Moneyball

What an interesting movie Moneyball is. My friend and I went to see it Saturday night. Brad Pitt, how could we not. Not that I'm a baseball fan, soccer is my game, but I found myself fascinated with how this movie revolved. By the end of the movie I personally was excited, and will tell you why at the end. This movie is Brad Pitt all the way with a well done assist by Jonah Hill (before he lost his weight). Although Philip Hoffman played the manager of the team, his role is small and although he does it in his usual wonderful way this is a Brad Pitt movie, who as usual, takes on the role and becomes the role and you totally identify with the character he is playing. In this movie he is Billy Bean, general manager of the Oakland A's. He begins to work with Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) utilizing a whole new method to create a team.
I found it interesting, as an avid British soccer fan, watching how the trading, buying, working with the team members went on. I thought the lesson of how we get stuck in the 'old way of thinking' can restrict us from seeing the 'new'. Also, the director had many long pauses in this movie, and I remember thinking how 'slow' it appeared. I immediately understood how we are so programmed for movement and quickness that we lose the subtleties of life. This movie brings this together. The silences, with the people's faces reflecting the emotion going through them, was sublime. Also some of the long shots of the long walks down underneath the stadium had an effect. Bennett Miller, the director took this 'sport' movie and made an 'art' movie. A story of people, working to create a new theory, believing in it. Against all odds making it work. Also it is a story of a man who went after the dollar, and not have it work out, and who in the end stays within his integrity and refuses to go after the dollar. Unusual in this day and age. 
Now, the exciting part for me was the ending. The Red Sox team was bought by John Henry who goes on to use this new recruiting idea and ends up winning the World Series. John Henry has bought the British Soccer team Liverpool - which I follow and I'm excited because I'm sure he will use the same procedure to ensure Liverpool will be at the top of the game in a few years. Yeah!!!  For this reason I loved this movie, as it gave me hope.
All in all, this movie is thought provoking on different levels. Being open to new ideas, being willing to believe when everyone is saying no it won't work. Doing what is necessary to get the idea in production and not selling out on your own integrity.  Worth seeing
4 out of 5.

Killer Elite

If you read my movie reviews, you will know I do like the 'man' movies and this one was no exception. I had to go by myself, as my often movie goer did not want to see it, plus we had been see Moneyball the night before. But, I wanted to see this. Three main actors, Jason Statham, Robert DeNiro and Clive Owen. Three actors I like. In fact, surprisingly I have become a Jason Statham fan (probably from Transporters). Anyway, I took myself off to see this movie without any expectations. When I saw in the early credits it was based on a true story I really got excited. I like nothing better than 'based on a true story'. At the end it explains the movie is based on a book that was written.  The movie moves fast, first explaining why Jason Statham - Danny - character was wanting out of the assassination game, and then the story unfolds as to why he gets back in, to save his mentor - Robert DeNiro. It is quite a plot, he has to kill this three soldiers, so his friend is released and earn six million. Then the Clive Owen - Striker - is there trying to stop him. What I liked was at the end all three survive and although it leaves you wondering what will happen next to them, you are pulling for Danny to get what he wants, the girl and a quiet life.  Oh yes, lots of shooting, death and fighting with the usual car chases etc. I thought it was good for its type. I enjoyed it and did not mind going and missing some TV shows (mind you I had PVR'd them).  Even though it was Sunday night, I was surprised there were not more people in the theatre, although most were men and probably were surprised to see a white haired older women come in and sit down by herself. But heh, I'm a fan!!  Great going guys!
3 1/2 stars out of five.

Contagion

I went to see this movie with a friend who is a Lab Technician. Talking about the movie after she said she was impressed with how well they had stayed to the protocols and the knowledge of how virus are spread. Other than that we had a lot of not so supporting things to say. First of all we both agreed this would have been better as a mini series as it needed more time. So many of the side bars were not completed, we were left in the dark, but you were wanting to know what happened to these people. Also there were times, ie, when Matt Damon's character hears gun fire from his neighbors house and we never do know what happened to them. Then they are going to the food trucks, but they never do say how they survive those months without food. Lots of holes. Did they end up on the editing floor. Who knows? Perhaps the DVD will have those holes filled in. The acting from all the well known actors was great. It was the editing. I felt I was watching a documentary without the over talking, a documentary has. It may have been better if they had a person telling the story, perhaps some of the 'holes' would have been filled.
In the meantime, if you want to see Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law plus Lawrence Fishburn and others do a great job, then you will enjoy this movie. For people like me who wonder about this or that, then it was lacking.
2 1/2 stars out of 5.

