Lumet shines at the age of 82

"Before the Devil Knows Your Dead"
3.5 stars out of 4
Starring:Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Albert Finney

The aging director Sidney Lumet has made one of his best and most accomplished works. Honored at the Oscars a few years back for the lifetime achievement award, Lumet proves that at the age of 82 he can still make effective films. He has always made socially charged crime dramas, and this time he has made a morality tale about two brothers.

The film revolves around a botched jewelery store heist that weights heavily upon everyone involved. Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke play two brothers that need a quick score to start there lives over, pressured by work or nagging ex-wives, each brother has his own issues. They plan a "mom and pop operation" to knock of there parents jewelery story, the score will get them around 60k each to get there lives in order. Both men, Andy (Hoffman) and Hank (Hawke) are sleeping with the same women, played by Marisa Tomei. Andy is married to her and doesnt know how to love her, Hank wants to run away with her. Tomei's character is only used for sexual purposes, and doesn't do much but show off some skin the entire movie.

Lumet's contributions come into play with how he shifts time and how we see the plot from different points of view. He goes back three days before the robbery, 10 days after the robbery, and so on, showing what each character has done/will do. The shifting time frame works more often that not, as we are always one step ahead of the characters, knowing more than them at all times.

The acting is really superb, PSH turns in an electric performance, he's a scheming and street smart guy who has been profiting from checks cashed for employees that don't exist in his business. It's a fiery and angry role for him, he sheds all in scene after scene, we really see his world crumble before his very eyes. Ethan Hawke is good enough to act alongside Hoffman, and Tomei is mostly there for eye candy. Albert Finney also stars as the father of the two men, in a role that reminds of his solid acting.

Overall, the film is dark in perspective, and bleak in actions and intentions. It plays as a family melodrama, and a crime-thriller all at the same time. I felt like I was a fly on the wall in these characters ruthless lives, each trying to get out of a very tough situation. The film is just shy of 2 hours, and I was into it the whole time except for the last 10 minutes where it really got ahead of itself. If the film had a better ending I would have given it 4 stars, but with solid acting, plot, and execution on Lumet's part, "Before the Devil Knows Your Dead" is one hell of a film

A coming of age story with witts and heart

"Juno"
Starring:Ellen Page,Michael Cera,Jennifer Garner,Jason Bateman,Allison Janney,J.K. Simmons
3.5 stars out of 4

"Juno" is the most heartwarming film of the year, small in scale and large on wits and charm. Director Jason Reitman, who also directed the comedic satire "Thank You for Smoking" brings even more knowledge behind the camera in his second film. This time around the star isnt Reitman, it's debut screenwriter Diablo Cody. Cody's female perspective brings honesty and truth to growing up and being a young teen in today's world. Cody's intelligent script may earn her a best origial screenplay award in February.

Ellen Page whose career will blossom after this film, is nothing short of a miracle in this film. Page who plays the 16 year old "Juno", is big on pop culture dialogue, and quietly prides herself on being witty. Juno MacGuff lives with her father played by the underrated J.K Simmons, her observing stepmom played by Allison Janney, and her younger sister. She recently became sexually active with boyfriend Paulie Bleaker, played by Michael Cera, recently seen in "Superbad." Juno decides a baby is too much for her and seeks a couple that really wants a child. She meets a posh couple played by the elegant Jennifer Garner and her husband played by Jason Bateman. Garner is fabulous in this film, she feels born to be a mother, and wants to know every detail about Juno's pregnancy, the more involved the better. Her husband Mark still watches old movies, and plays music, to her disliking.

All of the characters are relatable making this film honest and heartfelt, Ellen Page's performance is something to admire, she's a young actress who can display actions and emotions of an ageless actress, she's so good you just want to jump through the screen and hug her. The film prides itself on superb dialogue for its generation, screenwriter Cody has a keen ear for the language and slang for the myspace,and blogger generation.

"Juno" never misses a beat, it knows when to be smart,serious,dramatic,and comedic. The whole cast contributes to this coming of age story that cannot be missed. This film will be recognized come Oscar time, I loved this movie.

A blood soaked Christmas

"Sweeney Todd" : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman
3.5 stars out of 4

The holiday season takes a turn for the dark and dreaded, with this dreary and bleak musical based off a broadway play of the same name. "Sweeney Todd" is Tim Burton's picture, he uses his lifetime muse Johnny Depp, as the Demon Barber Sweeney Todd. The film takes place in a gothic and bleakly styilized London. Depp plays Benjamin Barker a barber, and family man who is falsely accused of a crime and is seperated from his wife and young daughter. Alan Rickman is the devious judge who sets him up and envy's his wife,Barker is soon imprisoned for over a decade.

