 I’ve never before considered giving a film zero stars. Normally I believe in never going there for any reason (since movies generally are still made with good intentions and are only meant to please) and receiving the half star rating for only the most blatantly atrocious works that are insults to humanity. I’ve never yet been compelled to go that low with a review while at The Awards Circuit. No evidence in recent cinematic history has ever driven me to that point. Well, ladies and gentlemen…I’ve found Exhibit A. Movie 43 is frankly among the worst things I’ve ever seen, and I briefly considered going down to zero. Dear readers, I’ve never given a lower rating to a review than I am here. A “comedy” made up of one unfunny skit after the other that’s all the worse because of its inexplicable star-studded cast, it really defeats the purpose of a review. All I can do here is list the culprits of this crime against cinema and make sure their names are here for blame to be assigned. I usually try to avoid mean reviews, as you all know…but I’m making an exception here. If there’s any worse films still to come in 2013, I’ll have to seriously re-evaluate my profession. At a certain point, it’s just not worth it. Yes, ‘Movie 43′ has even made me question my love of film and passion for criticism. I had this to say immediately after seeing it:
‘Movie 43′ has convinced me that either there is no god (since nothing this bad should ever be allowed) or that there must be one and that this is some sort of punishment. I just can’t decide which.
I stand by those words, so that should really tell you something.
Read more on Movie 43 (½)…
Categories: Film Reviews Tags: Anna Faris, Bobby Cannavale, Brett Ratner, chloe grace moretz, Chris Pratt, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Common, Dennis Quaid, Elizabeth Banks, emma stone, Gerard Butler, Greg Kinnear, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Jack McBrayer, James Gunn, Jason Sudeikis, Johnny Knoxville, Josh Duhamel, Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, Kate Winslet, Kristen Bell, Liev Schreiber, Movie 43, naomi watts, Richard Gere, Seann William Scott, Seth MacFarlane, Terrence Howard, Uma Thurman
 Among the many successful elements of Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal’s new film ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, the thing I feel they should be most proud of is the fact that this movie lingers in your mind the way a good documentary does. Yes, there’s elements of action and thriller moments, but this is more than anything else a dramatization of real life. The press notes accurately speak of it as a unique kind of movie: “the reported film”. It’s got the relentlessness of a Hollywood manhunt, but the stakes of reality. Everything feels authentic here, and I think it’ll be rather hard to find people who aren’t having to catch their breath during the final half hour of this flick. We may all know the end result of this story, but Bigelow’s direction and Boal’s script fill in the blanks with aplomb. Read more on Zero Dark Thirty (***½)…
Categories: Film Reviews Tags: Chris Pratt, Edgar Ramirez, Frank Grillo, Harold Perrineau, James Gandolfini, Jason Clarke, Jennifer Ehle, Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, kathryn bigelow, Kyle Chandler, Mark Boal, Mark Duplass, Mark Strong, Oscar hopeful, Scott Adkins, Zero Dark Thirty
 Now that I’ve seen the likes of ‘Argo’, ‘Lincoln’, and ‘The Sessions’, the film I’m most anticipating now is ‘Zero Dark Thirty’. The new film from Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal would have my interest no matter what the topic, but considering it’s a movie about the hunt for and eventual killing of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden…well that’s a great way to seal the deal. There’s a new Trailer out now that you can see after the jump and it continues to suggest a real strong flick while improving on the already solid last one. Time will tell about its awards hopes, but I certainly can’t wait to see it. Behold the Trailer below…
Read more on The hunt for Osama bin Laden continues in a new Trailer for ‘Zero Dark Thirty’!…
Categories: Trailer Tags: Chris Pratt, Edgar Ramirez, James Gandolfini, Jason Clarke, Jennifer Ehle, Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, kathryn bigelow, Kyle Chandler, Mark Boal, Mark Duplass, Mark Strong, Oscar hopeful, Zero Dark Thirty
 There are few things more fun than watching celebrities behave badly. Whether it’s in a film or in real life, there’s great glee to be had when buttoned up individuals let loose. Movie 43, a compilation of vignettes that show A-list actors doing bad things (like blowing out a random blind kid’s candles out) or just being generally foul-mouthed, took 12 directors and 4 years to make but it sure looks like their labor paid off. The flick will arrive January 25, 2013 and stars Anna Faris, Chris Pratt, Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott, Emma Stone, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloë Grace Moretz, Hugh Jackman, Terrence Howard, Kate Winslet, Gerard Butler, Richard Gere, Liev Schreiber, Uma Thurman, and Halle Berry. Check out the NSFW trailer after the jump!
Read more on Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman and Emma Stone do NSFW things in trailer for ‘Movie 43′…
Categories: Trailer Tags: Anna Faris, chloe grace moretz, Chris Pratt, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, emma stone, Entertainment, Entertainment/Culture, Film, Gerard Butler, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Knoxville, Kate Winslet, Liev Schreiber, Movie 43, Richard Gere, Seann William Scott, Terrence Howard, trailers, Uma Thurman
 Seeking a home somewhere between ‘The Big Chill’ and ‘American Reunion’ (though far superior to its most structurally similar film ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’) in terms of high school reunion flicks, ’10 Years’ manages to be a charmer that succeeds because of the chemistry of its cast. The film is sometimes a bit of a mess, but it’s an enjoyable mess that deftly keeps things from ever getting too heavy or too silly. It’s truly an ensemble piece, though we begin by focusing in on Channing Tatum, who continues his surprisingly good 2012 (‘The Vow’ excluded, of course) with another solid piece of acting. Even though I liked the latest sequel in the ‘American Pie’ franchise, this movie captures the reunion spirit in a more authentic way and doesn’t feel the need to shortchange that aspect of the story. Read more on 10 Years (***)…
Categories: Film Reviews Tags: Anthony Mackie, Ari Graynor, Aubrey Plaza, Channing Tatum, Chris Pratt, Entertainment/Culture, Films, Justin Long, Kate Mara, Lynn Collins, Max Minghella, oscar isaac, Ron Livingston, Rosario Dawson
 If one didn’t know this already, Judd Apatow likes his films to be on the long side, both the ones he directs and the ones he produces. It’s hard to make a comedy sustain its energy when you’re approaching 2 hours, but Apatow has had good luck in that regard. ‘The Five-Year Engagement’ is further proof of this, but it’s also the first instance where I think a bit of editing would have made for a better movie overall. That being said, this is still a very good flick, one that’s funny and surprisingly honest about relationships. Co-writer and star Jason Segel continues to grow in both regards, Emily Blunt gives a terrifically charming performance, while the supporting cast is as funny as ever. This is right up there with the other top notch Apatow joints, even if it’s a little more flawed than usual…it makes up for that with heart and an evolving maturity that I very much appreciate. Segel and director/co-writer Nicholas Stoller aren’t going nearly as out there as they did on ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ (which Segel wrote), but they’re aiming for something different here. They’re more interested in telling the story that most romantic comedies don’t get to. Where the average rom-com stops at the engagement, this film is just beginning. I just wish it knew where to go from there, as it stumbles from time to time. It’s a real good comedy, but it could have been a great one.
Read more on The Five-Year Engagement (***)…
 Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Writer: Mark Boal
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong, Chris Pratt, Kyle Chandler, Edgar Ramirez, Jennifer Ehle
Synopsis: The Navy Seal Team 6 track down wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden. (Provided by IMDB.com)
Read more on Awards Profile: Zero Dark Thirty…
Categories: Award Profile Tags: Chris Pratt, Edgar Ramirez, Jennifer Ehle, Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, kathryn bigelow, Kyle Chandler, Mark Boal, Mark Strong, Osama Bin Laden, President Barack Obama, Zero Dark Thirty
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