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If you could see into a window of an average American family what would you see? Movies have always tried to portray the average family life, but there is always one problem, they are played by movie stars. I mean when I walk around my neighborhood I don't see anyone that looks like George Clooney or Jennifer Lawrence. I think that filmmakers get the act down, but the look is just so hard to get, it's hard to fake it. Well with that all said, I think someone finally got it right and also made one of the better movies of the year.

"Nebraska" is Alexander Payne's new movie about life in the Midwest. Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) has received a letter claiming that he has the winner of a million dollars. All he has to do to travel from Montana to Nebraska to claim his prize. That is exactly what Woody intends to do, even if he has to walk to Nebraska. Lucky for Woody he has a son, David Grant (Will Forte) who wants to help Woody live out his fantasy, even though he knows he hasn't won anything. So against David's mother's wishes, David decides to take Woody on a trip to Nebraska to claim his prize. David, whose life as a home electronic salesman isn't the greatest, wants to use the trip as a chance to spend time with his father. David and Woody decide to stop by Woody's home town and see Woody's brothers and his old business partner Ed Pegram (Stacy Keach). What follows is the perfect story about what family truly is.

I think if you were to ask twenty different people what their definition of family is; you would get about as many different answers. Family to me, put up with you no matter how you act and they are always there when you need them, no matter what adventures you take. Alexander Payne knows how to show a family that just feels right and just like in 2011 "The Descendants" you feel like these families could be your neighbors. Unlike with "The Descendents" though Payne only directed this film, but seems to have found a kindred spirit in writer Bob Nelson. The story is amazing, but what lifts Nebraska to greatness is the performance by the entire cast. Dern, who has always been a great actor, gets one of those roles that win you awards. Forte, who is better known from his days on Saturday Night Live, doesn't welter next to Dern and more than holds his own. As great as those two are, the show is stolen by June Squibb, who plays Woody's wife and somehow gets all the best lines. With this movie you can go from laughing to more laughing, and to just taking in a great flick. If it was up to me it would be required that Alexander Payne makes a movie every year like Woody Allen. I wish I had that power, but I don't, so I will just enjoy his movies when they come out, and I promise you this is one you will enjoy quite a bit.

Brian Taylor

read this and many more reviews @ http://the2cinemen.blogspot.com/

Sometimes when you are with your friends you will go into those 'what if' scenarios. You know things like what if you found a million dollars, or what if you only had one week to live? I always remember someone asking me what would be the one thing you would grab if your house was on fire. Well I want to change that question to this: if you could only choose one filmmaker to always make movies, which would you, choose? How do you decide, when there are so many great filmmakers? Well my choice would be the Coen Brothers. Now I know what you are thinking, I said one filmmaker, and my answer happen to be brothers, but my response to that would be, when they direct and write their films they are like one incredible creative force.

I choose the Coen's because they march to their own drummer and tell stories that always seem special, and memorable. They don't make movies that exist in the normal world; instead they invite you into their world. Now in the Coen's world there tends to be a lot of anger, but with that anger you also get passion and the most unique kind of humor as well. In their new film "Inside Llewyn Davis", they tell a story about a young folk singer trying to navigate Greenwich Village in 1961. That singer's name is Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac), and if you couldn't guess by the name the story is about him. Llewyn is trying to cope with being on his own after his musical partner jumped off the George Washington Bridge. Although extremely talented things just don't seem to go right for Llewyn, and it is mostly his fault. You see Llewyn does not have the best attitude and always relies on the generosity of others to survive. It could be crashing with his friend's girlfriend Jean (Carey Mulligan) or getting work with Jim (Justin Timberklake) to help pay his debts. No matter how bad his life can get though, Llewyn can always escape into his music.

I know why I love a Coen Brother's movie; to me it is just like comfort food. As in comfort food, you know what you are getting; you will get great characters, a great story, and a little added "Coeness" that makes their stories so special. While their movies have those central elements in common, their stories and themes are never the same. With "Inside Llewyn Davis" everything is there and as with "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" we get a great soundtrack to boot. Oscar Isaac is brilliant as Llewyn Davis, who learned to play guitar for this role. In fact all of the musical scenes where actually recorded live during filming for an authentic sound. Everyone has a favorite Coen movie, because no two seem to ever be alike. The only thing they have in common is they are always seem to be one of the better movies of that year, and with "Inside Llewyn Davis" that trend remains.

Brian Taylor

read this and other reviews @ http://the2cinemen.blogspot.com/

There is an old saying that things get better with age. Now I can believe that is the case for some things, but let's face it, being young is so much better. Being young and being older are just two different worlds, and no better place says that more than Las Vegas. You have downtown for the older and established crowd, and then you have the fresh and new strip. Well a few years ago we were given "Hangover" and we got to see how Vegas can be for that younger generation, but how would it be for the sixty and up crowd?

Well lucky or unlucky, depending on whom you are, someone has tried to tell us that story. Billy (Michael Douglas) is what I picture as your typical rich 71 year old Californian. Looking much younger than he really is, very tan, and of course dating a much younger woman. Billy has decided he wants to marry his younger girlfriend, and calls his three childhood friends to meet in Las Vegas for a bachelor party. So Billy calls Sam (Kevin Kline), Archie (Morgan Freeman) and Patty (Robert De Niro) to meet him in Vegas for a great weekend. Once in Vegas we are given all kind of jokes about being old, even throwing in a fanny pack joke for good measure. We have parties, lots of scantily clad women, and of course a reference to Viagra. Just remember the saying," what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"

I will say I enjoyed watching the first "Hangover", Just because it was different and pushed the envelope. Then they wanted to give us more, and like a real hangover one was enough. I only bring up "Hangover" because you may hear people refer to "Last Vegas" as the hangover for the older crowd. Well let me say that would be a bad comparison, because at least "Hangover" was funny. Yeah there are some cute moments in this movie, and it will definitely play to a certain crowd, a crowd that reached retirement age already. Written by Dan Fogleman, who brought us the very good "Crazy, Stupid, Love" last year and directed by Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure), neither of which live up to their past endeavors. To top it off most of the actors, seem to be mailing it in, and treat this more like a payday than a fun role. The one good thing with this film is that is brought back Kevin Kline, who doesn't act as often as he should. I think what someone should do next is Vegas with a bunch of teenagers, that way the circle is complete. It is easy to make comments about the age factor in this movie, but in the end that does not matter. What matters is, if you are going to make a comedy, the movie should be at least funny, and this movie is not at all. So if you want a story about a weekend in Vegas, book a trip there, just do anything else but watch this movie.

Brian Taylor