Screen Rant » 4 star movies

‘Super 8′ Review

Kofi Outlaw — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:42:07 +0000

Screen Rant’s Kofi Outlaw Reviews Super 8

Super 8 has had something of a confusing marketing campaign leading up to its release. Some people know it as ‘that J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg movie,’ while others know it as ‘that Goonies-meets-ET‘ throwback flick.’ Then there are others (many others) who won’t have the faintest idea what this film is all about.

As with any movie, it’s important to approach Super 8 with your expectations properly aligned to what the film has to offer – and in this case, that offering is a mix of nostalgia, thrills, and good-old-fashioned movie magic, conjured by a cast of charmingly funny and talented young actors.

Despite all of its creature-feature promises, the story of the film ...

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‘Bridesmaids’ Review

Vic Holtreman — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:16:06 +0000

Screen Rant’s Vic Holtreman reviews Bridesmaids

Well, Hell. I’ve found a chick flick that I loved and my wife would no doubt hate. Go figure.

That should be your first hint that Bridesmaids is most certainly not for everyone – but if you’re a fan of really out there, vulgar Apatow-style comedies this movie should satisfy your funny bone big time.

Right from the opening line (which without a doubt tops any first line of dialog I’ve ever heard in a movie) it is clear what you’re in for. Bridesmaids is the story of Annie (Kristen Wiig), an attractive woman in her mid-30s who’s been through a business failure and can’t seem to find a man who will appreciate her and treat her right. She seems to be on a self-defeating ...

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‘The Greatest Movie Ever Sold’ Review

Kofi Outlaw — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 21:06:56 +0000

With documentaries like Super Size Me and Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden - or even his TV series 30 Days, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock has carved out a niche as ‘that guy’ who doesn’t much tear down American culture so much as poke at and deconstruct it, while somehow also celebrating it. (Or, at the very least, acknowledging our shared cultural complacency.)

In The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (actually titled POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold), Spurlock sets his cultural insights on a new target: the world of marketing and the advertising industry. However, in a fabulous twist, the filmmaker partners with the very brands and advertisers he hopes to examine in order to make the very movie which will ...

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‘Hanna’ Review

Kofi Outlaw — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:11:38 +0000

Screen Rant’s Kofi Outlaw Reviews Hanna

The classic princess fairytale is currently being thoroughly deconstructed and reassembled for the modern movie audience, and so far the results have been a mix of spot-on modern sensibility (Tangled) or, more often, a spotty patchwork of undercooked ideas (Alice In Wonderland, Red Riding Hood, Sucker Punch).

Out of this struggle to find a new way to spin the “damsel in distress” tale comes Hanna, director Joe Wright’s (Atonement) unique vision of the fairytale princess reinvented as Jason Bourne.

The plot is classic fairytale with a modern edge: Once upon a time, a young girl named Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) lived with her father, a former CIA agent (Eric Bana), in the forest. Daddy taught daughter everything he knew and trained her to be the best little warrior she could ...

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‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Review

Vic Holtreman — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:31:15 +0000

Screen Rant’s Vic Holtreman reviews The Lincoln Lawyer

The Lincoln Lawyer started off for me on the right note. The opening credits started the film with some cool retro-sounding music and a definite early 70s vibe to the visuals, so it got some points from out out of the gate. The film wastes no time in introducing us to Matthew McConaughey as Mick Haller, a slick lawyer with more than a touch of con man who practices law out of an old Lincoln Continental and defends accused criminals who would otherwise be depending on a public defendant. Of course he doesn’t do this pro-bono, but instead makes some very good coin which usually comes from the ill-gotten gains of those he defends.

He’s always on the lookout for a ...

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The Adjustment Bureau Review

Rob Frappier — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:14:52 +0000

Screen Rant’s Rob Frappier reviews The Adjustment Bureau

The Adjustment Bureau is being billed as an Inception-style thriller. It’s not. Unlike Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending action spectacular, The Adjustment Bureau is a much more subtle film, augmenting a relatively straightforward plot with strong performances and just enough science-fiction fluff to get the audience thinking.

Thinking about what? Why, only one of the most important questions of all: The question of free will.

David Norris (Matt Damon, playing the affable regular guy persona he’s been perfecting since Good Will Hunting) is a rising politician in New York. He’s young but popular with voters, appealing to a wide range of demographics thanks to his unique Brooklyn upbringing. Emily Blunt plays Elise Sellas, a beautiful and impetuous dancer.

In a delightful “Meet Cute,” the pair hit it ...

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True Grit Review

Vic Holtreman — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:36:11 +0000

Screen Rant’s Vic Holtreman Reviews True Grit

For anyone concerned that this review will spend a lot of time comparing the Coen brothers’ remake of True Grit to the 1969 original, you’re in luck – it’s been many years since I watched the one with John Wayne, so you’ll be getting a “stand alone” review of this latest film.

