PEOPLE LIKE US 3.0***
In "People Like Us", members of two families come to realize their lives might not have been what they thought they were. There have been hidden secrets, hidden family members and important gaps in the communication that families often experience. Here a son, Sam, (Chris Pine) discovers from the attorney for his recently deceased father, that the father had a rather starling family secret. He then does some detective work which gets him closer to the truth ( there is another family associated with his father that the son knew nothing about ), only to realize that human relationships, especially those which involve one's own family are very complicated.

At first, seeing how Sam ( Pine ) meets the other family, Frankie ( Elizabeth Banks) and her son sets off a few doubts about the direction and intention of the film. It just looks too much like a set up, and this is exactly where the film proves us wrong. There is depth to the dialog and careful attention given to the direction and character development. In particular, Banks' range is amazing, as her character grows in several ways in front of our eyes: Her background slowly unfolds in front of us, revealing the origin of her flaws, her pain, her inability to find peace, until Sam comes into to show her there were pieces missing in her family picture. Also, I enjoyed how the film depicted her interaction with her son, in a loving, realistic, frustrating way. Yes, we have seen fractured relationships before, but they have rarely been shown in such a honest and natural way.

There is more to praise in the film, as Sam's mother comes to share her concealed memories, and how the new developments might affect her future. The ending will most likely warm your heart. It's a love reflection on humanity,, trust, and how complex our lives really are, and how in more than one way the title shows us we have more in common than we think.
The film is a little too long and the secret about relationships is strung out too long….it gets to the point where you want to shout to Sam… go ahead and tell her !! You’ll know what I mean once you see the film… don’t want to spoil it for you.
Clark

ted 3.4***
Seth MacFarlane (the creator of 'FAMILY GUY') makes his feature-length live-action directorial debut . The film stars Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis with MacFarlane voicing the computer animated title character, Ted The film is a fantasy comedy film about a teddy bear that comes to life to grant a child's wish and becomes a burden on his romantic relationship when he's a grown man. The movie is surprisingly well made for MacFarlane's first feature effort and has more hits than misses with laughs. It's mostly a crowd pleaser IF you know what you're getting into.

Wahlberg stars as John Bennett. As a child John was an outcast and had no friends so when his parents get him a stuffed teddy bear for Christmas he makes it his imaginary best friend. One day he wishes that the stuffed bear could talk back to him and a falling star grants him that wish. The two grow up together and the teddy bear, known as Ted (MacFarlane), helps John overcome his insecurities. Their friendship is finally put to the test though when John's girlfriend of four years, Lori (Kunis), wants John to stop spending so much time with Ted so they can further their relationship together.

The animation is amazing… you quickly reach the point where you accept Ted for being real. These special effects are seamless even in high action scenes such as the hilarious fight scene between Wahlberg and Ted.

The movie is crude and vulgar but nothing more than one should expect from the creator of 'FAMILY GUY'. MacFarlane's direction is surprisingly impressive and the jokes for the most part work. Wahlberg is good and likable in the lead and Mila Kunis continues to show her talent. And the movie actually has a lot more heart than you'd expect from it. It's actually a positive story of friendship that could have played out the same way even if one of the characters wasn't a magical stuffed bear . BUT, take note, it is extremely crude and raunchy but quite funny hilarious at times, and there's definitely heart to it and it's a good, well intentioned buddy film!

Clark

BERNIE 3.0****




In this movie Jack Black plays Bernie Tiede, a friendly and effeminate mortician in the small town of Carthage, Texas, who is loved by many of his fellow citizens of the community. He's loved because he's friendly to everyone around him. One day, he meets a wealthy widow, Marjorie Nugent (a great Shirley MacLaine). This character is the complete opposite of Bernie in terms of likability. She's so hated by many people in the town that no one even bothers to speak her. Throughout the years, she's had no close family members or friends and lives alone by herself in a mansion. Bernie though believes that there is a good side to her. Bernie uses his warm heart to find the time to visit her and keeps her company. Eventually, they become close friends and he's living the life that many dream. As times goes by, Marjorie shows her true colors to Bernie and she myteriously goes missing. As it turns out, this is a true story and apparently the movie gets it right.
There are some really hilarious scenes and one in particular where a local resident of Texas explains to the audience the different parts of Texas. This person is actually one of many of the local non-actor people interviewed throughout the movie. This is a clever plot device that is often quite effective as it is here.
Jack Black acts different in this movie from any that he’s been in before. - more restraint, more focused, and at times more intense.. His humor here is low-key and not physical. Here is a guy who is loved by everyone - who must be loved by everyone, and who can never say no. It is both an interesting and challenging role for him but he pulls it off in a great way.

Shirley MacLaine is also very different here – she usually ha had a sweet, somewhat cheeky personality in her previous films of late. But for this movie there's a cold, demeaning aura around her, and her steely eyes sell it. Matthew McConaughey as the ruthless district attorney has certainly improved in his acting range - just check out the courtroom scenes.

