The Mechanic

Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) is a 'mechanic' - an elite assassin with a strict code and unique talent for cleanly eliminating targets. It's a job that requires professional perfection and total detachment, and Bishop is the best in the business. But when his mentor and close friend Harry (Donald Sutherland) is murdered, Bishop is anything but detached. His next assignment is self-imposed - he wants those responsible dead. His mission grows complicated when Harry's son Steve (Ben Foster) approaches him with the same vengeful goal and a determination to learn Bishop's trade. Bishop has always acted alone but he can't turn his back on Harry's son. A methodical hit man takes an impulsive student deep into his world and a deadly partnership is born. But while in pursuit of their ultimate mark, deceptions threaten to surface and those hired to fix problems become problems themselves.

This movie is exactly what you would expect from the trailer. It's like an 80s action throwback with lots of fighting, explosions and shooting. Jason Statham is pretty much a smaller version of Arnold and Stallone at this point and the movie could have easily been called Transporter 4. All of that being said, I enjoyed it. I always have liked movies like this. I'm a big fan of ocassionally going to the movies and just not having to think and enjoyeing some serious ass kicking. This one was even kind enough to throw in some twists and turns to the story that ultimately doesn't matter but someone has to get screenwriter credits.

If you are an action fan - you can't go wrong with this movie at all. If you are not - you shouldn't touch this movie with a twenty foot pole.

The Rite

Inspired by true events, The Rite follows skeptical seminary student Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue), who reluctantly attends exorcism school at the Vatican. While he's in Rome, Michael meets an unorthodox priest, Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), who introduces him to the darker side of his faith, uncovering the devil's reach even to one of the holiest places on Earth.

Another January snoozer. This movie looked like it might be creepy enough to be enjoyable. I have a hard enough time getting in to exorcist movies because it's pretty much the same thing over and over again. This one was no different and all of the creepiness from the trailer was just really good editing. The only time I jumped was when a cat jumped past a window. Outside of that - no scares at all.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering to go see this. Its not worth your time or money.

No Strings Attached

In this comedy, Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) are life-long friends who almost ruin everything by having sex one morning. In order to protect their friendship, they make a pact to keep their relationship strictly "no strings attached." "No strings" means no jealousy, no expectations, no fighting, no flowers, no baby voices. It means they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, in whatever public place they want, as long as they don't fall in love. The question becomes- who's going to fall first? And can their friendship survive?

This movie was actually pretty enjoyable. It was totally formula in every way but I liked it anyway. There was good chemistry from Kutcher and Portman. The supporting characters provided great humor and one liners. The story hooks you enough that you root for the two main characters.

I didn't remotely think I would, but I would recommend people checking this movie out. I know it's been extremely slim pickings so far but this is the most enjoyable of 2011's releases so far.

Blue Valentine

Blue Valentine is the story of love found and love lost told in past and present moments in time. Flooded with romantic memories of their courtship, Dean and Cindy use one night to try and save their failing marriage. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams star in this honest portrait of a relationship on the rocks.

This is another one of those artsy movies that critics praise for being so "real" and well acted so everyone flocks to see it based on the reviews and it ends up being artsy fartsy garbage. Real? It's a back and forth in the timeline of a couples' relationship where we pretty much get to watch them shoot the $hit as they get to know each other and then bicker as a married couple. Movies like these afe always only as good as the hook of the characters. I felt no hook for either of them at all and didn't care about where their relationship is going.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this one. It's nowhere near as good as the reviews make it out to be and I wasn't impressed with either of the "award worthy" performances.