Apollo 18

As I like to know about space, and the premise of this movie I did not really understand until I saw the movie. Filmed like a documentary, it tells a story (supposed to be true) that footage from this secret voyage to the moon took place and what happened. That there is some kind of life on the moon. I must admit some of the scenes at the end I did not see. My eyes were covered. If you like sci-fi with high intensivity then you probably will enjoy this. It was interesting to note that we are used to color, rather than black and white - although shooting in black and white makes the dimensions of non color interesting. I must say the movie gives food for thought. It is well acted and the story is well told.
3 out of 5.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

I simply had to go see the end of the Harry Potter series. It was with moist eyes I watched the ending. This was an end of an era. Harry Potter books followed by the movies. Each one anticipated, even though we learned very quickly that the movies closely resembled the books. So we get to say goodbye to the three main characters in particular. We watched them grow up and become adults, and its sad to say goodbye to their lives. I was always thankful J.K. Rowlins gave a postscript of what occurs and that was the highlight for me to see them as older saying goodbye to their children as they are off to Hogwarts.
Now the question is, is the final movie worth seeing. I think so. It seems to tie up a lot of ends and it is done well. Lots of action, movement and even the 'kissing' scene between Ron and Hermione to remind us that this push/pull relationship between the two of them continues. Also the demise of 'he who shall not be named' - Voldemort finally gone - as is his snake.
Sadness though when I read the book that George was gone plus the others in the big fight, and they did not make too much of that in the movie, and one scene I thought if I had been young and watching it I wouldn't have slept for a week. I guess children are used to the horrific or something, as not one child yelled out (and we had a lot of young children in the theatre). I just thought it was a bit much for younger ones. Otherwise a good Harry Potter movie - even though I saw it in 2D - did not make the drive for 3D.  Oh well. If you haven't seen my Harry Potter in his swan song, then go do it.
Enjoy it all.  I would say 4 out of 5 stars.

The Green Lantern

Last night a friend and I drove the 1/2 hour north to see The Green Lantern in 3D.  We both came away totally enjoying it. What an evening of entertainment. This movie suited 3D for sure. What with space shots, other planets and the other worldly sets. What I liked most of all was the premise about will vs fear. The story line of how one has to acknowledge your fear and rise above it (or through it) and allow your courage to take you 'there'. Plus the fact that with imagination fueled by will you can create anything. This is metaphysics 101.....could not have said or shown it better.  Now of course Ryan Reynolds as the Green Lantern made the watching easy. Not only is he easy on the eyes, his sense of timing makes his humor lines great and plus he can act. I found myself jumping in my seat, knocking my 3D glasses off a few times with the 'sound' bites coming out loud and unexpectedly, at least to me, but soon adjusted myself to that. People clapped (including me) at the end. This was worth the drive, the extra dollars for 3D and I was saying to my friend, I feel happy when I was driving back home. Want good entertainment then go see The Green Lantern. The whole cast was well casted, the stunts great and I did not care if it was computer generated, I thought it all came together wonderfully well. I did not grow up knowing the Green Lantern, but my friend did and she loved it too.
4 out of 5 for entertainment, emotion building and just plain fun.

Movie review - The Way Out!

During the last week I did not get to go see any movies at the local movie house, but instead have been watching some DVDs again and one movie I got through the movie on demand through my Shaw provider. As I was going through the different movies, some I had seen and some did not appeal until I looked at this movie I had not heard or read about The Way Out.
I saw at Ed Harris and Colin Farrell, both good actors were in it, so decided to watch it. Was I ever glad I did. Now this is how movies are supposed to be. The story line was during World War II, seven men escaped from a prison camp in Siberia - three of them finally walked into India - 4000 miles (or k's can't remember) later. The movie was the story of what happened.
Well directed, well acted, a great story, based on a book I believe was called "The Long Walk", but I only saw it for a split second buts that's how I remember it. In fact, after seeing the movie I would like to read the book.
These men walked through forests, around lakes, evading villages, across guarded railway lines, past the border from Russia into Mongolia, only to find that also was communist, desert, where they nearly died of thirst, and then finally the Himalaya's going into Tibet and then finally into India. I thought the screenplay was well written, the acting superb, except for the two names mentioned above I did not recognize any one, but great story. There was a girl who joins them and I believe it is the same girl who acted in Lovely Bones (not sure, but it looked like her and I can't remember her name) but she is also a great actress. This was a film about leadership, determination and loyalties (one of them played by Colin Farrell could not leave the USSR, so stayed even though knowing he would go back to a prison camp. People died where buried, but it could have been much higher. The American in the group (oh yes there was an American there - explained how come - and he did not go all the way into India, but separated from them in Tibet. I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through the two plus hours.
I was so intrigued about the movie I wanted to know where it had been filmed due to the differences of landscape. I plowed through the credits and found, UK, Bulgaria and Australia mentioned. This is a film well worth watching, another great movie that has not got the publicity I believe it deserved. I give this 4 out 5 easily. Hope you get to see it at some time.