Much Ado About Nothing

   Director Joss Whedon takes a break from superheroes to adapt a Shakespearean classic comedy. Using his own home for a set and employing many of his acting friends, Mr. Whedon sets the film in contemporary times but utilizes Shakespeare's original text.

     Filming in black and white is a bold move that pays off. The cinematography is crisp and clear and looks beautiful. The acting, while professional, is loose and light. Standouts in the film are Amy Acker as Beatrice, Alexis Denisof as Benedick and Reed Diamond as Don Pedro. The film also stars Clark Gregg as Leonato, Fran Kranz as Claudio and in a smaller but fun role, Nathan Fillion as Dogberry.

      It's a great introduction to Shakespeare as the story is not that difficult to follow if you are unfamiliar with the play. Everyone in the film seems to be having a good time. There is much drinking, dancing and carousing a midst the intrigue. Obviously Shakespeare never envisioned his play featuring ipods and iphones but everything works in this fun, modern version.

Now You See Me

   A movie about grand illusions that is really not very grand. It does however, give the illusion of entertainment. The tag line of "the closer you look, the less you see" could not be more apropos.

    Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher,Woody Harrelson, and Dave Franco star as magicians, a mentalist  and a street con artist brought together under mysterious circumstances to perform grand illusions that are not what the seem. The film also stars Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Melanie Laurent, Mark Ruffalo, and  Common. Its a strong cast having fun in a no brainer that will entertain and amuse you if you don't think too hard.

    If you're the type to analyze everything, you will be disappointed by the reveals and the "twist" ending you saw coming, if you followed the clues. One reveal, in particular, is so complex that it completely defies logic. The expense, timing and control of the environment is impossible. But you accept it if you are invested in the story.  Of course films like this always throw in "red herrings" to keep you guessing and they do help keep things interesting.

    After the final "twist", the ending really disappoints. It's like watching air escape from a balloon that just goes flat. I suppose they do leave an opening for a sequel if the film does well, but that would be the biggest trick of all.

Frances Ha

    Written by Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Greta Gerwig, this charming Indie could easily have been the love child of Woody Allen and Lena Dunham. 

     Beautifully shot in black & white, with a wonderful score and soundtrack, the film brings to mind the mid-career cerebral comedies of Mr. Allen. It's story of a mid-twenties single woman struggling to find her way in New York will also bring to mind Ms. Dunham's HBO darling, "Girls". Regardless of the two comparisons, Mr. Baumbach and Ms. Gerwig find their own rhythm and originality in their interpretation of young adult life in New York. 

     What also sets it apart is the appeal of Ms. Gerwig character, Frances, who remains ever the optimist, despite life's little setbacks. Co-starring as Frances's best friend Sophie is Mickey Sumner (daughter of musician, Sting). Their relationship is the backbone of the film and it supports the story with strength and honesty.  Also in supporting roles are Adam Driver and Grace Gummer, both enhancing their Indie credibility. 

     The film is funny and sweet and a refreshing change from the onslaught of summer blockbusters.

Fast & Furious 6

If you are an action junkie with a need for speed, this is the film for you. Returning once again to the original crew, the creative team behind this series has found a way to up the ante with spectacular stunt sequences and pretty much non-stop action.

 Vin Diesel returns as Dom, along with Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, "Ludicris", Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang and of course Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Joining them this time out is MMA star Gina Carano as a federal agent. Of course Michelle Rodriguez's character Letty is supposed to have died but the screenwriters find a convenient way to bring her back as they needed a motivating plot point.

The basic plot is nothing new but the stunts along the way are mind blowing. Whether or not they are real or CGI (or a combination of both) doesn't matter, everything blends seamlessly and looks incredibly real.

Even the fight sequences are bone crunching and there are plenty of those to go along with the explosions, car crashes and flying bullets. The much needed comedy relief is provided by the wise-cracking Ludicris and Tyrese.  There is an interesting clip from "Tokyo Drift" which sets up Fast & Furious 7 during the end credits so don't be in a hurry to leave.

The film is the very definition of summer popcorn fun. Check your logic at the door, put in your ear plugs and enjoy the ride.

Pain & Gain

 Director Michael Bay tones it down just a notch for this comedic look at a crime gone bad. The movie is based on a true story about three losers who decide to kidnap a wealthy businessman to get all his money and property. The premise is pretty ridiculous but amazingly it's all true.

