Extraordinary Measures (2010)

One of my favorite films early into this year. I expected this to be a cheap Harrison Ford action film, guess I forgot to read the synopsis. Ok, so Brendan Fraser does not have the best track record, and Ford is not always the best in dramatic roles.

This film is about a family who have two children suffering from an incurable disease. The father (played by Fraser) and mother (played by Keri Russell) work tirelessly to support the family while trying to find solutions.

Fraser stumbles on an article written by a professor in Nebraska (the professor is played by Ford) and pays him a visit. They then work together to not only create a cure, but to make it an FDA approved drug.

The film is not only a good look into a family and their struggles, but is it also a look at how you would go about bringing a drug to the open market. The discussions on the aspects a drug company consider when granting the team funding was new and interesting to me. A good watch and good acting that I didn't expect.

Vote: 9/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1244659/

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The Phantom Carriage (1921)

This is an old Swedish silent film telling the fable of the grim reaper's assistant and how he earns his job. The story goes that the last person to die before right before new years eve has the year long task of driving the reaper of soul's carriage.

A just makes a day seem like an eternity, and one that ironically is bestowed on the very person that tells us the story. A great film for the first 45 minutes, then we spend the next year reflecting on his life and what an awful person he was.

The first part was definitely worth watching, but the 2nd half just drug on. For the most part it was unrelated to the main storyline of the Carriage itself. Just average to me.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0012364/

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Edge of Darkness (2010)

The first movie starring Mel Gibson in 6 years. Considered by some to be a sequel to 1999's Payback because he just goes on a rampage taking out the bad guys.

Gibson plays a homicide detective that goes after the killers responsible for his daughters death. Action packed, unrealistic at time, and a lot of fun. You know what you are going to get with this movie. What kept it from being lower is that the murder plot he uncovered was pretty interesting to follow with him. What kept it from being worth watching again is that a lot of the films scenes were predictable. It was obvious when the person helping him was going to get killed, it was obvious that he was going to get the bad guy.

Take it for what it is worth and enjoy the action.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226273/

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An Education (2009)

The 10th and final Best Picture nominee for me. This has been low on my priority list because I didn't think I would like it. Well I didn't...

A story about a naive young girl (Carey Mulligan) who decides that skipping school and running off with a man easily 10 years older than her is better than even finishing high school.

She constantly pushes her problems off on others and accepts no responsibility for her own faults and actions. I have trouble enjoying a movie when I strongly dislike the main character.

A perfect movie for a teenage girl who doesn't like her parents... not many others. Avoid this one.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1174732/

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Marty (1955)

A fantastic movie about a middle aged man named Marty (Ernest Borgnine), who works in a butcher's shop and is constantly hounded by all the women that come in. They are all asking "Why aren't you married?," questioning why all of his brothers and sisters are, yet he still lives at home with mom.

1/2 Romance as he finds a girl, and 1/2 character study. The character study is the best part. You really feel for this guy and the trouble he has finding a girl. It won 4 Oscars, including best picture and is now one of my favorite classic films.

Check this one out.

Vote: 9/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048356/

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The Killing Fields (1984)

Honestly the title of this film really threw me off. Not sure how to put this in words, but I really had it in my head this this was going to be a gory war film. It is actually heroic story about a man's struggle to escape a brutal dictator.

Much like Full Metal Jacket, this film really has a distinct split. The first part is about the rebel uprising and the actions that lead to captivity. The second part is about the escape from this captivity.

Sam Waterston (a very familiar face from "Law & Order"), John Malkovich, and our hero Haing S. Ngor are the three main characters of this film. There are some very tense moments and exciting ones as well. Good for a war film, and not really what I expected either.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087553/

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The Blues Brothers (1980)

Actually considered a musical this is a very fun movie, and probably the best film created from a Saturday Night Live skit. Starring the late John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, in cool guy roles but still incredibly dorky... which is why this movie is so funny. With Carrie Fisher as an insane ex constantly trying to kill Belushi's character. Rednecks, Nazis, and police chasing the brothers who are on a mission from God.

With musical performances from Ray Charles, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Cab Calloway (you know the Hi-Di-Hi-Di-Hi-Di-Ho song...). This is a must see film and deserves to be seen in its entirety, not just partially on tv with commercial breaks.

Vote: 9/10

IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080455/

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