Autumn In New York (2000)

Starring: Winona Ryder, Richard Gere, Anthony LaPaglia

Director: Joan Chen

Thoughts On Autumn In New York

1. Utter tear-inducing, female leaning crap.
2. Wait, Joan Chen from Twin Peaks directed this. How?
3. How does Richard Gere run a restaurant yet seemingly have unlimited free time? The restaurant business is difficult and time consuming.
4. Glad to see Winona Ryder is seemingly done with the whole acting think.
5. Cool to see semi-younger JK Simmons and Vera Farmiga. Oh, and yes a semi-younger Elaine Stritch! She's one of the few highlights of 30 Rock

Rating: 3

Rating Breakdown

3 points - I'm really into Twin Peaks right now. Giving Joan Chen a break.

The Kids Are All Right (2010)

Starring: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo

Director: Lisa Cholodenko

Thoughts On The Kids Are All Right

*****SPOILER ALERT***

1. Solid movie that has no right to be a Best Picture nominee. The 10 nominee rule is just awful.
2. Hated the relationship between Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. I know the temptation is always there when dealing with homosexuality in a narrative but some homosexuals are you know, actually homosexual.
3. For the record, Julianne Moore in a sex scene is always great.
4. Mark Ruffalo always brings the goods. Very happy about his nom.

Rating: 7

Rating Breakdown

7 points - I can't be funny when the movie is actually good!

Fast Five (2011)

Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster

Director: Justin Lin

Thoughts On Fast Five

1. Unapologetic over the top thrill ride that never once parodies the genre or franchise.
2. Pure weekend getaway fun. Leave all pretentiousness at home.
3. Vin Diesel is fine in his role but his thinly veiled allusions to his grander schemes get old. See the movie and you'll know what I'm referring to.
4. In the last installment I found it humorous how Vin Diesel and Paul Walker were both humbled after their careers fizzled out and they returned to the franchise. After rolling in stacks of money there is no more humbling to be had.
5. Oh yeah, I almost forgot...the friggin Rock is in this.
6. But seriously, the Rock does in fact inject new lifeblood into the franchise as the Diesel vs. Rock showdown is nicely built up.
7. I'm on Team Bring It.

Rating: 7

Rating Breakdown

4 points- I smell what Dwayne is cookin'

3 points - Physics defied.

Water For Elephants (2011)

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz

Director: Francis Lawrence

Thoughts On Water For Elephants

1. Seemingly fine movie but when the focal point becomes a romance between two leads with no romantic chemistry then we suddenly have a problem.
2. Between this and Remember Me, at what point do I start feeling bad for Pattinson?
3. Oh wait, I don't. He's rich and famous.
4. Christoph Waltz once again brings the goods yet I constantly expected him to start hunting jews at any given moment.
5. Overall more than I expected. It also looked pretty. Refined commentary coming at you.

Rating: 5

Rating Breakdown

2 points - I just don't like Reese Witherschpinzen yet at the same time I kind of do.

3 points - I like circuses...is what Sam would say to defend really liking this movie.

Hanna (2011)

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett

Director: Joe Wright

Thoughts On Hanna

1. Contains every element of an action thriller and executes every element exceedingly well.
2. Saoirse Ronan is wise beyond her years and convincingly pulls off elaborate action/fight sequences.
3. Interesting choice of Joe Wright directing this as this genre is not his forte. Clearly his contributions are massive as he procures great performances from all his actors; especially Cate Blanchett.
4. The Chemical Brothers soundtrack is just better than anything any of us will ever make. Ever.
5. Whoever that little English girl was; great stuff.

Rating: 8

Rating Breakdown

4 points - a kick ass 16 year old girl for the pedophile, sadomasochist in all of us!

2 points - ima buy the soundtrack

2 points - the ending. no spoilers.

Insidious (2011)

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey

Director: James Wan

Thoughts On Insidious

1. Decent concept helmed by an experienced writer/director combo that ultimately just never enters the realm of great horror.
2. Bad acting, also a lot of bad acting.
3. Barbara Hershey?
4. The PG-13 rating really bogs down a lot of the film as James Wan of Saw fame clearly can do a lot more with an R rating.
5. The "further" element kind of makes the movie lose all it's steam.
6. Despite it's setbacks, Wan and Whannell still can pack in the scares and suspense.

Rating: 5

Rating Breakdown

5 points - I jumped a few times. Also bonus points because I just feel bad for Patrick Wilson.

Lottery Ticket (2010)

Starring: Bow Wow, Brandon T. Jackson, Naturi Naughton

Director: Erik White

Thoughts On Lottery Ticket

1. A movie clearly not targeted at my demographic that actually works and is enjoyable.
2. Quite an eclectic cast of a former child rapper, the satyr from Percy Jackson/ Alpa Chino, a former member of 3LW and CHARLIE MURPHY!
3. Question: Are these types of movies supposed to discourage stereotypes or applaud them? I often think the latter.
4. CHARLIE MURPHY
5. I really hope it was just makeup because damn Ice Cube looks old.

Rating: 6

Rating Breakdown

3 points - goofy "black" comedy that doesn't take the First Sunday route of being too goofy or the Roscoe Jenkins route of being not funny.

3 points - Where the white people at?