The Green Hornet

Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) is the son of LA's most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to maintain a directionless existence on the party scene – until his father (Tom Wilkinson) mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father's more industrious and inventive employees, Kato (Jay Chou), they see their chance to do something meaningful for the first time in their lives: fight crime. But in order to do this, they decide to become criminals themselves – protecting the law by breaking it, Britt becomes the vigilante The Green Hornet as he and Kato hit the streets. Using all his ingenuity and skill, Kato builds the ultimate in advanced retro weaponry, The Black Beauty, an indestructible car equal parts firepower and horsepower. Rolling in a mobile fortress on wheels and striking the bad guys with Kato's clever gadgets, The Green Hornet and Kato quickly start making a name for themselves, and with the help of Britt's new secretary, Lenore Case (Cameron Diaz), they begin hunting down the man who controls LA's gritty underworld: Benjamin Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz). But Chudnofsky has plans of his own: to swat down The Green Hornet once and for all.

This movie could have been a really funny movie if they wanted to go for comedy. This movie could have been a really great action movie if they wanted to zero in on that. This movie could have been a really good action comedy if they wanted to shave about 30 minutes off of the overdone and unncecessary "story". Unfortunately, none of these things happened. Why the keys to this whole thing were handed to Seth Rogen is completely beyond me. It took them about 10 minutes to get to the whole Green Hornet part of the movie so I still can't figure out why this movie is 2 hours long. The action ended up being slapsticky and stupid at times and I really found myself just wanting this movie to end so that I could go home.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone going to check this one out. It's just another prime example of no matter how a movie is packaged, if it's coming out in January it is crap.

The Dilemma

Since college, confirmed bachelor Ronny (Vaughn) and happily married Nick (James) have been through thick and thin. Now partners in an auto design firm, the two pals are vying to land a dream project that would launch their company. With Ronny's girlfriend, Beth (Connelly), and Nick's wife, Geneva (Ryder), by their sides, they're unbeatable. But Ronny's world is turned upside down when he inadvertently sees Geneva out with another man and makes it his mission to get answers. As the amateur investigation dissolves his world into comic mayhem, he learns that Nick has a few secrets of his own. Now, with the clock ticking and pressure mounting on the biggest presentation of their careers, Ronny must decide how and when he will reveal the truth to his best friend.

I didn't really expect too much from this movie. Sadly, I got less. And this is coming from someone who loves Kevin James and doesn't find Vince Vaughn's act tired. This movie is the definition of just there. I laughed once or twice. That's it. And this was directed by Ron Howard!? The Ron Howard!? What the hell!?! How much did attaching himself to the albatross that is the DaVinci Code movies kill his career?

I wouldn't really recommend this movie to anyone. It's a pretty big waste of time. I spent most of the movie thinking of better things I could be doing with my time.

The Company Men

Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) is living the American dream: great job, beautiful family, shiny Porsche in the garage. When corporate downsizing leaves him and co-workers Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper) and Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones) jobless, the three men are forced to re-define their lives as men, husbands, and fathers. Bobby soon finds himself enduring enthusiastic life coaching, a job building houses for his brother-in-law (Kevin Costner) which does not play to his executive skill set, and perhaps the realization that there is more to life than chasing the bigger, better deal. With humor, pathos, and keen observation, writer-director John Wells introduces us to the new realities of American life.

This was a great character drama looking in to corporate America and how people make a living in today's world. The four male leads all put in great and realistic performances. It made me despise big business even more than I do already. I didn't think that was possible.

I would recommend people checking this movie out . . . . . especially with the way things are at present time with unemployment and what not. It's not a must see by any means but is a quality and enjoyable watch.

Season Of The Witch

Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman star in this supernatural action adventure about a heroic Crusader and his closest friend who return home after decades of fierce fighting, only to find their world destroyed by the Plague. The church elders, convinced that a girl accused of being a witch is responsible for the devastation, command the two to transport the strange girl to a remote monastery where monks will perform an ancient ritual to rid the land of her curse. They embark on a harrowing, action-filled journey that will test their strength and courage as they discover the girl's dark secret and find themselves battling a terrifyingly powerful force that will determine the fate of the world.


Bla bla bla goes the plot bio of this movie. This movie is a textbook January release. Its release has been pushed back numerous times. It has one little hook of medieval times/witchcraft. It stars Nicolas Cage. Seriously, this guy's movies are made for either January or September. I expected very little going in to this movie and I got exactly that. I figured it would be garbage and it pretty much was.


