Conviction (2010)

Like Flash of Genius I struggled to commit my time to watching this one because I felt I already knew the entire story. It only takes reading the imdb synopsis to get the whole story, but this is one of those films that knowing what happens really doesn't ruin the story itself. I remember this being on the Oscar radar but I don't get what kept it out of the running. Sam Rockwell seems to be constantly ignored by the academy and Hilary Swank already has two wins in the leading lady role, so getting overlooked for this one isn't that big of a deal.

The film is about a brother and sister who grow up in a small town with a dysfunctional family. They like to sneak into other people's homes and pretend they have a normal home with a normal family. After several run in's with the police Kenny [Rockwell] is labelled as a suspicious character and is hauled in for questioning every time their is a crime in town. After a brutal murder he is brought in for questioning and almost a year later is determined to be the killer. With no physical evidence he is given a life sentence thanks to an ex-wife and ex-girlfriend on the stand that lied about this whereabouts. His sister Betty [Swank] decides to pursue a law degree to free her brother.

I also relate this film to Flash of Genius because the main character gives up a normal life and family in pursuit of what they feel is right through legal means. Based on a true story this one, overlooked last year, is well worth your time.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1244754/

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Page One: Inside the New York Times (2011)

The full title of the film makes it pretty self explanatory. The film is a look inside The New York Times newspaper at a time when newspapers are a dying breed. Considered a front runner for an Oscar nomination I felt that the film had the perfect scope on an interesting subject matter. That being said, I'm writing this review after finding out that it did not even make the 15 film short list for the Oscar.

The film starts with us meeting some of the staff and they explain the process behind determining what will make it on the cover of the newspaper. We look at some of the important moments in the paper's history and how they have been a national if not world leader in news. The film isn't like some of these "band" documentaries where they ignore the negatives, there is actually discussion on the WMD [Weapons of Mass Destruction] fiasco and how the Times reporter pushed false information. They also defend her, in that, the information to was given by a government source was wrong.

The most interesting and scary thing about the documentary is that the newsroom venue of collective minds deciding was is important news is dying. It looks at internet sites that take Times articles and plug in search engine keywords to retool the titles to get more internet hits. It looks at the fact that without newspapers credible field reports are going to be hard to come by.

Oscar or not, this is a documentary you should watch. Informative, interesting, and important.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1787777/

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Winnie the Pooh (2011)

This marks the first film that I watched with my older daughter. Pretty cool. It is also the first film to get a 1/5 on the Kids Scare Factor scale... as I was hoping.

This is "almost" a remake of 1977's The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, I say this because they treat the audience as if this is the first Winnie the Pooh film and play with the theme of being inside a book in Christopher Robin's room. I really like how this is done in the original and they did an excellent job with the characters and voices. It was interesting to have a more British Christopher Robin, and it worked.

This isn't the 2nd Pooh movie ever though, and I'm not talking about straight-to-video cartoons. We had The Tigger Movie in 2000, Piglet's Big Movie in 2003, and Pooh's Heffalump Movie in 2005. This film seemed to have a better story and production values than all of those and was a real treat.

I'm sure I'll be watching this one a few more times.

KSF: 1/5
Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1449283/

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Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

So I didn't remember the "stars" of the original film enough to realize that they are also in the sequel. And that this isn't a sequel but a prequel to the first film. The film is about the month or so leading up to the original film and centers around Katie's sister who is dealing with a demonic presence in their house much like Katie eventually sees.

The film starts with events that make you think the house is possessed, but since the activities start as soon as they bring their first son home we get the feeling these two things are linked. The family is well off, and the stepdaughter seems to do the majority of the investigation in the film. We end with the sense that we really don't know what is going still [you can see part 3 this year].

I loved how this film wrapped around the original, and am excited to see how the next prequel goes. Watching the first film is necessary even through this is a prequel.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1536044/

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High Tension: Haute tension (2003)

The most recent film in Schneider's 101 Horror Films that I had left to see, this French film stars Cécile De France [seen recently in Hereafter]. I can't think or a French film that is more gory, and it is the kind of film I expected more of in the 101 book.

