Theater Review: Now You See Me

I put up a small poll on my Facebook page to see what film I was seeing when I was able to get out of work early one night. The choices were Now You See Me and This is the End.

With an overwhelming, and somewhat surprising, difference in the outcome - Now You See Me won pretty easily.

So, off I went. And by the time I was seeing it, I was one of the few people in the theater - which I love.

Now You See Me is pretty much right up my alley, so I was happy to see it. I am a huge fan of films like Ocean's Eleven that have heists committed, and then give you how its done and the reason behind the heist itself. In this film, though, instead of costumes and disguises - magic is used and everyone know who is committing the crimes, but just can't seem to prove that they are.

The film stars an unlikely quartet as the Four Horsemen. Jesse Eisenberg plays J. Daniel Atlas, and is probably the most talented magician of the bunch - and he plays a little different than his usual quirky roles he has played in the past in say Social Network. He is actually sort of playing a stud - which was nice to see him play something different, and I came away liking him a little bit more.

Isla Fisher plays Henley Reeves, Atlas' former assistant who has now branched out on her own and is now more of an escape artist, ala Harry Houdini. She is also very talented, and I think we need more of her in films. Woody Harrelson plays Merritt McKinney, who is more of a mentalist than a magician. Harrelson has become one of my favorite actors over the years, he always seems to do an amazing job.

The surprise of the movie - Dave Franco. Franco plays Jack Wilder, a street magician who uses slight of hand to pretty much rob those around him. Franco sort of sticks out as not really belonging in this group of actors - sure maybe his brother James would fit in, but Dave? But, honestly, he was a standout to me. He was probably my favorite person in the movie.

So, the Four Horsemae are brought together by a bunch of Tarot cards and an unknown benefactor. They join forces to put on a handful of shows, which are sponsored by an insurance tycoon Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine).

Their show, though, doesn't just entertain the audience - it makes them wealthy. By robbing from a bank and showering the money out into the audience. But, how did they do it?

With more shows in the future, the authorities believe this will continue and FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol agent Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent) are put on the case to figure out how it was done so they can pin it on the Four Horsemen.

They also bring in Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), a former magician who now makes money revealing the secrets of other magicians' tricks. It's Bradley that Rhodes and Dray are hoping can figure out how the robberies are taking place.

I cam away really loving this movie. It had a lot of what I love, a great heist, great execution, action and a lot of comedy. Though, some forced love occurred as well - something that always seems to happen in these films. There was no real reason for it, but it didn't take away from anything.

The acting was top-notch, Caine, Freeman and Ruffalo are all outstanding actors. The lowest tiered actor was Franco, and as I said before, he stoodout to me in this film.

There are some twists and turns as well, some of which I figured out during, but it didn't take away from the overall movie. Looking forward to seeing it again.

Grade: 

18/50x2: Zombieland

This was one of the few films on my list I was apprehensive about watching. I have stated many times my lack of joy for gore-type horror films, but I had heard so many great things about this, including how hilarious it was, and that the gore was somewhat tame. So, I gave it a shot.

And, I am glad I did.

"Columbus" (Jesse Eisenberg) is a college student and one of the few unaffected humans still living in Zombieland, which is what Columbus has affectionately called the planet now. Apparently, a bad strain of mad cow disease has changed most humans into cannibalistic zombies, and Columbus is one of the few fighting to stay human.

He lives his life by a series of rules, like always checking in the back seat, to ensure his survival. He is currently trying to make it back to Columbus, Ohio to see if his parents are still alive or if they have been affected by this as well.

Along the way he runs into "Tallahassee" (Woody Harrelson), who actually seems to enjoy living in this new world. His goal throughout the entire film is to find a Twinkie - and loves killing zombies.

While searching a grocery store for Twinkies, the two stumble across "Wichita" (Emma Stone) and her sister "Little Rock" (Abigail Breslin). The sisters appear to be harmless, but it turns out they are con artists and manage to steal the guys' weapons and their car.

Now with no car, the guys manage to find an abandoned Hummer loaded with weapons. Instead of pressing on, Tallahassee sets his mind toward revenge and looks to ambush the two ladies. Yet again the girls outsmart them and take their new car - but Tallahassee is able to wrestle the gun away from Little Rock and a truce is negotiated as the quartet decides to move forward.

Wichita and Little Rock plan to head to 'Pacific Playland' an amusement park that they state is free of zombies. The four arrive and this is where the films climax takes part, and it was glorious.

As I said, these are not usually my cup of tea. But, it actually was. I really enjoyed it and the zombie/gore factor wasn't that bad either.

Harrelson really continues to impress me as an actor. I am glad he is finally back and making solid movies. Eisenberg also impresses here, and I feel the Michael Cera comparisons should probably stop as he has clearly past Cera. Let's be honest, all four of these actors are amazing - really liked Breslin and Stone as well.

This has also opened my eyes a bit and will allow me to watch some films a little out of my comfort zone that may be just a bit gorrier than I expect.

Grade:

Theater Review: The Hunger Games

"Next time on Survivor..."

Those words kept ringing through my ears as I sat and watched this film. As a society, I hate to admit it, but we may be closer to this actually happening then we may think. Which is sort of scary.

