The Fighter

This is a film starring Mark Wahlberg as boxer, Mickey Ward, and Christian Bale as Mickey's half-brother, mentor, and former boxer, Dicky Eklund. Growing up in a bad neighborhood, Mickey tries to make a name for himself and get a better life than the one his family has provided for him.

You may think that you have seen this film many times before, but you will find that you are wrong. This film was great! It's hard to say that I've seen a better acted film all year, if not in the past few years. Bale's performance may be one of the top 3 acting performances that I have ever seen. His character possessed him and he was perfect. If he doesn't win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor I will be upset and extremely surprised. You don't even recognize him in the role. The film isn't so much about boxing as it is about Ward's escape from his life. It's not an overdramatic melodrama, but a light-hearted movie about life and the relationship between Mickey and his family--especially his brother. It will make you laugh several times throughout and is never too slow. It may be predictable, but as you watch it, you never find yourself trying to guess the ending because you are so enthralled with what is happening on the screen.

Overall Grade: A+


-Ethan Brehm

Black Swan

This film is a darker take on the ballet, Swan Lake. The play requires one dancer to play both the White Swan, who is innocent, and the Black Swan who is more aggresive and sensual. Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina dancer who wants to play the lead, but she is only seeming to fit the White Swan role, however Lily (Mila Kunis) is another dancer who is perfectly fitting to play the Black Swan. Since the role requires only one dancer, Lily must either find her innocent side or Nina must find her darker side.

The concept for this movie is actually really great...and so is the acting. However, I find myself not really being a fan of this film because it is too melodramatic. I feel like I have now seen Natalie Portman cry way more times than I had ever wished to in my lifetime. Though, I cannot deny that this is a good MOVIE, even though I may not like it so much. It is very strong and artistic. The music is perfect for the piece, and so is the cinematography. Everything about it is great except for the movie itself (if that makes sense). So I will take both into consideration.

Overall Grade: B


-Ethan Brehm

True Grit

This Western by the Coen Brothers is a rare film for the genre nowadays. Hailee Steinfeld plays Mattie, a young girl who seeks revenge on her fathers killer, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). She asks Deputy US Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) if he would hunt down Chaney for her. Meanwhile, Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) also is attempting to track down and kill Chaney because of another murder he committed in Texas.

The acting and casting is great in this film--especially 14-year-old Steinfeld. I wouldn't be surprised if she recieves an Oscar nod. The character depth is also well thought out and executed, but maybe not the best character development. The writing was great in this adaptation of the book, and the cinematography will also likely get nominated for some awards. It's a very simple film and a good Western. I just wish that I walked away feeling a bit more fulfilled--similar to how I felt after The Hurt Locker, but not as much so. However, this really is a great film that doesn't rely on a "good looking" cast to move it along. It captures the audiences attention the whole time, it just wasn't as moving as I would have hoped--but it IS a Western after all, so I guess that might come with the genre.

Overall Grade: A-


-Ethan Brehm

The Tourist

Now, this is a film in which the critics, I thought, underrated. It's one of the better films that I've seen this year. It stars Johnny Depp as Frank, an American tourist visiting Italy after he loses his wife, and Angelina Jolie as Elise, a woman who is wanted by the Scotland Yard and deliberately introduces herself to Frank and gets him involved in the situation.

This really was a great movie! The acting was superb and so was the writing. The story was not too unbelievable where it would alienate the audience. The film had great character development and did a good job at knowing how the audience thinks so to leave nothing to confusion. It was light on its feet and never took itself too seriously. The chemistry could have been a bit better between the two leads, but it was still one of my favorite films of the year.