The film starts with the Marie [Cécile De France] being chased through the woods by a killer. She comes out of the dream and finds herself in a car next to her friend Alexia, on the way to Alexia's parents house. The girls are on some sort of school break and heading to Alexia's home late at night. We get the sense that Marie might have a thing for Alexia, Marie is a virgin and from the jesting between the two that Alexia is experienced in love. Late at night a man in a beat up van shows up at the house, he immediately murders Alexia's father then starts to make his way through the house, hunting down the rest of the family.

At only 90 minutes this film is worth watching. Hate foreign film? Look for a dubbed version, I think it's out there. You will find that this isn't as simple a story as you think. The long chase scenes are pretty intense, and it is very very bloody.

This was what I was hoping I would get from this 101 horror book, check it out.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338095/

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Insidious (2010)

Insidious might be the most popular horror movie from the 1st half of 2011. Hitting the theaters around Valentine's Day the critics ratings were good, and it did well at the box office. The film stars Rose Byrne [also in Bridesmaids], Patrick Wilson [you'd recognize him], and the boy is played by Ty Simpkins.

The film is about a family that movies into a new home to find that is it haunted. The mother [Rose] starts seeing things, then the oldest of the three kids falls in the attic from a ladder and goes into a coma. I liked that the film is not straight forward, without spoiling how it all plays out... I'll say that the haunting isn't tied to the house, and the coma isn't related to the fall. The father becomes reclusive and we learn that his character has this running from fear because of a repressed childhood memory.

The best part of horror films is the science fiction behind them. A scary movie that is just trying to spook you, won't stick with you. This film has an idea and explains it fully, the "further" is fully explained. Sure it might not be realistic, but the fantasy/sci-fi of it isn't held back. The screenplay writer and director took great risk by "putting it all out there." This tends to get mixed reviews from realists and skeptics that want to dissect everything around it.

So I ask you... do you like horror films that stay vague, in rely on the viewers imagination? Or do you like horror films that explain an alternate universe in depth, potentially making you realize it isn't a real threat? I liked it, and I can see how some people wouldn't.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1591095/

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The Orphanage: El orfanato (2007)

The newest film in the 101 Horror Movies book, and one that I have been putting off for years. For some reason I really thought this was a Guillermo del Toro [Pan's Labyrinth and The Devil's Backbone] film. Now I feel ignorant because Del Toro is Mexican and the actual director Juan Antonio Bayona is from Spain.


I'm not familiar at all with the cast, which isn't a bad thing, especially in this genre where stars make outcomes predictable. The film is about a mother, who was once an orphan, that convinces her husband to but the home that was once her orphanage years later. She has aspirations of having a large family, and they have already adopted their first son when they first move in.


The boy immediately makes an imaginary friend, and we [as an audience] get flashbacks that lead us to believe their are ghosts. I think that I thought this was Del Toro mainly because it reminds me so much of The Devil's Backbone, but I liked it even more.


For a movie I put off because I wasn't expecting much I really liked the storyline, conclusion, and some jumpy moments in the film. If you are looking for a good ghost story check this one out.


Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464141/

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Limitless (2011)

Have you ever heard the scientific study that says that humans actually only use 10% of their brain? Well this movie... that I'll go ahead and call a science fiction... plays to the idea that a drug can allow you to use all 100% and achieve your full potential. Great concept... what can they do with it, especially with Bradley Cooper in the lead who can't seem to do anything better than The Hangover films.

Bradley Cooper plays Eddie, a loser who has been unemployed for some time. He lives in a mess of an apartment and aspires to be a writer, but ends up just hanging out at bars telling people how great his writing is going. His girlfriend has given him some time to work things out but just hit the breaking point and breaks up with him. He runs into his ex-brother-in-law who gives him this experimental drug and it is at this point that the movie can clearly make a turn for the worse. We get this cartoon CGI look into what it is like on this drug and able to use your entire brain, I was thinking at this point... more if this and I'll hate this film.

