TRUE GRIT

Cole's Rating: B-
Thatcher's Rating: B
Jesse's Rating: C+

Year: 2010
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld
Genre: Adventure/Drama/Western
MPAA Rating: PG-13

      "They say you got true grit!” This famous line was the compelling premise for both original True Grit (1969) and the True Grit remake (2010). True Grit is based on 14-year old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) who desperately wants to pursue, and kill her father’s murderer. Since she is a 14-year old girl in 1880 Texas, she needs some help. So she seeks out the best U.S. Marshall (Jeff Bridges) in Arkansas to help her out. Along the way, they acquire a tag-along Texas Ranger (Matt Damon) that knows the murderer and feels he can help. 

As I was watching this movie, I was trying to decide what to classify it as. I mean it’s a western. But it had modern attributes, such as the casting for LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), which was to my distaste. In my opinion, he did a poor job playing a texas ranger. His inadequate performance in the scene where Mattie was spanked for disrespecting her elders was so bad, that it presented as provocative. This was because of how he did it, and because he shouldn’t have done it, because he shouldn’t have been in the movie in my opinion. Poor casting job! However, Jeff Bridges was casted nicely, but not entirely what I would consider a top of the line U.S. Marshall, for the physical condition he was in, which he even admitted in the movie. Nevertheless, I enjoyed his presence in the film.

One of the things I really liked about this movie was the closing action scene that was highly realistic, especially with the way the guns shot. Not every shot is always a hit, especially back then. It took a real good shot to hit a moving target with a revolver at some distance, which is what they had to do. The length was another plus. It wasn’t too long; it also wasn’t too short! With running time of 110 minutes, the movie excelled in that area. 

To sum it up in one sentence, True Grit is a well done, somewhat poorly casted, recently filmed, appropriately lengthened western that you have to watch with both pistols flaring!

Written by Cole Pollyea

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL

    Cole's Rating: B-

Year: 2012
Cast: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith
Genre: Drama/Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13



     Movies that are nominated for a Golden Globe are usually worthy of it. In my opinion, this movie was not. Now don’t get me wrong, it was a good movie. But nothing in my opinion that was good enough to be nominated.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was about several retirees who all travel to India to stay at what was advertised to them as an extravagant, high quality hotel, that turns out to be a dingy, soon-to-be sold hotel. Along the journey there, and their extensive stay, they form several relationships amongst each other. Some good, some bad. Several of the events that took place in India with these people were heart warming. The event that touched me the most was the man who tried to find somebody who meant very much to him sometime in his life before... I cannot say anymore because of the substance it will reveal. But it was very emotional, and to me, the highlight of the movie. 

The acting in this movie was excellent. The character development to me was astounding. I felt like I really knew the characters when the movie ended. Each was touched upon and the movie delved into their personal life, which I enjoyed. However, what this movie lacked, was the ability to keep me interested the whole way through. It had many good aspects about it, but it was a little dull. Not exactly what I think would qualify a Golden Globe Nomination.

Written by Cole Pollyea

THE GREY

   Cole's Rating: A
Thatcher's Rating: A
Uncle Jesse's Rating: A

Year: 2011
Cast: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney
Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama
MPAA Rating: R

     If you ever thought you were as cold as you could be, you’ve thought wrong. If you ever thought that you feared an animal as much as you could fear one, you’ve thought wrong. If you’ve ever thought that you gave all you got in attempt to survive, you’ve thought wrong. This compelling motion picture is about several oil riggers who endure a traumatic plane crash in the middle of the Alaskan Wilderness, and have to battle not only the brutal conditions, but wolves also. The Grey sets the standard for coldness, fear of animal, and the will to survive.

This movie had me sweating, fearing, laughing, praying, and saddened. This fact alone says that it was the perfect thriller. Liam Neeson is the pack leader, I mean what other role could he play? He is a take charge kind of guy, and he definitely takes charge in this movie. He maneuvers the group through and throughout several situations that I know I would never be able to do. For example, when they come to a cliff, they have to cross. They cannot go back and they can’t jump it. So he devises the plan of creating a big rope or zip line to climb across. He fits the role perfectly. 

