Movie 43

Movie 43

Rated R and Released 1/25/13

Reviewed 1/28/13 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Cindy

0 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

This will be short. Real short. Stars like Hugh Jackman, Dennis Quaid, Kate Winslet, Halle Berry, Terrence Howard, and Emma Stone star in this film. Cindy and I pondered what blackmail plot transpired to make these talented actors decide to be part of a film like this.

It's a collection of short comedies strung together in one of the most pointless movies ever. I would refer to a few scenes but they were so gross. I can't even bring myself to think about it, let done write about it. If you have the slightest inkling to see this, I will pay you not to. Please!!

QUIET Rating system: 0

Quality: 0

Understood story:  0

Interest: 0

Entertainment:  0

Time:  0

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

Rated R and Released 1/25/13

Reviewed 1/25/13 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

By GUEST REVIEWER GARY

with Jen and Denny

2 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Like I always say, "there's nothing like a good witch hunting movie," and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is certainly one of them!

Starring Jeremy Renner as Hansel and super cutie Gemma Arterton as Gretel, this is the story of the siblings all grown up. We find them traveling around, hunting and slaying witches for profit. And of course seeking revenge for their mistreatment during their childhood at the hands of the cruel and evil witch from the cake and confectionary house in the forest. This story is basically the continuation of the fairy tale 15 years later, and brother and sister are out for some big time payback - not only for their ordeal, but more importantly the death of their parents.

If you are looking for a "good" movie with good acting and a stirring believable plot, this is not the one for you! If you like to watch movies similar to how you eat food - where junk food is totally acceptable - then this might be fun for you. Hansel and Gretel is junk but a fun and wild ride with lots of really bad dialogue with guts and gore to rival any horror flick. It seems I was in the minority having a great time being entertained by the fights with the super-powered witches where Gretel especially proves to be able to take it as well as she gives it out. Jen and Denny on the other hand were far less amused and thought what I saw as "fun" could be better described as absurdity.

Lots of the scenes involve Hansel and Gretel whipping out some pretty amazing crossbows and even shotguns and other armament I never knew existed in the middle ages. Even though this movie falls flat all over the place, I suppose I'm just being tolerant because of the non-stop excitement. Another surprise was their use of 21st century phrases like, "are you f-ing kidding me!?" I guess I just never knew they spoke like that back then. There are lots of chuckles between the various ways they find to decapitate witch heads and incinerate them. At one point Hansel explains to one of the towns girls, who's developing a thing for him, that he needs to take a shot every four hours to counteract the effects of a condition he's developed from being forced to eat all that candy when he and Gretel were held captive. While historically accurate to the fairy tale, I was quite amazed to see that someone had all ready diagnosed and come up with the a treatment for diabetes. The syringe was huge and really dirty and seemed to deliver a half cup of insulin at a time.  But hey, if it works, and it sure seemed to, why not! All this just added to the fun if you're a junk movie junkie. If all you've seen in the last year is Les Mis and Lincoln then you're going to find Hansel and Gretel an abomination. I've seen much worse and this one was a lot of fun. There is no shortage of some really great action/fight scenes. If you go to this one, maybe we can meet at Burger King afterwards for a couple of Whoppers!

QUIET Rating system:  JJj

Quality: J

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJ

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJJ

The Last Stand

The Last Stand

Rated R and Released 1/8/13

Reviewed 1/22/13 at Celebration Cinema North 

with Gary

2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Thank goodness this was better than Arnold Schwarzenegger's last movie The Expendables, since out of his governorship. I was a big fan of The Terminator movies but it wasn't necessarily due to his acting. Those were just pretty good flicks. Relieve yourself of any notion of quality dialogue and this movie is a typical shoot 'em up good guys/bad guys flick. It's charming enough. There are some pretty clever moments, some not all meant to be so funny moments and some just ridiculous ones that made us laugh. Gary and I looked around the theater and there were only 15 other moviegoers - all guys.

