Movie Review: Captain Phillips

Tom Hanks delivers another Oscar worthy performance.

Taunt and tense. Cat and mouse.  This describes the way the movie plays out. If this is the way it really happened: WOW.

The story of normal people put in a hopeless situation and  how keeping your cool against impossible odds will help you survive.

In the last 5 minutes Tom Hanks delivers an emotional roller coaster ride  that will leave you breathless.

3  3/4 stars out of 4

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Movie Review: In A World…

This is Lake Bells feature length directorial debut. She also wrote the movie. Not bad for a first time effort.

In the male dominated world of voice overs she is trying to make a name for herself.

Family, friend and work relationships complicate her life. Too much on the family stuff and not enough of the work stuff for me.

Interesting and enjoyable movie. She has a future as a director.

2 1/2 stars out of 4

Movie Review: Machete Kills

In a movie like Machete Kills you would expect blood, guts, lots of explosions and boobs. Sadly they forgot the boobs this time. Everything else is there.

But the movie had a fatal downfall: it was a virtual setup for the next movie. I found this very distracting.

Should have been non stop mayhem and to hell with story. Not up to par with the first movie. And I think a big disappointment with the fans. The movie is drying at the box office.

And did I say no boobs. What a waste.

1 1/2 stars out of 4

Movie Review: Gravity

After seeing over a thousand movies in the last 12  years this is going to be a first for me. A 4 star review.

I keep trying to think of things that didn’t work for me but I could not think of anything. At two points in the movie I harkened back to the time I saw 2001 A Space Odyssey. Breath taking and mesmerizing at the same time. Alfonso Cuaron has created a modern day masterpiece.

A very simple story about the human will to survive with special effects that have gravitas ( no pun intended). I have no idea how most of the effects were achieved. This movie sets a new standard for space movies.

Don’t delay. SEE THIS MOVIE!

4 star out of 4

Movie Review: Rush

Natural Born Rivals would have been a better title for this movie.

The Formula One story of natural rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauder.

The movie misses the point of their rivalry because it was made for an America audience.  Good guy vs bad guy was not how it played out in real life. They pushed each other to be the best they could be. Both could be intense assholes.

The last two minutes of the movie give you Niki Lauders point of view and this tells you what direction the movie should have taken. Could have been one of the best movies of the year but just misses the point.  Well made but…

2 3/4 stars out of 4

Movie Review: Don Jon

What a waste of time. Superficial people living sad superficial lives and going nowhere.

Movie had a chance of being a comment on how our society is so self centered today but missed the point by a mile. No redeeming qualities for most of the characters.

A glimmer of hope for Don by the end of the movie but the ride was not worth the time. Not a good directorial debut for Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Flat and very uninteresting.

1 star out of 4