• Director: Rodrigo Garcia
• Release Date: January 2012
• Writers: Glenn Close, John Banville
• Run Time: 113
• Genre: Drama

Tagline: A man with a secret. A woman with a dream.

Review: I know this is meant to be a pet project for Glenn Close and us meant to be one of her most amazing roles, which it is, but it must be said that Janet McTeer just stole this movie. I found myself so much more interested in Hubert Paiges story rather than Albert Nobbs. Theres no denying Glenn Close is nothing short of exceptional as Albert, but I just found the character to be extremely boring and uninteresting, but it truly is the crowning glory in Closes already stellar career. The story is saved by the interesting supporting characters, also worth mentioning is Pauline Collins as Mrs Baker, the witch of a hotel owner where Albert Works, and Mia Wasikowska is always wonderful and this is no exception.

The production design, cinematography and all that jazz is all what youd expect from a period drama, however the music was a bit of a letdown, each time I heard a bit of music it all just sounded like the same track. I forgot to mention that a nice surprise was the wickedly funny scenes toward the beginning, for the first half an hour I was laughing my head off, but after that it gets pretty serious.

Im sure come Oscar time, Glenn Close will definitely be nominated and rightly so, I just hope we are also going to hear Janets name in the supporting categories, both women are very deserving.

• Director: Jonathan Levine
• Release Date: September 2011
• Writers: Will Reiser
• Run Time: 100
• Genre: Comedy, Drama

Tagline: It takes a pair to beat the odds

Review: I thought this was a better film than The Kings Speech or Social Network my two favorite films of last year. Nothing this year has come close so far to the sheer brilliance of 50/50. It is the best disease of the week film ever made, which sounds like a backhanded compliment but I dont know how to describe the genre any better.

I have always felt that Gordon-Levitt along with Gosling are far and away the two best young actors working today. I thought that Gordon-Levitt deserved an Oscar nomination for The Lookout but knew that was never going to happen. This is his time. His performance as a young man battling cancer is pitch perfect. You will laugh and cry along with him throughout his difficult journey. His best scenes are with his therapist played by Anna Kendrick. She was good in the overrated Up in the Air; she is great in this film, playing another neophyte in a high powered career. She will be nominated as well, no doubt.

Seth Rogan has the role of his career thanks in part to Will Reiser, the screenwriter, who was able to take the whole sexist, slacker, pothead thing that Rogan does and add a dimension of humanity. I think both of them also deserve Oscar nominations. Because of the nature of his role I would be surprised if Rogan gets one, but not too surprised. He is just hilarious and at times very touching.

Finally we come to Jonathan Levine, a director that I had never heard of prior to this film. He is fantastic with actors here and has a great style. I say he is a shoo in come Oscar time.

Now this review has really centered around Oscar and that is for a reason. It will not be released for awhile and I was lucky to see a preview screening in Denver last night. I could think of no other way to get the point across more clearly that this is a brilliant film that you must run to when it is released.

• Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson
• Release Date: November 2011
• Writers: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg
• Run Time: 90
• Genre: Comedy

Tagline: A Very Harold And Kumar 3D Christmas

Review: Once again, Harold and Kumar bring it with more completely original ideas that made me laugh like a maniac several times throughout the movie. These guys once again prove that anything can be funnier if you add weed and nudity. And the fact that Kal Penn can still make these movies and maintain a respectable reputation at the White House is hilarious enough as it is.

As good as this one was, however, it didnt really live up to the expectations that were set by Guantanamo Bay. Maybe its because when I saw that one, it was in a packed theatre at 10 pm with a bunch of stoners laughing their guts out at every single joke. As unappealing as that sounds (I wasnt stoned during this movie), its those types of things that make movies THAT much better if you ask me. Laughing my butt off with 30 or more people, including a few random 14 year olds who needed to pretend they were with me in order to get in (true story) just wasnt the same.

Something that really bugged me was how NPH was barely used in this one. Although his picture actually made it poster this time, he wasnt really in it as much as I hoped. Come to think of it, many of the old jokes from White Castle and Guantanamo Bay werent used at all.

And whether or not it was the theatre I went to, the 3D was disgraceful. I almost suggest seeing the 2D version: your eyes wont hurt, youll save a few bucks, and you really wont miss anything.

But even though it may not have lived up to the previous ones, Harold and Kumar prove once again that as far as epic stoner comedies go, they cant be beat. This one left me sore from laughing, and with an itch to see more (even though, once again, I wasnt stoned). I strongly suggest you get a big group to go to this one; the more laughs around you, the funnier this movie will be.

And of course, theres nothing like getting into the Christmas spirit a little early. Especially if you celebrate Christmas like these guys.

• Director: Bill Condon
• Release Date: November 2011
• Writers: Melissa Rosenberg, Stephenie Meyer
• Run Time: 117
• Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

Tagline: Forever is only the beginning

Review: Im a huge fan of the books, but Ive been disappointed with the last two movies so my hopes werent that high for this one. I shouldnt have worried. Breaking Dawn blew me away from the first scene. Stewart is finally acting, which is one of the biggest reasons why this movie is so much better than the others. She portrays Bella in a way that is so close to the book, and its wonderful to see her and Pattinson playing lovers that are so, so, so in love. The fact that Bill Condon (director) gave the happy couple so much time to be just that, happy, makes you really believe in their love and it makes you understand why they cant live without each other. Such an important part (or THE most important thing I should say) but something that the previous directors have failed in showing.

This movie takes you from a beautiful wedding, complete with the most hilarious toasts (Jessica and Charlie) wonderful music, stunning dresses and declarations of love that will touch everyones hearts, to South America for a sexy, funny and exciting honeymoon where we see heartfelt smiles, kissing, cuddling and teasing along with the epic headboard breaking scene. It then settles back in Forks, where we get to witness the most terrifying pregnancy imaginable. The special effects team deserve an Oscar for the work theyve done on making Stewart look like shes slowly fading away. The moments leading up to the birth scene are actually scarier than the scene itself. It really is a horror film towards the end, and some scenes should maybe have been rated R. It ends in the perfect place, such a natural and obvious cut. I am so thankful that Breaking Dawn has been split into two parts, because I cant imagine even once scene in this part that could have been skipped. Condon is a genius.

• Director: Gavin O Connor
• Release Date: September 2011
• Writers: Gavin O Connor, Anthony Tambakis
• Run Time: 140
• Genre: Action, Drama, Sport

Tagline: Family is worth fighting for.

Review: Warrior brings to the table the world of mixed martial arts, where punches, kicks, holds, and everything else goes. The inception of new international tournament Sparta puts on a collision course Paddy (Nick Nolte), Brendan (Joel Edgerton), and Tom Conlon (Tom Hardy), all part of an estranged family torn apart in the past by abuse, favoritism, and abandonment. Tom resurfaces in society to enlist the help of his formerly alcoholic father Paddy to train him for the tournament, while at the same time Brendan revisits his UFC training in hopes to win the $5 million purse for his struggling family. The two underdogs face some of the toughest MMA fighters on the planet, but the true struggle appears to lie within them. Paddy battles for forgiveness against the resentment of his sons, Tom fights to prove to himself that he is strong, and Brendan struggles to come to terms with his older family while trying to support one of his own.

The fantastic thing here is two protagonists entering the same tournament. Each brother has his own respectable reasons for fighting, a fact that is sure to divide the audience when it comes time to choose which one to root for. The story truly is gut-wrenchingly powerful and presented in an engaging fashion. Little by little through the films dialogue, we are allowed a glimpse into the past hardships of the Conlon family, and the characters motivations for retaining such hatred are revealed gradually. Through the incredible acting talents of Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, and Nick Nolte, this confused and passionate chemistry really comes alive. All three actors put up some of the most convincing and heartbreaking performances of their careers; and seeing as how The Fighter garnered so many Oscar nominations, I cant see why Warrior will not do the same. My only beef with the movie is its cliched climax and rather bleak inconclusive ending, though it still does good to the emotional schism the movie intended to create.

Warrior is one of those sports films with a magical mixture of emotional and physical battle. Its a wonderful story showing how sometimes the worlds strongest forces are insignificant in comparison to the troubles of a scarred family. Warrior is without a doubt worth a visit to the theater. One of the best of 2011! And whether youre an MMA fan or not, the adrenaline-pumping fights will have you up and cheering and applauding.

• Director: Roman Polanski
• Release Date: November 2011
• Writers: Yasmina Reza, Roman Polanski
• Run Time: 79
• Genre: Comedy, Drama

Tagline: Carnage

Review: Carnage is the latest film from director Roman Polanski, a film with a minimalistic plot, two sets of parents decide to meet after their sons get into a fight, that relies on a sharp script and actor power in order to tell a story. Although the concept in not entirely new and you might tell from the first minutes how the events are going to unfold, the film has a good pace and provides the viewer with some decent laughs being quite entertaining for a flick that is mostly based on dialogue.

The acting is what you would expect from a movie that features such big names, Christoph Waltz and Kate Winslet being particularly good here. Carnage reminded me of the times when you only needed some talented actors and a good script in order to make a good movie, there was no need for flashy special effects or over the top action scenes.

If you liked films like Whos afraid of Virginia Woolf? or Glengarry Glen Ross where the actors and the story are the ones who really matter, you might want to give Carnage a try as well. Although it may not reach the standards set by those movies, Polanskis film manages to be enjoyable, well paced and offers a satisfying movie experience.

• Director: Tarsem Singh
• Release Date: November 2011
• Writers: Charley Parlapanides, Vlas Parlapanides
• Run Time: 110
• Genre: Action, Drama, Fantasy

Tagline: The Gods Need a Hero

Review: This movie had a bit more story time than I anticipated, a lot of time was spent away from epic battles but there was plenty of fighting to keep me happy. Special effects were great, stylized blood was plenty but not too much, Frieda Pinto is gorgeous, and Henry Cavill is jacked. The acting was pretty good; to be fair, not very much was necessary from anyone besides Henry Cavill, but none of the actors underperformed.

The quality of the fight scenes was great. Not a single fight scene went by where I was like ok, I waited 5 minutes for that!?. The fight with the Greek Gods was very well done, although many people may disagree (more on that in the next paragraph). Most of the fights are just look at Thesius… oh how he knows how to fight. But I personally couldnt care less how many people are fighting as long as the fights are well done.

The fight pertaining to the Gods is seen partly in the trailers when you see people floating in mid air as they and their friends get punished continuously. Its very Matrix/Kung Fu style, and some people didnt like that. But the way I see it, these are Gods fighting, not humans and legends. The fight has to have a different substance than just simple blood and guts.

What really irked me were the inconsistencies with Greek Mythology and the lack luster epicness of the Eperius bow. For one, the number of Gods present in this movie is 5. Zeuss, Poseidon, Apollo, Athena and one more… as far as the movie goes, they could of at least shown all of the Olympians. Also, the Titans are shown as rabid monkeys against the Gods. As far as I remember, they were equal to the Gods in strength and intellect. Lastly, the Eperius Bow was not as epic as they had built it up to be; especially the first time its shot, it sort of just happens.

All in all, the movie was what most people should expect from it. Well done fight scenes, stylized blood, gorgeous Frieda Pinto and Gods.

• Director: Brett Ratner
• Release Date: November 2011
• Writers: Ted Griffin, Jeff Nathanson
• Run Time: 104
• Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime

Tagline: Ordinary guys. An extraordinary robbery.

Review: This movie has a lot of star power with big comedians like Ben Stiller and Eddie Murray. Some of the marketing plays it up as a semicomedy or comparisons to the Oceans 11 movies. I was expecting to laugh. While there were some minor (very minor) chuckles, it was far from a comedy. As a pure heist movie, it was okay but when you factor in all the star power and potential, I had to rate it poorly.

Eddie Murray does have one mild rant but otherwise is way under utilized. I seldom like characters played by Alan Alda since the first few seasons of MASH and this was no exception. The fact he was trying to play an unlikeable character is beside the point I believe. Matthew Broderick was in the movie but there was really nothing about the part that showcased his talent. Tea Leonis FBI character was also confusing and it was like her characters motivation would change to fit whatever fit the plot at that particular moment. Ben Stiller did a good job but as with the others in the movie, there was very little of either the funny Stiller or the drama Stiller. What finished the movie off for me as a poor 3 out of 10 rating was the ending. No spoiler here about it except to say that the ending turned it from an okay unfunny heist movie to a movie I am very disappointed to have wasted my money to see.

I went with my wife and 2 children. I have not seen many movies at the theaters in the last few months. Looking at this movie along with the ~$65 I paid helps convince me I do not want to see many more. People beside me felt it appropriate to talk back to the screen frequently, someone in front of us might have had TB based on the amount of hacking coughing, someone behind my daughter had another discussion going on and overall I was left thinking I would rather have waited for the DVD, paid $1 and watched it in my living room. I hope theater owners wake up before it is too late for them.

