Movie Reviews and Ratings

Focus Features Films announces 2010/2011 line-up!

2010/07/08 at 12:00am

Focus Features Films announces 2010/2011 line-up!

07.8.2010 | By Jack Rico |

THE AMERICAN
Release: September 1Director: Anton Corbijn (“Control”)
Writers: Rowan Joffe (“28 Weeks Later”); Based on the novel A Very Private Gentleman by Martin Booth
Cast: George Clooney, Violante Placido, Thekla Reuten, Paolo Bonacelli

Story: Academy Award winner George Clooney stars in the title role of this suspense thriller, filmed on location in Italy. Alone among assassins, Jack (played by Mr. Clooney) is a master craftsman. When a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, he reports to the Italian countryside, where he holes up in a small town and relishes being away from death for a spell. An assignment, as specified by a contact, Mathilde (Thekla Reuten of “In Bruges”), is in the offing as a weapon is constructed. Surprising himself, Jack seeks out the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto (Italian stage and screen veteran Paolo Bonacelli) and pursues romance with local woman Clara (Italian leading lady Violante Placido). But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate.

IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY
September 24 (select cities)
Writer/Directors: Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck (“Half Nelson,” Sugar”); Based on the novel by Ned Vizzini
Cast: Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts, Viola Davis, Zoë Kravitz, Lauren Graham, Jim Gaffigan
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Story: In this New York City-set comedy-drama, 16-year-old Craig (Keir Gilchrist of “United States of Tara”), stressed out from the demands of being a teenager, checks himself into a mental health clinic. There he learns that the youth ward is closed – and finds himself stuck in the adult ward. One of the patients, Bobby (Zach Galifianakis of “The Hangover”), soon becomes both Craig’s mentor and protégé. Craig is also drawn to another 16-year-old, Noelle (Emma Roberts of “Valentine’s Day”). With a minimum five days’ stay imposed on him, Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up.

SOMEWHERE
December 22 (select cities)
Writer/Director: Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation,” “The Virgin Suicides,” “Marie Antoinette”)
Cast: Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, Chris Pontius
MPAA Rating:R

Story: From Academy Award-winning writer/director Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation,” “The Virgin Suicides,” “Marie Antoinette”), “Somewhere” is a witty, moving, and empathetic look into the orbit of actor Johnny Marco (played by Stephen Dorff). You have probably seen him in the tabloids; .Johnny is living at the legendary Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood. He has a Ferrari to drive around in, and a constant stream of girls and pills to stay in with. Comfortably numbed, Johnny drifts along. Then, his 11-year-old daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning) from his failed marriage arrives unexpectedly at the Chateau. Their encounters encourage Johnny to face up to where he is in life and confront the question that we all must: which path in life will you take? Filmed entirely on location, “Somewhere” reunites the writer/director with “Lost in Translation” editor Sarah Flack and production designer Anne Ross. Stacey Battat (“Broken English”) is the costume designer, and Harris Savides (“Elephant”) is the director of photography, on “Somewhere.”

THE EAGLE (formerly titled THE EAGLE OF THE NINTH)
February 25, 2011
Director: Kevin Macdonald (“The Last King of Scotland,” “State of Play,” “One Day in September”)
Writers: Jeremy Brock (“The Last King of Scotland”); Based on the novel The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff
Cast: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong, Tahar Rahim
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Story: A Roman epic adventure, based on the classic novel of the same name, set in the dangerous world of second-century Britain. In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (played by Channing Tatum of “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” and “Dear John”) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Jamie Bell of “Defiance” and “Jumper”), Marcus sets out across Hadrian’s Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia – to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father’s memory, and retrieve the lost legion’s golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.

