Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Kyle Chandler. So first off the movie is about a cop named Billy Taggert (Wahlberg) who is accused of murder after he kills a criminal, but gets off because of lack of evidence. Seven years later Billy Taggert is a private investigator who is trying to get by with his girlfriend. Taggert gets hired by Mayor Nicholas Hostetler (Crowe) to trail his wife who he suspects of cheating. Billy digs up a lot of dirt and then gets more than he bargained for when he finds out this wasn't really about an unfaithful wife. Broken City wasn't a great film or even a good one. But it was entertaining, and who doesn't love to see Mark Wahlberg break down doors and point a gun at people? Now if your'e looking for a really great picture, go see Django Unchained or Zero Dark Thirty, but if your'e looking for a fun movie with some cheap suspense, go see Broken City. I give it 3.4 out of 5 stars. Happy Viewing! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook at Facebook.com/WhitsMovies.




 

#tbt Sin City review

A dark story line, character narration, a murder, and a little bit of violence. These are the components that make a good noir film. Sin City has all of these. Sin City is directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller and it stars Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Jessica Alba, and Rosario Dawson. It's based on the graphic novels by Frank Miller. Sin City is kind of awesome. It's fairly well scripted and the scenes are shot and edited to look darker and almost like a comic book. It is also very noir. The whole movie is dark (literally and the cinematography) and focus's on certain characters as they narrate their story. Bruce Willis plays Hartigan, a cop on his last day on the job chasing a murderous pedophile but gets into more trouble than he bargained for, Mickey Rourke plays Marv, a tough guy looking for his girlfriend's killer, Clive Owen plays Dwight, an ex-criminal with a new face who is trying to keep peace and help his friends. Hit men, corrupt cops, filth, and  danger lurk in the streets of Basin City, better known as Sin City. Happy Viewing.
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Zero Dark Thirty review

When I went to see Zero Dark Thirty I didn't expect exactly what I got. I expected a detailed account of the killing of Osama bin Laden. What I got was more of an extremely detailed account of the events leading up to the attack and the attack itself. While this was informative and well-scripted, it did get a bit slow at times. I personally, didn't think Zero Dark Thirty was movie of the year. I thought the story and acting were very good, and the last 45 minutes were fairly intense. I don't think it deserves Best Picture though. Don't get me wrong it was good and I expect it to win a few awards but I don't think it completely lived up to the hype. Anyway, the movie is about the hunt for Osama bin Laden and one CIA agent named Maya, played beautifully by Jessica Chastain, who is going through hell to find him. Anyway I thought it was good, not movie of the year, but good. Personally, I liked Django Unchained better. Zero Dark Thirty is directed by Kathryn Bigelow who directed the 2008 war flick The Hurt Locker and stars Jessica Chastain, Kyle Chandler, Joel Edgarton, and Jennifer Ehle. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Happy Viewing! Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook at Facebook.com\WhitsMovies.

2013 Oscar Prediction's

The nominations for the 2013 Oscar Awards came out yesterday so I have predicted who Think will win.
P.S. How was Quentin Tarantino not nominated for Best Director?!
Best Picture: Silver Linings Playbook
Best Actor: Denzel Washington for Flight
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables
Best Director: Steven Spielberg for Lincoln
Best Original Screenplay: Django Unchained: Quentin Tarantino
Best Adapted Screenplay: Argo: Chris Terrio
Best Animated Feature Film: Wreck-It Ralph
Best Foreign Language Film: Amour
Best Cinematography: Life of Pi
Best Editing: Life of Pi
Best Production Design: Life of Pi
Best Costume Design: Lincoln: Joanna Johnston
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Best Original Score: Lincoln: John Williams
Best Original Song: Skyfall: Adele, Paul Epworth ("Skyfall")
Best Sound Mixing: Skyfall
Best Sound Editing: Django Unchained
Best Visual Effects: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Best Documentary Feature: How to Survive a Plague
Best Documentary Short: Redemption
Best Animated Short Film: The Simpsons: The Longest Daycare
Best Live Action Short Film: Asad

Happy Viewing!


 

#tbt Pulp Fiction review

For today's Throwback Thursday movie review I have decided to review the terrific 1994 Quentin Tarantino classic: Pulp Fiction, starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, and Uma Thurman! This has to be one of my favorite movies by far. With a great combination of witty dialogue, action, comedy, and an original plot, Pulp Fiction is impossible to hate. It's about two hitmen carrying out their work and encountering some problems, a washed-up boxer, and two bank robbers sticking up a diner. All of these stories intertwine throughout the movie. With a great performance by Samuel L. Jackson and an amazing script by Tarantino, this movie is sure NOT to disappoint. Some parts of the movie keep you on the edge of your seat, while others made me crackup. Although Samuel L. Jackson has been in some duds over the years (I'm looking at you Snakes on a Plane) this movie has made up for everything bad he's ever done in the movie industry. Not to diss him either, he's a great actor who works especially well under the script of Quentin Tarantino, see "Django Unchained" and "Jackie Brown". No matter what, this movie is awesome and you should see it before you die. Happy Viewing! Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook at Facebook.com/whitsmovies!
 

#tbt L.A. Confidential review

L.A. Confidential is good. I mean what else would you expect out of an Oscar winning crime drama with a great cast like Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito and even Russel Crowe. With a great story about corruption and murder in 1950's Los Angeles what's not to like? The answer is nothing. L.A. Confidential is pretty damn terrific. It's about a mass murder at a cafe called the Nite Owl and the three very different cops who try to solve it in their own way. One is a good guy who follows the rules, (Pearce) one is tough and puts up a fight, (Crowe) and one is sleazy and likes the spotlight (Spacey). All of this contributed to a great movie especially Russel Crowe's performance as a vulnerable tough guy. (I wish his performance in Les Miserables could of been this good) I thought this would be an appropriate movie to review for Throwback Thursday because it is based in a similar time, place, and setting as the upcoming crime flick Gangster Squad, which looks awesome and I plan to review. Anyway, whether you plan on seeing Gangster Squad or not, you should watch L.A. Confidential. Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook at facebook.com/whitsmovies, and as always Happy Viewing!

     

Les Miserables review

Les Miserables was certainly not what I expected. I hadn't seen the musical on Broadway or watched other movie adaptations. I had expected the plot about love, the french revolution and whatever with a few songs in between. What I got was a very depressing movie with lots of emotion and great acting. Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway were great while Russel Crowe was a bit too stoic and left something to be desired. Now you must be warned, everything is sung in this movie. It's more of an opera than a movie. Although that may annoy some, it hardly takes away from the plot. The acting and music was really good but the plot, well had some holes. Many things didn't make a ton of sense and left me questioning. Yet I don't think this movie was made for the plot. It was made for the music and the great acting. Best Picture? I don't think so. Best Actor for Hugh Jackman? Maybe. I give Les Miserables 3.9 out of 5 stars. Happy Viewing. Follow me on Twitter @WhitsMovies and like me on Facebook at facebook.com/whitsmovies.