Black Hat

“Black Hat” is more of a “Black Eye”.

“Black Hat” is about Cyber Crime. For no apparent reason a remote nuclear attack on China is staged via a computer system. As it turns out it was staged so that all of the money that the Chinese Casinos are bringing in can be stolen. The Chinese Government reaches out to the United States for help. The person, Nick Hathaway (Hemsworth) most able to solve this crime is serving time in a U.S. Prison. The U.S. Justice Dept gets Hathaway out of prison so that he can help solve the case. The story unfolds from there…

The story on paper is very interesting, but on the big screen not so much. The problem is the stage is not set correctly, so you have to watch the entire movie to piece it together. There is no rhyme or reason. I was bored the first 90 minutes of the movie.

Too much time is spent showing the viewing audience what the inside of a computer chip looks like way down in the depths, from the time the
“Enter” key is hit on the keyboard until it reaches it’s destination.

I expected better from a Michael Mann production. Movie “Heavy Weights” “Viola Davis” and “Chris Hemsworth” are not enough to give “Black Hat” high marks.

There are 3 other movies scheduled to open soon with the word “Black” in their title, let’s hope they fair better.

This is a 1 1/2 Star Movie!

American Sniper

FINALLY!! “American Sniper” opens wide! I have been waiting for this movie for many months. It does not disappoint!! “American Sniper” isn’t just about war; it’s about how war affects the loved ones who remain at home. Multiple tours can and do take their toll on a family.

Bradley Cooper plays Chris Kyle an American Sniper who was the deadliest Sniper in U.S. Military History. He served four tours with one goal in mind; “Protect” his brothers-in-arms. He does just that saving countless lives, but Kyle becomes a wanted man behind enemy lines with a price on his head. Insurgents would love nothing better than to take Chris Kyle out. Each time Chris returns home he finds it difficult to leave the war behind. The story unfolds from there…

You will be on the edge of your seat! The movie will hold your attention. It’s nerve racking intense, suspenseful and has plenty of action. It is a bit bloody.

This is probably Bradley Cooper’s best role. He has come a long way since starring as “Will Tippin” in the ABC hit “Alias”.

“American Sniper” is definitely worth the price of admission.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

Selma

I don’t give 5 stars to a movie lightly…That being said, “Selma” deserves all of the “Oscar” buzz, “Golden Globe” buzz and “Best Picture” buzz that it has been receiving.

Keeping in context the subject matter, “Selma” was brilliantly executed and deeply moving. The events of Selma and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Civil Rights crusade are given new light. The brutality portrayed in “Selma” will move you to tears. If you feel anything after seeing “Selma”, the movie will have done its job. David Oyelowo’s portrayal of Dr. King is superb.

The movie is quiet and understated, yet brilliant.

“Selma” is a must see!

This is a 5 Star Movie!!

Taken 3

I was mildly excited at the thought of another installment from the Taken series, but alas…this Trilogy has run a ground.

Watching “Taken 3” will make you long for the original installment “Taken”. There is no new ground here. Liam Neeson reprises his role as Bryan Mills the retired ex-covert operative with special skills. Bryan and his ex-wife (Famke Janssen) appear to be trying to reconcile, but when she is murdered and Bryan is framed for her murder, he then has to go on the run to elude the FBI, CIA and the Police while he tracks down the real killers and protect his daughter. The story unfolds from there…

The movie starts off with an unexplained murder. That murder is never really tied to anything in the movie. It just didn’t make sense. There are bright spots in the movie where Liam Neeson is in action kicking butt and involved in some crazy vehicle chases and Forest Whitaker adds some interesting chaos to the movie, but that’s about it. For the most part the dialog throughout the movie is meaningless.

“Taken 3” will take your time and money. I am afraid I have to say it’s the worst of the Trilogy. It’s best viewed on DVD, Cable or Blu-Ray.

This is a 1 Star Movie!

Wild

“Wild” is another one of those movies that wasn’t on my “Watch List”. This movie opened in limited release several weeks ago and has slowly made its way into the top ten.