Arnold plays Sheriff Ray Owen in charge of a small sleepy Southwest town bordering Mexico. He has three blundering deputies (Luis Guzman, Jamie Alexander, Zach Gilford) and he's the brains behind the operation. A drug lord (Eduardo Noriega) breaks the clutches of the FBI, led by Forrest Whitaker, and he is now racing down to Mexico in the new Corvette ZRI. Faster than a helicopter, Noriega is planning to rendezvous with his endless, and I mean endless, army of mercenaries that are blending into the landscape in the quiet border community. The Sheriff and his team encounter this army and they need to hatch a plan to stop them from passing through Mexico. It seems the FBI can't handle the job even though they confidently tell the Sheriff to step aside which, of course, falls on deaf ears. The Sherif's group now includes a few extras including the pretty funny Johnny Knoxville as a kind of nutty local arms dealer Randy Quaid-type (Independence Day). He supplies the arsenal to fortify the inevitable showdown. To give it credit The Last Stand is a lot of fun for what it's worth. Arnold is not going to give up the action flicks and maybe it's time. But take time to see this and you can plan on a race to the end...or the door.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: Jj

Understood story:  JJ

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJ

Broken City

Broken City

Rated R and Released 1/18/13

Reviewed 1/18/13 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary and Denny

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Mark Wahlberg is always a favorite of mine, no matter what he is in. Broken City doesn't leave time for any dull moments. With the wild pace it is reason to pay attention to the names and characters otherwise it might take you awhile to catch up. Russell Crowe, who plays Mayor Hostetler of NYC, is really a spectacular actor but this might not be my favorite role because of his New York accent. Gary, dad, and I all thought it was worthwhile to see with a 3 or 3 1/2 rating.

The mayor is planning to steal the impending election that is too close to risk, with just a few days away. The challenger's campaign manager (Kyle Chandler) seems to be intertwined with the mayor's own wife played by Catherine Zeta Jones. Enter Billy Taggart (Wahlberg), who is recruited by the mayor to tail the mayor's own wife and secure evidence of her lover. Taggart is currently a private eye who is an ex-cop and also has a past with the city, the mayor, and the chief of police. The cash strapped Taggart eagerly accepts the job, coincidence or not. You guessed it, there is more to the convoluted story than just that. The innocent, but also the not-so-innocent, lives are all part of the game of chess that are being played out in NYC politics. Being double crossed doesn't deter a character like Taggart who has been around the block. Car chases, incriminating evidence floating about, crooked police and politics, all the usual that complicate a storyline like this. Still, it's gratifying down to the twists that erupt in the end. Follow along, ride along and be entertained!

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJJj

Gangster Squad

Gangster Squad

Rated R and Released 1/11/13

Reviewed 1/14/13 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary and friend Mark

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Gangster Squad has the look and feel of a wannabe oldish gangster film. It's Dick Tracy meets LA Confidential. Gary gave it 4 Js and Mark gave it 3 1/2.

My expectation was not that high, but I still gave it a 3. It was adequately exciting while the quality cast lends their presence to the film, but the story could have used some help as it felt pretty choppy.

It's 1949 Los Angeles and John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) is fixated on the demise of Mickey Cohen played by the superb Sean Penn. Nick Nolte plays the scruffy, raspy police chief who enlists O'Mara's help in cleaning up the city. It's a secretive operation and O'Mara has carte blanche rights to bring in his own team and the rules are - there are no rules. Sgt. Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling) is on team "good guys" and he is messing with Cohen's gal Grace, the svelte Emma Stone. It seems that little tidbit would have a bigger play in the movie but it seems to just get overlooked. When the guns start blazing, then the scenes vacillate back and forth between Cohen's rants at his gang for failing and the good guy/bad guy cops who are trying to take down the whole operation and not just Cohen himself. There are gifted actors in this but they don't get much room to expand in this squatty gangster film. Heavy on violence and not so heavy on creativity, Gangster is worth viewing if you don't expect The Untouchables or Scarface. You won't leave disappointed and might even be mildly entertained.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJJ

Zero Dark Thirty

Zero Dark Thirty

Rated R and Released 1/11/13

Reviewed 1/12/13 at Celebration Cinema Carousel in Muskegon, MI

with Gary and Denny

4 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Based on the actual events leading to the killing of Osama bin Laden (OBL),

this movie is long at 157 minutes but very worth it to the end. This is up for numerous Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actress. Jessica Chastain was amazing and I am rooting for her. The other actors were overshadowed by her strong performance, but most notable are Kyle Chandler and James Gandolfini. My dad thought it seemed to portray the story accurately and gave it 4 Js while Gary thought it was a 4 1/2, as he doesn't see long movies as a negative like I do.

It will be a relief to many that this movie does not dwell on the political statements that are easy targets for Hollywood. Starting out slightly slow while building momentum, stick with the movie to the end and you will leave in awe. Don't dwell on the names and places that are riddled off, as it is cloudy on whether it is a person or a location they are referring to. That coupled with the few confusing scenes early on is why it scored lower in the "understood story" category. Chastain plays Maya, a CIA operative on her nine year quest to bring those behind 9/11 to justice which ultimately includes OBL. Maya is brought to the Middle East as a recruit and is acclimated with the hunt for terrorists across Afghanistan and Pakistan. There is no one else better for the job. When she began with the CIA, water boarding and other controversial methods were at the forefront. Towards the end of the story, and a different administration, changes in interrogation tied the hands of the CIA and they had little to use to obtain information. Whether you agree with this or not, there is much to ponder about the tactics and limitations of those closest to the war on terror. Maya is not deterred after faced with one setback after another. The last 1/3 of the movie really kicks in and this is not the time for a bathroom break. Even though we all know the ending, it is thrilling to the end. You should leave feeling indebted to those who serve and protect us, the seen and unseen. We should all be thankful for May 2, 2011, and to the bravery of Navy SEAL Team Six!

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJJJj

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJJJj

Entertainment:  JJJJ

Time:  JJJJ 

Promised Land

Promised Land

Rated R and Released 1/4/13

Reviewed 1/10/13 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary and Denny

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

The strong cast of Promised Land does show promise. Matt Damon and John Krazinski co-wrote the screenplay and also star in the film. They are both very talented and make the viewing of the film worthwhile.

Matt Damon plays Steve Butler who with his partner Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand), head to a small midwest farming community to a seemingly slam dunk job. They work for Global Crosspower Solutions, who is competing across the country to convince folks to sell their rights to their land to drill for natural gas with a process called fracking. This is just another job to them and they feel confident. The usual stereotypical small townness is a but much as Steve and Sue encounter the good ole boys who aren't selling over their dead bodies and then those who are impressed by cash flashing before their eyes. Global needs Steve and Sue to win the majority of the locals' vote to proceed with drilling. There is opposition by Hal Holbrook, sweet local school teacher, who speaks up at the public forum and obviously has done his homework on fracking. And even more opposition with environmentalist  Dustin (John Krazinski) who appears suddenly in the town and single handedly takes on the $9 billion company. The dilemma ensues for the town's people because they live in a community with no other industry than the dying farms and a little cash would go a long way. Both sides compete to win the town over. I found it difficult, which is probably by design, in viewing Steve as a total villain. Maybe Global, but not him. The movie does slow into a dull drum, but what saves it is the twist at the end. In the end, Promised Land is a story divided against itself. A statement that is not overly aggressive either way will satisfy those who don't want to be reconciled on the subject or don't care.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJ

Life of Pi

Life of Pi

Rated PG and Released 11/21/12

Reviewed 11/23/12 at Celebration Cinema in Muskegon, MI

with Gary, Leigh, and Denny

2 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

I saw this movie before I started the blog, but with Oscar nominations out I thought it pertinent to post.

The epic of an Indian boy named Pi, who survives a sinking ship disaster, is dramatic and at times a visual splendor. The movie's director, Ang Lee, poetically touches on the human emotions creating some spiritual undertones that are always refreshing. It is a very sweet movie and Gary gave it more credit than I, and my dad's two trips to the popcorn counter spoke for itself.

The movie begins with Pi as an adult retelling his youthful tale to an author seeking a real adventure story. It toggles back and forth between the young Pi and the older Pi with the writer. The young Pi grows up at his family-owned zoo in Pondicherry, India, which looks more like paradise (both the city and the zoo). Living at the zoo, a curious Pi escapes a close encounter with a Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker, and his father uses this as a teachable moment for him to keep forever. A turn of events leads the family to move, board a ship, and as a result Pi ends up on a lifeboat with the fierce Richard Parker. Pi takes to heart his father's earlier lesson of how tigers and and others cannot naturally co-exist and this reveals itself. Pi does make it 227 days on the lifeboat. He wouldn't be retelling the story if this wasn't the case. The backstory took too long to end and to get to the sea adventure of the movie, but the exploits these two survivors experience are enough to keep your interest adequately. There is a twist at the conclusion of the story where the listening author has to decide which one was the reality. This is the highlight of the movie where Lee has an imaginative way of ending what is really a goofy story that could have just stayed in book form.

QUIET Rating system:  JJj

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  J

Lincoln

Lincoln

Rated PG-13 and Released 11/16/12

Reviewed 11/19/12 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary, Leigh, Denny, and Aaron

4 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

I saw this movie before I started the blog, but with Oscar nominations out I thought it pertinent to post.

This is not the usual Abraham Lincoln story that focuses on him getting assassinated. This fascinating movie is about one thing - the President emancipating slavery and getting the 13th Amendment passed. The portrayal by Daniel Day Lewis was amazing and he is a shoe in for the Oscar nomination, if not an easy win. Sally Field who played Mary Lincoln was vital to the story and she did a fine job. You would think for 2 1/2 hours with lots of dialogue you could easily lose interest. Not so. The events are crafted so that this timeline through history is like a journey you are rooting for.

It begins shortly after Lincoln was elected to his second term. To say that the President's priority was to add the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to abolish slavery might be understating it. The portrayal of him in this movie showed a man that was consumed and thank goodness for that. He battled his own Cabinet and had to really fight for every single vote of passage. I couldn't help but think that all the politicking that occurs in this story mirrors what happens today. The Republicans holding fast on one side; Democrats on the other side of the spectrum not giving in, at least initially, or they wouldn't have accomplished what they did. The Republicans were on the right side of the tracks in this and working tirelessly for the cause. Congressman Thaddeus Stevens (Tommy Lee Jones) was a scene stealer. There was some humor etched throughout. For example, the scene with James Spader who "worked" for the cause in securing votes brought some laughs of him jogging about. Lincoln is a spectacular period setting and for Abraham Lincoln stories, this is in a class by itself. This is one of the best movie of the year and could be considered one of Director Steven Spielberg's high points in his career. And we all know what that means! Can anyone say "Oscar?"

QUIET Rating system:  JJJJ

Quality: JJJJJ

Understood story:  JJJJ

Interest: JJJJ

Entertainment:  JJJJ

Time:  JJJ

Argo

Argo

Rated R and Released 10/12/12

Reviewed 10/19/12 at Celebration Cinema North

with Gary

4 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

I saw this movie before I started the blog, but with Oscar nominations out I thought it pertinent to post.

Gary and I went to this movie one week after the release. Even with a week going by, I didn't know much about this story until seeing the movie. Ben Affleck should definitely be in contention for Best Director. The movie really didn't pump out much action, but didn't come across slow at all. On the contrary, it was riveting.

The movie begins in 1979 when the American Embassy in Iran is subject to crowds stirring around the Embassy. The rioting Iranians eventually storm the American Embassy and take the well-known hostages, but this is not about them. The subject is really six Americans narrowly escaping just before the mob busts in, being played out simultaneously to the infamous hostage crisis. This has basically been an unknown and unverified account of these six that find their way and take refuge in the home of the Canadian Ambassador. The CIA is trying to come up with a feasible plan to rescue these six Americans. Ben Affleck, a CIA operative, creates a plan that is so far fetched it's hard to believe it really occurred. Their plan is to enter Iran under the guise of making a movie and return with the Americans as part of the crew. John Goodman and Alan Arkin, the scene stealers, are working back in the States coordinating the rescue with Affleck. Even if you went into it knowing the outcome, it was crafted so cleverly that you are glued to the screen until the end.

QUIET Rating system: JJJJj

Quality acting only: JJJJJ

Understood story:  JJJJ

Interest: JJJJJ

Entertainment:  JJJJ

Time:  JJJJ

The Impossible

The Impossible

Rated PG-13 and Released 1/4/13

Reviewed 1/6/13 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Denny, Danelle, and Aaron

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Naomi Watts portrays Maria who is vacationing with her family in Thailand when the deadly tsunami hits in 2004. In this movie, the intensity captures successfully the suffering this family endures after the catastrophe. While I thought this fact-based story was riveting, Danelle and Aaron persuaded me to knock it down in the ratings, as it does wind up and conclude a little too tidy. My dad said this was a one timer and we all agreed. The great Hollywood special effects weren't present, but this story was about people and not the disaster itself.

Maria and husband Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three boys are at the pool when the giant surge of water comes rumbling over the trees. You could almost feel the fear as the wall of water comes barreling in on the paralyzed resorters. Maria and her oldest son Lucas (Tom Holland) surface from rapids and they find each other being swept away. Maria is severely injured and they need to make their way inland to get out of harm's way. The special effects of those injured in the movie were so realistic that it is not hard to turn away. Unaware of what happened to Henry and the two brothers Thomas and Simon, the struggling mother and son assume the worst as there is sorrow and carnage everywhere. They eventually make their way to the hospital thanks to Lucas taking the lead over his dying mother. The film really focuses on these two, but we are in the dark on what has become of the other three. While trying to aid his mother at the overwhelmed hospital, he ventures out and stumbles across family members (don't worry, I'm not spoiling too much). Tom Holland is really special in his role as Lucas and I think Ewan McGregor was just mediocre playing Henry. Danelle and I went through a few Kleenexes to get through this, but thankfully it does wind up quickly or we would have had to resort to the theater napkins. The Impossible is far from perfect, but if it doesn't touch you...you better get a softer heart. I can see why Naomi Watts is up for the Golden Globe. Let's see if she gets the Oscar nod.

Somehow we lost my dad after the movie. No photo op for him!

QUIET Rating system:  JJJ

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJ

Hyde Park on Hudson

Hyde Park on Hudson

Rated R and Released 1/4/12

Reviewed 1/4/12 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary, Lynne and Scott (Lynne's husband)

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

It was hard to get used to Bill Murray portraying Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Not that he does a bad job (he actually grows on you), but it takes time and at 94 minutes maybe it just wasn't enough time this time. We all felt the same way and we don't get Scott to that many movies. We'll give it another try soon, Scott.