Let me preface this review by stating the obvious: I did not read the book. If you are a frequent reader of my posts you should realize that by now. I know, it's odd. A writer that hates reading? Yes, it's true. That is me, I am an enigma. I live under the mantra if it is good enough they will turn it into a movie. And, that always seems to be true.

Thankfully, Mrs. Kano is an avid reader and is usually well versed in all of these books once the movie actually hits. And, if there is something that I did not grasp - or she feels I need to know something that was missing from the film - she will tell me. But, there wasn't much missing or that many questions at the end of this film. Which leads me to believe the filmmaker adapted it quite well.

The one aspect of the film that I did need to ask about, but really had no great answer was The Hunger Games itself.

In the future, there appears to be two societies: the filthy rich and the stinking poor. The rich live in the Capitol while the poor are put into 12 different districts. War is apparently something of the past - this is where I get a bit confused - so now the people must offer up children as some sort of sacrifice.

Each child from the ages of 12-18 are put into a raffle. Every district then selects a boy and a girl that will be considered tributes and will fight to the death at The Hunger Games. Last one standing will be allowed to live, and apparently gets a lot of added perks as well.

But, your name doesn't go in the raffle once. If you, say, need more food at some point during the year, you can get some but your name will be added to the raffle a few more times. So, your chances of being selected become greater. And, this happens every year from the time you turn 12 until you turn 19.

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is now the provider of her family. Her father was killed in a mining accident and it made her mother (Paula Malcomson) go a bit crazy - and at one point catatonic. So, using the skills her father taught her, Katniss hunts with a bow and arrow to provide for her mother and sister, Primrose (Willow Shields).

The Hunger Games selections has come and both Katniss, who is 16 and Primrose are up for selection this year. Primrose has just turned 12 and is being offered up as a tribute for the first time. Her name is in but a single time.

Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) comes from the Captiol to put on some sort of selection show for the people of District 12, where Katniss and Primrose are from. The first selection as tribute is Primrose. But, sparing her sister's life, Katniss volunteers herself. Something that has never been done in that District before.

Joining Katniss from District 12 is Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). They are whisked away after just a few minutes to say goodbye to their loved ones - despite the odds being very high that neither will ever return home.

As a district they get a 'coach' and theirs is a former winner of The Hunger Games, Haymitch (Woody Harrelson). They are also given a makeover artist, Cinna (Lenny Kravitz).

As if the premise of the film isn't dark enough, The Hunger Games are actually like watching a reality show mixed with a boxing match. It lasts a handful of days, but people are actually placing bets for the winner, and each of the tributes - there are 24 in all - is given an odds in winning number.

Once in the Capitol, the tributes are marched in front of everyone and even interviewed by tv personality Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci). They then train and are ale to live comfortably with a nice place to stay and lots of food to eat. Finally, they showcase their talents to a select amount of people to gain their 'odds'.

Then, the Games are on.

I absolutely loved this film. I thought each cast member brought so much to the table and the story was remarkably interesting.

My lone complain was I felt it was a bit Truman Showesque in the fact that Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley), who is the head game maker, has the quality of Ed Harris' character in The Truman Show. He manipulates too much of the Games for my liking. If you are already putting people into this environment to, basically, kill everyone, then let it play out without putting your own touches on it. Sure, make rules and boundaries if you want, but once the Games begin just let it happen.

But, for that to be my only gripe in a movie that last 142 minutes I'd say it is pretty good. And, I am very excited for the next films to be released.

Grade:

2/50x2: 2012

I have to admit, I am a sucker for a good disaster film. And when I saw the trailer for this one I was pretty psyched to see it.

Of course, I never really got around to actually watching it - then it got torn apart all over the place. But, I figured I would give it a shot with my second 50 list.

Anyway, 2012 stars John Cusack as Jackson Curtis. Curtis is an author who wrote a science fiction book about living on a spaceship. I honestly have no idea why Curtis is the main character, unless of course he is someone we can identify with.

Because, honestly, the only thing Curtis did was write a book and happen along two major things on a camping trip to Yellowstone with his children. One being Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who has discovered that the Earth will soon be going through some serious issues due solar flares that will cause the Earth's core temperature to increase. The second being Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson), a conspiracy theorist who broadcasts on the radio. Frost tells Curtis about what is about to happen and that the government has created 'ships' to protect the smart, important and rich.

Curtis, of course, does not believe him until returning to Los Angeles to drive a Russian billionaire Yuri Karpov (Zlatko Buric) and his twin boys to the airport. The children let it slip that they have a spot on one of these ships because they are so rich.

The rest of the film involves Curtis getting his family that consists of his children, his ex-wife Kate (Amanda Peet) and her boyfriend, Gordon Silberman (Thomas McCarthy) from Los Angeles to China where the 'ships' are located. Oh, and figuring out how to get a spot on the ship that costs a ton of money.

This film also stars Thandie Newton as the presidents daughter, Laura Wilson; Danny Glover as President Wilson; and Oliver Platt as Carl Anheuser.

It was a decent disaster film, but nothing extraordinary here. I really enjoyed Harrelson's character, but he didn't have a lot of screen time.

The film borrows a lot from other disaster films, such as 'the arcs' from Deep Impact and the Earth killing itself (or healing itself) in The Day After Tomorrow.

I enjoyed the film, but I don't feel it is one that I will rush to see again - perhaps in the future, but, again, nothing too extraordinary here.

Grade: