Chicago (2002)

It's necessary to step outside of your comfort zone from time to time, which accounts for my viewing of Chicago. I'm no stranger to musicals, but it was categorically the first time I've ever sat through the entirety of a film that featured Richard Gere. Happily, it wasn't the rags to riches story I feared it might be. In fact, it was far removed from any of the safe-route assumptions that I held in advance, so kudos to it for that.
Stage-struck dreamer Roxie (Zellweger) frequently uses her imagination to escape the reality she finds herself in, whereas Velma (Zeta-Jones) uses her established reputation to influence her own reality as best she can; in both cases it's the best acting from either lady that I've ever seen.
I've no urge to rewatch it but nor do I regret giving it my time. The songs are vibrant and timely, and the dialogue occasionally clever and sharp edged.

3 stocking fillers out of 5

The Mask of Zorro (1998)

The larger than life hero of the people fights a forgettable villain (with obligatory moustache) and woos a beautiful woman. Justice prevails.
The only genuinely unpredictable thing about the story is that no one hired Cheech to be a part of it. As contradictory as it is, if they had then I’d have at least been entertained by something beyond the fun swashbuckling characteristic that was a welcome throwback to a bygone era.

2 spirited dances out of 5

Blue Juice (1995)

Dramedy is often a synonym for crap, but occasionally something rises to the surface and exceeds expectations. Blue Juice is a film like that. It's about surfers but isn't set in California, it's set in Cornwall, the sticky-out bit at the SW of England. In place of sandy beaches are reefs, sharp and deadly. J.C and his friends spend their time semi-successfully dodging encroaching winds of change and responsibility while waiting for the waves. It has none of the resplendence of a Hollywood surf movie, but it has something much, much better - it has laughs and real heart.

3½ life-changing decisions out of 5

High Fidelity (2000)

John Cusack leads a fourth-wall breaking comedy drama based on a 1995 Nick Hornby novel of the same name (that I've not read). It’s about a guy in his mid-thirties, Rob, a record store owner, who lists his Top 5 relationship breakups as a means to put his current one in perspective. His incremental move toward acceptance of his own broken nature is cleverly edited and filled with sharp dialogue. Rob’s sullenness would be tiring if not for the contrasts afforded him by the people around him. In that respect, despite his shakiness, he’s the rock upon which all other aspects of the film depend.

3½ professional appreciators out of 5

SIDE EFFECTS [2013]

Director Steven Soderbergh crafts a very Hitchcock-ian psychological thriller with the twisty 'n turny Side Effects.
Rooney Mara towers over the rest of the cast with a stunning performances as a mentally ill young woman that is both sympathetically frightening and disturbingly mournful.  Soderbergh paces each reveal and scene with compelling and intense delicacy that proves when given the right script he can do much more than just style over substance.  It starts to lose it's balance a bit with all the weight it's carrying in the final act but makes up for it with intrigue and mystery.

4 sleepwalkers out of 5

RED 2 [2013]

Galaxy Quest director Dean Parisot slips into the director's chair for the sequel to the 2010 action/comedy Red.
Once again Bruce Willy does what he does best and that's not take his action acting too seriously making for a pretty fun ride.  Mary Louise-Parker scene steals like no tomorrow with her adorably funny performance, while Helen Mirren & Byung Hun Lee bring an awesome Fast & Furious attitude with some wicked guns and vehicular carnage.  It's still wildly violent to the point of ridiculousness but manages to never keep a straight-face while the bullets fly and bones snap 'n crack.  As much fun as the film is, it's a bit too generic and feels like we've seen this story over and over and over again, leading me to believe if not for the fantastic cast it'd be pretty dull.

3 tingles for a Pringle out of 5

Intolerable Cruelty (2003)

Gold-diggers and rich idiots are a perfect match; they deserve each other. Intolerable Cruelty mixes the formula up a little, but not enough to make it fresh. After a great start it loses momentum early and becomes utterly predictable. Predictability doesn't usually matter with Coen brothers films because it’s about the characters and the chase; it has the characters (one especially memorable one played by Clooney) but the chase is of a different kind. If you've got nothing better to watch, it’ll fill 100 minutes.

2½ looking for an ass to mount out of 5