The movie is told from the point of view of FDR's distant cousin Daisy (Laura Linney). She enters his life as strangely as she stays in it. It takes place in 1939, the cusp of World War II, and the Roosevelt family is at FDR's mother's country home preparing for the visit of the stuttering King of England, Edward VI and wife Elizabeth (remember The King's Speech?). FDR is not really portrayed very presidential, but to the movie's credit he was in a relaxed atmosphere. You begin to feel sorry for Eleanor (FDR's wife played by Olivia Williams) as FDR is very open having his mistresses around in this atmosphere. Although she seems to be accepting and almost prideful about it. The Royals arrive and there are many humorous scenes that involve the snooty British couple. The King ultimately wants to get on FDR's good side with a few favors to ask, like lending a hand to defeating the rest of the world. The story is heading in one direction...the war. No...to the good old country barbecue with hot dogs as the main fare. Of course the Royals were repulsed, but they needed to play along. Heartbreak and drama involving the women in Roosevelt's life is not a surprise with everyone in close quarters. It was an enjoyable enough story, but very slow. The movie made you almost forget the good things we are supposed to remember about our former President. A famous saying sums it up, "what made FDR great was not how he was the same, but how he was different." And different he was.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJj

Parental Guidance

Parental Guidance

Rated PG and Released 12/25/12

Reviewed 1/3/13 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary, Denny and Leigh

3 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

I love sports movies and while this is not really a sports movie per se there are some hints of it throughout that I really appreciated. This type of movie is made for Billy Crystal playing a "past his prime" sportscaster and that is how he is dubbed by the club that is firing him. We all thought it was really cute, enjoyable, and good for the whole family.

Crystal plays Artie, an old school grandfather, and Bette Midler is his contrary wife Diane. They are grandparents to three kids of their daughter Alice (Marisa Tomei) and son-in-law Phil (Tom Everett Scott). They are reluctantly invited to babysit while the parents are on a business trip. Alice and Paul are the typical helicopter parents doing all the "in" things. So let the parent/grandparent clash begin. There are very humorous exchanges with the grandkids after they finally get the little kidings to themselves. This leads up to disastrous efforts after Artie and Diane try and reinforce the delicate style of 21st century parenting, but they quickly resort to their old school ways. Midler was also well cast, although I could have done without the few songs she sang in the movie. Gary found these moments endearing and I found them irritating, but in the end it didn't really ruin anything. Needless to say, the parents come home to a near catastrophe and it is questionable if Artie and Diane will ever be the same, let alone the three kids. Even though a different time, I can't help but be reminded of when my parents were babysitting my young kids and the litany of well thought out instructions were clearly ignored. I guess everyone made it through just fine.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJJJ

Interest: JJJJ

Entertainment:  JJJJ

Time:  JJJ

This is 40

This is 40

Rated R and Released 12/21/12

Reviewed 1/5/13 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Cindy

2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Christmas and New Year's put me a bit behind in seeing this one. If you haven't made it to this, maybe just rent Knocked Up in which this is the loosely based sequel. Judd Apatow's movies, which frequently star his wife Leslie Mann, can be funny but also very crude. If it is too forced, then it gets lost in the scenes and can spiral. This has the feel of a dramedy, a drama with some comedy. Cindy and I both thought at 134 minutes, cutting 30 plus minutes off could have helped. Maybe.

For Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Mann) it is birthday week. The big "4-0" to be exact and the celebration is around the corner. Debbie is not handling it well at all and just wants the party to be for Pete. Pete is just schlepping along with life and is a goof most of the time. While both of their businesses are having financial difficulties, the couple constantly bicker and their two girls (played by real-life daughters of Mann and Apatow, Maude and Iris) wreck constant havoc. This finally leads them to a weekend getaway which was probably the funniest scene. Don't use this moment as a bathroom break! Melissa McCarthy had a small part and was a scene stealer. They should have used her more. The same goes for Albert Brooks who plays Pete's dad. However his presence wore thin with the same old, same old. Forcing scenes with the terrible acting by Megan Fox was painful. I know she is not painful to look at. I get it. Good try by casting her to get guys to take notice and buy tickets to see the movie, though. The climax of the story is the big birthday which was the never ending birthday. Judd Apatow is masterful when it comes to comedy about real life situations. He has a knack for it, but in This is 40 the knack vanished. Cindy, we will get a home run one of these times just by default.