“Wild” is not for everyone, but if you have recently had some challenges in your life such as a failed marriage, or you have lost a loved one, then “Wild” is your movie.

Reese Witherspoon plays Cheryl, a woman who has lost her Mother to cancer and her marriage has ended. To try and eradicate the pain and anguish that she is feeling over the lost of her Mother and her failed marriage, Cheryl decides to hike more than 1000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. This movie shows the past trials, tribulations, heartache, pain and in the present the healing that Cheryl endures on this hike. The story unfolds from there…

This is a very well told story. It’s raw and to the point, although there is a lot of going back and forth showing events that occurred when Cheryl was a little girl, during her education years and during her marriage. You have to pay attention so that YOU can put the pieces together. The movie doesn’t really do that for you.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

Big Eyes

Though not on my original “Watch List”, “Big Eyes” is a very intriguing, entertaining and well acted movie.

Based on a true story, “Big Eyes” is about Art Fraud. A husband Walter Keane (Waltz) makes everyone believe he is a celebrated artist who trained in France, passes off his wife Margaret Keane’s (Adams) paintings as his own. The art world turns on its axis over the “Big Eyes” paintings, but when an art critic doesn’t buy into the hype, the storm that has been slowly building between Margaret and Walter Keane over her paintings comes to a head. The story unfolds from there…

“Big Eyes” is very entertaining and a very interesting story. The movie is very well paced. This is definitely a “Sleeper” among all the Holiday Blockbuster movies.

“Big Eyes” is opened in limited-release. It’s worth checking out.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!

The Gambler (2014)

I love Mark Wahlberg. I think he’s a good actor, but this remake of the 1974 “The Gambler” that starred James Caan doesn’t quite cut it.

The movie drags for the first hour and twenty minutes. The best part is the last 30 minutes. It’s almost worth seeing just for the last 30 minutes, but the key word in my sentence is ALMOST!!

Mark Wahlberg plays Jim Bennett who is both a high Stakes Gambler and a Literary Professor at a local college. He borrows from a gangster (Michael K. Williams) and puts his own life up for collateral. Jim then pits the gangster against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing). The story unfolds from there…

I do have to say that the dialog for the gangsters was awesome. Their gift for gab was a lot more than I expected.

The 1974 version of “The Gambler” is available via Netflix. I believe that you will find more enjoyment watching that version.

This is a 2 Star Movie!

Into The Woods

“Into The Woods” is quite delightful and entertaining, although toward the end its dark roots that have hovered just below the surface throughout rise up.

“Into The Woods” is a modern play on several Grimm Fairy Tales, “Jack and the Beanstalk”, “Rapunzel”, “Cinderella” and “Little Red Riding Hood”. These Tales are all intertwined and tied nicely together. The stories explore the consequences of the characters wishes, quests and actions.

The movie is a nice mix of Broadway Musical and Big Screen Motion Picture. Meryl Streep is Awesome!!

“Into The Woods” is an appropriate Holiday movie.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!

Annie (2014)

“Annie (2014)” is yet another take on the classic Broadway hit with a more contemporary look and feel.

“Annie (2014)” is a charming and delightful movie for the younger set.

The adult actors seemed off balance in a lot of the scenes. The singing was strained on some of the songs. Most scenes that contained Cameron Diaz were disjointed. She seemed out of her element.
Jamie Foxx is an excellent R&B singer, but not show tunes. Jamie appeared as if he were embarrassed in some of his scenes.

“Annie (2014)” is best left on Broadway where it belongs.

This is a 1 1/2 Star Movie!

Night At the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

“Night At The Museum: Secret of The Tomb” was more like “Chaos and Confusion at the Museum”.

Larry (Ben Stiller) embarks on a wild night-time epic adventure to try and save the magic before it’s too late.

There were a few funny, crazy scenes, some great music and it was great to see a lot of the familiar museum pieces from the previous installments and there are even a few new pieces, but this installment is clearly lacking and disjointed.

I am sure the stars had fun making this film, but it’s time for the museum pieces to go back to the “Still Life”.
The magic has clearly run its course.