      Mark Walhberg stars as Daniel Lugo, the "mastermind" who works in a gym and decides to kidnap one of his clients, played by Tony Shalhoub. This fitness freak enlists the help of his best friend, dimwitted Adrian Dorbal, played by Anthony Mackie to help him pull off the kidnapping. Deciding they need a third person for the job, they convince Paul Doyle, played by Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) to help them. These are the three dumbest criminals in history and what happens next is unbelievable, but as we are literally reminded, its a true story. 

      Mr. Bay shows a little restraint behind the camera but can't help show off his signature flourishes.  Stop action, slow-motion and excess violence all contribute to the ensuing mayhem. While the kidnapping turns violent, the movie is still very funny. The three leads all play dumb so well. Mr. Johnson, in particular is terrific as Paul Doyle. The film is definitely played for laughs with help from a supporting cast of Rebel Wilson and Rob Corddry.

          You will laugh a lot at the stupidity but probably feel a little disturbed if you stop to think this all really happened. After all, the story involves torture and murder. It's a smart movie about really stupid people. 

Stark Trek: Into Darkness

Director J.J. Adams continues his reboot of Star Trek with a worthy sequel. The best thing to be said of "Into Darkness" is that you will feel like you're watching a TV episode of the original Star Trek on the big screen.

Writers Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof and J.J. Adams treat their material with such love and respect for the original series that combined with the perfect casting, everything fits perfectly to recreate the world of Star Trek. There are the requisite verbal and sight gags that reference the original and yet, at the same time, this group make the film their own. The story borrows a major character from the past and gives him the back story he deserves.

The same cast returns and fill their respective roles admirably. Chris Pine is growing on me but he still has some work to do inhabiting the role that made William Shatner a star.  Zackary Quinto is a fine Spock and Karl Urban does a dead on Dr. McCoy with all his verbal nuances intact. Simon Pegg also returns as "Scotty, along with John Cho as Sulu, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, and Zoe Salanda as Uhura. The villain of the story is played by Benedict Cumberbatch who usually plays good guys and here, makes a truly ruthless villain.

There's plenty of action that plays well on the big screen, even in 2-D and I'm sure even more impressive in IMAX format and 3-D (although I was very satisfied without it). May the inevitable sequels live long and prosper. 

The Great Gatsby

       Director Baz Lurmann brings his over the top creativity to the forefront in this new version of "The Great Gatsby". It is more style than substance... but oh what style.

        Leonardo DiCaprio and Cary Mulligan star as the lovelorn Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. For Mr. Lurmann's vision, they are perfectly cast. Mr. DiCaprio inhabits the role with snap and polish and a glimmer of danger. Ms. Mulligan brings a luminescence and vulnerability to Daisy. Through Mr. Lurmann's lens, every scene they are in together elevates their very presence.

 Co-starring in this lavish production is Toby Maguire as Nick Carraway and Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan. Mr. Maguire is miscast as Nick. His goofy grin and wide eyed response to everything going on around him becomes increasingly annoying as the film goes on. His purpose as narrator would have been better served had he stayed off camera throughout. Mr Edgerton, on the other hand, is well cast as Tom and brings a strong and menacing aura to the role. Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke have the small but pivotal roles as Myrtle and George Wilson. 

 The fashions, party scenes, and every excess of the period is heightened and unfortunately, lost in this vision is the story. Every nuance of the novel that has been dissected and examined in English classes through the years is lost in the visual excess.

 As with all of Mr. Lurmann's films, you will be swept away by his visual style, strengthened by the chemistry between Mr. DiCaprio and Ms. Mulligan. But to understand what makes this a story for the ages, read the novel.

Mud

      This new Indie drama starring Matthew McConaughey (in a low key performance) is a kind of modern day "Huck Finn". Beside Mr. McConaughey in the title role, the film features a stellar cast including Sarah Paulson, Michael Shannon, Ray McKinnon, Sam Shepard, Paul Sparks and Reese Witherspoon. There is even a cameo from Joe Don Baker.

       While the film is filled with big stars from the Indie film world, two of it's biggest stars are a a pair of young teenage boys, Ty Sheridan as Ellis and Jacob Lofland as Neckbone. It is Ellis and Neckbone that discover Mud hiding out on a small Island on the Mississippi River. Mud, we come to find out is a wanted man trying to reunite with his girlfriend. Ellis is a hopeless romantic and Jacob is a realist but both take a liking to Mud and want to help him for their own reasons.

        It's an original story that meanders its way like the river where it takes place. There are triumphs and disappointments along the way. The acting is first rate but it's Mr. Sheridan in particular that really stands out. He has a long career ahead of him. Mr. McConaughey continues to shine in off kilter roles (see "Killer Joe").  He, along with the film itself, is filled with Southern charm.

