Change of Plans (2011)

Directed By: John Kent Harrison

Starring: Brooke White, Joe Flanigan, Phylicia Rashad, Jayme Lynn Evans, & Bobby Soto

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

My Rating: 6 / 10

Ah, the first movie of a new year...there is something so refreshing and nice about beginning a whole new year of movie-reviewing. Starting 2011 off is the made-for-television movie, Change of Plans, starring American Idol-alum Brooke White. Marketed as part of the Wal-Mart and P&G collaboration to "bring back family movie night," Change of Plans is one of the most syrupy sweet movies I've probably ever seen. Had it been released in theaters, it wouldn't have been able to tread water. But, by being released on television at the family-friendly hour of eight o'clock, it is exactly what it intended to be, with no false pretenses about what it is. That isn't some back-handed compliment. Change of Plans is actually a rather well-made movie, aside from all the cinematic schmaltz, sporting far better-than-expected performances, as well as a rather touching and, at its core, genuine portrayal of adoption following tragedy.

Black Swan (2010)

Directed By: Darren Aronofsky

Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, & Winona Ryder

MPAA Rating: R

My Rating: 10 / 10

Perfection, is it really obtainable? And, if it is, how far must one go to achieve it? That is, I believe, the message behind Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky's latest psychological drama...or is it a mind-bending thriller...what about an artsy horror film? Black Swan manages to defy easy categorization, in both genre and moral. In many ways, the film is open to complete interpretation and is likely to affect each audience member in a profoundly different way. Some will find it to be far more scary than it is emotionally-moving. Others will find it to be more subtley dramatic than thrilling. The key to Black Swan's overwhelming and sure-fire success is that, no matter who you are or how it affects you, it will have an effect on you as you leave the theater. As I left a sold-out showing just a few hours ago, my fellow movie-goers were abuzz as they left, talking about the film and analyzing it out loud. There was none of the awkwardly silent shuffling of feet, which has sadly become an all-too-common sight in theaters.

The Last Exorcism (2010)

Directed By: Daniel Stamm

Starring: Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr, Louis Herthum, & Caleb Landry Jones

MPAA Rating: PG-13

My Rating: 5 / 10

There are moments of brilliance in The Last Exorcism, thanks in no small part to fantastic performances from stars Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell. Bell delivers one of the most unsettling performances in modern horror, while Fabian exudes all of the obnoxious charm popular with backwoods preachers; and the movie benefits immensely from having them in their respective roles. Unfortunately, the moments of brilliance do not pan out to make a truly brilliant movie. The Last Exorcism is one of those run-of-the-mill horror films where quick-cuts and loud noises are substituted for genuine scares, and where you can tell the filmmakers were banking on one particular scene in order to shock and terrify. That scene is the now-infamous back-breaking scene. However, that scene, like the rest of the movie, isn't really scary, nor is it particularly groundbreaking. If you have ever seen another demonic possession movie (And, really, who hasn't?), then you have seen just about everything that The Last Exorcism has to offer. Oh, and did I mention that the ending sucks? Because it does.

Britney vs. Gaga: 2011's Biggest Showdown?

If you have searched the internet for any amount of time in the last week or so, you have probably read something about the "epic showdown" set to come between reigning pop princesses, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. This is arguably the first time that the two have had albums competing in the same arena, and some are forecasting a bloody battle for the Queen of Pop throne. But, let's face it, even when comparing artists as similar as Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, you're still comparing apples to oranges. And, what's more, I think there is plenty of room for them to both share the throne. When it comes to pop music, no one is more exciting, electrifying, and engaging than these two. Britney Spears single-handedly turned the music industry on its head in 1999, and has defined (for better or worse) what it means to be a celebrity in the new millennium. Plus, no one can deny the power she clearly wields to be able to stage the comeback of 2008 that put her back on top of her game. But, Lady Gaga is a relatively new artist whose glorious blend of performance art and pop music has made her the most innovative new artist of the last ten years or so. She's still riding her initial wave of popularity, and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Vampires Suck (2010)