However, the film settles and we get a pretty interesting storyline as we see the side effects of taking this experimental drug. The film becomes a thriller as it becomes clear that others are using it, and what the supply that Eddie has. I was actually quite impressed with this film, it could have been pretty silly but it was done nicely.

A good one to pick up at the video store.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219289/

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Boys Don't Cry (1999)

Another IMDB Top 250 film from the 2001 Edition that I was able to find in HD. It has been on the Bubbling Under list, which is the 251-500 on imdb. So he has been hovering outside of the top 250 for quite a while, so I wanted to check it out. I really thought this was some sort of lesbian romance film, so I wasn't really looking forward to it, I was pretty much wrong.

The film is based on a true story, and thanks to some message board links on imdb I saw some profile pictures of the real people behind these characters, and I have to say they are a little scary. Hilary Swank plays Brandon, a young man with a sexual identity crisis. Brandon has girl parts and hopes to eventually get an operation to become a man. He has been in trouble for using a fake drivers license and skips a court date after spending some time in a small town in Nebraska. He makes some friends at a bar and falls in love with Lana [Chloë Sevigny]. Lana's mother's friend John Lotter [Peter Sarsgaard] is much older than Lana but has always had a thing for her, he is very leery of Brandon and you get the feeling that this is becoming a dangerous situation.

Peter makes John Lotter a much more handsome man than he is in real life, I think Kimberly Peirce should have cast someone a little more scary in this role, but I don't want to take anything away from Peter's excellent performance. Swank won her first Oscar for this film, and she definitely deserved it. This one is definitely worth checking out.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0171804/

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The Robe (1953)

Winner of the golden globe for the best dramatic film in 1953 and nominated for four Oscars and won two. Another cinemascope release, and one that I was able to find in high def, which made it look really nice.

Starring Richard Burton, who plays Marcellus a Roman tribune who is assigned the task of putting Jesus Christ to death. He then wins Jesus' robe in a game of dice after the crucifixion and becomes haunted by what he has done. He returns to Jesus' home town to learn more about the man he killed and becomes a Christian himself in the process.

I have to say that I was a little bored for the first 15-20 minutes, I wasn't sure how the film was going to develop and felt it was getting to the point in a roundabout way. After the film got going and the plot became clear it was a really moving film. It is the 1950's so in high def it doesn't do the sets favors at some times. It is clear the "night sky" is a backdrop in a studio, but when you look past some of this you really have an excellent film here.

Personally I would have given this my Oscar vote that year over From Here to Eternity.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046247/

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The Man from Earth (2007)

This has to be one of the most interesting films that I have seen in a few years. It is a science fiction film with no special effects and no action. How does that work you might ask, well the entire film is a conversation. We really only have one set and the cast is filled with people that have played movie extras and television stars. Don't expect any Oscar performances from this group, and get past how fake the dialog is to begin with.

The film starts with our lead character, John Oldman [David Lee Smith], a professor that after 10 years decides to up and quit his job. All of his colleagues drop by to say goodbye since his departure seems so sudden. He tells them that he really doesn't have a plan and they push and push until he tells them the truth. The truth is that do does not age, for the length of the film they question him on this point and he is able to answer all of their questions with thoughtful and precise detail. It is really a well thought out script, I came up with a few questions of my own and they answered them not long after. I had planned on starting this one in bed and finishing it on the treadmill at the gym, but it is not the type of film that you can be distracted during to enjoy. I watched the whole thing [87 minutes, short...] in bed when I should have been sleeping.

If you watch a lot of movies and can't find anything fairly new, then this is a "B" film I would highly suggest.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0756683/

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Winchester '73 (1950)

Thanks to a couple short western films I was able to sneak this one in as my last film in the war/western themed month. At almost exactly an hour and half it was a quick watch, and helped that I really liked it.

