"All right! We did not die today, I call that an unqualified success."

Inside Out - Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, and Bill Hader

Riley is an 11 year old girl whose family moves from Minnesota to California. The film follows her inside thoughts that are controlled by Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Bill Hader) and Disgust (Mindy Kaling). For the majority of her life Joy has taken the helm so speak and primarily kept Riley a joy-filled girl. Joy helps Riley focus on the positive and lighter side of life.  In the film, Riley's core memories have primarily been joyful. Things change when Sadness takes over and alters some of Riley's core memories.

This film is funny, sweet and real. A lot of people cried (I did not). This is a moving film about growing up and how hard that can be. So many conflicting emotions, changes internal and external and the challenge of entering a new stage of life.

Overall another good Pixar film, not my favorite but an excellent addition.

Rent it if you haven't already seen it!

Sabbatical

That sounds so much nicer than I abandoned my blog. But I have returned. I will be posting again. I took a breather from watching films and am now back in the swing of movie going. I will be posting reviews of some summer blockbusters and some recent movie going experiences as well as a few rentals.

Looking forward to delving back into the realm of film.

"You're a sunny little sh*t, I'll give you that much."

16 Blocks - Bruce Willis, Mos Def, David Morse

Jack Mosely (Bruce Willis) is a New York City Cop not too far from retirement. He is about to clock out and is asked to transport a witness, Eddie Bunker (Mos Def), 16 blocks to the courthouse. The witness needs to be at the court house by 10:00 a.m. to give testimony before a Grand Jury. Begrudgingly, Jack takes the witness into his custody and proceeds to take Mr. Bunker to his appointment. What Jack does not realize is that Eddie is going to give testimony against New York City's finest, the NYPD. 

After a pit stop to pick up some booze, Jack realizes that he has taken on a deadly and life altering task. Can he trek the 16 blocks with the witness in tow in time?

I enjoyed this film. I like a good shoot 'em up cop film with a slight twist or two. Mos Def is a delight as a fast talking con with big dreams of starting over. Bruce Willis is excellent as the tired cop who is battling his conscience and his loyalties. Fun note the film keeps time between the time Eddie is picked up until the 10:00 a.m. deadline to arrive at the courthouse.

If you enjoy The Negotiator  you will enjoy this movie. Rent it or catch it on TV. You won't be disappointed.

No.

Mama - Jessica Chastain

A father cracks and shoots his business partners before driving home to shoot his wife and kidnap his two young daughters aged 1 and 3 (respectively).  He drives recklessly which results in a spin out of the car in the woods.  He walks with his daughters to what appears to be an abandoned cabin with a decor of the 1960s. He is about to shoot his older daughter when he is killed by a woman who is floating off the ground. The two girls are left in the cabin cared for by this entity that killed their father and who some how feeds them cherries in the middle of winter. The girls disappear for five years in the woods and become more and more ferral. Their uncle meanwhile spends all of his money attempting to locate the girls. His investgator finds them. They are returned to civilization. Their uncle and his girlfriend bring the girls home under the eye of a therapist. The girls are weird and tell everyone that Mama has cared for them.

There are a few plot points left out of the above description: an aunt who is fighting for the girls, the therapist who is sure the older girl is Mama, the younger girl who is still ferral and loves Mama, the older girl who loves and fears Mama and is accepting of civilization, the uncle who gets injured and is out of most of the movie, and the girlfriend who doesn't want to be a mother but finds herself becoming one. And of course Mama, ghostie who loves and protects the girls and has her own backstory that she reveals in dreams.

Oh, how I wanted to like this movie. The description above even as I write it makes the movie sound delightful. Who is this Mama? How did these girls survive? Why won't Mama let go? Sigh. The movie's star: Mama, is terrible. The CGI ghost/thing is not scary. The distorted pale face with spindly arms and legs that floats about is as about a scary as a plastic bag. Sure the bag can float into screen with the proper music and you'll jump but then you remember, that's just a plastic bag and it is not scary at all.

Don't bother with this film. It is not even entertaining in a campy sort of way. It is just bad. The beginning is weird, the middle off putting, and the end terrible. Avoid if possible.

Drive In Double Feature

Resident Evil: Retribution -  Milla Jovovich, Aryana Engineer

Total Recall - Colin Farrell, Jessica Beil, Kate Beckinsale

Neither film was much to write home about other than to note that the little girl in Resident Evil is the awesome young actress (Aryana Engineer) who was in The Orphan.  Full confession, I have seen none of the films that came before, the movie is nice enough to give you a recap. However, Resident Evil is basically a video game you can't play. I guess you can't do much beyond that when your film is based on a video game. I am guessing if you like video games or saw the previous films you will want to watch this one as well. As a person who isn't the biggest fan of video games, I would warn like minded people to stay away.

Total Recall had a little more depth but was not able to keep my attention. I fell asleep during this film. Yes, it was an action flick with loud noises and still I fell asleep. I wanted to like it. I haven't seen the original so I can't compare the films. I love science fiction and yet this failed to keep hold. Maybe catch this on the small screen but even then I can't guarantee you will want to flick back after the commercial break.

I will confess these were perfect movies for necking at a drive-in. I did not care that I missed some of the film.

"Look at me, Damien! It's all for you!"

The Omen - Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, Harvey Stephens

Classic horror movie. This movie begins on 06/06/66 - the dreaded 666 - in Italy. Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) is an ambassador. His wife is pregnant and in labor. The child dies and while at hospital he is convinced by a priest to switch his dead child with another child born to a mother who died in labor. The coloring of all involved is similar and no one will be the wiser.  Knowing how desperately his wife wanted a baby he agrees to this plan.

All is well until Damien's 6th birthday when things begin to happen. His son's nanny commits suicide during the child's birthday. A replacement nanny appears along with a large hound. Mrs. Thorn begins to suspect there is something wrong with Damien and that he is not her child.  A priest begins to haunt Mr. Thorn trying to make him understand that there is something in fact wrong with the child - he is the son of Satan!

The film does not quite hold up as far as the scare factor is concerned. However, it is delightfully psychological: is he or is he not the son of Satan? A fun Halloween movie. Rent it on a dark stormy night if possible and watch with the lights out to enhance the viewing experience.

"It's not called gym-NICE-stics..."

Stick It - Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym

Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) is a naturally talented gymnist. She walks away from Worlds and a chance at Olympic glory.  The movie begins with her run in with the law. She's given a choice: military academy or gymnastics.  Her choice is not honored and off she is shipped to Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges) a gymnastic's coach. 

This movie is predictable and yet still fun.  Haley points out what is wrong with gymnastics and the point system of the judging.  There are fun montage scenes and some fun off beat characters.  Lots of girls hurling themselves into the air and some "eating mat" scenes as well.

This film was to be to gymnastics what Bring it On was to cheerleading. However, it did not quite reach the audience it was looking for - a love story helps and there was not one here. At least not with the leading lady. I enjoyed this film and took the opportunity for a second viewing after the Summer 2012 Olympics concluded in order to capture that elusive fun-ness that I feel watching the Olympics. It was nice. If you enjoyed Bring it On, the tv show Reaper and sports this is the film for you! Catch it on tv or rent it!