Film Gate Reviews: January 2014

Friday, January 31, 2014

Funny moments and moments that just fall flat.

“That Awkward Moment” is a buddy comedy/romantic comedy which is about as predictable as they come. But just because you know crude jokes are coming, it doesn’t mean you won’t still laugh. And just because you know they’re going to fall in love, it doesn’t mean that you won’t want them to. It airs more on the side of comedy than anything else and delivers a lot of attempted jokes; some funny, some not very funny.		2014 Directed by: Tom Gormican Screenplay by: Tom Gormican Starring: Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan

Quarter-life crisis character study with dramatic depression and comedic maturation.

The Lifeguard is Leigh (Kristen Bell), a 30-year-old girl who quits her job in New York and comes back to Connecticut to try and find herself. It’s a quarter-life crisis character study where our protagonist was successfully able to get past her teen years but stalls when she's unable to embrace adulthood. Leigh is convinced that her life didn’t turn out the way it was supposed to and so she has gone back to her high school life.		2013 Directed by: Liz W. Garcia Screenplay by: Liz W. Garcia Starring: Kristen Bell, David Lambert

Two great scenes defining three women and a whole cast of greatness.

“August: Osage County” is set in Oklahoma during the summer. The time of year when the temperature and tempers rise up. But of course sometimes it is provoked. The film is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tracy Letts, so we can guarantee that this dysfunctional family will come to a head with no easy route to escape.		2013 Directed by: John Wells Screenplay by: Tracy Letts Starring: Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts

A circular journey through the Greenwich Village folk scene in 1961.

Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is a folk singer hoping for his big break during the 1960s Greenwich Village music scene. He used to have a music partner (but he exists no longer), he once had an album (which still exists, but does not sell), and he still has fruitless relationships. “Inside Llewyn Davis” is a character study about how Llewyn himself is responsible for the lack of success of Llewyn Davis the artist.		2013 Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen Screenplay by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan

Hilarious dialogue and ridiculous war scenes make an odd mix.

A war movie starring actors who belong in a war movie (Mark Wahlberg and Taylor Kitsch) and an actor who’s better off not being in a war movie (Emile Hirsch), is released during awards season and getting major attention for its screenplay (WGA nomination). There are just so many things that don’t fit together with “Lone Survivor”, and that sums up the movie exactly.		2013 Directed by: Peter Berg Screenplay by: Peter Berg Based on the book by Marcus Luttrell Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch

Tricks us with the type of mystery it was and the lead deserved better.

“Safe Haven” is based on the Nicholas Sparks novel. It’s a romantic drama. This means that the Nicholas Sparks romantic drama fans will like it; those who are not fans will probably not like it. The good thing about this movie is that it tries to do something different. The bad thing is that it doesn’t work. The movie starts with a dark, thriller element that should lead to an interesting mystery, but turns out it was all nonsense.		2013 Directed by: Lasse Hallstrom Screenplay by: Dana Stevens, Gage Lansky Starring: Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel

Great dialogue and likable actors makes it a nice addition to the crass comedy genre.

Jeff Chang (Justin Chon) is turning 21. This means that it’s time to party with his two best friends. “21 & Over” is one of those crass Hollywood comedies where boys act like frat boys. And I know it’s supposed to be bad, but it’s actually pretty good. Miller (Miles Teller) is the more extreme friend who likes girls and likes to party, really wants to party with girls, and doesn’t see the point of anything else in life. Casey (Skylar Astin) is the sane friend.		2013 Directed by: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore Screenplay by: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore Starring: Skylar Astin, Miles Teller and Justin Chon