I initially gave this a 7/10 but it has really stuck in my mind and was so much different than other westerns [in a good way]. The film doesn't follow a person, it follows an object. The film starts by telling us about the first repeating rifle that "tamed" the west. The Winchester company makes and sells their guns in mass production, but the ones that test well on accuracy they sell at a premium. The gun in the story is called the "one in a thousand" and considered the best gun made that year. We then go to Dodge City where Wyatt Earp is mayor, they are having a rifle competition where this famed gun is the prize. Lin McAdams [James Stewart] wins the contest, but before he is able to safely get out of town he is jumped by Waco Johnnie Dean [Dan Duryea]. Dean loses it in a poker game and the gun is passed along over and over.

Not the biggest time commitment and a unique twist on your typical western film, I'm glad I got this one in before the end of the month.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043137/

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Sergeant York (1941)

I'm not sure if you could call this film a biography, since I think you have to span the life of the subject to be a biography. This is the "story" of Alvin York, a decorated war hero from World War I. When York was approached about making his story into a film he insisted that the part be played by Gary Cooper. He was told that Cooper was too old, but he insisted that they make it work or not do it. It worked out well, because the film won two Oscars for editing, and Cooper won best actor.

The film starts in the backwoods of Tennessee where Alvin is a drunkard with an unsuccessful farm. In real life he was converted and saved by his wife, in the film he was struck by lightning... I guess that was more dramatic. He enlists in the draft but applies to be a conscientious objector, he is refused and sent to boot camp. They find out he is an excellent sharpshooter and put him in a Sergeant position training others. He pulls off some pretty amazing war exploits that I will reserve for you to see for yourself.

A really good war film, with a really good cast. Look at the date of release and you can guess that this definitely a pro-war film, so keep that in mind.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034167/

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Attack (1956)

Jack Palance is well known in Hollywood for playing a good villian. Throughout the 50's and 60's he played numerous roles as bad guys in western and war films. Interesting though that two of his most notable films he plays a hero [this one] and a good guy in a comedy [Curly in City Slickers].

What an emotional performance, Palance plays Lieutenant Joe Costa who sends men into battle with the agreement from Captain Cooney [Eddie Albert] that backup would be coming. When Cooney chickens out the entire team is mowed down by the Germans. The film is less of a battle between the Americans and Germans in World War II, and more of a battle between a good soldier and a crazy captain.

Not only is this a good war film, but it is finally a war film I was hoping to watch. Battles, heroes, gun fight, snipers, bad leaders, politics, etc. I've been getting melodrama and historical political breakdowns instead most of the month. This is what I wanted and I was very happy to get some good performances from Palance and Albert, if you want a good war classic that is under two hours you need to see this one.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048966/

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Flash of Genius (2008)

Directed by Marc Abraham [Producer of Air Force One and Children of Men just to name a few], and starring Greg Kinnear [As Good as It Gets and  Little Miss Sunshine], comes a film about a college professor and engineer/inventor who invents the intermittent windshield wiper.

A film that has been on my radar for almost 4 years now but constantly overlooked because all I could think when seeing it was, "how interesting can a film about windshield wipers really be?" The film starts with the invention process, then goes into how Mr. Kinnear goes about getting the patent rights then trying to sell his invention to the major motor companies. After the invention is stolen by Ford, Mr. Kinnear's life starts falling apart as he gives up everything to take his fight to the courts.

A film that questions ethics and shows the limits that one has to go to, to defend his rights through the court system. I'm surprised at how much I really liked this film because I felt like I knew what it was about before watching it and didn't expect much. A good court room drama, so I would suggest it, if that is your kind of movie.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1054588/

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Pollock (2000)

I've been meaning to see this one for a little while now, it actually helped me finish watching all Oscar winners of the last decade. The film is directed by and starring Ed Harris, and he was nominated for an Oscar... but the winner was Marcia Gay Harden for actress in a supporting role. I guess I never looked at the movie poster because I though this was a war film, or a film about an immigrant because I confused Pollock with "Polak," e.g. someone from Poland.

The film is actually about the famous American artist Jackson Pollock. Jackson had mental issues, struggles with being an alcoholic, but he was one of the most influential figures in the abstract expressionist movement. Here is a cool website that will give you a chance to making your own abstract painting: JacksonPollock.org.