JANE EYRE March 11, 2011 (select cities)
Director: Cary Fukunaga (“Sin Nombre”)
Writers: Moira Buffini (“Tamara Drewe”); Based on the novel by Charlotte Brontë
Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Judi Dench, Holliday Grainger, Sally Hawkins, Tamzin Merchant, Imogen Poots

Story: Based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel, the romantic drama stars Mia Wasikowska (“Alice in Wonderland”) and Michael Fassbender (“Inglourious Basterds”) in the lead roles. In the story, Jane Eyre flees Thornfield House, where she works as a governess for wealthy Edward Rochester. The isolated and imposing residence – and Mr. Rochester’s coldness – have sorely tested the young woman’s resilience, forged years earlier when she was orphaned. As Jane reflects upon her past and recovers her natural curiosity, she will return to Mr. Rochester – and the terrible secret that he is hiding…

HANNA April 8, 2011
Director: Joe Wright (“Atonement,” “Pride & Prejudice,” “The Soloist”)
Writers: Seth Lochhead, David Farr, Joe Penhall, Joe Wright
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana, Jason Flemyng, Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams

Story: The title character of this adventure thriller, filmed in Europe, Hanna (played by Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan [“Atonement”]) is a teenage girl. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a soldier; these come from being raised by her father (Eric Bana of “Star Trek”), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity.

ONE DAY
3rd Quarter 2011
Director: Lone Scherfig (“An Education,” “Italian For Beginners”)
Writer: David Nicholls; Based on his novel
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess

Story: Adapted from the internationally praised bestselling novel, “One Day” charts an extraordinary relationship. Emma (Academy Award nominee Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) meet on the night of their college graduation – July 15th, 1988. She is a working-class girl of principle and ambition who dreams of making the world a better place. He is a wealthy charmer who dreams that the world will be his playground. For the next two decades, every July 15th reveals to us how “Em” and “Dex” are faring, as their friendship ebbs and flows with the passing of the years. Through love and loss, heartbreak and success, hopes fulfilled and dreams shattered, they experience the grandeur of life. Somewhere along their journey, these two people realize that what they are searching and hoping for has been there for them all along.

By Namreta Kumar

2010/07/01 at 12:00am

Reviews

The Last Airbender

07.1.2010 | By Namreta Kumar |

M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender does not live up to any hype. Not for fans of Shyamalan or for fans of the series. Unlike M. Night Shyamalan’s other films this is an adapted concept and thus not his usual cup of tea.

It shocked me to learn how short the film was but watching the film it is obvious how an approximate twenty-hour season fit into a less than two-hour film. For those of you that do not know the story it is about Aang, played by Noah Ringer, and his journey of becoming the Avatar. The first season or Book One is about Aang taking the first step of understanding his destiny and learning the second of four elements as the Avatar: Water. The film does not cover the intricacies of the characters involved in his journey or build narrative comparatively. It seems that as a writer Shyamalan failed to capture The Last Airbender.

Some of the blame of the writing process is shared with the editing process. Whether it be editing within the screenwriting process or in post too much of the crux of the film is cut or altered making it hard to follow or enjoy. The reprise here is in M. Night Shyamalan’s direction. As the screenwriter, Shyamalan was able to control much more of his characterization and his directorial touch shines through Dev Patel, as Prince Zuko. Zuko is Aang’s antithesis and without him Aang’s destiny is not complete. M. Night Shyamalan centers a great amount of this film on establishing the base for that relationship.

Dev Patel and Noah Ringer both play their parts very well. Ringer is M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender. As Aang he does not share the same carefree attitude characteristic of his television counterpart; but he excels as Shyamalan’s troubled Aang. Patel as Prince Zuko brings the spirit of the television series with him. He is the perfect balance of the powerful, troubled, confused, but fair Prince looking for his destiny. Patel outshines the others who seem to still be finding the right niche in comparison.

With the exception of the opening credits the role that 3D plays in the film is lost on me; it is not required for a film that never develops beyond its narration. The cinematography is best on location, from there it starts to become apparent that the remainder of the film is shot on sets and the production value starts to dwindle. To much of the film relies on the authenticity of production but the audience looses that to the concept of 3D and the editing too often.

Unfortunately expectations of M. Night Shyamalan films are always high and The Last Airbender just does not live of to his other body of work. Shyamalan has a great story here and his vision is clear within his direction, but the production does not make the same impact. He clearly needed to work on the editing process of the film and focus on his storytelling strength more than the high-end production value. This does not exemplify M. Night Shyamalan’s potential but more over seems to be crushing him.

Elvis Presley returns to the big screen!

By Mack Chico

2010/07/01 at 12:00am

Movies

Elvis Presley returns to the big screen!

07.1.2010 | By Mack Chico |

It is funny how Hollywood is always trying to revive Elvis Presley every other year. This time there is a remastered version of “Elvis on Tour: 75th Anniversary Celebration.”