I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their time with this. The action is lame. The story is fast forwarded and forced. The acting is par level with the rest of Nicolas Cage movies. You were warned.

Country Strong

Soon after a rising young singer-songwriter (Hedlund) gets involved with a fallen, emotionally unstable country star (Paltrow), the pair embarks on a career resurrection tour helmed by her husband/manager (McGraw) and featuring a beauty-queen-turned-singer (Meester). Between concerts, romantic entanglements and old demons threaten to derail them all.

This is one of those textbook overly melodramatic movies. They pulled all sorts of heartstrings regarding friendship, relationships, marriages, etc. all to a great country music soundtrack. That being said, I found it decently watchable. Either that or I just enjoyed the music and was able to not drown in the waa-waa.

I would lukewarmly recommend this movie. Its not necessarily a good movie. Its kind of watchable though. The bottom line is that if you were interested in seeing it after the trailer - you will probably enjoy it. If you weren't - you will think its garbage.

How Do You Know

Lisa (Witherspoon) is a woman whose athletic ability is the defining passion of her life, having been her focus since early childhood. When she is cut from her team, everything she has ever known is suddenly taken from her. Not knowing what to do, she stumbles toward regular life. In this mode, she begins a fling with Matty (Wilson), a major league baseball pitcher, a self-centered ladies man – a narcissist with a code of honor. George (Rudd) is a straight-arrow businessman whose complicated relationship with his father, Charles (Nicholson), takes a turn when George is accused of a financial crime, even though he's done nothing wrong. Though he may be headed to jail, George's honesty, integrity, and unceasing optimism may be his only path to keeping his sanity. Before Lisa's relationship with Matty takes root, she meets George for a first date on the worst evening of each of their lives: she has just been cut, and he has just been served. When everything else seems to be falling apart, they will discover what it means to have something wonderful happen.

I gave this movie the 20 minute lithmus test and barely made it. I can't believe how annoying and unhooking this movie was. Look at the cast. Look at the director. I am usually a sucker for romantic comedies. However, this movie was so bad that I found myself rooting against the characters after only 15 minutes. Just plain bad.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering to watch this. I know I will never bother watching the rest of it because I couldn't care less if any of the build up I saw works out for any of them.

The Ten Best Movies Of 2010

Honorable Mention - Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - Part 1

Seriously, people. We are 7 movies deep in this franchise and they are all awesome. Hell, the last couple of them have gotten better each time. This one was the most true to the book so far. That's both good and bad. Regardless, they pulled off the splitting it in half thing much better than I expected

10. IT'S A TIE!!!! The A-Team and Despicable Me

I had to have both of these movies on this list. I have always been a huge sucker for brainless summer action movies. Couple that with the fact that The A-Team was my favorite show growing up and I loved this movie. Despicable Me is by far the most watched movie by me for the year. I laugh my a$$ off like a little kid every time. May not be top 10 material but it's absolutely one of my all time favs.

9. Shutter Island

I didn't really expect too much from this movie and called the big swerve months prior just by watching the trailer. However, they still kept me just as intrigued even knowing that plot twist was coming.

8. Toy Story 3

Pixar doesn't do bad movies. I was kind of upset that they were going back to the well on Toy Story. I'm a big fan of leaving a good thing alone. However, this not only was a great follow up but featured one of the greatest send offs I've ever seen with Andy describing each of the toys to the little girl at the end. Cried like a bitch and not afraid to admit it.

7. The King's Speech

I'm usually bored out of my mind with these well made history biopics. I had no faith in liking a movie about a king getting over a stutter. That sounded about as sleep inducing as Nyquil. However, I was dead wrong and was completely in to this movie and the friendship between the two main characters. Excellent movie sure to get nominated for tons of awards.

6. The Town

I'm going to have to say that Ben Affleck is a much better writer/director than an actor. This movie was part Heat and part Good Will Hunting - two of my all time favs. Spending so much of my childhood at Fenway Park where the big finale takes place just made it all even better.