• Director: Jesse Peretz
• Release Date: August 2011
• Writers: David Schisgall, Evgenia Peretz
• Run Time: 90
• Genre: Comedy, Drama

Tagline: Everyone Has One

Review: Rudd plays Ned, a stoner who has frizzled his neurons to the point that he has lost any ability to detect or dish out B.S. The poster child for what it means to be ingenuous, Ned is a trusting, playful, adorable stray puppy who isnt quite housebroken. So you-know-what hits the fan when his three sisters serially take him in after his release from jail. Hes nothing but tsuris. Its no wonder that his most enduring relationship is with his dog, Willie Nelson.

Thanks to Rudds everyman persona and the genial obliviousness he brings to Ned, you cant help but feel empathy. As with a suspense film where the audience knows whats going to happen but the characters are still in the dark, you want to yell out to warn Ned before he screws up again. His perfect comic timing and the made-to-order script make sure you get the most laughs from his predicament. Luckily, theres more to him than just bad luck. Hes also an endearing white angel on the shoulders of his sisters, helping them fight their devils as he becomes an unwitting catalyst for change.

The movies impressively talented and good-looking cast includes Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer, and Elizabeth Banks (looking a lot like Parker Posey) as sisters. Whats more, Rashinda Jones and Hugh Dancy add to the already high eye-candy quotient. Steve Coogan plays Neds deliciously distasteful brother-in-law in his inimitable unpleasant-guy way.

A fun ride throughout, the film only has a couple of weak spots. One scene has Ned comfortably telling a white lie, something so out of character it was jolting to the point of distraction. The ending could use some reshaping, and perhaps it might get some before general release. But even as is, this movie is about as charming and hilarious as Rudd can be, which is quite sizable.

• Director: Drake Doremus
• Release Date: November 2011
• Writers: Drake Doremus, Ben York Jones
• Run Time: 90
• Genre: Drama, Romance

Tagline: I want you – I need you – I love you – I miss you

Review: Just saw it at the Sundance Film Festival here in Park City, Utah. Like Crazy is a love story about the ups and the downs, the euphoria, the heartache, and the sacrifices. For those who dont know the plot, basically a British student, Anna, falls for Jacob, an American student. They fall for each other right away, and spend the summer together. However, she violates the stay of her student visa, and when she tries to return to L.A., she is denied. Thus, our two lovers are separated by distance and multiple levels of bureaucracy that prove to be most unfair. Can they make it work, and should they? Some have compared it to 500 Days of Summer, and there are a few similarities. The major difference is the lack of any unique narrative devices and that it is, in fact, a love story. First and foremost, let me say that Felicity Jones as Anna is a revelation. She owns the screen and was utterly charming and devastatingly beautiful. Theres a scene in the first 10 minutes after they spend their first evening together, and they sit on her bed, and a sense of tension but young awkwardness that fills the room. When the conversation falters out, she gives him a look that was filled with such delicate longing; fueled by the power of young love and the possibilities before them. It was in this moment that Anna, and Felicity, won me over. The chemistry between her and her co-star Anton was realistic and powerful. Much of the film was improvised; the director said he would often leave the camera rolling for twenty to thirty minutes at a time just to capture them together. It shows. I felt myself hoping and wishing for them to work it all out, to end up together.

The music is fantastic. It provides the heartbeat to the film and is a wonderful compliment. Its well edited – the film ultimately takes place over what seems to be a couple of years. Unlike early versions of the film, title cards have been removed and a series of jump cuts progresses the time. You have to pay close attention at times to have a firm grasp on the passage of time. There are moments when they are happy and together that are so iconic. Walking the streets of London, at times they looked like the cover of a Bob Dylan cover. Quick cuts of them together whether in LA or London are quite beautiful.

This film was obviously made based on real experiences, and the filmmakers admitted that it was the combination of many of their experiences. Its a realistic film. Things arent easy. You will smile and laugh and other times feel just as much despair as our characters. There are no easy answers in this film, and your ultimate interpretation and perhaps enjoyment of the film depends on what you bring to the table, and your feelings on love, and just how much you believe in it. This film should make Felicity Jones a star in the way that An Education benefited Carey Mulligan.