Harris has been nominated for 4 Oscars and never won. He has been a part of films that have one, but it is impressive that the first film he directed by himself he manages to pull in an Oscar for Harden, and a nomination for himself. If you aren't a fan of Harris your haven't seen enough of his film, he did a great job with this film and I'm very glad I went back and watched it.

A tragic drama that is not really a family film. Nevertheless it is a compelling and interesting biography of famous man in American culture. Check it out.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0183659/

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In a Better World: Hævnen (2010)

From what I have traced of my heritage I have more Danish in me than any other nationality, so it was pretty exciting to see that both the Golden Globe and Oscar for Foreign film were won by this film. It was also nice to see that it was actually a GOOD film.

The trailer... or maybe I should say teaser intro of this film shows African children following a Caucasian man in a Jeep on a dirt road. The film also opens with this Doctor working at a Red Cross aid station in Africa, so it was pretty safe to assume this film would take place in Africa. Well it doesn't, this is really meant to show that two fathers, both doctors, have to spend time away from their children back home as they work some length of a "shift" in Africa.

The story actually is about anger. Yes anger. Kids getting bullied in school, a boy losing his mother, children going through divorce, doctors making difficult decisions. Anger is an over simplification, but I can't easily remember a film that drew me in so much that my heart was racing wanting a father to fight back, wanting a kid to fight back. It might test your Christian principles of turning the other cheek.

I don't want to say too much, because if you watch a foreign film, than unlike more than a few of the past years, you should watch the Oscar/Golden Globe winner.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340107/

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Papillon (1973)

I managed to get ahold of the blu-ray of this epic adventure film and I have to say it was worth the quality. A film starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman which has everything going for it... except the runtime. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Score, and not necessarily a stunning performance by the stars. A quality film nevertheless.

The film stars McQueen as the title character Papillon [pappy-yawn] who is a prisoner in France serving a life sentence for a murder he was falsely accused of. Much like The Shawshank Redemption we can never really be sure, and like Andy Dufresne escape is his only goal. He is deported to African, French Guiana to be specific, where he is put in a labor camp where officers have little remorse for killing prisoners by starvation, disease, or murder. On the sea ride he befriends Mr. Dega [Dustin Hoffman] a man hated by many because of his legal troubles with counterfeiting. Papillion makes a deal that if he protects him, that he will help them escape.

With the odds against him Papillion survives stints in solitary and attempt after attempt. The run-time of the film adds to the misery of solitary, a feeling you can't get if you rush a epic film like this. Even at 2 1/2 hours I felt the film was well edited and really enjoyed it.

Take the time to check this one out, it is arguably McQueen's best work.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070511/

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The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

Before I give my opinion on Matthew McConaughey and his abilities let me say that there are probably a dozen actors that could have done this role well. McConaughey needs to thank his agent for finding him a good script and director because this could be his best film.

McConaughey plays a defense attorney that defends some questionable people. His office is the back of his chauffeured Lincoln. A fast talking, bargaining lawyer that seems to be one thought ahead of everyone around him. When Ryan Phillippe's character comes to him looking for a defense attorney you are just sure you are in for a twist given Phillippe's history of playing bad guys... which he does so well. Some predictable twists but entertaining nonetheless.

With McConaughey as the lead I almost passed on this one, but with Phillippe, Marisa Tomei, Josh Lucas, and John Leguizamo this is in fact worth your time.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1189340/

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Harry Potter [6] and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

It might be important for me to tell you that I can't write a review for a part 6 of a series of 8 films without spoiling the previous films. So if you haven't seen the earlier films and intend to do so I'll do my best not to "ruin" anything.

This is one of the films that I boosted my rating on after watching the other 5 in a short Harry's mission needs to be and get a sense that we can see a light at the end of the tunnel and understand how this is all going to have to end.

For the acting side I felt that the three main characters really come into their own and mature a lot. Full of action and with some emotional scenes this one is probably my 3rd favorite in the series.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417741/

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