The Social Network (2010)

Directed By: David Fincher

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, & Armie Hammer

MPAA Rating: PG-13

My Rating: 10 / 10

I returned to school this week, hence I haven't been able to update this blog as often as I did during Christmas break. My time constraints were worsened by the return of some of my favorite TV shows (I'm looking at you, American Idol). Even still, I was determined to make time for The Social Network, a film I had seen in theaters and had been eagerly waiting to see again. Often, when you see a movie once, you are under a delusion that it is better than it really is. And, because of my near-raving adoration for David Fincher's "Facebook movie" after my first viewing, I just had to see it again. Fortunately, The Social Network isn't just as good as I remember it...it is even better. A morality tale about the effects big business can have on friendships, The Social Network is not the scathing condemnation of Mark Zuckerberg that people expected (and that some wanted). Instead, it is a decidedly fair and honest portrayal of his complex struggle to deal with unprecedented success, fame, and fortune.

Live to Dance: My Thoughts Thus Far

One show that has been (strangely) flying under my radar is Paula Abdul's new dance competition, Live to Dance. I say "strangely" because I usually eat and breathe everything dance related. You can't tear me away from Dancing with the Stars, and I would scratch your eyes out to watch So You Think You Can Dance. And, in fact, Live to Dance was one of my most-anticipated shows of the season (right behind Off the Map, which lived up to every expectation)...but, after the first episode, I just kinda lost interest. It's not that the show is bad. Its three judges (headlined by Abdul, of course) are likable and very knowledgeable, its production values are stellar, and most of the talent is off the chain. I think my problem with it is the same problem I have with America's Got Talent: I just don't see its necessity. So You Think You Can Dance is, in my opinion, the perfect dance show. It has a great host, great judges, great new talent, and great alums who return to the show for one reason or another (either as choreographers, guest judges, or the new "all-stars"). Plus, its summer timeslot is completely uncrowded, so I have plenty of time to watch it. Live to Dance doesn't feel inspired when compared to that show (or, for that matter, America's Best Dance Crew), because it isn't working with a fresh concept. On top of that, in a season of television crowded (for me, at least) with Off the Map, American Idol, Hot in Cleveland, The Bachelor, and more, it's been hard for me to remember Live to Dance.

I'm Not Even Going to Lie . . .

When I first saw this Canadian trailer for Scream 4, I squeaked with excitement.



Scream 4 opens on April 15, 2011

Update: The Canadian trailer was removed from YouTube because of copyright issues. A quick Google search should be able to find it, though. Until then, check out the domestic teaser trailer above (which is still pretty cool).

Update #2: The Canadian trailer for Scream 4 has been officially released as the second domestic trailer. You can now check it out again above (legally this time).

I Am Love (2010)

Directed By: Luca Guadagnino

Starring: Tilda Swinton, Flavio Parenti, Edoardo Gabbriellini, Alba Rohrwacher, & Pippo Delbono

MPAA Rating: R

My Rating: 8 / 10

Tilda Swinton is one of my favorite actresses ever, and I Am Love is a prime example of why I adore her so. Born in London and having such a lovely British accent, Swinton plays, in this film, a Russian woman who speaks Italian fluently. You would never know, if you didn't already, that her Russian accent and command of the Italian language were not natural, because she engrains them flawlessly into her performance. Swinton is one of the few fearless actresses still working. And unlike some of those fearless actresses, Swinton actually has the talent to sustain her courage. She can really do anything she sets her mind to, and there has never been as wonderful proof of this as her tour de force performance in I Am Love. She is the heart and soul of this film, a touching and riveting portrayal of a family crumbling down around itself. Told without the expected cliches or stereotypes, it is a wildly original and compelling drama that captures the essence of what it means to be a family.

The Expendables (2010)

Directed By: Sylvester Stallone

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, & Randy Couture

MPAA Rating: R

My Rating: 7 / 10

If seeing the stars listed above in the same movie doesn't make you at least a little giddy with excitement, then The Expendables just isn't for you. If you don't smile at thought of Randy Couture and Steve Austin going head-to-head, then The Expendables probably won't change that. If a reunion of Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren doesn't make you break into a sweat with anticipation, then the appeal of The Expendables will be completely lost on you. You can quit reading now and forget all about watching this film. For the rest of us, yes, The Expendables is every bit as exciting and thrilling as you hoped it would be. So often, movies feel, not like movies, but instead like gimmicks stretched out to ninety minutes (The Human Centipede comes to mind). The Expendables is certainly one of them. The defining difference between this and a movie like The Human Centipede, though, is that this is a gimmick that people actually want to see, making for a very enjoyable experience.

The Fighter (2010)

Directed By: David O. Russell

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, & Jack McGee

MPAA Rating: R

My Rating: 9 / 10

For about the first half of The Fighter, I was completely unsure about whether or not I was liking it. In that time, it doesn't really separate itself from any of the other countless sports movies that have been released over the years. We have a down-and-out athlete, this time boxer Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), and his unlikely journey to achieve success while overcoming [Insert name of obstacle or rare, life-threatening disease here). His greatest obstacle is his own half-brother, Dicky (Christian Bale), who was once a boxer too, most famous for possibly knocking Sugar Ray Leonard down in a fight. Sure, Leonard probably just tripped, but that doesn't matter to Dicky, the self-professed "Pride of Lowell." Now, Dicky is a crack addict whose life has become so awful, an HBO documentary is using him as an example of the damaging effects of cocaine. Dicky talks to them openly about his drug use, carrying them around the town like his own personal paparazzi. He doesn't care about the subject of the documentary...only the comeback he so eagerly dreams about achieving.

True Grit (2010)

Directed By: Joel and Ethan Coen

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, & Barry Pepper

MPAA Rating: PG-13

My Rating: 8 / 10

The debate of whether or not this True Grit is a remake of the 1969 film starring John Wayne has been raging for weeks now. The Coens claim they just used the original source material, the book by Charles Portis, as their inspiration. Now, while I have seen the original film, I have never read the book; thus, I'm not really going to enter into the debate of "remake vs. new adaptation," nor is it a particularly useful argument anyway. Here is all that really matters to me: True Grit (2010) is a beautifully-made film, sporting brilliant performances and a darker edge than its predecessor. Here's what also matters to me: because both the 1969 and 2010 films are so similar and because I know the original like the back of my hand, the 2010 film held less power than it could have, had it been the first to adapt the Portis novel. With most of the narrative and great stretches of dialog being almost completely identical, there are times when True Grit (2010)'s suspense and intrigue are lessened rather significantly. I say this not to be critical of the Coen brothers or their wonderful team, all of whom contributed to make an altogether wonderful film; unfortunately, that's just what happens when filmmakers choose to use already-adapted material for their film.

The Town (2010)

Directed By: Ben Affleck

Starring: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, & Blake Lively

MPAA Rating: R

My Rating: 9 / 10

Ben Affleck's The Town has all of the ingredients to make a perfect thriller...but, as we've seen so many times before, great ingredients do not necessarily make a great product, if they are not combined in just the right way. Fortunately, Affleck proves that his feature film directing debut, Gone Baby Gone, was no fluke. He really has a firm understanding of how to locate all of the right elements for a film and then assemble them into a truly wonderful finished product. The Town is brilliantly exciting, pulse-pounding from the very first moment to the end. But, being an ultimate cinematic anomaly, it is also a thoughtful character study, drawing a handful of interrelated people into a tangled narrative that meticulously exposes the various parts of who they are as individuals. Affleck expertly merges these two worlds into an altogether great bank robbery thriller that fully verifies him as a powerful writer and director.