I really appreciate the small-town setting of the film. The film is told by ''interviews'' with the friendly small-town folk, giving a quirky and homely feel to the film, . The film moves at a strong clip but never feels rushed nor draggy. The screenplay has balances just the right amount of screen- time to establish the story and characters, notably Bernie. Just when you think the film is about to end - there's always another interesting thing happening that keeps the audience glued.

The movie is an entertaining movie to watch. It's Texas based movie that has a dark and sharp sense of humor. If you can find it near you, you should check it out.

Clark

SHALL WE DANCE (2004) … 3.2***

The film is set In Chicago where the workaholic lawyer John Clark (Richard Gere) is feeling bored with his routine life, limited to work and staying at home with his wife Beverly Clark (Susan Sarandon) and his teenage son and daughter. One night, while traveling home by train, he sees the beautiful face of Paulina (Jennifer Lopez) in the balcony of a dance school, and a couple of days later, he decides to visit the school and start taking dancing classes … Ballroom Dancing… which continues every Wednesday night after work. He’s shy about it so he doesn’t to tell his family his "little secret” . His wife Susan Sarandon becomes suspicious because he’s out so much and….. he seems happier. Let me pause here and interject that It probably helps if you’re over 40 years old to understand the yearning of the main character (Gere) who really has no reason NOT to be happy in his life, yet he cannot help but feel like he’s missing "something".


"Shall We Dance?" is an excellent movie about a recently neglected but otherwise beautiful pastime activity… Ballroom Dancing.. This is a feel good infectiously fun movie for those who like romantic comedies and especially dancing along with a charming story of a shy but kind-hearted middle-aged man who finds happiness in the joy of dance and opens others' hearts as well with enthusiasm.. Every year, there are dozens of films made that try so hard to reach a little deeper, to hold on a little tighter, and to leave us breathless. Every year there’s only one good one or (most often) none at all. This film was the exception. From the opening moment of getting to know this main character, we get the instant feel that is portrayed throughout the entire film…. a feeling of real life… of discovering the joy of a new found hobby. . This movie is excellent simply because it is so believable, and so filled with joy and love. It grabs you from start to finish and never lets you go. It is a story about real life, and the beauty that it holds. It is a sensible and decent story that provides a look into what our lives could and should really become.

This is the story of a man searching for a meaning throughout the film, only to realize that his meaning has been right in front of his eyes the whole time. An ensemble film at heart, this is one of the best and hardest working casts I've seen in years. AND THEY DO THEIR OWN DANCING… they practiced for 3 months before filming started. Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, and Jennifer Lopez all turn in fantastic lead performances.. It's the supporting cast that really makes the movie, though, Stanley Tucci and Lisa Ann Walter stick out in particular as two dancers made for each other.

Yes, it's a story about life as we all can live it. As Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez dance wonderfully and so gracefully in the dark studio alone at night, you worry, for a split second, that the film will slip into the old and used form of movies- but it stays better. Because life is not a fairy tale and it's not a passionate romance, we learn to appreciate what we already have around us, we can, in essence, find the fairy tale in our own lives. And that's what makes this movie so great. It teaches us to appreciate and love the beauty of our own lives, and it's a lesson we can all learn.

THE AVENGERS 4.0



If you're a fan of epic superhero adventure movies, then this is your dream come true. It really is the ultimate superhero spectacular and it's done perfectly. The makers of this film certainly understand spectacle but they also get the intricacies and depth these type of characters can provide. The depth of this movie really did surprise me. I was expecting a wild popcorn movie. I couldn't have been more pleased because they balanced everything masterfully. Sure, there's the popcorn fun we were all expecting but there's also a definite soul to the film and a smart plot as well. It's truly an amazing movie regardless of genre. There's a reason this grand of a movie has never been attempted before now. How do you fully flesh out, care about and establish this vast group and still deliver a fun, crisp and coherent story? It's extremely difficult to navigate that edge-of-your-seat excitement while at the same time caring about each one of the characters and their struggles. One of the most impressive aspects of The Avengers is that they managed to get each hero their time in the spotlight and their own character arc. Every single main lead steps up and is treated with remarkable intelligence and given room to shine.
The movie starts off with an introduction to each of our heroes and their antagonist: Loki. It's all pretty usual stuff from here. But once the heroes come together, the movie becomes something more. There are a lot of big egos flying around and each one is more used to being the center of attention, especially Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark. It's in these heated rows and witty banter that The Avengers becomes something that I really wasn't expecting: it's really funny. All these characters are so different and come from such different backgrounds that there is a lot of fun to be had by bouncing them off each other. And in the film's climax, Hulk gets most of the laughs as he smashes everything around him. The Hulk could easily have been the film's main weakness, but he ends up being one of the film's biggest strengths. A few of the new characters and ones that were limited to cameos in previous films get their chance to shine here. Of course, for those of you who know me understand that I have to mention that Scarlett Johansson is in the movie as the Black Widow…. and looking good !!
Which brings us to the film's action sequences. They are astounding. Each one better than the last. An early 3 player bout where Iron Man and Captain America try to take down Thor is great, but an aerial fight between Thor and the Hulk is better. But then there's the climactic "glorious war!" which really shows the potential of bringing this group together as they get to fight as a team.
The plot is tight and clever and the screenplay brilliantly written with some cracking dialogue. Joss Whedon's directorial style translates perfectly into the blockbuster mold. The perfectly cast actors are all 100% comfortable in their roles and have great fun both bouncing off each other and uniting to fight as a team. The Avengers” 4.0he whole movie is terrific fun without being dumb.
Clark