The film will be shown July 29 at more than 460 movie theaters across the country. The movie will feature remastered footage of Elvis on tour and in concert as part of the 75th anniversary of his birth.

The film also will include performances and interviews from the 1972 documentary “Elvis on Tour” and a retrospective from his former wife, Priscilla Presley.

Some of the tour footage has not been released. The event also will include sequences produced by director Martin Scorsese showcasing Elvis’ early movies.

I am excited to see this one. Let’s hope the remasterization is really good.

Andrew Garfield is the new ‘Spider Man’!

By Jack Rico

2010/07/01 at 12:00am

Movies

Andrew Garfield is the new ‘Spider Man’!

07.1.2010 | By Jack Rico |

So the search is finally over. After auditioning various candidates for almost one year, Sony Pictures has its new star. His name is Andrew Garfield. Who? That’s what I said, but let’s hope he doesn’t end up like Brandon Routh (Superman Returns). It’d be a pity.

Deadline.com released a press release from Sony regarding the matter:

CULVER CITY, Calif., July 1, 2010 – After a comprehensive worldwide casting search, Andrew Garfield has been chosen to portray Peter Parker when Spider-Man swings back onto the screen in 3D on July 3, 2012. The new film will begin production in early December directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt. Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad will produce the film from Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios.

Today’s confirmation culminates what has been one of the most eagerly anticipated casting announcements in recent memory. Bloggers, pop culture speculators, and everyday fans have pored over and analyzed every conceivable online rumor in an attempt to discover the identity of the next actor to play Peter Parker. Garfield will immediately begin preparing for the coveted role.

The Spider-Man franchise is one of the most successful in film history and the three previous motion pictures have collectively grossed more than $2.5 billion in worldwide box office.

On selecting Garfield, director Marc Webb said, “Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor’s work understand his extraordinary talents. He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.”

Commenting on the announcement, Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Matt Tolmach, President of Columbia Pictures said, “Spider-Man is a classic superhero — a young man who balances his responsibility to serve humanity and crush evil with the shyness and normalcy of someone struggling to find himself. The role demands an extraordinary actor. You need someone who can magically transform himself from Peter Parker into Spider-Man. An actor who will depict the vulnerability of youth and the strength and confidence of a legendary figure at the same moment. We have found that actor in Andrew Garfield. From the first time we saw him in the upcoming film The Social Network, to his glorious screen test, which floored all of us, we knew that we had found our new Peter Parker.”

Producer Avi Arad added, “I’m incredibly excited about Andrew Garfield. In the Spider-Man tradition, we were looking for a smart, sensitive, and cool new Peter Parker who can inspire us and make us laugh, cry, and cheer. We believe we have found the perfect choice to take on this role and lead us into the future.”

Producer Laura Ziskin said, “We are thrilled to have Andrew Garfield for this new incarnation of Spider-Man under Marc Webb’s direction. We were fortunate enough to meet with a group of fantastically talented young men. In the end, we all agreed that in addition to being an extraordinary actor, Andrew had the right mix of humor, youth, and pathos, along with an underlying sense of strength and power necessary to bring Peter Parker and Spider-Man to life on screen.”

The selection of Garfield was revealed at a press event in Cancun, Mexico for international journalists attending a media tour promoting upcoming films from Sony Pictures Entertainment. B-roll footage of the announcement will be available via satellite later this evening — see uplink times coordinate information below.

Garfield is fast becoming one of the most respected and sought-after young actors working in the industry today. In a short career, spanning only five years, he has already been directed by, and starred alongside, some of the greatest names and received a BAFTA for a role that won him international praise.

Garfield most recently worked with director David Fincher on the upcoming film The Social Network. He previously starred for Spike Jonze on his robot love story I’m Here, which premiered at Sundance this year. He plays the lead male opposite Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan in Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go, due for release later this year.

Other notable screen credits include Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus playing opposite Christopher Plummer, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law and the late Heath Ledger, Robert Redford’s Lions For Lambs, where he starred alongside Redford, Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep; Revolution Films’ “Red Riding Trilogy – 1974” directed by Julian Jarrold, where he lead a stellar cast including Rebecca Hall and David Morrissey, and his unforgettable portrayal of a young ex-con in John Crowley’s “Boy A,” for which he earned the best actor BAFTA in 2008.

