Movie Review #52 A Good Day To Die Hard (2013)

- If you're going to die, die hard

After the lengthy artistic and thought-provoking films I've reviewed in the past month I thought it might be time to do something a little lighter. Well, what could be lighter than a fifth movie in a long standing action series known for good one-liners with a bumpy ride of hits and misses through the series? Yes, my last review before my review format changes will be the latest installment of Die Hard.

Movie Review #51 Argo (2012)

- a true story turn book turn movie about the making of a fake movie to save lives.

Are you still with me? Argo, the final Oscar nominated film for Best Picture that I will be reviewing is based on the true story about six Americans staying in the Canadian Embassy in hiding due to political turmoil between USA and Iran. This was the last nomination I watched out of all the nominated films so I would think it had the hardest time to prove itself to me. It’s also based on a true story which is always a way of saying lots of stuff was made up and if you research the true story, you’ll know that quite a bit is changed. Nothing new with that information though, as always, the question is did the differences help the story to make it more suspenseful and enjoyable?

Movie Review #50 Life of Pi (2012)

- Rub-a-dub dub, a boy and a tiger in a tub

Coming down to the wire with a few days left till Oscar night. I actually watched Life of Pi awhile ago but wanted to wait to release this review till now. I was unsure about many films getting enough attention to get enough hits and wanted some higher profile reviews for the end. This and Argo tomorrow I figured would be a solid choices having already reviewed Django and Zero. Now I’m not for heavy-handed religiously preachy films and was rather wary of this film from what I (unintentionally) heard. While I'll touch on this later, it certainly wasn't insultingly over religious as I had previously thought. My review for Life of Pi is as follows.

Movie Review #49 Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

- Down in the bayou fantasy and reality collide

I’ll start off by saying I’m doing a special three in three days review extravaganza to finish off the remaining films nominated for best film so stay tuned tomorrow and the next day for the final two film reviews.

I had heard quite a bit of positive buzz about the lead actress in Beasts of the Southern Wild before viewing the movie, although it’s hard to not have a lot of buzz when your lead role is a just a five year old child and whom is nominated for best lead actress. It’s not something that happens every year... or ever. As always I started this film with open arms hoping to be whisked away to a brand new fantasy. Perhaps I was too hopeful for a fantasy by the title, unfortunately the movie isn’t as fantasy driven as I had hoped nor is it a children’s movie as I had also entertained prior to watching. Really what this blog should have taught you readers by now (and certainly myself) is my idea of what a movie might be about by knowing the title alone is atrocious. But what can you do? On to the Oscars...

Movie Review #48 Amour (2012)

- Life can end before you die.

I delve into foreign films on a pretty regular basis, and Amour is one of those. After the Artist's success last year in the Oscars, one can easily see that the Foreign film category isn't contained. Films can transcend this label and be up for and get the best film nod as well. I often run into coincidences when watching movies from my backlog of films in quick succession. This one would be I watched Cache two days earlier from when I watched Amour, having no idea they had the same director in Michael Haneke. He certainly has a strong grasp of the metaphorical and a fine touch for the little things. I think that's what can draw you into these movies: the details, the foreshadowing that isn't slapped in your face and, in the case of Amour, the no-holds-barred view of the slow decline of someone's health.

Movie Review #47 Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

- Awkward love at every turn 

Silver Linings Playbook is at its core a love story.  I've said it before and I’ll say it again.  Hollywood love movies don’t need to be fluff pieces. They can be well-written, well-acted and show quite a bit of acting.  Not to get ahead of myself, but I feel as if this is exactly that.  I mean every genre has its thorns but I have always felt that romance comedies get beaten up by the branch of the ugly tree come review time, and sure, sometimes they deserve it.  The chemistry to create true love on screen isn't just about getting the two biggest stars of the time and throwing them together every year - though that is often what happens.  Silver Linings Playbook is vastly different from the rest.