Overall Grade: A+

-Ethan Brehm

Yogi Bear

Everyone knows Yogi Bear! Well, this is a live-action feature film based on the cartoon series of the same name. A documentary filmmaker, Rachel (Anna Farris), visits Jellystone Park to work on her new project because she hears that they have two rare talking bears that could help her--Yogi (Dan Aykroyd) and Boo-Boo (Justin Timberlake). Ranger Smith (Tom Cavanagh) tries to teach Yogi and Boo-Boo to stop stealing picnic baskets from guests because he feels that it is putting the park in jeopardy of being shut down by the ruthless Mayor (Andrew Daly).

This film was actually really funny and I liked it a lot! All the kids in the theater were laughing along with myself. If kids can enjoy it, then it serves its purpose. The fact that adults can laugh at its silly humor is a plus. Its slapstick style of humor hit with me. Like I said, the jokes were silly, and they were stupid in all the right places. It wasn't filled with cheap jokes, but ones coming from good instinct. It was in the heart of the original cartoon, which is how it should be. The storyline was goofy and cartoonish and well thought out. It also did not have a predictable conclusion at all! It is a great kids film with good acting and voice talents. This film had great heart and was funnier than many non-children's films that I've watched this year.

Also, there was a good Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner short before the film.

Overall Grade: A

-Ethan Brehm

How Do You Know

This film by James L. Brooks is about a love triangle between Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) who is just cut from the USA softball team, George (Paul Rudd) who is a corporate executive who suddenly finds himself as the target of a criminal investigation for corporate malfeasance, and Matty (Owen Wilson) who is a major league baseball player who likes to party. Jack Nicholson plays Charles--George's father and boss.

The film is well acted and exploits the talents of the four leads very well. It does tend to be very confusing towards the beginning regarding the story of George getting investigated--they don't really explain it very well, and speak in terms that are hard to understand compared to the easily understood rest of the movie. It's just not really clear why the investigation is happening, and when they explain it, it doesn't seem to make much sense until later. However, the characters are all well developed and the dialogue is smart and witty. Rudd broadens his repertoire of characters with this role and helps make the film. The movie moved a bit too slow in the beginning, but after that it picks up pace and is full of laughs. The story is a beautiful and meaningful love story that makes you think. Despite the slowness and confusing dialogue towards the beginning, the rest of the film makes up for it.

Overall Grade: A-


-Ethan Brehm

Tron: Legacy

This film takes place 27 years after the first one ends. If you haven't seen the first one, I recommend seeing it before you see this one. Although, you don't HAVE to see it to understand everything that goes on in this one--though it might help give a greater understanding of the significance of the events in this film. It stars Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn and Garrett Hedlund as his son Sam Flynn, who hasn't seen his dad in 12 years after his dad disappeared. Kevin was a software engineer and CEO of ENCOM International and created Tron, the popular arcade game. Sam is visited by his dad's old friend, Alan, who tells him that he received a page from his dad's old office at the arcade which hasn't been in use since he disappeared. Sam goes to the office to check it out.

I loved this movie! I saw it at midnight and everyone there was satisfied at the end. It has great acting and great action. It's well written and pleasing to the eye. Usually films take you exactly where you want them to, however this film surprises you with what is to happen next. It is unpredictable, especially the ending. In a film that includes many computer generated characters, you would expect them to have to emotion or humanity--however the actors bring it to the characters much like Tom Hanks brings to Woody in Toy Story. This film doesn't "take off" where you wish is would, but it takes off when you're least expecting it. The ending plays with your emotions a bit. The whole movie brings a sort of mysterious tone much like the first one. The fact that it is a concept so out of the ordinary is what makes it so fun to watch--much like the first time a baby sees fireworks. They either love it because its unlike anything else, or they hate it because its out of their comfort zone. Bridges gives another great performance, and so does the rest of the cast. I also have to give credit to Daft Punk for writing a terrific score that is perfect in the setting of the movie!

Hopefully they will release this film with the original in a set so I can finally have it on DVD. It didn't make me do a whole lot of soul searching, but it did have a great plot and makes people strangely addicted to the concept. There was nothing wrong with this film.

Overall Grade: A


-Ethan Brehm