Killing Them Softly (2012)

Killing Them Softly (2012) This movie has gotten a raw deal. It is a 5-star movie. The problem is it's an exceedingly subtle movie. Read through the mixed to negative reviews and you see one of two things (or both things): either the person thinks the movie is superficial politica, or they had expectations (because of the gangster genre) and were let down.

Here's the thing. This movie is a recreation of the 2008 financial crisis. Every character in the movie represents a different group (like Richard Jenkins is obviously the American government). When you view the movie with this frame, as a parable, I think it takes on new dimensions. You're suddenly comparing characters and groups of characters (like the poker players) to their real-life equivalents (the poker players represent the American 1%). But you're also looking at the interaction between characters and then what that's saying about the interaction between the real-life equivalents. What do I mean by that? The final speech. I won't give it away, but a lot of reviewers and people who have seen the movie say the final speech is cheesy. Sure. Except when you view it through the frame of "Brad Pitt's character has a real-life equivalent", the final speech takes on a different dynamic. It isn't just some speech in a fictional narrative of some movie. It has a real-world influence, it represents something that's not fiction. Who does Brad Pitt's character represent? It's not a "who" rather than a "what". (Hint: it's the American Spirit). The question isn't "is the speech cheesy or not, is it bad or not, is it cool or not?" The question is: do you agree that the speech is representative of the 21st Century American Spirit? If not, why? If so, why? If you agree, does the speech make you feel a rush of pride or discomfort? Then you also have to analyze what it means that it's the avatar for the American Spirit that ends the movie with a surge of emotion. Is Andrew Dominick saying that despite all the **** from the 2008 crisis, the American Spirit will overcome it and win out? I think so.

In other words: imagine taking the 2008 financial crisis and condensing it into a fairy tale wearing gangster clothes. That's what "Killing Them Softly" is.

Don't expect a fast-moving gangster movie. Don't expect "The Departed" or "Goodfellas".

Don't short-change the movie and think it's dumber than what it thinks it is. If it's not smarter than you, it's at least as smart as you.

It's fine if you understand what the movie is doing and still don't like it. Maybe it really is too slow for you. Maybe you just don't like these kinds of movies. It's not a bad movie, though.

Given time, people and critics and scholars will come to appreciate this movie. I hope you're one of them.

Synopsis: During the economic turmoil of 2008, Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), an enforcer, is hired to restore order after three idiots rob a mob-protected poker game.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Scoot McNairy
Supporting actors: Ben Mendelsohn, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini, Vincent Curatola, Max Casella, Sam Shepard
Directed by: Andrew Dominik
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes
Captions and Subtitles: English Details
Release year: 2012
Studio: The Weinstein Company
MPAA Rating: Rated R for violence, sexual references, pervasive language, and some drug use

Get The Gringo

Academy Award Winner Mel Gibson steals the show -- and anything else he can get his hands on -- in this explosive, nonstop thrill ride packed with equal parts action and attitude! A career criminal (Gibson) pulls off the heist of a lifetime, but his getaway plans go south of the border when a high-speed car chase lands him in a hard-core Mexican prison community known as "El Pueblito."

this was a great action packed over the top movie. for me, this would have been a part 2 to 'payback'. in this film he is a thief and he also narrates as the film goes on. mel starts the movie with a gr8 chase from the law that winds him in the toughest of situations. he must use his street smarts and his talents as his tools to survive. this was a straight to dvd film which feels more like a big screen blockbuster to me. evrything was well acted, lots of black humor and action. a great film for the old school mel gibson action fan. mel goes back to his roots and proves to us all that he still has it!!!

This film was great art, from any perspective. From the theme to the dialogue it was a great conception and a skillful writing. The directing, casting and venue/sets were spot on. A strong subject with strong acting. This will be a watch-again film for me.

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Batman Begins

I've been avoiding much of Holleywood's latest productions due to so many predictable stories, politically-driven plots, and mediocre acting so I did not catch this one in theatres. I probably would not even have rented it if my son had not begged me to do so. I am sooooo glad now that I've seen it. I'm blown away... this is not only the best Batman movie out there but one of the top five best action/adventure movies I've ever seen!! I bought a copy through Amazon before even finishing the DVD.

Batman has always been one of my favorite superheros but one that has rarely been well captured on screen. He's basically a regular, more-or-less everyday guy who works out a lot and has some cool gadgets; sort of brooding James Bond in a mask and cape. This movie starts out by showing how he learned and perfected his martial arts skills. It really captures the soul of the Dark Knight. Christian Bale is a perfect choice to play this character. I can't say enough positive things about this approach, it's exactly how I have always pictured the character.

The pacing nears perfection, the action is gripping and extremely well choreographed, the acting is top rate, the writing is fantastic, and the cinematography is outstanding. Rarely is a known story done so originally and well. I love the depth of the characters, the splashes of humor, and the low-key but everpresent moral undertones. It's neither preachy nor over the top. And, despite the fact that we all have a pretty good idea of the plot it is surprisingly original. Oh, and it's got Liam Neesan with a sword too; what more could you want ;-)

I am also very impressed with how they show Gotham being very much like any large US city today yet demonstrate in a realistic and believable manner how a masked superhero and fantastic villians can fit in that context. I really hope this cast/crew/director hook-up again for a sequal as the calling card at the end perhaps suggests.
Fantastic; heartily recommended!

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The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight

First of all, The Dark Knight/Batman is not a super hero. He is very human who can do super hero feats. He gets hurt, and he feels real pain-physical and emotional.

Secondly, there is a love triangle-Bruce, Rachel and Harvey. Rachel is torn between her love for Bruce, her childhood sweetheart, who she knows is Batman, and Harvey who is every woman's White Knight who is fighting for truth and justice in the judicial halls of Gotham with danger and enemies on every side. Harvey is as pure as they come in true comic book lore.

Thirdly, every hero needs their personal entourage. Batman has Alfred and Lucius. Harvey has Rachel and Jim Gordon.

Fourthly, every hero needs a nemesis. The usual assortment of 30's type gangsters are for comic relief. The real nemesis, antagonist, for both Batman and Harvey Dent is the Joker, a psychotic rogue. The Joker's insanity is his genius, a pure sociopath who was abused by his father.

Fifthly, you have the citizens of Gotham who both Batman and Harvey are pledged to protect, even though, there are moments when you wonder why since truth and justice to the citizenry is great as long as they don't have to sacrifice themselves for it. This film shows human nature at its worst and its best.

Sixthly, the noble elements of morality, friendship, love, and sacrifice have their part in a saga which plays out in the lives projected on the screen before us. Like a Greek tragedy we are shocked and silently weep for the heroes as they march to their fate, predestined by the gods for their own amusements.

The Dark Knight is a dark, disturbing piece of film fiction. Children would find the images haunting their sub consciences for decades to come. It is an intense film which brings a number of motifs together in a cohesive script.

All great stories share elements of triumph and tragedy. A hero's personal lost can take many forms. Both Batman and Harvey react differently to their mutual lost.

The ideal hero is not always the hero presented to the public. One classic example of this is THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE. Sometimes, the lie is more important than the truth.

In the end Batman makes an unalterable decision like Harvey Dent. Batman's ultimate sacrifice for Gotham City is a testament that sometimes a hero must become the villain for the greater good.

Jim Gordon becomes the bridge between the truth and the lie of these two true human heroes.

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Despicable Me

I don't usually read other reviews of books and movies before I write one myself. But I was so impressed with Despicable Me, I had to read what others had to say about it. The thing about reviews, in my opinion, is that reviewers often over analyze movies. What is the point of dissecting an animated movie made for kids? It's okay to say that you just really liked a movie because it made you feel good.

I read that the movie copies other movies, has stereotyped characters and does too much to try to make you love it. As for me, I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT. I don't care what the producers borrowed from other movies, if in fact they did. And I am so glad they did too much to try to make me like it. Simply put, this movie is adorable. I smiled a lot, giggled and was charmed out of my seat.

The action-packed story is about a funny-looking, Russian-accented villain named Gru (Steve Carell), who tries to outdo another villain, named Vector (Jason Segel). Gru has flashbacks about his disapproving mother (Julie Andrews) while he plot to steal the moon. The story involves 3 cuter-than-cute little girls and a whole bunch of tiny pill-capsule-looking creatures, who work for Gru in his basement laboratory. The characters in the movie are all either odd looking or darling cute. If you are sensitive to overweight people, you may be slightly offended by some of the obese characters, many of whom are mean. But you'll have to admit they are mesmerizing to watch - especially villain loan shark Mr. Perkins (Will Arnett) with his triangular-shaped head and mushy, southern-belle-talking Miss Hattie (Christen Wiig) from the adoption agency.

The youngest of the three girls in the movie, Agnes (Elsie Fisher), is so charming, she will melt your heart. Her voice and facial expressions are darling. And the little creatures who work for Gru generate a whole lot of laughter from the audience.

In the theater, when the movie was over, everyone in the audience clapped and cheered. One boy got up and danced through the credits. That's how I know it was a great movie. And unless you have no heart or are one of those over-analyzing critics, you too will cheer when you see delightful, Despicable Me.