BULLY… 3.5****

I’m doing something different for this movie which is a very well done documentary. I’m borrowing from the review done by Cynthia Lowen and Lee Hirsch. I simply could not improve upon how well they describe the movie and how important the movie is. It should be noted that the film was 1st rated “R” which was contested strenuously by the producers and all associated with the film because such a rating would have shut out the middle school kids and many of the high school kids who most needed to see it and would most be benefitted thereby. Fortunately better reason prevailed and it is rated PG-13.
I strongly encourage everyone to see this movie especially those who have kids 10 and over.
Clark

“This year, over 13 million American kids will be bullied at school, online, on the bus, at home, through their cell phones and on the streets of their towns, making it the most common form of violence young people in this country experience. BULLY is the first feature documentary film to show how we've all been affected by bullying, whether we've been victims, perpetrators or stood silent witness. The world we inhabit as adults begins on the playground. BULLY opens on the first day of school. For the more than 13 million kids who'll be bullied this year in the United States, it's a day filled with more anxiety and foreboding than excitement. As the sun rises and school busses across the country overflow with backpacks, brass instruments and the rambunctious sounds of raging hormones, this is a ride into the unknown. For a lot of kids, the only thing that's certain is that this year, like every other, bullying will be a big part of whatever meets them at their school's front doors. Every school in the U.S. is grappling with bullying-each day more than 160,000 kids across the country are absent because they're afraid of being bullied-but for many districts it's just one more problem that gets swept under the rug. BULLY is a character-driven film. At its heart are those with the most at stake and whose stories each represent a different facet of this crisis. From the first day of school through the last, BULLY will intimately explore the lives of a few of the many courageous people bullying will touch this year”. Written by Lowen, Cynthia; Hirsch, Lee

THE HUNGER GAMES 4***
The Hunger Games is the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' best-selling novel (itself the first in a trilogy) Avid fans of the books were going to make the film a hit, regardless. It's our good fortune that, much like the people behind the Potter films figured out, you can have a Hugh box office smash (opening weekend gross of $155 million .. 3rd largest ever ) AND make a beloved book into an outstanding film of high quality. The Hunger Games will be Lionsgate's biggest-ever hit. Better yet, it deserves to be.
The film is set in a future version of the United States in which the country has been fractured and then tenuously reunited after an uprising nearly seventy-five years prior. The rebels were eventually quelled, and the resulting country consists of a rich and powerful central Capitol and twelve individual “Districts.” Each District is responsible for one type of provision or industry and, as the Capitol restricts communication and interaction between the Districts, they are at the mercy of their government to get supplies that are necessary for even basic survival. And though that should be enough to keep the Capitol satisfied in their power, it’s not, and they use the annual “Hunger Games” to remind their citizens just how in control they are. The Games are a televised fight to the death, with its twenty-four players comprised of one boy and one girl ( 12 to 18 yrs. old) each from every District, picked at random in a lottery that is both flawed and unfair.
After her little sister Primrose is picked for the Games, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to take her place. Older, stronger, and a skilled archer, Katniss stands a far better chance in the arena than young Prim, but she will still have to go up against highly trained competitors, a rigged system, the whims of President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and Head Gamesmaker Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) . Her team includes drunken mentor Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), gentle stylist Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), weirdly hilarious escort Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), and her fellow Tribute – the dedicated Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson)…. the acting is consistently solid and rarely hammy. .
The cast is stellar. Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss carries the movie and makes the many book fans regret complaining about her casting because she was too "hot" and not starved enough. She IS Katniss and one can feel the graveness of an situation just by looking at her expressions. Josh Hutcherson as Peeta is also a true breakout performance. The way he looks at Katniss will makes girls all over the world envy her, just like it's supposed to be. Other standouts in the cast include Stanley Tucci as the flamboyant talk-show host Caesar Flickerman, Woody Harrelson as the sarcastic but caring mentor Haymitch and Wes Bentley as the sinister game-maker Seneca Crane.
Parents should be cautioned, at least modestly so, that The Hunger Games by its very storyline is about kids killing kids and particularly sensitive young children may find its action disturbing despite its not being particularly graphic. While the film is appropriately rated at PG-13, it would likely be considered a stronger PG-13 rating.

The Hunger Games isn't quite a masterpiece, but it is way far better than what most expected from the film and is that rare film to successfully blend commercial success and critical acclaim. It says much about Jennifer Lawrence that she tapped into the heart and soul of Katniss and, as a result, The Hunger Games is a film where both style and substance work together to create one of the year's best films.
Can be seen on regular screen or Imax. It is spectacular in Imax.

Clark

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