The cinematography in my opinion was outstanding. The horrific frost bite on Neeson’s face caused by the bitter coldness was so detailed, that it was the only thing I could look at while studying his frosted physical state. It bothers many other critics that this movie was not filmed in Alaska, but Canada, even though it took place in Alaska. However, although I would have appreciated the real thing, I am left indifferent. 

One of the things I appreciated the most about this movie, is the emotional flashbacks to his wife. This to me, was a very important part of the movie, and a very informative part also. Another constant flashback that was necessary and touching, was with his father, who wrote a poem that drove the movie in many directions.

“Once more into the fray.

Into the last fight I’ll ever know.

Live and die on this day.

Live and die on this day.”

This movie is one that will remain with me forever, it truly teaches you to love and appreciate the ones you have. Love nearby on this day. Love nearby on this day.

Written by Cole Pollyea

50/50

Cole's Rating: ★★★ ½

Year: 2011
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick
Genre: Drama/Comedy
MPAA Rating: R

     Cancer is a horrendous, despicable thing. And when 27-year-old Adam Lerner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is diagnosed with spinal cancer, his whole world is turned upside down. From the beginning, his odds were 50/50.

This movie was absolutely incredible. It was highly emotional, with touches of great humor. Couldn’t have asked for a better cast. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was the perfect role for a young man, who feels that he is running out of time. Seth Rogen plays Adam’s best friend. He was a very important character in the film to me, and very devoted. Let’s just say he’ll be owing a fortune to the swear jar. Anna Kendrick does a wonderful job as Adam’s inexperienced counselor that tries to get him through what he’s going through. And Anjelica Huston does an astounding job of a highly attentive mother who only wants to care for her boy in the best way possible.  

50/50 has been a hard movie to review so far for me because I couldn’t summon the words to describe my passion about it; I only wish it was longer (it ran for 100 minutes). I recommend this movie to anyone who doesn’t mind profanity (Seth Rogen), and anybody looking for an emotional movie that you can laugh til’ you cry and cry some more. I guarantee the odds of you loving this movie will be 100/0, not 50/50.

Written by Cole Pollyea

LIFE OF PI

Cole's Rating: ★★★
Uncle Jesse's Rating: ★★★ 1/2

Year: 2012

Cast: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan
Genre: Adventure/Drama
MPAA Rating: PG

        A young man and a bengal tiger are the only survivors of a  shipwreck, and are stranded on a boat in the middle of the Pacific ocean. Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma) is forced to learn how to cope with the tiger, while at the same time, trying to survive himself. This is the intriguing plot line of Life Of Pi, originally written by Yann Martel, and directed by Ang Lee. 

  Now if this movie does not win a Visual Effects award, I will personally call the Oscar committee and complain. Let me tell you that I have never seen anything as spectacular as this in my entire life, and I can only hope that I ever will again; and in 3D, it was even better. I was so awed that I had leaned closer to the screen in hopes to plunge into the never ending, perfectly peaceful water that reflected the beautiful morning sun in a scene that forever raised the bar for the visual aspect of a film.

  The film began slow. It spent what in my opinion was too much time delving into his religious background and his childhood in India, and how his family desired to move to Canada to relocate their zoo. This was a substantial 30 minutes, which I thought was too much. Then, they found a freighter ship to take them up to Canada. This is when the first storm of the movie kicked in and took the huge freighter ship down, which leaves Pi, the tiger, and three other animals (zebra, orangutan, and hyena). The journey was spectacular, a story of survival beyond anybody’s wildest dreams. From carnivorous islands, to flying fish, this film offers a variety of wildly enjoyable and potent scenes that can be appreciated and adored by all viewers.

        Despite the excessive amount of enjoyment I had while watching the film, the ending, which required spiritual and faithful depiction played out to my distaste. No more will be said about it by this critic, so as to not spoil the movie; but it was the down point for me. Nonetheless, Life of Pi is a fantastic movie, adapted from a book that nobody believed could be brought to life; but it sure was.