Garfield’s career began in theatre and in 2006 his performances in “Beautiful Thing” (Sound Space/Kit Productions), “The Overwhelming,” and “Burn / Chatroom / Citizenship” (Royal National Theatre) won him the Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard awards and the Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer at the Critics Circle Theatre Awards. Other notable theatre credits include “Romeo and Juliet” (Manchester Royal Exchange) and “Kes” (Manchester Royal Exchange), for which he received the Most Promising Newcomer Award at the Manchester Evening News Awards 2004.

By Jack Rico

2010/06/30 at 12:00am

Reviews

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

06.30.2010 | By Jack Rico |

â€˜The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,â€™ directed by David Slade (30 Days of Nights), is the best film of the series and it is indisputably the most entertaining of the three movies. It has depth, a gripping and sexual tension to it, a surfeit of action, visually appealing special effects and entertaining drama. â€˜Twilightersâ€™ are going to love this second sequel and newcomers will be hooked on the tension filled decision Bellaâ€™s love life has to make.

The first sequel left us on a cliffhanger with Jacob telling Edward to watch out, heâ€™s coming after Bella. Eclipse continues the churning novela with Bella (Kristin Stewart) once again finding herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard), a malicious vampire who is out for revenge. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward (Robert Pattinson) and her friendship with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the struggle between vampires and werewolves. Whatâ€™s it going to be Bella – Edward or Jacob? Thatâ€™s been the question pop culture media has been toying with for a year now.

The filmâ€™s predecessor, New Moon, was a test of endurance in tediousness. My criticism of the aforementioned was that it lacked entertainment value. If it only had an ounce of divertissement. Subsequently, Eclipse repaired the damage done and threw me a biscuit in the process. The improvements are rooted in the insertion of several battle sequences, which provided a much-needed injection of energy to the saga, accompanied by quality-eye-candy computer generated effects. Add to that a much more interesting plot and of course, the main event, the confrontation between the films two male leads. The acting is modest, and letâ€™s be honest, it is not exemplary. It does though behoove the genre and the style of the film.

Amazingly enough, Eclipse possesses two Oscar nominated actresses in its cast: Anna Kendrick (Jessica Stanley) and Catalina Sandino Moreno. Kendrick, coming off her â€˜Up in the Airâ€™ nomination, seemed to be fulfilling contractual obligations or spoofing herself in the pic. Moreno on her part, the Colombian Oscar nominated actress for Maria Full of Grace, made a pleasant and surprising cameo. Her appearance, along with Christian Serratos (who plays Angela Weber), represented Hispanics in the film. Some of Catalinaâ€™s dialogue was in Spanish, which I must confess was a bit off brand, but welcome nevertheless. She whispered the word â€œchuparâ€ in a Colombian accent and I automatically thought it was strange, yet cool to listen to within one of the most successful franchises in modern cinema. Regrettably, she went uncredited as Summit Entertainment decided not to include her in their 113 page long production notes, a document usually reserved for press to ascertain microscopic details on cast members, set designs, etc. The reasons for her exclusion in the notes is baffling since she could have served as a great Latino marketing angle for their promotional strategies. Iâ€™m glad a site like ShowBizCafe.com exists to give Ms. Moreno and Latino actors their props.

â€˜The Twilight Saga: Eclipseâ€™ is a step in the right direction and it exemplifies what the film adaptations should have been like from the beginning. The intense, heavy teen romance is still there but layered with a much more entertaining ambiance of thrills and chills to it. I saw the film in standard 2D and was pleased with it. The IMAX version must be even better. Iâ€™m just glad it is not in 3D because with all sincerity, it does not need it. The fans of the books will be fanatical with it, newcomers will be entertained and drag-ons will at least be gratified with the notion that they saw the best of the series.Â I hope the fourth chapter Breaking Dawn, which will be split into two parts next year, is just as good as this one.