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Safe House

"Safe House" is great! This is how the story goes: For the past year, Matt Weston has been frustrated by his inactive, backwater post in Cape Town. A "housekeeper" who aspires to be a full-fledged agent, the loyal company man has been waiting for an opportunity to prove himself. When the first and only occupant he's had proves to be the most dangerous man he's ever met, Weston readies for duty. Tobin Frost has eluded capture for almost a decade. One of the best ops men that the CIA's known, the ex-intelligence officer has given up assets and sold military intel to anyone with cash since he turned. From trading secrets to North Korea to aiding splinter cells, the damage he's done to the U.S. is immeasurable. And he's now back on the reservation with a secret. As soon as Frost is brought in for debriefing, mercenaries come and tear apart Weston's safe house. Barely escaping, the unlikely partners must discover if their attackers have been sent by terrorists or someone on the inside who will kill anyone standing in the way. Now it's up to Weston to figure out who he can trust before they're both eliminated from the game.

The cast led by Denzel Washington (who also executive produced) (as Tobin Frost) & Ryan Reynolds (as Matt Weston) is great. The directing by Daniel Espinosa is great. The story & screenplay by David Guggenheim is great.

The music by Ramin Djawadi is great. The cinematography by Oliver Wood is great. The film editing by Richard Pearson is great. The casting by Sarah Finn is great. The production design by Brigitte Broch is great. The art direction by Jonathan Hely-Hutchinson, Shira Hockman, Pablo Maestre Galli & Erik Polczwartek is great. The set decoration by Melinda Launspach, Andrew McCarthy & Tom Olive is great. The costume design by Susan Matheson is great.

This is a great action thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat with your heart racing and your mind thinking at the same time. Denzel Washington is great as usual in another memorable performance. This is another great film on Denzel's resume.

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21 Jump Street

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum rule in this politically incorrect comedy that had me laughing out loud. Jonah Hill shouting at a suspect running away, "I'm going to shoot you if you don't slow down." They go undercover to find the drug dealers at a high school. Having been out of high school for 7 years they find it hard to adopt to 2012. Ice Cube was great as the stereotypical angry black police captain who tells people to embrace their stereotypes. Jake M. Johnson is the principle. His first words are "I am just one more gay black kid being punched in the face from a nervous break down." The drama teacher tells his students, "I remember being in upstate New York doing cocaine with Willie Nelson's horse..."

The great one liners are seemingly endless. Jonah Hill tries out for the role of Peter Pan while Channing's chemistry teacher comes on to him. The guys forgot who they were and end up with each other identities. Jonah Hill is in drama and a "track star" while meat head Tatum is in the AP classes. The cops are bumbling in their roles but manage to get the job done. There are some social issues mentioned in the movie in a comedic fashion. One is the difference on how people view a black kid who dies from drugs as from a white kid. Another is the commercialization of education. Highly recommended comedy.

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Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

I loved the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories and I wound up loving the original Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes -- Sherlock was tougher, funnier and hilariously played by Robert Downey Junior. Unfortunately this sequel loses the entire point of a Sherlock Holmes story: he's supposed to use his idiosyncratically brilliant deductive powers to solve mind-bending mysteries. In this movie Sherlock is more of an action figure who fights all the time, pursues a sloppy plot of international intrigue blah blah blah, and never solves anything. It's pretty sad: it turns out that a Sherlock without a confounding murder mystery is just an irritating twit with a few mildly colorful sidekicks. In a word: avoid. See the BBC production instead, it's far more Sherlock.

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Contraband

"Contraband" is a 2011 action film starring Mark Wahlberg as a former smuggler reluctantly drawn back into the game for one last score, this time to help his brother-in-law (Caleb Landry Jones) who got in too deep with the bad guys (Giovanni Ribisi).

For the past few years Wahlberg has been cranking out the action films at a pace that truly amazes. He's been nominated twice for an Oscar ("The Fighter" in 2010 and "The Departed" in 2006) and recognized for "Three Kings" (1999), and "Four Brothers" (2005), although my favorite Wahlberg role (and guilty pleasure) "Shooter" (2007) has been ignored on the awards circuit.

Casino Jack

casino jack movie is a story that illustrates how the political system in America is run by the highest authorities, at the beginning of the story described how Jack Abramoff, played by Kevin Spacey, this figure has a character who is very selfish and not really care about other people.

Jack Abramoff was a political lobbyist in Washington, where in his work he was doing a variety of ways to be successful no matter that he had hurt someone else, in this film we can see that in doing bad scandals politicians in washington. I think the film aims to lean the American people about their bad political system
but maybe now America better with obama leadership.
A hot shot Washington DC lobbyist and his protégé go down hard as their schemes to peddle influence lead to corruption and murder.
Director:
George Hickenlooper
Writer:
Norman Snider
Stars:
Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper and Jon Lovitz
Language:
English
Release Date:
17 December 2010 (USA)
Also Known As:
Spilavítis-Jack
Filming Locations:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

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