Directed By: Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer

Starring: Jenn Proske, Matt Lanter, Chris Riggi, Diedrich Bader, & Ken Jeong

MPAA Rating: PG-13

My Rating: 1 / 10

I am at a complete loss to understand how anyone could make a spoof of The Twilight Saga and not be able to provide one single laugh...not a chuckle, not a smile, not even a smirk. Alas, leave it to Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, the most consistently awful filmmakers working in Hollywood, to do just that. They have a long history of making godawful movies...think Date Movie, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, and Disaster Movie. But, I would wager that none of their past releases have had this must potential or been this unfunny. Let's face it, Twihards, when you are swooning over Robert Pattinson staring lovingly at a moody Kristen Stewart, there is a part of you...however slight...that wants to burst out laughing. Of course, you don't, lest you be jumped while leaving the midnight screening in your "Team Jacob" T-shirt. I get it...I'm a fan of the franchise, but I totally see the humor in it. It's melodramatic and overly-serious, almost to the point of being a comedy, itself. Such a great spoof movie could have been made about The Twilight Saga...but I don't think there is a great movie in Jason Friedberg or Aaron Seltzer, or even a mediocre one. There is only one type of movie this pair knows how to make...one that is completely, undeniably awful.

Frozen (2010)

Directed By: Adam Green

Starring: Emma Bell, Shawn Ashmore, & Kevin Zegers

MPAA Rating: R

My Rating 9 / 10

So far, for this blog, I have reviewed a total of three horror films...and each and every one of them, from the much-hyped The Human Centipede to the dully-tepid And Soon the Darkness, have been pretty awful. But, leave it up to Hatchet-helmer Adam Green to show them all how it's done...my first thought when Frozen ended was pretty simple and fairly descriptive of my overall opinion: now this is how you make a horror movie! Intense and gut-wrenching, Frozen is the rare horror film that is able to get under one's skin, leaving a lasting impact upon viewers once it ends. So often, we see horror films that seek to have an effect on audiences just during their runtimes (usually by relying on shameless jump-out-of-your-seat scares), but ultimately, the horror genre has far too much power and potential to be wasted on that. When done correctly, a horror film should be just as emotionally-moving, just as well-written, and just as heartfelt as any Oscar bait drama. Frozen is a wonderful example of this.

And Soon the Darkness (2010)

Directed By: Marcos Efron

Starring: Amber Heard, Odette Yustman, Karl Urban, & Adriana Barraza

MPAA Rating: R

My Rating: 3 / 10

Full Disclosure: I have never seen the 1970 film, And Soon the Darkness, upon which this film is based.

And Soon the Darkness is a textbook example of how to squander a perfectly pleasant first half. This film skillfully builds tension throughout its first half, introducing us to two believable heroines and then constantly suggesting that bad things are about to happen to them. Sure, it overuses the old "villagers stare ominously" shtick, but it works nonetheless. In fact, I was almost convinced that I was watching a great thriller...until the so-called "thrills" actually began. Then, And Soon the Darkness loses all of its carefully-mounted momentum, hitting a narrative brick wall of sorts and becoming a standard, run-of-the-mill torture flick...except without the torture. So, what we have is actually a movie that becomes all about our heroines running and bad guys chasing them, with utter lifelessness and absolutely zero tension. It isn't that And Soon the Darkness is a poorly-made film. Indeed, it's a beautifully-shot and well-acted film. Its problem is that there isn't a single spark of interest, creativity, or originality in any second of its 90-minute runtime. This movie practically defines the word "blah."

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Directed By: Lee Unkrich

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, & Don Rickles

MPAA Rating: G

My Rating: 10 /10

The Disney and Pixar collaboration has a remarkable track record, with every film they have produced being a critical and commercial success, but I always grow a little wary when I'm about to see their latest project. Eventually, they are going to make a dud...you just know they are, but it doesn't stop us from wanting their brand to remain perhaps the only still-untarnished one left in Hollywood. And, if I was a betting man, my money would have been on Toy Story 3 becoming their first disappointment. After all, how many third installments have lived up to their legacies? I could probably count all the ones that have on one hand. But, to my gleeful surprise, Toy Story 3 didn't just live up to its predecessors; it is, in fact, this already-wonderful franchise's magnum opus. Masterfully blending intelligent humor with heartwarming (and, sometimes, tear-inducing) drama, while appealing equally to both children and adults, Toy Story 3 is an utterly delightful film that is, without a doubt, one of the year's most wonderful.