21

21 is a fun, glitzy movie (based on real events) about a group of MIT students who took Vegas for hundreds of thousands. Jim Sturgess (also seen in Across the Universe) plays Ben Campbell, a brilliant young mind desperately trying to find a way to pay for Harvard Medical School. When Professor Micky Rosa, played by Kevin Spacey, notices his gift he invites Ben into his underground card counting club. Hesitant at first, Ben quickly realizes just how intoxicating the glam life of Vegas can be and discovers that once in this exclusive club it is hard to get out.

A great script and great performances make this movie a gambling gem. It is face-paced, fun and exciting. The juxtaposition between MIT and Vegas is beautifully captured. This movie, no doubt, will only serve to propel the blossoming careers of Jim Sturgess and Kate Bosworth.

Missy Cinema Score: B+

My Favorite Leonardo DiCaprio Performances

Leonardo DiCaprio is one of my very favorite actors of all time. I am super exited that he is staring in, not one but, two movies in the months ahead. In October he will star alongside Russell Crowe in the upcoming Body of Lies (already mentioned in the Fall Movie Preview blog). Then in December he is reteaming with his Titanic co-star Kate Winslet in the period piece Revolutionary Road. I don’t know much about the movie, but I expect it to be great. I expect one of these movies will nab Leo his 4th Oscar Nomination.

Below are my favorite performances given my Mr. Leo DiCap. If you haven’t already seen them, check them out. If you have seen them, check them out again.

1. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape—a truly remarkable performance. Leo plays Arnie Grape, younger brother to Johnny Depp’s title character, who has a mental handicap. The performance is flawless. Arnie is young, vulnerable and, at times, hard to handle. Leo brought depth to the character and his chemistry with Depp was amazing. This was his first Oscar Nomination and well deserved, a win would have been more fitting, but at least the Academy acknowledged what a truly exceptional performance this was.

2. The Aviator—In this film, his second with director Martin Scorsese (Best Director Nominee for this film), Leo plays billionaire-playboy Howard Hughes. He is surrounded by an incredible supporting cast including: Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda (in an Oscar Nominated performance), Kate Beckinsale and Cate Blanchett (in an Oscar Winning performance). Leo portrayed with madness and genius that was Howard Hughes with effortless abandon and believability. There were times during the movie that I simply forgot I was watching a “Leo movie”—few actors have that affect on me. Leo would earn his second Oscar Nomination for this film.

3. Catch Me If You Can—in this film directed by Steven Speilberg and co-starring Tom Hanks, Leo plays Frank Abagnale Jr.; a con-man who convinced those around him that he was every profession from a pilot to a medical doctor. Beneath the bravado and confidence Leo is able to portray a deeply complex individual shrouded in doubt and searching for the approval of his father.

4. Basketball Diaries—this is where the love affair began. While, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape was my first Leo movie experience, Basketball Diaries introduced me to a whole new Leo. He is wild, uninhibited and sexy in this movie; he is completely captivating. He plays Jim Carroll a successful high school basketball player who finds himself caught up in a world of drugs and violence. The movie is dark, his performance is dark, but you can’t take your eyes off of him.

5. The Departed—his third and latest movie with director Martin Scorsese (who finally won a Best Director Oscar for this film, it also won Best Picture of the year) Leo plays undercover agent Billy Costigan. This maybe his sexiest performance to date because of his raw and sometimes violent masculinity underscored by an intense venerability. He acted more with his eyes in this movie than he did anything else. You could see the anguish on his face, and you believed it, it was real. He acted against heavyweights like Matt Damon and the great Jack Nicholson and he proved he could hold his own.

6. Titanic—a list about Leonardo DiCaprio wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the epic that is Titanic. I am proud to say that my love affair with Leonardo DiCaprio started long before Titanic. However, the release of this movie only solidified what I already knew…Leonardo DiCaprio is an amazing talent blessed with a great face. His performance as Jack Dawson was warm, heartfelt and touching and made you desperately wish for an alternate ending.

Leo is one of the smartest actors in Hollywood. It’s clear that he chooses his movies carefully. He works with brilliant directors and surrounds himself with a support cast that enhances the film wholly. I look forward to many more great Leonardo DiCaprio movies. I am sure the Academy Awards will get it right one day and rightfully award him with an Oscar.

Fall Movies I Can’t Wait To See…

Body of Lies
Leonardo DiCaprio…Leonardo DiCaprio…Leonardo DiCaprio. Did I mention that Leonardo DiCaprio was in the movie. Really, those are the only two words I need to hear and I am immediately hooked. This film also happens to co-star Russell Crowe and involves international espionage, terrorism and crooked FBI agents (all pluses in my book). Besides, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio.

Burn After Reading
George Clooney. Brad Pitt. John Malkovich. Tilda Swinton. Frances McDormand. The Coen Brothers. Enough said.

W.
A look at the life of our 43rd president before he became president as told by Oliver Stone. This will be interesting, it will be controversial, but it will be good. From the looks of it the cast is dead on. I am especially impressed with the casting of Elizabeth Banks as Laura Bush. I never would have thought it, but seeing the preview Banks is dead-on. I just hope that the actors in the movie truly act instead of trying to do cheesy impersonations.

Four Christmases
Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon team up for this romantic comedy. I feel like we haven’t see Reese in a romantic comedy in awhile and I am definitely looking forward to her return, and I’m excited to see her teamed up with Vince Vaughn. Reese and Vince play a couple who are forced to spend the holidays with each of their divorced parents. Sounds like a hoot already. Is it just me, or do comedies that have holiday themes seem to be funnier than the rest?

Yes Man
Jim Carrey. Comedy. I’ve been waiting for the two to reunite, and from the looks of the movie trailer I will not be disappointed. In the film Carrey decides to embrace live fully and simply say yes (after years of saying no) to any and all propositions and invites. I have a feeling this will be a comedic gem with a heart of gold. Carrey hasn’t made a live-action comedy film since 2005’s Fun with Dick and Jane, which, to say the least, was not all that funny. This film should re-establish Jim Carrey as the King of Comedy.

The Curios Case of Benjamin Button
Brad Pitt plays the title character that has a “curious” and rare condition. He ages backwards. This movie appears to have a fantastic plot and with a supporting cast that includes Academy Award Winners Tilda Swinton and Cate Blanchett the film should be incredible. I am prepared to bring Kleenex.

The Ruins

The Ruins is a horror movie with little horror and, even worse, little plot. A group of four friends on a Mexican vacation decide to take a break from the beach and margaritas and explore an off-the-map Mayan archeological dig site. They end up getting more than just a break from the ordinary. The four-some are college-aged students who act like they are in elementary school and look like they are in their mid-thirties. The characters have no redeeming qualities, which makes it hard to sympathize with any of them when they meet their fate.

Once they four-some arrive at “The Ruins” the plot quickly goes from weak to just plain awful and never manages to dig itself out. There is no rhyme or reason behind any of the events taking place. They meet a group of indigenous people whose main focus is to destroy the unwanted visitors. Why? Nobody knows. After being trapped atop the giant Mayan Pyramid by the indigenous people our four-some begin to discover that the ruins themselves may have an agenda of their own. Once again, no explanation, no reasoning; just mindless banter among the group, blood, cussing, girls in their underwear, etc.

This movie was the worst kind of horror film and serves as a perfect example of how not to make a horror movie. It wasn’t scary, it was hooky at best. Blood doesn’t equate fright and screaming and cussing doesn’t mean good horror movie acting.

Missy Cinema Score: D

Pineapple Express

Another comedic hit from Seth Rogan and co.; Pineapple Express is a pot-induced laugh frenzy that serves up just as much action as it does drug use. Rogan plays a slacker-stoner (surprise?!?!) who witnesses a murder and accidentally leaves behind some evidence (his joint roach) which the murder uses to determine his identity. He and his drug dealer played by James Franco (a far departure from his Spider Man days) then embark on a series of mishaps and adventures in order to elude the murder and, most importantly, keep their pot stash safe and secure.

There are few moments in the movie when I wasn’t laughing. Even in the parts that weren’t meant as jokes, just simple dialogue, were hilarious. Rogan and Franco had perfect on-screen chemistry and impeccable comedic timing. This movie was clearly made with care and attention to detail; from the costumes to the props and automobiles, everything came together seamlessly and provided laugh after laugh.

I will say this though. I would like to see Rogan in a serious role. He is genius as a slacker-stoner and never fails to make me laugh. However, I can see a dramatic actor lurking somewhere underneath the pot cloud, and when released, it will be a treat for everyone. Perhaps a movie about going to rehab? Just a thought.

Missy Cinema Score A-

The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford

I consider myself a fan of movies in general. All genres, from all decades, spanning any run-time. However, this movie was a bit dry and long for me (nearly 3 hours—and not the pulse pounding nearly 3 hours that was The Dark Knight). I kept thinking to myself that I would have enjoyed this movie better as a book. That’s how it seemed to played out…lots of narration, little dialogue and still-shots of characters sitting in silence.

Despite the snail pace of this movie Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck still manage to give stellar performances. Both actors were focused, intense and incredibly believable. The desperation that Affleck portrayed only solidified his performance as one of the great ones of 2007. The Oscar nomination was well deserved. Pitt is rugged and brute, yet he still manages to offer a smoldering sex appeal.

