#81 – The Homesman

Tommy Lee Jones has quietly carved out a very nice directorial career for himself and continues that with a very good and very understated movie.  A tale of frontier life and the hardships that befell those living on the edges of society.  Hilary Swank really has a chance to shine here as a woman tasked…

#121 – Beyond

A movie that so effortlessly blends a romantic drama with an alien invasion…yeah, exactly.  There’s one useless storyline about the main character’s life before all of this starts that never really came together for me but everything else works effectively.  The two leads, played by Richard J. Danum and Gillian McGregor, start their relationship and…

#26 – American Sniper

There are some really great things about American Sniper and some incredibly tense moments that are so well crafted that I really wish that much care would’ve been given to the overall story.  Clint Eastwood’s examination of American hero Chris Kyle seems to be less concerned with who he is and more concerned about his…

Into The Grizzly Maze

Man, how cheesy does this thing look? I really can’t imagine this being anything more than a second rate action movie with decent suspense and several moments that make you roll your eyes.  The thing here though is that I felt the same way about the Liam Neeson survival film The Grey when I saw that trailer…

Crimson Peak

Well welcome back Guillermo del Toro! I’m really interested to see how big budget horror will work with Del Toro at the helm.  Aside from a few creepy ghost scenes this movie is all going to come down to the mood and the atmosphere.  The trailer seems to be going more for action and thrills…

#120 – The Happy House

I never really knew what to make of this film.  An indie production done on a small budget can return big rewards if done well and I just didn’t find that to be the case here.  The first half of the movie is a bait and switch that never really leads to much and then…

#84 – Force Majeure

What an impressive film.  Force Majeure is an intense examination of marriage, relationships, masculinity and responsibility.  Odd and visually beautiful, the slow pacing allows the movie to reveal these characters and their interactions.  A very strong script that explores how one decision in crisis can change how others view you. Recommend?  Strong all around, yes,…

#75 – Virunga

There are moments in this gripping documentary where I was literally holding my breath.  Tense and spectacular, this movie uses conservation and oil development to tell the stories of these incredible people who put their lives on the line and would die for what they believe in.  A stunning look at a story that probably…

#123 – The Mule

Billed as an Australian comedy crime caper, this movie is anything but.  This movie is more Midnight Express than Pineapple Express and even though there are a few comedic moments, this is much more of a serious drama than advertised.  That being said, it’s a really good movie and I found myself absorbed into the…

#105 – Noah

Man, this movie is all over the place.  Overall I’d have to say I liked it but this is a film that I can just imagine has a longer Director’s Cut that makes more sense with more room to grow the story.  As it is, it’s basically just a mash up of original bible story,…