It’s a simple story: The daughter of a murdered father in the Old West is out for justice against the man who did the deed – but with an unlikely protagonist… a 14 year old girl. The girl enlists an old, rough-hewn man of the law to help her track down and capture the villain. It’s a character-driven film and its success or ...

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‘Unstoppable’ Review

Vic Holtreman — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:24:46 +0000

Screen Rant’s Vic Holtreman Reviews Unstoppable

This is the second “train movie” in a row for director Tony Scott. His previous film was the remake The Taking of Pelham 123, and now we have have Unstoppable, a film “inspired by true events” (aka very loosely based on a real even with many liberties taken). Both films have something in common: A “retro” feel that reminds one of movies made back in the 70s through early 80s.

Unstoppable is loosely based on the story of a runaway train in Ohio back in 2001, where two railroad workers went above and beyond, managing to bring it to a stop. Here the two workers are rookie conductor Will (Chris Pine) and 28 year veteran engineer Frank (Denzel ...

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127 Hours Review

Ben Kendrick — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:29:44 +0000

Screen Rant’s Ben Kendrick reviews 127 Hours

Director Danny Boyle has joined forces with his Slumdog Millionaire production team for 127 Hours, the adaptation of climber Aron Ralston’s real-life, five-day struggle to survive in the Utah wilderness after his right arm was pinned by a boulder. The result is a gripping film that not only does the story justice, but manages to present it with a compelling visual style – as well as offering a great performance from James Franco.

However, 127 Hours is not for the faint of heart – or the weak of stomach.

In case you’re unfamiliar with 127 Hours, or Ralston’s autobiography, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, upon which the film is based, here’s the official synopsis from Fox Searchlight Pictures:

“127 Hours is the true story of mountain climber ...

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‘Hereafter’ Review

Ben Kendrick — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:49:50 +0000

Screen Rant’s Ben Kendrick reviews Hereafter

A lot of media outlets have described Clint Eastwood’s latest film, Hereafter as the famed director’s foray into sci-fi drama. It’s a clever marketing angle, especially around Halloween, but the assertion is hollow fluff – designed for catchy headlines. If you think Hereafter is a sci-fi movie, you probably missed the film’s most prominent message.

Instead of a Sixth Sense clone, the film is a hard-hitting character drama centered around life’s greatest mystery: death. It does this by offering a variety of perspectives on the subject: a near death experience, a lingering grief, and a complicated “gift.” Even at the age of 80, Eastwood carefully manages three story threads – piecing together a somber but empowering film that finds a solid balance between servicing the characters and the filmmaker’s message.

In ...

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Paranormal Activity 2 Review

Vic Holtreman — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 07:29:28 +0000

Screen Rant’s Vic Holtreman Reviews Paranormal Activity 2

The first Paranormal Activity was a seemingly simple little movie made for $11,000, and then by some miracle spared a big budget remake and released a year ago as made (with a slight change to the original ending). It was one of those movies that people either “got” and loved, or didn’t, and hated.

It went on to make almost $200 million worldwide.

Go figure.

As you can imagine, Paramount (which distributed the first film with a clever “Demand It” viral campaign) figured this was ripe for a sequel – and much like the Saw franchise (actually it’s the only thing it has in common with that series of films) they cranked a second film out for release a year ...

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Secretariat Review

Paul Young — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 04:21:22 +0000

Screen Rant’s Paul Young reviews Secretariat

Secretariat is a wonderfully written film that is beautifully shot and a joy to watch. Writer Mike Rich deserves quite a bit of credit because he’s managed to bring depth to the story and warmth to the characters – specifically Penny Chenery Tweedy (Diane Lane) and Big Red (Secretariat). By combining creative storytelling with characters audiences will care about, Rich was able to overcome what could have been an obstacle: most people will watch the movie already knowing how it ends.

Diane Lane gives a superb performance as Penny Chenery Tweedy, the housewife turned prestigious racehorse owner, as she copes with the loss of her mother and father. She is thrown into the male dominated world of horse breeding in order to save her father’s farm, ...

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Buried Review

Ben Kendrick — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 02:00:42 +0000

Screen Rant’s Ben Kendrick reviews Buried

Buried isn’t a big-budget comic book film or a 3D CGI extravaganza, but it’s still one of the most thrilling films of the year. Don’t let the simple “man in a box” concept fool you – director Rodrigo Cortés (The Contestant) utilizes a number of slick storytelling devices to portray a claustrophobic – and ultimately enjoyable – experience on film.

Despite Buried‘s upcoming wide release (on October 8th), and high-profile star (Ryan Reynolds), the movie is more indie-film than suspense thriller. The scope is extremely limited, with numerous close-ups on Reynolds’ blood-spattered face or awkward, angled shots focused on a dark corner of the pine box.

Reynolds gives a memorable performance as Paul Conroy, a U.S. Contractor working in Iraq who is kidnapped and buried alive inside a coffin as a form ...

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‘Inside Job’ Review

Kofi Outlaw — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:45:15 +0000

Screen Rant’s Kofi Outlaw reviews Inside Job

Inside Job is the newest documentary from Charles Ferguson, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind No End in Sight, a documentary that pondered the long-term impact of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

With Inside Job, Ferguson once again performs a much needed public service, piercing the veils of mass media and politics in order to offer a comprehensive and accessible look at the root causes behind the 2008 global economic crisis.

Politics were raging back in 2008, but no matter what side of that line you stood on, all Americans (and many citizens of the world beyond our borders) were gripped by fear as the American economy (and thereafter the global economy) ground to a halt with the collapse of AIG, one the largest insurance corporations in America.

The crisis began ...

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‘The Town’ Review

Kofi Outlaw — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 14:56:23 +0000

Screen Rant’s Kofi Outlaw Reviews The Town

In 2007, Ben Affleck’s feature-length directorial debut Gone Baby Gone hit theaters, proving something that few of us had ever dared to imagine: that Ben Affleck is a pretty good director. Back then, the actor/writer/director/die-hard Boston native still had the shadow of his tabloid celebrity image clinging to his back, but the quality of work he put out with Gone Baby Gone was enough to reverse that perception and return some of the respect that Affleck had lost while living in front of the perpetual light of paparazzi flash bulbs.

With his second directorial feature, The Town, Affleck seemed poised to silence even the most ardent critics who refuse to accept his transition back from pretty boy celeb to the gifted artist who sprung to fame in ...

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I’m Still Here Review

Mike Eisenberg — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:12:35 +0000

Screen Rant’s Mike Eisenberg Reviews I’m Still Here

Ever since Joaquin Phoenix publicly announced his retirement from acting, (some) people have been aching to know one thing: Was the announcement real or a hoax? News of a documentary by brother-in-law/fellow actor Casey Affleck only furthered suspicion that it all might have been for show. Now that I’m Still Here is in theaters, the answer is still as ambiguous as ever.

But in the end, it really doesn’t matter. Whether the story is true or not (a debate that is sure to rage for a long time after this), the film nonetheless presents a story – about a man searching for his true identity in the often fake world of celebrity – that is as gripping and moving as any indie or ...

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Toy Story 3 Review

Vic Holtreman — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:15:55 +0000

Screen Rant’s Vic Holtreman reviews Toy Story 3

Have I mentioned recently how much I love Pixar? When you have a company creating film after film, and the worst thing that you can say about its weakest (Cars) is that it was “just good,” then you have a once in a lifetime company to be treasured – and those who run it should be thanked endlessly for their work.

Some people raised an eyebrow when Toy Story 3 was announced. Was Pixar being strong-armed by Disney just to squeeze more money out of a brand consisting of two excellent movies? Were they running out of original ideas (snicker… RIGHT). Well now that it’s done, let’s be supremely thankful that Pixar veterans Lee Unkrich, John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton brought the now familiar gang ...

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The A-Team Review

Vic Holtreman — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:15:59 +0000

Screen Rant’s Vic Holtreman reviews The A-Team

It’s been a fairly weak 2010 summer movie season… Iron Man 2 was OK but didn’t live up to the first film, Nightmare on Elm Street was mediocre at best, some folks liked Robin Hood (although it’s not what I’d call summer movie fare), Get Him to the Greek had its moments but was no Hangover and despite trying hard, The Losers was, well, a loser. At least we had Kick-Ass…

So while there hasn’t been anything that you could really call a summer popcorn movie home run, I’m here to tell you that The A-Team comes pretty darn close.

I’m sure most of you know that The A-Team was a kitschy action TV series that ran in the mid-1980s. It starred George Peppard, Dirk Benedict, Dwight ...

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‘Splice’ Review

Vic Holtreman — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:52:58 +0000

Screen Rant‘s Vic Holtreman reviews Splice

We first mentioned Splice way back in November 2007. Guillermo del Toro (Blade 2, Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth) was producing and Vincenzo Natali (director and co-writer of the cult classic Cube) was set to direct. It took a while to make it to the screen, premiered in Spain last November and had its real debut at Sundance this year. And now U.S. theater goers finally have their chance to get totally creeped out by it.

Right from the start, you’ll be wondering what you’re in for with some of the creepiest opening credits I’ve seen in a film. Splice stars Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley as Clive Nikolai and Elsa Cast, a scientist couple who are at the forefront of genetic engineering. Their latest creations are “Fred and ...

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[REC] 2 Review

Ross Miller — Sun, 30 May 2010 19:48:12 +0000

Warning: The following review contains some SPOILERS about the first [REC] and some mild ones about [REC] 2.

Those of you lucky enough to have seen the Spanish language horror film [REC] will hopefully agree that it was one of the scariest and most effective films of its type in years (for me it goes on a list of “all time best”). It took a well-trodden sub-genre of horror – the zombie film – and injected fresh life into it.

And I can’t remember any other time I was as freaked out in a theater as I was watching that film.

With the way the first film ended it was really no surprise that there was going to be a [REC] 2. The thing that makes the idea of a sequel OK is that the original filmmakers – ...

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