Trailer of the Day - Bridesmaids

Release date: May 13, 2011

Directed by Paul Feig

Red Riding Hood - Lurid, Loopy and Ludicrous

By Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

O, for the love of all that's Grimm, what hath "Twilight" wrought?

Hard on the heels of "Beastly," a modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast," comes the revisionist fairy tale "Red Riding Hood," a lurid, loopy, utterly ludicrous enterprise that seeks to twist the ultimate fable of feminine fear and victimhood into an allegory for finding your inner bad girl.

Channeled by the ethereally beautiful Amanda Seyfried, the townsmaiden Valerie is all wide eyes and English-rose innocence as she longs for her soul mate, a humble woodcutter named Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but is forced to marry the wealthier and far less dangerous Henry (Max Irons). When the town is attacked by the Big Bad Werewolf that resides in the nearby Very Dark Woods, the local priest looks for salvation in a hired werewolf-assassin named Father Solomon (Gary Oldman); soon the holy man has neighbors looking at one another for signs that one of them possesses distinctly lupine tendencies.

Director Catherine Hardwicke, who directed the first "Twilight" movie, reportedly considered Taylor Lautner for the role of Peter, a nod to Team Jacob that suggests she took on "Red Riding Hood" purely out of spite for having been fired from the lucrative vampire franchise. (She did hire "Twi"-dad Billy Burke to play Valerie's father.) At least that theory helps explain how she could have become involved in such a misguided project, which veers wildly in tone between self-seriousness and outright parody.

Hardwicke, a former production designer, has come up with a visual style that emphasizes the story's fanciful roots; her trees are evocatively spiky, and the wintry landscape is dotted with splashes of bright, unseasonal color.

But despite Hardwicke's pictorial gifts, she has no sense of tonal control; what might have been a fascinating exercise in creative anachronism a la Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette" instead just looks like an episode of "Gossip Girl" set at a Medieval Times restaurant. (Tellingly, Hardwicke hired Coppola's frequent musical collaborator, Brian Reitzell, to compose the score, which reaches the apex of overreaching hipness in a vaguely lewd dance-slash-rave.)

For the strenuous effort Hardwicke puts in to juice up "Red Riding Hood" with hormonal lust and psychosexual meaning, the movie remains an oddly wan, bloodless affair. My, what big pretensions it has. And not a cogent idea in its pretty little head.

Cedar Rapids - Thoroughly Funny and Refreshingly Dark

Why this film is playing in 'select theaters' is beyond me! Perhaps it is because of the anbsence of a clear A-list lead actor. The irony is that its the cast that makes this very funny movie. Each actor is perectly cast and pulls off their assignment perfectly and uniquely funny.

What pushes 'Cedar Rapids' into the four star category is the edgy and sometimes dark script. Director, Miguel Artera cleverly pulls the dirty subjects of a young prostitute, a cheating wife, a meth house and fraud into a very light and refreshing comedy without making anything unrealistic. While everyone is really great, John C. Reilly and Anne Heche are particularly strong. Find this little movie and enjoy the belly laughs.

Blue Valentine - Avoids Taking the Easy Way Out

This may not have been the best movie of 2010, but it was my favorite.  Perhaps the most conditional four and a half stars I've ever issued. 'Blue Valentine' is really wonderful. Gritty, personal, edgy, beautifully acted and so real, BUT.... it is dark and unbelievably layered.

Like the decline of the relationship portrayed in the film, the depth of the story leaves you lacking for oxygen at times. All of us have known relationships like the one played out on screen and some of us have been in them. It's constantly painful and often hard to watch, but lovely at the same time.

The characters are not at all who they seem to be in the early minutes of the film, and they never stop evolving. By the end you know each of them intimately. There are components of their personalities you love and loathe. You want to hug and slap them both.

Where other films would have taken a turn toward idealism at the darkest depth of the story, director, Derek Cianfrance keeps going. It is refreshing if not depressing. There are no 'a-ha!' moments in this movie and its better for it.

Above all else are the stunning performances of Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.  I was shocked by their true snubs by the Oscars.  Williams while nominated should have won.  Gosling, like the film was not even nominated.  Just silly.

So, make a point to see 'Blue Valentine' if you can handle the unapologetic reality. If not, see something lighter - it ain't for everybody.

The King's Speech - Perfect

Flawless. Visually superior to anything you'll see anytime soon. There is absolutely nothing about this film to criticize. Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush are totally perfect - especially Rush.

This is without question the best film of 2010 and should anything and everything for which it is nominated. The cinematography is stunning and director, Tom Hooper has outdone himself thanks to this outstanding cast.

I just can't say enough about this movie. 'Perfect' really says it all.

The Fighter - Persistent and Patient in Delivery

A gritty masterpiece! When I first saw the trailer for 'The Fighter' I assumed it was going to be average at best. I was so wrong. It might be the best boxing film I've ever seen. Ironically, the only weak spots are with the boxing sequences, but it's almost impossible to film realistic boxing shots.

Christian Bale is amazing, his Oscar for best supporting actor was a landslide. His is the BEST performance of ANY kind in ANY film ALL year. Melissa Leo won her Oscar for best supporting actress as Micky and Dicky Ward's mother.

Although I never thought I'd say this, Mark Wahlberg isn't bad either! It's clear that this film is his professional passion to this point and I am prepared to say that he was really good in it! Amy Adams' performance almost gets lost in the mix of brilliance, but she too turns in one of her best efforts ever too.

All in all I really loved the entire cast and the setting of where and how this film was shot. The supporting cast is made up of very real, "white bread" folks who look as if they were born, raised and still live in Lowell, Mass. DavidO. Russell creates a landscape that looks a lot like Boston area classics, 'Mystic River' and 'Gone Baby Gone'.

True Grit - Coen Brothers Craft Another Masterpiece

Thoroughly enjoyable and well done. Jeff Bridges continues to prove that he has emerged as the best actor working right now. Hailee Steinfeld is worthy of an Oscar nomination as the young girl, Maddie. The dialog of the film is very rich. It's as if every word was poured over. 'True Grit' is solid and articulate from beginning to end. 

The most surprising element of 'True Grit' is how thoroughly funny it manages to be.  Yet another solid effort by the Coen brothers.

How Do You Know - You'll Know That it is Drab and Cliche

While 'How Do You Know' has it's moments - especially comedically it is also all over the place. The movie's worst sin is that it completely fails to convince you why you should care about the romantic interests of the couple (Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd). At no point during this film do you really care whether they end up together. Far more entertaining is Owen Wilson's 'dumb blond' character.

The back story of the pending indictment of Paurl Rudd's character never holds up either. It's shallow, cliche and a little too neat.

All in all there are enough moments of enjoyable comedy to make it worth while but not nearly enough to make it memorable.

Black Swan - Manages to be Good While Missing its Mark

Good, not great. Well acted and directed, not brilliant. Overall I found 'Black Swan' engaging and imaginative but amazingly pretentious. It will certainly leave you talking about the imagery and themes after, but it is not even the least bit complex.

Without giving away the end (you'll figure it out about forty minutes in) I will say that the film feels, looks and resonates like a ballet - it's slow and prodding at times but artistic and flowing too. The story line mirrors in many ways, 'Swan Lake', the ballet being played out in the film.

While good and worth your time, 'Black Swan' tries way too hard to leave a mark, while in the end missing it.

127 Hours - Beautiful, Inside and Out

Beautifully shot, perfectly edited and very emotional. I have always been fascinated by how our minds and memories function in the fleeting moments before our death. This film captures Aron Ralston's thoughts, regrets, hopes and motivation as he clings to a life for which he finds new appreciation through a freak tragedy that changes his perspective on everything. Hard to believe that Ralston actually went through this. Hard to watch at times but it leaves you inspired and deeply moved.

Love and Other Drugs - Stars Can't Rescue Script From Itself

This movie had some nice parts. It also had some amazingly weak moments. The problem was, those parts were really, really bad. Anne Hathaway was really outstanding, as always. The rest of the cast was serviceable but not spectacular. The character development was overtly cliche and simplex. The love story part of the film is sweet but very amateur - like the parts of 'Jerry Maguire' that got cut. Fair date movie if you're into falling asleep on the couch, but in the end, forgettable.

Winnebago Man - 2010's Hidden F***ing Gem!

Simply one of the best and most compelling documentaries I have ever seen. Director, Ben Steinbauer tells a very basic story about a very complicated man. He does so persistently yet very respectfully. I was mesmerized from beginning to end. When you watch it, you MUST watch the footage from the New York premier of the film found in the bonus features of the DVD. With it you see the complete telling of Jack Rebney.

Fair Game - Simply Tells a Complicated Story of Corruption

Very well done. This film does a terrific job taking what could be complicated subject matter and simplifying it. It effectively unpacks the story of Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson and explains the complicated, corrupt and criminal actions of the Bush administration and their reframing and manipulation of their argument for war with Iraq.

I read Joe Wilson's book about this issue and felt such outrage for the arrogance of Cheney and Libby and all the other warhawks. This film took me back to that feeling. It's very well acted and directed.

I Am Comic - Compelling and Concise Documentary

I watched this freebie on Netflix and loved it. For anyone who loves the craft of stand-up comedy or has performed, I promise you'll love this.

I've never seen anything capture the anxiety, joy, misery, angst and the rush that performing comedy brings. It simultaniously makes you want to give it a shot (or another shot) and scares you out of any such idea.

Well paced and directed.  It makes the clear case that stand-up comedy is a tough and sometimes dirty game.

Due Date - Galifianakis, Downey and Mediocrity

The most disappointing part of this film was that nearly all of the knee-slapping comedy is in the trailer. The wash is that all of those scenes are really funny.

Zach Galifanakis is perfectly hysterical and Robert Downey is the ideal straight man. While some of the themes are simply unbelievable, they're forgivable.

Megamind - Fun, Funny and Functional

Surprisingly and refreshingly good! The story is not as simple as most kids movies, so adults will enjoy the pace of the script as well as the clever dialog. Snappy and smart.

This was the first 3D film I've seen since the 80s and I was amazed with how far the technology has come. It was spectacular and I just didn't want to take my glasses off and return to the real world.

This DVD will surely entertain and pacify kids and their parents.

Unstoppable - An Easy and Enjoyable Ride

Predictable, hokey and totally enjoyable! Despite some of the most cliche and pathetic dialog I have seen since the late eighties, 'Unstoppable' is a lot of fun!

It is very much an old-school action film that moves from beginning to end. None of the performances are noteworthy. It is vintage Tony Scott, so of you have liked his other films you'll like this one.

It does manage to make you care about the main characters and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Well worth the trip to the Red Box.