At Any Price: Movie Review

A small character study that doesn’t lead to anything as interesting as it should.

At Any Price is a small Midwestern film about a small Midwestern family in a small Midwestern town. It translates well for any farming community. It also translates well for any character study fans, but it’s the thrilling elements that should have been heightened to make it a better movie overall. The continual build-up of the interactions between father and son don't lead anywhere you'd expect, and don't really lead anywhere you'd want.		2012 Directed by: Ramin Bahrani Screenplay by: Ramin Bahrani and Hallie Elizabeth Newton Starring: Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron

The To Do List: Movie Review

Trying to find the limit on sexual innuendoes.

Brandy (Aubrey Plaza) is smart; she’s school smart. She knows how to do her homework and that’s about it, but when she’s taught that college is more about sexual education than actual education, she makes a sex to do list. I thought this was supposed to be a teen girl comedy, but it’s actually an immature girl comedy. So close, yet so far.		2013 Directed by: Maggie Carey Screenplay by: Maggie Carey Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Johnny Simmons

The Devil You Know: Movie Review

Blackmail that doesn't lead anywhere at all.

“The Devil You Know” tells the tale of a daughter of a reclusive movie star trying to break into the business and of her mother trying to reestablish her celebrity reputation but then she is threatened by an anonymous blackmailer. Most people would assume that that would just be the beginning of the plot that the blackmail would lead to something eventful, or thrilling or suspenseful, or just something.		2013 Directed by: James Oakley Screenplay by: Alex Michaelides Starring: Lena Olin, Rosamund Pike

Much Ado About Nothing: Movie Review

Merging 1598 with 2013 in comedic seamlessness.

After not reading the play, this review will be from the point of view of someone who is Shakespeare-literate but has not read nor seen any version of "Much Ado About Nothing". But I still think Joss Whedon’s modern up-do is brilliant — literally and metaphorically. Shakespeare's original dialogue in modern times with modern characters acting in antiquated situations.		2012 Directed by: Joss Whedon Screenplay by: Joss Whedon Based on the play by Shakespeare Starring: Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker

Picture Day: Movie Review

Stuck between adolescence, adolescence and stereotypical immaturity.

“Picture Day” stars Tatiana Maslany as Claire, a girl who's described as being caught in between adolescence and adulthood. But that's only accurate if adulthood is actually an immature state of being where teenagers are snarky and rude because they think they're cool and smarter than everybody else. She's smack dab in the middle of adolescence no matter how mature she might think she is.		2012 Directed by: Kate Miles Melville Screenplay by: Kate Miles Melville Starring: Tatiana Maslany, Spencer Van Wyck and Steven McCarthy

Frances Ha: Movie Review

Frances moves in annoying circles and gives the film too little direction.

At first glance, Noah Baumbach seems to have taken a cue from Woody Allen with his latest, “Frances Ha”. It’s in black and white, with a classical and jazz music score, and it stars his new actress muse Greta Gerwig. In fact, co-written by her. But then the movie starts and it becomes clear why no critics were comparing him to Allen. It just doesn’t have the same feel or tone as a Woody Allen movie. I’ll use the term immature.		2012 Directed by: Noah Baumbach Screenplay by: Noah Baumbach, and Greta Gerwig Starring: Greta Gerwig