Plot: Woody, Buzz and the whole gang are back. As their owner Andy prepares to depart for college, his loyal toys find themselves in daycare where untamed tots with their sticky little fingers do not play nice. So, it's all for one and one for all as they join Barbie's counterpart Ken, a thespian hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants and a pink, strawberry-scented teddy bear called Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear to plan their great escape. via.
Nicole's Rating: A+
Review: Better than the first two and I loved the first two. This was - beyond a fun and animated movie. It was full of action and emotion that I hadn't at all anticipated. There is a scene where the toys accept their fate and - I can't quite describe to you how hard I cried. I don't think any movie, ever, has ever touched on mortality in such an accurate and poignant way. If you think I'm kidding, I'm not.
The Fighter
Plot: A look at the early years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s.
Matt's Rating: B+
Review: As a boxing movie (Hollywood pumps out about 2 a year) its pretty good. Probably the best since Rocky or Cinderalla Man but it's still not a great movie. It's above average. It's real, gritty, very well acted, and you feel yourself really hating and caring about certain characters. BUT it was very anti-climactic. I'm not saying that because I'm a typical must-need-a-last-second-knockout movie goer. But rather, I just didn't care about Micky Ward. So, his last fight of the movie was good but when it was over I felt "eh." Plus, from a pure sports stand-point, how do you NOT delve into his epic trilogy of fights with Gatti.
But what was a major turn off for me, and I know people aren't going to like this, was Mark Wahlberg. He just isn't a great actor. He's good, but not great. I can almost guarantee that without Christian Bale's performance and great supporting actress' (Amy Adams and Melissa Leo) the film fails. I know Micky Ward was suppose to be this silent confident guy, and his brother was the charismatic one, but Wahlberg has maybe one page of dialogue!! The rest of the time he just boxes and looks tough. Hell, Keanu Reeves can do that. I know it was his dream project and he spent years getting it together but acting wise, he wasn't impressive. He filled the role fine, but wasn't stunningly good. Which is why I dont understand all the people clamoring for him to get an Oscar nod. Give him an Oscar as a producer but not as an actor. Mark Wahlberg has done only one movie where he was impressive, Boogie Nights. Go look at his resume, it's very Nick Cage-esk. Lots of bad action films. But I digress...
As I previously stated, Christian Bale is AMAZING! Every time he's on screen you can't take your eyes off of him. He doesn't even look like Christian bale. I mean the man fuckin transformed into this character. Plus, Amy Adams was great and still sexy (regardless of how deep Boston they made her look) and Melissa Leo plays a fantastically annoying helicopter mom.
One of the better films of the year, but not hte best one. Probably 6 or 7 on this year's top 10 list.
How Do You Know
Plot: After being cut from the USA softball team and feeling a bit past her prime, Lisa finds herself evaluating her life and in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy in crisis competes with her current, baseball-playing beau. via.
Nicole's Rating: C+
Review: It was ... strange. Paul Rudd, as he always is and should be, was the best part of the movie. Owen Wilson wasn't too bad either. But Reese Witherspoon just missed the mark. Sometimes she forgot to act - which was really obvious in every instance where she suddenly remembered to act. Her voice and mannerisms would completely change from one scene to the next. I'll tell you who I loved. Kathryn Hahn. She's a gorgeous character actress who always plays the best friend, and frankly, someone needs to give her her own shit. I love her in everything she does. Anyway - the movie was awkward and slow moving. And the back story didn't really make a lot of sense and took too long to actually become clear. Cute, but not all that great. Also - is Jack Nicholson losing his voice? Maybe he should retire. Sean Connery retired when his voice went (as in, lost the famous voice and started sounding really old). I think it might be time for Jack to move on. To retirement, not to the other side.
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