Barker appears in London after his sentence as Sweeney Todd, with his slick big hair and revenge on his mind. Todd is seeking revenge for his past injustices, as he seeks to kill Judge Turpin and re-claim his family. Only his wife has poisioned herself and died and his daughter Joanna is living under the roof of Judge Turpin. Todd opens a barbershop in the upstairs of a meat-pie shop run by the lonely Mrs. Lovett played by the charming Helena Bonham Carter. Carter who is director Burton's wife, plays the role with ease was she brings her usual dark female undertone to the role as someone who wants to love Todd, but doesn't know how to express it. She invites him to setup shop in the upstaris of her establishment where Todd slits the throats of anyone he pleases, the bodies transcend to the basement, where Lovett burns the bodies and cooks them into her meat pies. Carter and Depp form an unusual chemistry and an understanding for there characters, more of a bond than a trust.

While the film doesn't have an extensive plot or outline, the set designs, costumes, music, and acting were enough to satisfy me to highly recommend this film, Todd's killings are whimsical yet sad as he mourns the loss of a lost life with his family. Todd spends the film singing of his vengaence and trying to imagine a life with his now older daughter, who knows not of Todd's tortured and lonely existence. Not only did I single out Depp's performance as great and fresh, but Helena Bonham Carter has gone unnoticed for years and Burton places her in the right film to be noticed, her voice and lyrics are humorous yet insightful, especially when she sings alongside Depp.

The film plays as many things, a musical first, a thriller and suspense blood bath, and a comedic stage play, as most of Todd's killings are laughworthy instead of shockworthy. Burton's gothic vision of old London is re-created through the characters who sing there songs in streets, alleys, and in shops. I admired the film to a special degree, the songs were simple and plot was basic, but I mostly enjoyed Burton vision and the performance of Depp and Bonham Carter. Sweeney Todd is a film to breathe in and and imagine, rather than think about. Also look for a small role from Sasha Baron Cohen, the star of "Borat", as a rival barber with a bleak future once he meets Todd.

"Sweeney Todd" is proof that Burton is getting mature in his works, his style remains the same but that isn't a fault against him. Depp continues to impress in broad and stylish roles. While Holiday season viewers may not be ready for all of the blood and gore of Todd, the film wears it's heart on it's sleeve in the personas of it's actors. A definite must see, look for Depp and possibly Bonham Carter to receieve Oscar recognition.

Comedy event of the Holiday

"Walk Hard": The Dewey Cox Story
Starring: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows
3.5 stars out of 4

"Walk Hard" is another hit from team Apatow, the writer and director of "Knocked Up", and "The 40 Year Old Virgin". Apatow who produced "Walk Hard", has made another hit and is clearly the leading comedy influence working in Hollywood.

John C. Reilly has always been the standard leading man that no one talks about, appearing in dozens of movies including the "The Aviator, "The Hours", "Magnolia", and "Gangs of New York", Reilly FINALLY gets his own leading role and movie, and he sure does shine. He plays Dewey Cox, the singer-songwriter who has been tormented by the death of his younger brother which he caused as they battled with a machete as kids, yes this is making of "Walk the Line" and all other hollywood music biopics.

The film gets most things right, as it gives a behind the scenes look at musicians. Cox struggles with booze, girls, drugs, and all of the burdens that weigh on famous rockstars, Reilly plays this character perfect, and the screenwriting is what prompts this comedic riot of a film. We follow Cox's journey from success to eventual downfall, hard drugs and infidelity are things Dewey can't live without, as he finds out in uproarous ways.

The film is mainly SNL actors including scene stealing Tim Meadows as the drummer with a vast addiction to any drug, and Chris Parnell. There are also many celebrity cameos. Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Jason Schwartzman, and Justing Long amazingly mimic The Beatles in there LSD phase. Cox also runs into the likes of Elvis, and parodies Bob Dylan in a hilarious scene. It's not hard to tell why John C. Reilly for a Golden Globe nomination for this, he's believelable as this musician without a clue, and a knack for success. The film is going to win any Oscars, but it's the best comedy maybe of the year.

Best of the Rest

Upcoming Films That I'm Dying To See!

"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"


"There Will be Blood"

"Juno"

"The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

"I'm Not There"

"Eastern Promises"

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

"Before the Devil Knows Your Dead"

"Atonement"