The culmination of the movie, the moment that portrays the very title of the movie comes suddenly and is over just as fast. The moment we have been waiting for is very anti-climatic, with little thought or explanation. The characters seem to respond oddly and inconsistently. After all the build-up the ending proves to be disappointing at best.

Missy Cinema Score: C+

Hancock

The cineplex’s have been filled with super-hero action movies for the past decade or so. Hancock is the only one that tried something drastically different…and it worked. Will Smith plays the title character which is a complete departure from the usual Smith role. Hancock is brash, crude and drunk most of the time. Yet, because of Smith’s impeccable comic-timing and charisma we still find ourselves rooting for Hancock. Smith is able to give the character dimension and even vulnerability at times. We are once again reminded why Will Smith is the last movie start, and the most bankable.

Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman provide excellent supporting roles. I am happy to see Jason Bateman doing so well this past year. Juno was a huge success for him and this was a great way to follow up that independent gem. Charlize Theron is just as talented as she is attractive and that says a lot.

Overall, this movie was engaging, funny and exciting. It’s a great departure from the super-hero movies that we’ve been seeing this past decade. The movie also offers a great twist that you don’t see coming which only adds to the dynamic story line and great performances of Smith, Theron and Bateman.

Missy Cinema Score: A-

Step Brothers

I gave this advice to Adam Sandler and Mike Myers earlier this summer and now I am going to give it again to Will Farrell. Stop making movies that require to you act like a complete moron. Don’t get me wrong, I laughed and laughed at this movie. But at the same time it kind of made me sad too. Watch Stranger Than Fiction and you will know exactly what I am talking about. Contrary to popular believe Will Farrell is an extremely talented and complex actor who is above f-bomb humor, fart jokes and yelling for no apparent reason. I want to see better from him, simply because I know he can do better.

To the movie itself, it was really funny. I laughed a lot, maybe for all the wrong reasons. I mean, of course it’s funny to see a grown man get beat up by a bunch of elementary children or see two grown men build bunk beds in the room they share; but is that truly comedy or just cheap laughs. Will Farrell and John C. Riley (there’s a talent that is going to waste in a movie like this—look him up on imdb.com and you’ll know what I am talking about) suddenly become step brothers when their single parents meet at a medical convention and marry. Will Farrell and his mother must move in with John C. Riley and his father. And for some reason, despite the house looking like it’s 7,000+ square feet, they are forced to share a room together. At first, they completely hate one another and go on streak of torturing each other. Suddenly, they are united over their common hatred for Farrell’s up-tight, over achieving brother. They then set out on a quest to be the biggest rock band in the world. And so on and so forth.

The movie served its purpose. It made me laugh. Other than that, I am looking for more from both Will Farrell and John C. Riley next time around. Another film like this from either of them will be very disappointing.
Missy Cinema Score: B-

Stop-Loss

I watched this movie a few weeks ago and I haven’t been able to bring myself to write a review about it yet. I don’t know why either. It wasn’t so bad that I am avoiding writing terrible things about a movie documenting the struggles our soldiers are facing today. Yet, it wasn’t so good that I am trying to find the words for a movie so perfectly done. I guess it’s just that I don’t know what to say. I wanted to be more impacted by a movie dealing with this subject matter, but I wasn’t. I wanted it to be more thought-provoking, but it wasn’t. I feel like I didn’t learn anything new from this movie. I feel like a movie dealing with the current situation in the Middle East should strive to do just that—teach me something I don’t already know, show me a glimpse of something I’ve been missing, tell me something that either reinforces my opinion or changes it completely. This movie did none of those things. I felt, instead, that is was simply re-telling things that we already know or reinforcing attitudes and actions that may not be true.

The movie centers around Ryan Phillippe’s character, Sergeant Brandon King (the name alone implies that he is looked to as a leader and a ruler, when in fact, he wants to be neither). He has made the decision to leave the Army after serving two Tours of Duty in Iraq. He comes home to a heroes’ celebration and looks forward to spending his days in his small Texas town. Unfortunately, his homecoming is not the joyous event he and his fellow soldiers were expecting. The town and the people around have changed, most importantly; they have changed and can no longer connect to the places and people that once meant so much to them. As King is turning in his discharged papers he is told that he’s been Stop-Lossed, which means that the Army needs him and his leadership capabilities too much to let him go, so he is ordered to do a third Tour of Duty in Iraq. After this devastating revelation he goes AWOL and is on a frantic mission to be let go from the military’s grip. The rest of the movie chronicles the impact of this decision, not only for him, but for those around him.
In the end King doesn’t seem like a changed man and all that he fought for seems lost.

Missy’s Movie Grade: B