Written by Cole Pollyea

TWILIGHT BREAKING DAWN PART 2

    Cole's Rating: ★ ½

Year: 2012
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Genre: Adventure/Drama/Fantasy
MPAA Rating: PG-13


    Best movie of the year for some, one of the worst for me. To sum up a movie in one sentence can be difficult for some movies, but not this one. Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2 was a sorry last installment of the series, a poorly acted, mistakenly popular movie with surprisingly good cinematography and one entertaining action scene, that turned out to solve the conflict in the movie. That’s all there is to it. Nothing more, nothing less.

The plot of the film was about Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) fighting with all they had to ensure that their daughter not be taken away by an evil, prestigious group of vampires who believe she is a threat to society because she was half mortal, half immortal, they believed she could not control her abilities. Let me just say that Stephenie Meyer did it right. Being a reader of the series, I can state with no doubt that the transition over to the big screen was a downgrade. The acting was so awful, at one point during the movie, I was seriously debating on the fact that this movie could indeed be a parody. At moments in the movie that were intended to be perceived as dramatic, tear-jerking moments, I was crying... Of laughter. Overall, the cinematography (makeup, visual effects) was the shining star in this film. 

Written by Cole Pollyea

MEET THE PARENTS

  Cole's Rating: A
Thatcher's Rating: A-
Uncle Jesse's Rating: C

Year: 2000
Cast: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo
Genre: Comedy/Romance
MPAA Rating: PG-13



   De Niro. The very sound of his name brings up recollections of shoot-em-up, mafia movies such as Casino and Heat. But, as he has proved over the course of his acting career, he can pull off multiple different roles, one being the intimidating, retired CIA agent future step father by name of Jack Byrnes in the wonderfully entertaining romantic comedy about male nurse Gaylord ‘Greg’ Focker, (Ben Stiller) who travels with his girlfriend Pam Byrnes, (Teri Polo) to meet her family in attempt to win her parents affection, and get permission to marry Pam. Jack Byrnes truly is as tough as he sounds. He gives Gaylord the hardest time about dating his daughter in several circumstances that cracked me up so much that my gut hurt after the movie ended; however, his soft spot is how passionate he is about his furball cat named ‘Jinxy’ that is his most beloved living thing, or so it seems to the viewers. Meet The Parents is a humorous, clever story of a hard-earned romance with several mistakes along the way, one being the poor acting of Teri Polo, what is so surprising all the time? “Oh honey, I must have forgot to tell you about my ex-fiance Kevin!” Despite that, Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro stole the show with the amusing relationship and interaction between the two. Directed by Jay Roach, Meet The Parents made it to my list of favorites, which is not easy for a film to achieve!

Written by Cole Pollyea

LES MISERABLES

 Cole's Rating: ★★★
Thatcher's Rating: ★★★ 1/2

Year: 2012
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfreid
Genre: Drama/Musical/Romance
MPAA Rating: PG-13

A great, entertaining storyline with beautiful, heartwarming music, all wrapped up in one movie? Well if you don’t think it’s possible and you’re interested, Les Miserables is the movie for you.

Les Miserables is a musical directed by Tom Hooper that heart-wrenchingly described and illustrated the poor living conditions of the less fortunate in France, and also reenacted The French Revolution with emotionally wrecking effects to which I was highly effected by.


As to the devoted, impressive cast. Hugh Jackman (X-Men), Anne Hathaway (Love And Other Drugs), Russell Crowe (Gladiator), and Amanda Seyfried (In Time) are just a few of the actors/actresses in the movie that made it what it is. Now, if you don’t typically enjoy musicals like myself, knowing that some of the actors from my favorite movies were in it made it feel more familiar while watching a movie that I normally wouldn’t. They’re performance was highly satisfying, but short lived for some, which I personally would’ve enjoyed to see more of. 

Now, before seeing this movie, if someone asked me, “Hey Cole, do you want to go see a three hour long musical based upon the French revolution?”, my answer would be a swift no. But this movie truly opened my eyes. Sure, it was 98% singing. Sure, it was three hours long. So if that is going to scare you off, it shouldn’t. Because if I was entirely informed on what I was going to see, I probably would have been scared off too. I’m here to tell you don’t let it scare you off, it’s definitely worth it.

Written by Cole Pollyea