QUIET Rating system:  JJ

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJ

Entertainment:  JJ

Time:  J

Guilt Trip

Guilt Trip

Rated PG-13 and Released 12/21/12

Reviewed 12/31/12 at AMC Metreon in San Fransisco, CA

with Gary

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Gary and I again found ourselves at the Metreon.

It's one of the nicest theaters we've been to out of town. Since we are such foodies we considered eating lunch at one of the four cool cafes by the ticket counter.

But alas we opted to instead maintain our roots and go with our second, but almost as good choice, the POPCORN and CANDY counter.

Phew! We made the right call and didn't rock the boat. We could enjoy our movie in the usual fashion.

A combination that is not expected, Barbara Streisand and Seth Rogen play mother (Joyce) and son (Andrew) in Guilt Trip. But what is expected is the very relatable banter between the two. The first half of the movie is pretty funny with the subtle Jewish mother humor and some snappier lines. Then it slows down concluding with a mildly sentimental ending.

Andy is an inventor struggling to get a break with his all-natural safe cleaning solution, who is smothered by his widowed mother. He is planning the business trip from his mother's New Jersey home to Las Vegas to pitch the product to the Home Shopping Network. One evening Joyce shares a story with Andy about her life pre-marriage and her soulmate that slipped away many years ago. The wheels are turning and he invites his mother to tag along, but Andy does not reveal his secret motive. Joyce is in, without hesitation. Stops along the way are supposed to provide some funny diversions but these scenes are just good bathroom breaks. The storyline is predictable as Andy pitches his product in Vegas and the pumped up duo head to San Fransisco, after Andy discloses the real purpose of that stop to seek out the love of her life. Joyce again is easy to convince. This movie was lighthearted and an easy one to see after the heavy Les Mis and Django. There is a tender moment ending that had a slight twist creating me to tear up for a second. But it abruptly ended as the movie did.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJJJ

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJj

Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook

Rated R and Released 12/25/12

Reviewed 12/27/12 at Celebration North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Brandon

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

A rarity that I got Brandon to go with me to a movie, even one that he hadn't heard of, but it is Christmas break after all. He wanted to see Django, but he was a day late on that. Silver Linings Playbook is billed as a romantic comedy, but it's more like a drama with some comedy. Bradley Cooper is really good at portraying Pat Solatano, a recently released patient from a mental hospital. Although the film is a little depressing as Pat struggles with life after his departure, the small funny scenes with fellow patient Chris Rock get you through the slow-paced plot. Brandon gave the movie a 2 or 2/1/2, which I was relieved he even gave it that.

Pat is forced to return to the home of his parents - Robert DeNiro and Jacki Weaver. He doesn't really have much going for him, living with his parents, jobless and obsessed with his ex-wife Debra. The incident that involved her is what caused him to snap, be arrested and then forced by the courts to plea and get committed. He mistakenly thinks that now that he's free he can reenter Debra's life. He believes she will forgive him and everything will be back status quo, in spite of her restraining order against him. He agrees to a dinner at a friend's house because he thinks it will be the bridge to Debra. He meets another "nut job" named Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) at the dinner. She is a vampy spitfire that is his equal and not at all positive. Sparks fly, but not in the traditional sense. It's more like an inferno exploding when the door opens of a burning building. Chris Rock comes in and out of a few scenes, but honestly they should have used him a lot more. He was a scene stealer and added much needed humor. DeNiro was pretty comical as an obsessive compulsive guy and you realize that Pat's issues could be in the family genes. This could be depressing if we start to think of everything we could inherit. There is light at the end of the tunnel as there is a redeeming ending and the last third of the movie helps get the slowish mundane movie plugging along to some feel goodness at the conclusion.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJ

Django Unchained

Django Unchained

Rated R and Released 12/25/12

Reviewed 12/26/12 at Celebration Cinema North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary, Denny and Aaron

3 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Django is for sure a guy's movie. It is about American slavery and if you know anything about director Quentin Tarantino, violence and more violence holds true. Tarantino always weaves humorous scenes throughout. He is a mastermind of the plot, like Inglourious Basterds, and fans won't be disappointed. At 2 hours and 46 minutes, I would say any movie is pushing it too far at this time, so that is a deduction for me. Aaron and Gary gave it a big thumbs up and my dad felt it was too violent for a full endorsement.