By Ted Faraone

2010/06/29 at 12:00am

DVD Reviews Reviews

The Crazies

06.29.2010 | By Ted Faraone |

Rating: 1.5

Rated: R for bloody violence and language.
Release Date: 2010-02-26
Starring: Scott Kosar, Ray Wright
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.thecrazies-movie.com/

Go to our film page

In the 37 years since helmer George A. Romero foisted on us the $275,000 sci-fi/horror flick, “Crazies,” not much has changed except the value of the Dollar. The remake, billed as “The Crazies,” by helmer Breck Eisner, cost an estimated $12 million to make. It’s still pretty cheesy. And Romero gets executive producer credit.

Pic climaxes with an atomic bomb blast leveling an Iowa town. Too bad that its negative was not at ground zero. “The Crazies” is that awful. It gets half a star for some unintentionally funny scenes. It loses stars for telegraphing plot moves in advance, failing to build compelling characterizations, totally expected “Deus Ex Machina” resolutions when writers Scott Kosar and Ray Wright painted themselves into corners, crummy continuity, stilted dialogue, and blurry lensing. “The Crazies” uses every cheap trick to create suspense… and fails miserably.

Plot adheres fairly closely to the Romero original. Folks in a small town start going crazy, becoming homicidal maniacs. Source of the problem is quickly traced by Sherriff David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant, whom we last saw in the atrocious “Perfect Getaway”) to a downed jet in the town’s watershed. How a jet goes down in a small town without apparent damage and without an immediate response is beyond even the suspension of disbelief. This jet went down a week before pic’s action takes place. And no one save the town blowhard noticed.

We must mention pic’s funniest scene: The local undertaker has been infected. He goes after Sherriff Dutton with a high speed bone saw. Dutton subdues the mad mortuarian but the saw is still running. Propelled across the mortuary floor by its own motor, It heads straight for Dutton’s crotch until his deputy (Joe Anderson VI) steps on the power cord in one of those Deus Ex Machina moments. One wonders why the Army didn’t also cut off the electricity.

The purpose of a pic such as “The Crazies” is to create suspense, instill fear in audiences, and have them hanging on the edge of their seats for the ending. Fernando Meirelles did a far better job with similar subject matter in the 2008 “Blindness.”

Pic’s ending has sequel written all over it. Ultimately it will depend on the box office that this piece of trash does. “The Crazies,” which feels a good deal longer than its 101 minute run time, is rated “R” thanks to violence and repeated use of a four letter word for intercourse.

By Alex Florez

2010/06/27 at 3:24pm

Movies

Russian to italian

06.27.2010 | By Alex Florez |

translation service

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English russian translation

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Translating could be a daunting prospect, especially when you will find the level of studying involved to consider. This service narrows the gap among languages making communication accessible to everyone who can use the Internet. These services are fast, accurate, user-friendly and convenient. Once language was a barrier to be demolished, these days it is just a stepping-stone to some larger platform for businesses, students and people. The need for interpretation is among the most norm.

By Jack Rico

2010/06/25 at 12:00am

Reviews

Knight and Day

06.25.2010 | By Jack Rico |

Tom Cruise is back and I’m loving it. I’ve been a supporter of the actor ever since I can remember, mainly because, I strongly believe he is a very good actor who knows how to pick stories that entertain a mass audience. Many still don’t regard in the same light (he’s never won an Academy Award). His latest effort is the action comedy ‘Knight and Day,’ one I believe to be the second most entertaining film of 2010 after ‘Kick-Ass.’

The plot is centered on a spy (Cruise) who bumps into a normal woman (Diaz) at an airport and involves her into his dangerous mission around the world.

So you have an idea of what you are up against, ‘Knight and Day’ is the comedy version of the Mission Impossible series. I found those films enthralling and to see Cruise in this loosely based adaptation, mixed with appealing jokes in between, gave this critic mad moments of hilarity. The pacing was intense and exciting, the jokes and gags were amusing and enjoyable and the acting was chemically divine! The film isn’t perfect, but the flaws are invisible, masked by pure summer fun action.

Both Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz seem re-vivified here. Evident and nostalgically so are Cruise’s magical nuances that made him into the biggest box office star of the late ’80s and early ’90s. Both stars seemed to really have fun making this movie and it looks genuine on screen.

‘Knight and Day’ is what summer Hollywood movies are all about – pure high wattage entertainment with likable superstars. This one qualifies as a must see in my book.