5. 127 Hours

Never thought I would be able to put James Franco in the same league as Tom Hanks or Will Smith with beaing able to carry a movie by himself. Literally just him and the audience for about 90 minutes. I think he put forth the best actor performance of the year in this film and Danny Boyle continues to ascend towards one of the greatest directors in Hollywood.

4. Black Swan

This movie was by far the biggest surprise of the year for me. I didn't see this one coming at all and didn't remotely think I could be so intrigued by a movie about ballet. The side by side development of the ballet's story and transformation of Natalie Portman's character was beyond well done. This is one of the better psychological thrillers to come along in a very long time.

3. The Social Network

David Fincher is starting to become just as automatic as Christopher Nolan. This movie was well directed, well scripted and amazingly acted by a cast of under the radar guys. I have always hated Facebook and this movie made my hate for it even more valid. Great story that is sure to win many accolades in the next coming months.

2. How To Train Your Dragon

This is my second most watched movie of the year. I could not get enough of this. The story was original and endearing. The charcters and family/culture storylines were well written. And I'll admit the fact that the main dragon looks and acts EXACTLY like my cat, whom I consider to be my son definitely helped me love this movie even more. The bonding scene between the dragon and the boy makes me tear up every time I watch it.

1. Inception

It is truly beyond me how everyone does not have this as number one on their list. This is one of those once a decade movie going experiences. This is easily the biggest mind f#ck of all time. This is what story telling is all about. Beyond in depth. So many levels. Left open to debate and interpretation. Christopher Nolan truly reached icon status with this amazing effort.

The Ten Worst Movies Of 2010

Dishonorable Mention - The Last Airbender

This is probably one of the worst big budget summer blockbusters that I have ever seen.

10. The American

Maybe if this was advertised as an artsy fartsy academy award season type movie, I might have been able to enjoy it. However, advertising it like one of the Bourne movies with George Clooney and serving this pile of steaming dung up is unforgivable.

9. Jonah Hex

Didn't Josh Brolin establish himself as a legit actor the last couple of years? What the hell was he thinking here. And John Malkovich!?! What happened to you, sir!?!

8. A Nightmare On Elm Street

I've actually been okay with most of the remakes that have flooded the zone the last couple of years. The original Nightmare scared the living hell out of me. This one was boring. I was bored watching people get killed. No suspense. No scares. Not even the great wit that made Freddy so creepy. Just crap.

7. Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore

Do I really have to explain why this movie is on the list? The fact that it was number 7 shows just how truly bad this year was!!!

6. Killers

Katherine Heigl whined her way off of Grey's Anatomy for this kind of garbage? She just keeps making the same movie over and over again. This one was probably the worst. I contemplated breaking my computer screen because this was on it.

5 - Babies

What the hell? 90 minutes of babies crying. One in Africa. One in America. One in Mongolia. And one somewhere else I can't remember. All crying. For 90 minutes. Again, what the hell?

4 - MacGruber

Maybe this was a somewhat funny skit on SNL. Stopped watching years ago so I have no idea. Regardless, I pulled the plug on this after not laughing or even smiling for 34 minutes.

3 - The Warrior's Way

Huge fan of kung fu movies. Always have been. The trailer made this look like a simple stupid movie to take my mind of things while watching people kick each other's asses. However, I can't even describe the level of insane absurdity that was in this piece of garbage.

2 - Furry Vengeance

I understand the need for Hollywood to milk money out of parents with cheesy kids movies. I can tolerate a Daddy Day Care or a Yogi Bear. But this? This is just the dictionary definition of insulting. Screw you guys responsible for making this!

1 - Splice

This movie spiralled so out of control and became so bad that it's the type of movie I would actually recommend people watching just to see how bad it was. The whole clone story was actually interesting at first, but then it just sort of fell of the tracks and snowballed so completely out of control. I still find myself shaking my head with the WTF look on my face just thinking about it.