Tuesday's With Movies: 5/10/11

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never: NO. I do not have the Bieber Fever. There is absolutely nothing on Earth that will make me watch this movie. In fact - it scares me.

No Strings Attached: This is the first of what looks to be two of the same-type of films wit

h Friends With Benefits being released sometime this year. I have heard some bad things about the film itself, and usually Ashton Kutcher is the kiss of death. But, Natalie Portman's presence and the fact that she will be scantily dressed a lot has me very interested.

Blue Valentine: I know absolutely nothing about this film except that for some reason it was originally given an NC-17 rating - apparently for a sexually explicit scene. It is in my queue, so when it gets here I will have to check it out.

The Illusionist: I have heard some really good things from both critics and fellow bloggers - but as of right now I really have no interest in seeing this film. That may change in the future, but for now I don't see myself watching it.

The Hit List: The only really reason I am putting this on this list is because it stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. and I have to ask - what the heck has happened to him? He won an Oscar for Jerry Maguire and has been in high profile films like Men of Honor and Pearl Harbor. But, he has truly fallen off the map. Can he get it back?

20/50: The Illusionist

I wanted to pair these two films together, because they both had the theme of illusion/magic in them. It is odd that in 2006 both of these films came out, and both featured, if not the same, but similar plot lines.

The Illusionist is much more of a - like I mentioned in my Pretty in Pink review - Romeo & Juliet-type story.

The film starts in the past and shows a young Eisenheim becoming friends, and soon falling in love, with a young girl named Sophie. Eisenheim is a peasant boy while Sophie is of rich and royal decent. So, this love affair is prohibited.

Fast forward many years and Eisenheim (Edward Norton) is becoming a very successful illusionist. In his former hometown, he becomes a bit of a hit, especially from local law-enforcer, Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti). As the word spreads, Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell) wants to see the show - including Duchess Sophie (Jessica Biel).

Eisenheim recognizes Sophie right away, but it takes her longer to realize that this is in fact the young boy she fell in love with years ago.

The rest of the film plays out like Ocean's Eleven, in my opinion. It's another film that you have to pay attention to as things unfold - and the payoff is pretty amazing.

Honestly, as close as the two films are, I think I enjoyed this one a tiny bit more - even though the grade won't show it.

More great actors in this film that had great performances - I don't think I have seen Sewell in anything else except A Knight's Tale, but he truly plays a great villain.

Grade: