Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

Adam Sandler plays Barry Egan, a lonely, anxious man full of repressed rage, who attempts to court romance while finding himself the subject of extortion. The title is apt because this movie washes over you with colors and sounds that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, as dark and fucked up as it all is boiling beneath the surface. An absurdist romantic tale that still remains my favorite Paul Thomas Anderson film and one of Sandler's best roles to date.

5 pudding cups out of 5

The Ides of March (2011)

US Politics = yawn. But when the cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, and George Clooney (who also directed the feature and contributed to the adaptation of the source play, Farragut North, by Beau Willimon) then I'm damn well going to watch it regardless!
It's a well-made melodrama, but unfortunately the main focus of the story is a junior campaign manager played by Ryan Gosling who's about as interesting as a paper cut, although it's a welcome relief that it isn't all about the election campaign itself. Gosling's character comes alive a little during his interactions with a young female intern named Molly (great work by Evan Rachel Wood), but not enough to make me care about his role.

3 job descriptions out of 5

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 2 [2015]

Director Francis Lawrence finally brings The Hunger Games films series to a close with Mockingjay - Part 2, the 2nd part of the adaptation of the final book.
Katniss & a team of rogue allies go on a dangerous mission to assissinate President Snow once and for all.
With the drawn-out pointlessness of the previous film, Part 2 charges forward with it's action sequences (and mild plot development) to the finish line with grim delight.  However, it's too late, the boring damage of Part 1 is done and makes it difficult to really give much of a crap anymore.  It'd be easier to care if the leading characters had any sort of personality whatsoever but that went out the window when the series started.  As an admirer of The Games, the film is entertaining enough to feel good about finally letting it go but it's heavy faults really can't go unnoticed.

2½ tiger-ladies out of 5

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III [2006]

J.J. Abrams makes his feature film directorial debut with the third film in the immensely popular Mission: Impossible movie franchise.
Ethan Hunt comes out of retirement to hunt down a dangerous arms dealer who's kidnapped his wife.  Abrams does a wonderful job with a brisk pace that never slows down long enough to allow you realize how silly it all is.  It's pretty much a paint-by-numbers action film but has just enough enthusiasm and popcorn thrills to rise above boredom.  Cruise performs his obligatory bat-shit crazy stunt that never ceases to amaze but the rest of the action is nothing we haven't seen before.  It's tightly wound story never strays too far from it's mark and in the end will leave the action-junkie suitably satisfied, lens flare and all.

3 deadly head-aches out of 5

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 1 [2014]

Director Francis Lawrence returns to The Hunger Games series with Mockingjay - Part 1, the first part of the adaptation of the final book.
With nary a game being played, the film is pretty much just overly drawn out scenes of Katniss Everdeen going from place to place looking horrified at the bleak world around her.  It's few action sequences lack the intensity of the first two films while the dramatic arcs feel padded with pointless filler dialogue, I presume mostly to fill up time to chop the book into two films.  Thankfully it's littered with great performances embedded into this fascinating world that is lessened by it's unfortunate bland execution.

2 lucky cats out of 5

SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK [2008]

Like a melding of a Proust and Kafka novel adapted into film by Fellini, writer Charlie Kaufman's  post-modern drama directorial debut Synecdoche, New York is a dizzying tale that saunters between depression, dementia, death and decay.
The late Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a dying theatre director that becomes so consumed by his work, his grasp on the difference between fiction and reality are heavily blurred.  The film explores so many themes and motifs in it's unconventional plot, it'd be a task to list them all off but with some dedication to the film, the viewer will find all sorts of thoughtful goodies on it's many puzzling street corners.  It's a difficult film to enjoy as entertainment but an enticing one from a film-making and creative writing standpoint.

3½ ends built into the beginnings out of 5

RED DRAGON [2002]

Director Brett Ratner takes over for the third film and first prequel in the Hannibal Lecter series, Red Dragon, which ultimately serves as Sir Anthony Hopkins final round as everyone's favorite man-eating head doctor.
Unlike Ridley Scott's dismal take on the character, Ratner opts for a more serious tone and results in something nearly as grisly as the original film making for a satisfying conclusion to the Hopkins films.  It doesn't really cover any new territory but it's so well-acted and suffocates the viewer in such an effective unsettling atmosphere it can be forgiven.

3½ smashed mirrors out of 5

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Catching Fire is both an excellent adaptation and a sequel that improves on its predecessor in every way. Gone is the shaky cam and the confusing narrative. In its place is a two and a half hour movie that doesn't feel boring for a second.

The movie isn't perfect - there's a lot more telling than showing, and a few of the performances aren't stellar - but as a whole, it's pretty great. The cast is stuffed with good actors and Jennifer Lawrence is especially fantastic. I'm not sure this would be enjoyed by anyone who's not a fan of the franchise, but it's a solid film I look forward to seeing again.

3.5 hilarious faces in elevators out of 5.

THE MASTER [2012]

Director Paul Thomas Anderson doesn't spoon feed the viewer in his L. Ron Hubbard inspired drama The Master. 

The film layers itself with so many subtle nuances and seemingly confusing pointless moments, it challenges the viewer to search for the answers and seek out meanings on their own.  Each shot and moment isn't without reason, like an establishing shot of the water or laying one's hands on a wall.  It's there for a reason and will more than likely alienate anybody looking for a good time.  Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are astonishing as unlikable but ultimately fascinating characters. It's an eerie and engrossing film that reminds you how great a challenging film can be.

4 tasty poisonous shit-mixes out of 5

MARY AND MAX [2009]

Mary and Max is a beautifully written claymation film from Australia's Adam Elliot, creator of the award-winning short Harvie Krumpet.  

As it follows the story of two outcasts who strike up an unlikely friendship as pen-pals from Australia and New York, the film explores themes of depression, loneliness and the little things in life we will never understand.  The subject matter is pretty heavy but it's brightened up by a stark sense of humour that is both familiar and warm.  

4 Home-ophobias out of 5

The Big Lebowski (1998)

The Dude is an everyman who takes pride in his laziness and likes to have the occasional drink; occasional being all the time. He also likes to bowl.
He gets unwillingly embroiled in a case of mistaken identity, so decides to seek reparations. You'll likely either love it or wonder what all the fuss and fan-following is about. I love it. It's my favourite Coen brothers film.

5 beverages out of 5

MONEYBALL [2011]

If someone told me to go see Moneyball I'd probably not listen and assume I wouldn't like it. I would be wrong.
The Oakland A's General Manager Billy Beane is at the bottom the shit-hill and needs to find a way by picking out a winning team with the aid of his new assistant GM who's fresh to the game. Brad Pitt gives a profound performance but it's Jonah Hill who steals the show with his surprisingly charming nice-guy act.
It's well-paced, funny, interesting and no silly "uplifting" speech at the end, that all came as a pleasant surprise for a guy who doesn't know a single lick about baseball.

3½ Spike Jonze cameos out of 5