Iron Man 3

      Thankfully better than "Iron Man 2" but no comparison to the first film in the series, this third outing is fun for the casual moviegoer but a disappointment for those well read in Iron Man mythology.

       Robert Downey Jr. returns as Tony Stark aka Iron Man, along with Gwyneth Paltrow, Jon Favreau and Don Cheadle all reprising their roles from the earlier films.  Mr. Favreau is also the executive producer and makes sure his character has a bit more to do in this installment.  As for the villains this time out, we have Sir Ben Kingsley and Guy Pearce. Sir Kingsley plays the infamous Mandarin from the pages of Iron Man and for the purists, they will be disappointed in the character's interpretation. He is terrific as always but not in the way you would expect.

       There are excessive jokes, excessive explosions, and literally excessive Iron Men. The film is overstuffed to fulfill it's blockbuster status.  It also features too much Tony Stark and not enough Iron Man.  Many will probably prefer it this way. Director Shane Black has worked with Mr. Downey before and makes the most of his humor and personality.  I would go as far as to categorize the film as a comedy with some heavy duty action sequences thrown in.

        If you've seen the trailers (and how can you miss them), you pretty much know what gets blown up but there are still some surprises in store, so grab your popcorn and settle in for a decent start to the summer movie season.

Disconnect

    This new ensemble drama loosely connects individual stories of characters unable or unwilling to connect in the new millennium. Cell phones, iPads, laptops and the internet all play important characters in director Henry Alex Rubin's cautionary tale.

   The film stars Jason Bateman (serious for a change), Hope Davis, Paula Patton, Alexander Skarsgard, Andrea Riseborough, Frank Grillo, Michael Nyqvist and Max Thieriot. Everyone is excellent in their roles, whether they are parents dealing with disaffected teens, a reporter who oversteps her boundaries to get a story, or a couple trying to cope with the loss of their child.

  Mr. Rubin is heavy handed in making his point. The movie is filled with internet chat superimposed on the side of the screen or text messages going back and forth. Facebook pages reveal more emotion than characters can express in person.

Everything going wrong in our society today is consolidated by this microcosm of disconnected people. It's a serious drama that can leave you depressed. However, there is a glimmer of hope at the end that reminds you it's not to late to change the way we live our lives in the 21st century.

Deceptive Practices: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay

 "Sleight of hand" master and magic historian, Ricky Jay is profiled in this new documentary by Alan Edelstein and Molly Bernstein. Not only is it a wonderful peek into the world and mind of Mr. Jay but it is a fascinating look at the magicians who influenced him.

  We learn a little bit about his childhood including his desire to perform magic at the age of four.  Also his love for his grandfather, who encouraged him and introduced him to some of his early mentors. We learn about Slydini, Cardini, Dai Vernon (The Professor) as well as many more colorful characters and master magicians.

    Mr. Jay does not do "stage" magic like David Copperfield or Doug Henning but rather is a master at cards and "close-up" magic. In addition to the fantastic history lesson, we are treated to many of the effects, illusions and sleight of hand that have made him famous. Through archival footage (some of it quite old), we we also get to experience some of the illusions by the masters.

    There is quite a bit of video footage of Mr. Jay as well performing through the years and also interviews with fans and friends, such as David Mamet (Mr. Jay has acted in many of his films). It's a wonderful ninety minutes that I could have easily watched for ninety more. It also made me immediately want to see "The Spanish Prisoner" again. A wonderful and surprising film in it's own right.

Oblivion

       What an appropriate title for the latest Tom Cruise snooze fest. This new sci-fi adventure is like instant hot cereal. Just add elements from other classic sci-fi films, add Tom, heat and serve.

        The first hour could be best summed up as watching "Top Gun" if it took place way in the future as Mr. Cruise flies around in a cool helicopter, shooting flying copies of R2D2. Earth, we come to find out has been destroyed. Mr. Cruise and his co-star, Andrea Riseborough spend their days making sure all of the planet's water is siphoned off safely to holding tanks for Earth's survivors on Titan.  We are basically watching a remake of "Wall-E" with live actors.

         Things pick up in the second hour with the introduction of a mysterious earth woman (Olga Kurylenko) and the ubiquitous appearance of Morgan Freeman. The special effects are well done but why do we always see remnants of The Statue of Liberty, The Washington Monument, The Brooklyn Bridge, and The Empire State building in every disaster movie? Aren't there other recognizable landmarks to choose from?

          For some strange reason, Melissa Leo thought appearing in this mess was a good idea. She dos play it safe though as she filmed her scenes from home using Facetime on an iPad.