Christoph Waltz and Jamie Foxx are respectively, Dr. King Schultz and Django who is a freed slave. Django hooks up with the former dentist Dr. Schultz after the doctor acquires him from a chain gang trekking across the country. Both characters blow it out of the water with their performances, especially Waltz. He was amazing. The movie is set in 1858, two years before the Civil War began with the quest  to end slavery. Dr. Schultz has a new lucrative profession of bounty hunting and he trains Django to be an expert gunslinger and convinces him to join him. It's one adventure after another with this dynamic duo. They eventually seek out a low-life rich plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) in search of Django's wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), who is valuable as a german-speaking slave. DiCaprio is also spectacular in this role but his character is vile. Samuel L. Jackson plays head butler to Candie and the two of them are so despicable together in their exploits. The violence in this movie is very typical of Tarantino and excessive to the limit. There wasn't much I could really watch with both eyes open. I couldn't help but say to myself "thank goodness for President Lincoln" because the graphic display of abuse of human beings is hard to get past. Even with stating that, this movie has all the qualities of spectacular filmmaking. The humor, the story line, and the acting performances will make this another Tarantino hit.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJJJ

Understood story:  JJJJ

Interest: JJJJ

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJ

Les Miserables

Les Miserables

Rated PG-13 and Released 12/25/12

Reviewed 12/30/12 AMC Metreon in San Fransisco, CA

with Gary

4 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Much anticipated Les Miserables is all of the wonderful music you hear in the broadway musical. Hugh Jackman sings his way through the part of Jean Valjean better than anyone I imagine playing the role. It would be a shock if the deserving Jackman doesn't win an Oscar for Best Actor. Although I always say anything over two hours is too long for me (it rang in at 158 minutes), Gary said he wasn't sure what they could have cut out of it without losing some of the story and I agree.

It's nineteenth century France, 25 some years past the beginning of the French Revolution. Jean Valjean is thrown into prison for 18 years (five for stealing bread for his sister's starving family, plus added time for trying to escape). That sure isn't the France of today - ha ha! The jailer and prison guard Javert is well cast with Russell Crowe, although his singing was probably the least impressive but still good. Jean is finally released as a parolee after time served, but not checking in for his probation is the cause for Javert (now promoted to inspector) to tirelessly pursue him over the years to come. Jean becomes a successful businessman in spite of the harsh prison life that has made him into a compassionate soul to those he encounters. He crosses paths with Anne Hathaway's character Fantine, and through circumstances he needs to take on her child Cosette (Amanda Seyfried). Jean steals her away from two very seedy characters played by Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter. These two added some appreciated humor and excitement to the scenes.

Needing to constantly look over his shoulder, Jean leads to a life on the run with Cosette in tow. He seemingly does a good job raising her in spite of this. A now much older Cosette has a brief meeting with a frenchman and it's love at first sight and they have designs on being together. Jean has some near misses facing Javert, but it all comes full circle when Jean has an opportunity for revenge to the wrongdoer or allow the opportunity to escape him. Either way it could be costly. This is a story of redemption and forgiveness and sometimes knowing you may not be rewarded for doing the right thing. I have seen this on stage and enjoyed it, but I can't help but feel I am seeing a new vivid dimension to this story for the first time. Even though Les Mis was exceedingly long, this was the best musical that was put on screen by far.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJJJJ

Understood story:  JJJJ

Interest: JJJJ

Entertainment:  JJJJ

Time:  JJj