By Jack Rico

2010/06/25 at 12:00am

Movies Reviews

Grown Ups Movie Review

06.25.2010 | By Jack Rico |

In the 1980â€™s, successful comedies seemed like a dime a dozen. Now a days, we have to settle for â€˜Grown Ups,â€™ where the laughs are few, but the apathy is plentiful.

After their high school basketball coach (Blake Clark) passes away, five good friends (Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider) and former teammates reunite with their families for a Fourth of July holiday weekend.

There are a couple of problems that set â€˜Grown Upsâ€™ up as a disappointment for me. One of the issues I had with it was the marketing. The reputation some of the actors have are that of R rated comedians. The mere sight of Chris Rock is worth a hard R from a mile away (â€œtired of this sh*t, tired, tired, tired of this shâ€¢t,â€ as his foul mouthed stand up routine goes). Itâ€™s easy to be misled as to why this movie looks like â€˜Old Schoolâ€™ with Will Ferrell. Just look at the trailers, TV spots, and posters. Whenever the public is misguided to thinking theyâ€™re going to see one thing and it doesnâ€™t deliver, there is an automatic sense of rejection. That happened to me here. I got duped.

Secondly, I had issues with the tame dialogue of the script. The stars, mostly known for their profanities and uncouth behavior in films, seemed out of their element. They show a benign side to them that is unfamiliar to me. Aside from Sandlerâ€™s â€˜Bedtime Stories,â€™ amongst other family movies heâ€™s starred in, the film is really a let down. I was expecting so much more from it. Such a talented cast, but no creativity in the script.

The female cast composed of Salma Hayek, Maria Bello and Maya Rudolph complemented the male leads very well. Salma didn’t necessarily showcase her Oscar nominee skills, but her ‘accented’ charm is more than ‘voluptiously’ appealing.

Overall, I thought â€˜Grown Upsâ€™ would possess grown up R humor, but instead it delivers a family movie for adults with infantile jocularity. Not what I was expecting.

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By Karen Posada

2010/06/22 at 12:00am

DVD Reviews Reviews

Remember Me

06.22.2010 | By Karen Posada |

Rating: 3.5

Rated: PG-13 for violence, sexual content, language and smoking.
Release Date: 2010-03-12
Starring: Will Fetters & Jenny Lumet
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.rememberme-movie.com/

Â Go to our film page

â€˜Remember Meâ€™ does a fine job at making you part of it without you realizing it. If you are into romantic dramas you are going to love it, it is more than just romance though, the importance of family is felt strongly as well. The plot is made up of love and loss and the sense that we have to ‘live in the moments’ because we don’t know when our last day on Earth will be. It is your typical boy-meets-girl story but with a sense of reality in it and a twist of faith.

Our main character Tyler Hawkins (Robert Pattinson) is a troubled soul, who feels completely helpless, he wants to be a hero or a voice to those that need it, like his younger sister Caroline (Ruby Jerins). He had a privileged life growing up, but now wants to make it on his own, away from his workaholic father (Pierce Brosnan); who doesn’t expect anything good out of him. With his poetic boy looks and the sadness he has about him, he has a way with the ladies. His roommate Aidan (Tate Ellington) convinces Tyler to date the daughter of a police officer (Chris Cooper), to spite him for arresting them one night. Tyler has no problem sweeping Ally Craig (Emilie de Ravin) off her feet. Tyler gets lost in his own game and ends up falling for Ally’s quirky personality. She has the ability to show him through their connection by their troubled pasts, that he can live again despite of all the pain he’s felt. She brings out the best in him.

The love connection here is strong; Pattinson and de Ravin make the romance as well as their life stories very real to the audience. It’s hard not to fall in love with Pattinson in this film; he is the typical artsy passionate guy every girl would want. The quarrels among characters, especially “the big fight” between the couple is a bit ridiculous. The script tries to create drama where there really isn’t.Â Admittedly the ending is the strongest part of the movie, the filmmakers took a cheap shot at the audience, but it is the reason for the Â½ star. It is a cheap shot that works, without it the movie wouldn’t have an impact and it would be easy to forget. We are given subtle hints about the ending throughout the whole movie but we only connect the dots when we arrive to it, it is what will make the audience feel a stronger connection to the story.

I definitely recommend it to the hopeless romantics; it will touch your hearts and leave you a little depressed. You are left with the sense that we do need to cherish every moment and live as if today was our last day.