          Of course if you are the type of person who enjoys watching Mr. Cruise grimace, square his jaw and shoot things for two hours, then "Oblivion" is for you.

42

     "42" is a rousing, crowd pleasing film based on the story of Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play major league baseball. Even if you don't like baseball,  it's a very human story of triumph, both in sports and over racial discrimination.

      Chadwick Boseman, a fairly unknown actor, plays Jackie Robinson with all the charisma and self assurance of a major movie star. Co-starring is an almost unrecognizable Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey, the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who give Mr. Robinson a shot at the majors. Mr. Ford is absolutely wonderful in the role. It's one of the best things he's done in years.

        The film also stars Nicole Beharie as Rachel Robinson, Jackie's wife, Andre Hollard as Wendell Smith, a sports writer and chronicler of Jackie's story and Christopher Meloni as Brooklyn Dodger manager Leo Durocher. The film was written and directed by Brian Helgeland with much love and reverence for his subject. 

       Mr. Helgeland focuses on the first three years of Mr. Robinson's career and does a great job avoiding melodrama. Everything about the film glows with authenticity. Mr. Helgeland doesn't shy away from the ugliness of racism. A scene when the opposing manager in a game taunts Mr. Robinson with unbelievable slurs is difficult to watch but necessary to the story.

         The film has a great cast, a great script and a real life American hero. It should not be missed. 

The Place Beyond The Pines

      The first "serious" drama of the year has a great cast in an unusual character study. The film stars Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper but don't expect fireworks between them since they only have one very short scene together. Of course, that scene is pivotal and extremely crucial to the story.

         The Place Beyond The Pines is an Indian translation for Schenectady in upstate New York where the film takes place. It's a refreshing location for a film that deals with age old themes. Fathers and sons, family, and the choices we make that define our lives all play out in a low rent Shakespearean drama.

          The film moves in a slow deliberate rhythm seemingly weighed down by it's heavy subject matter. However, the acting is excellent and supporting players Harris Yulin, Eva Mendes, and Ray Liotta all shine (although Ray Liotta's bad cop routine is getting old). Only Rose Bryne is wasted as Mr. Cooper's wife. Newcomers Dane Dehaan and Emory Cohen have a bright future ahead of them.

            The cinematography is beautiful. Schenectady and the surrounding countryside have never looked better. Director Derek Cianfrance (who previously directed Mr. Gosling in "Blue Valentine") has stepped up his game and while it has it's flaws ( It could have easily been called "The Place Beyond The Cliches) it's still engaging and worth your time.

Trance

          The latest film from director Danny Boyle messes with your mind from the very start. Most thrillers stick the twist in the middle or at the end but "Trance" starts right out with a twist and keeps you guessing for the rest of the film.

         The film stars James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel, and Rosario Dawson. Mr. McAvoy works in an auction house and Mr. Cassel is a thief who wants to steal a valuable painting. Ms. Dawson's character is better left unsaid to avoid spoiling the fun.

         Mr. Boyle sets the story in motion rather nicely and the film gets off to a quick and exciting start.  The film bogs down in the middle, caught in it's attempt to be too smart for it's own good and the audience suffers for it. It makes a decent recovery in the last act but unless you've been totally won over by the premise, it ends as a disappointment.

         Mr. Boyle's films always have great editing and music. "Trance" is no different.  The song choices are terrific and the editing, especially with this plot, really makes a difference. It's just too bad the script asks too much of it's audience and then has a major character explain everything just to make sure you don't walk out totally confused.

Warm Bodies

    Yes, it's another zombie movie but it has a clever twist. "Warm Bodies" asks the question, what if zombies still have a shred of humanity buried within them and still maintain memories? Nicholas Hoult stars as "R", a teenage zombie who spends his life shuffling around an airport in search of human flesh. R speaks to the audience in voice over, explaining his situation but is definitely undead.

      Like most zombie movies, its never explained why the planet has become over run with zombies but of course there is always a small band of humans left trying to survive. When Julie, played by Theresa Palmer ventures out on a supply run with her boyfriend and a few others, they are attacked by R and other zombies. It's at this point, our twist is set in motion and the story becomes rather clever. Of course, it's an obvious zombie take on Romeo and Juliet when R and Julie fall in love but it's all in good fun when love literally sparks life. 

        Ms. Palmer and Mr. Hoult are both very attractive teen actors and have good chemistry together. In a bit of strange casting, John Malkovich is Julie's dad and the leader of the humans. This is not the usual type of film you would expect to find John Malkovich but I guess every actor needs a regular paycheck. Rob Corddry, on the other hand is perfect as R's zombie "best friend"... for lack of another term.

          "Warm Bodies" is probably already gone from theaters by now as the Spring crop of films begin to arrive but it's worth a viewing paired with "Night of The Living Dead".

Oz, The Great & Powerful

     A terrific idea with a disappointing result. As a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz", it's definitely fun to revisit Oz itself and learn how the wizard became the all powerful Oz. And course, we want to know how the witches ended up on their destiny's path but lackluster direction from Sam Rami and a miscast James Franco diminish what really could have been magical.

      Mr. Franco stars but his energy level is far below what we would expect from the con man who defeats the wicked witches and wins the heart of Glinda. What saves the film from being a complete dud are the fantastic visuals and the performances of Michelle Williams as Glinda, Rachel Weitz as Evanora, and Milla Kunis as Theodora.

        Especially in 3-D, the film looks beautiful and in a nod to the original, starts in black & white in the Kansas scenes and then turns to color when Mr. Franco arrives in Oz. For an adventure of this nature, you would expect more from Mr. Rami but the director moves the film ever so slowly toward it's big climax. There are some clever nods to the original and moments of intelligent wit but it's a dull trip down the yellow brick road. Kids will probably enjoy it although the flying baboons may be frightening for little ones.

A Good Day to Die Hard

        The fifth installment in a series that should have quit after two. The only thing remaining in the spirit of the original "Die Hard" is Bruce Willis's smirk. The plot (or what passes for a plot) moves the story to Moscow for a ridiculous story linking Russian villains and the Chernobyl disaster from 26 years ago. To most, Mr. Willis will be the only recognizable face in the film, which co-stars Jai Courtney (best know for cable TV's "Spartacus"). 

         Mr Courtney plays Jack McClane, Mr Willis's son, who as it turns out is a CIA operative in Moscow, unbeknownst to Mr. Willis. The fact that Mr. Willis doesn't know this is only the first of a series of poor plot points. Wounds heal miraculously, weapons appear just when they are needed and villains continue to talk (or in this case, dance) instead of shoot when  the heroes are captured.

        Aside from watching an infinite amount of vehicles being destroyed early on and a transport helicopter blown up later on, there's nothing here to hold your attention. Even a good joke about "a vacation" is wasted when repeated constantly. And don't even get me started on the rest of the bad dialogue.

         Yippee Kay Ay, this one dies easy.

Side Effects

      The new thriller from director Steven Soderbergh has a great cast and a very clever plot that I can't discuss without spoilers. While it may take some liberties with drugs and the pharmaceutical companies that make them, the script really takes off in unexpected ways and a film that starts slow ends with quite the payoff.

         Rooney Mara and Channing Tatum are a young married couple with issues. He's been in jail for 4 years on inside trading charges and she suffers from depression. Jude Law plays a psychiatrist who ends up treating Ms. Rooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Ms. Rooney's former doctor. These are the things that are apparent. Everything else is quite fun for the audience as the film follows a very unexpected road.

         Ms. Rooney and Mr. Law are terrific in their respective roles. Mr. Tatum is a bit more restrained than usual (probably due to Mr. Soderbergh's excellent direction) and it's good to see Ms. Zeta-Jones in a clever part. The pace of the film starts slow and never really takes off but rather unfolds at it's own deliberate speed, slowly revealing layers like a good thriller should.

         The first third of the film wasn't really impressing me but by the time it ended, it had completely won me over. It's much more clever than you might suspect and a welcome relief during the traditional winter movie blues.

Parker

      Donald Westlake's anti-hero "Parker" has been played in the past by Lee Marvin and Mel Gibson. Now it's Jason Statham's turn and he makes the most of it in this action thriller. The story is fairly simple. Parker is a thief who is double crossed by his crew on a job. Left for dead, he manages to survive and seeks revenge.

       The Florida locations are beautiful and so is co-star Jennifer Lopez, who is surprisingly good as a real estate agent who gets involved with Parker. This is easily her best role since "Out of Sight" with George Clooney.  A nice twist in the plot is that Ms. Lopez is not a love interest but rather becomes a partner of sorts for Parker. The central villain in the film is played convincingly by Michael Chiklis.

        Mr. Statham is known for his fighting skills and action sequences and while "Parker" has fewer of them than most of his films, there are still some exciting moments. A fight sequence in a Miami high-rise is a highlight. By the time you read this, the film has probably left the theaters but its worth your time on video if you are a fan of either Mr. Statham or Ms. Lopez.