FlickLover62

Many people feel obligated to acknowledge a gift by giving a gift in return. So why would someone feel it necessary to keep giving gift after gift? What original gift could be so huge that you'd feel you could never repay? "I believe that the bad things in life, they can be a gift..."

This is a clever, psychological thriller that plays like a hold-your-breath slasher flick except the maniacal madman is not as obvious and the horror is in the back-story. Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) move from Chicago to Simon's hometown. They run into Gordo (Joel Edgerton), who went to high school with Simon. Gordo drops off a bottle of wine as a welcoming gift; the first of many gifts that continue to multiply as the plot deepens, the story weaves a keep-you-guessing path, and the reunion gets creepier and creepier.

Edgerton directs himself as Gordo and exacts a perfect mix of empathy and psychopath. Bateman gives a great performance as you question whether the story he's telling is true or not. And the story...wow! It unwinds at a delicious pace and reveals itself just steps before you figure it out. It's smart and really makes you think about "What does "bygones be bygones" mean?"

Like nothing you've seen and a refreshing respite from the recent sequel/re-make/super hero fluff being delivered from the major Hollywood assembly line. Happily give up your entertainment dollar on this one! You'll be giving yourself a gift!

Man of Steel

Look! Up in the sky...it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman! And this new franchise, in the recent trend of angst-ridden, self-tortured heroes, is dark and brooding and not exactly what you might think it is...

Is it dark and brooding? Well, in a way, but it only touches the surface of what it could have been. It does a good job through flashbacks of letting us get to know poor Clark Kent; bullied and picked on for being "different" and struggling with the "what's wrong with me" question until "dad" decides he finally deserves to know why. This could have been great, had it delved just a bit deeper, but it just scratches the surface, giving us just enough for story and character development, but leaves you wishing for more....What made "The Dark Knight" trilogy GREAT is that it "went there" into Bruce Wayne's tortured self. Just as we start feeling sorry for Clark and the story allows us to start getting close enough to really suck us in, it lets up and pulls away...keeping enough distance to divide and separate from really good to great.

Is is chock-full of over-the-top action in 3D IMAX? Well...there's TONS of really good action scenes, but they drag on just a touch too long, keeping them from being great (much like the amusement park ride that, had it finished just a few circuits sooner, would have left you exhilarated - but instead you're nauseous). Don't get me wrong - the effects aren't dizziness-inducing or sickening...just too long. And 3D? IMAX? Sure, if you want to spend the money, they'll take it BUT it's Fake3D (meaning it was digitally rendered into 3D format post-production and not shot in 3D) and Lie-Max (blown-up and stretched onto a huge screen, but NOT shot in true IMAX 70mm film orientation). I saw it in digital 2D and it was great.

Is it a familiar take on the super hero tale MOST of us know already? Well, you'd expect a bit of a back story, but you end up with TMI about the drama at the home planet and it serves to only muddy the water and confuse rather than clarify - it's as if the film wants to start telling one story but can't decide if that's what we came for or if we just need to hurry up and get to Earth for the familiar...You'd expect The Daily Planet's editor, Perry White, to be an angry old white guy, but he's played by Laurence Fishburne. You'd expect maybe some wry, cheesy, comic book comments....but it sells itself as serious drama and just when you buy into it, it slaps you with an attempt at humor that makes you groan rather than snicker.

I was expecting visual GREATNESS from director, Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300) and in that respect, Man of Steel did not disappoint! The special effects and visuals are stunning and beautifully filmed. Some imagery is just astounding. EVERY flashback scene filmed in Smallville is INCREDIBLE! It's gorgeous.

Acting was solid and the performances did not disappoint. Kudos to the two boys who played young Clark Kent - you truly feel their physical and emotional pain as they adjust to their otherworldly differences. Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner are great as Superman's two dads - sorry, it's not told THAT differently guys...you know what I mean Diane Lane as mom and Amy Adams as Lois Lane do a good job also (especially Diane Lane who makes your heart break with hers as she deals with a child who is "different").

My two biggest disappointments: "product" placement and inappropriate language. You can't get more obvious than the Sears store, IHOP restaurant, UHaul van, and 7-11 that stick out in Smallville like sore thumbs - soooo out of place and obvious in their bright colors and prominence that it's a very sad distraction. BUT MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT...an inappropriate comment made early on in the movie by Lois Lane shortly after we meet her. A reference to the size of male genitalia has NO PLACE in a super hero movie that MANY kids will surely attend. I don't care if it's rated PG-13...I'd be MORTIFIED if I was sitting next to my 13-year-old niece and she was subjected to the cringe-worthy line, let alone any other kid or teen who might go along with the family. TOTALLY inappropriate and disappointing!

So, over all, is it what I'd hoped and expected...not really, BUT it IS really good (just not great). I'll still give it a thumbs up and recommend that you add this to your Summer BlockBuster "go see" list.

West of Memphis

This documentary, produced by Peter Jackson, examines the 1993 triple homicide of three eight-year-olds, investigation and trial of three teenagers and the subsequent efforts to overturn their conviction. While the story itself spans a 20-year period, this documentary focuses upon the most recent attempts at re-examining the evidence and freeing those convicted (one of whom confessed).

The story's already been told in HBO's "Paradise Lost" 1 - 3 (yep, this is the FOURTH doc on the subject), but this tale has been going on for twenty-years and has had multiple layers. If you haven't seen any of the other movies, or know nothing of the case, not to worry - West of Memphis does a fantastic job telling you the story from start to finish and in refreshing the memories for those of us to whom it's familiar.

I'm normally not bothered by graphic images, but my only complaint for this movie is the frequency of the explicit crime scene and autopsy photos of the victims - truly disturbing and haunting...I felt it was too much and took away from the film - the story itself, and sad realization that there were six actual victims, is overwhelming enough without being visually assaulted. I'm not one to normally feel the need to close my eyes or to look away, but here, I did.

And what a shame, by forcing me to look away, it forced me to tentatively recommend this film to everyone - it's tough to watch and revisiting how six children lost their lives is harrowing. While our country has the best justice system in the world, it's not perfect and works best for those who are able to afford the finest legal council money can buy (right, OJ?!) - in any case, "Justice delayed is justice denied".

I highly recommend it - but, I've warned you...it's tough.