Everyone waits until the year is over to compile their “Best of whatever” movie lists. This has become a mundane practice. Time for a bit of a change, kids.
Katy Perry is already crossover star (music & movies). And when those talents come together, they end up giving a competitive effort that you can’t help to admire. Meanwhile, the wily veteran coach by the name Oliver Stone, appears to have over-prepped his latest game-plan. Also getting some playing time is an international horror favorite, whose raw game is slowly started to be noticed stateside.
The new releases for the respective week will have a capsule review at the end of the column. An updated list comes out every Monday. Here’s how things are shaking up so far in 2012:
1. Chronicle
2. The Cabin in the Woods
3. The Avengers
4. Moonrise Kingdom
5. Red Tails
6. The Grey
7. Game Change
8. The Secret World of Arrietty
9. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
10. Friends with Kids
11. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
12. The Raid: Redemption
13. Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds
14. Big Miracle
15. Think Like a Man
16. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
17. Brake
18. Rock of Ages
19. Mirror Mirror
20. People Like Us
21. Magic Mike
22. Ted
23. 21 Jump Street
24. Snow White and the Huntsman
25. This Means War
26. God Bless America
27. The Three Stooges
28. Gone
29. The Amazing Spider-Man
30. Blue Like Jazz
31. American Reunion
32. Jeff, Who Lives at Home
33. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
34. Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best
35. Katy Perry: Part of Me
36. Juan of the Dead
37. Prometheus
38. Hysteria
39. The Dictator
40. Safe
41. Searching for Sonny
42. Brave
43. The Hunger Games
44. John Carter
45. Wrath of the Titans
46. Dead Dad
47. Underworld: Awakening
48. The Devil Inside
49. Livid
50. The Five-Year Engagement
51. Downtown Express
52. Savages
53. Sound of My Voice
54. Project X
55. Men in Black 3
56. Piranha 3DD
57. Dark Shadows
58. The Raven
59. Silent House
60. That’s My Boy
61. Darling Companion
62. Bully
63. What to Expect When You’re Expecting
64. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
65. Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding
66. Lockout
67. The Woman in Black
68. The Vow
69. Man on a Ledge
70. Extraterrestrial
71. The Lucky One
72. Contraband
73. The Samaritan
74. Act of Valor
75. 4:44 Last Day on Earth
76. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
77. Safe House
78. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
79. To Rome with Love
80. The Pirates! Band of Misfits
81. Kill List
82. Chernobyl Diaries
83. Haywire
84. Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection
85. A Thousand Words
86. Joyful Noise
87. Battleship
88. Wanderlust
Not Screened: One for the Money, Casa De Mi Padre, Chimpanzee, High School
REVIEWS (click on title for full write-up)
Overall, this concert/documentary is blessed with having an interesting and legit subject matter. The technical elements and delivery are average, and at times, suspect (a little too cheerleading); yet the charismatic personality instantly pulls you into her world and you’ll definitely want to hang around and explore. And since this guy was hearing many of her songs for the first time, the girl has a thought. Let’s just hope she isn’t a manufactured product like the Biebs.
While having a diverse cast of semi-amusing characters, the tone of this piece is all over the place. One example of this is noticed when John Travolta shows up as a federal agent, who allows Johnson and Kitsch to slide by in their dealings as long as his envelope is stuffed to the brim. And then there’s Benicio Del Toro’s seemingly clichéd character (sporting an amazing mullet by the way), yet you’re not sure if you are to fear him like the antagonist in No Country for Old Men or root for him like an anti-hero as if he was one of the charismatic suit-wearing fellas from Reservoir Dogs. So while this screenplay takes its time and you do get to know all the main players in some respect, it’s very awkward and clumsy in its delivery. And frankly, they all lose some of their luster due to this script dragging after the halfway point with empty, erratic, and continuity-flawed, conversations.
Taking the satire of Shaun of the Dead and weaving in Cuban political issues, is not only a fun watch but an informative one. Hell, just the fact that this low-budgeted flick was allowed to be made in that country makes it worth a look; even though it can drag to the finish line.
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