IDENTITY THIEF || February 8th, 2013
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IDENTITY THIEF || Surprisingly touching yet never overly hilarious, “Identity Thief” is a rather neutral comedy. Never quite over-the-top but never quite reaching a level of plausibility, both in action and relationships, Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy deliver as best they can in this odd couple, road trip caper that does not find its footing until far too late into the film. Bateman plays quiet guy Sandy Patterson who must go from his simple life in Colorado to Florida in order to bring back the woman, played by Melissa McCarthy, who stole his identity. Since she’s being chased by scorned drug dealers, she is obliged to road trip across country with Sandy in order to clear his name. Both actors embrace their roles and throughout the course of these typical hijinks, they actual come out three-dimensional. |  |
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SIDE EFFECTS || Finally the vague marketing makes sense, as “Side Effects” relies heavily on messing with one’s perceptions. Never heavy-handed, Soderbergh smartly moves pieces on a chessboard with ease, innovation, and mostly without the viewer even noticing, all while entertaining and breaking Hollywood story stereotypes. Filled with powerful performances, especially from Jude Law and Rooney Mara, who equally steal the show, both present levels of expertise in their roles yet unseen in their careers. With the Soderbergh touch, of slightly close and tilted camera angles and a freshness to the thriller genre that only this versatile director could deliver, if this truly is his final film, he will be sorely missed. Yet “Side Effects” is a fantastic note to leave on and definitely lands in the category of some of his best work. |
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THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE || Kung fu was never really my thing, so Jet Li’s “The Sorcerer and the White Snake” is lost on me. Yes, the visual looks well intentioned and the fights scenes up to snuff, but there’s really no part of a kung-fu film that grabs me unless there is something truly unique in it and there is no such thing in this one. | PASS |
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TOP GUN 3D || As much as I enjoyed “Top Gun” I have no need to see it in 3D. If it’s the same exact film just upgraded to 3D I question why now, especially during the year of Tony Scott’s death? And will this become a regular thing of taking old films that probably won’t look nearly as good in 3D and re-releasing them to make even more money? I get it with animated films, because upgrading to 3D is much simpler but an action film, seems like a waste. | PASS |
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FERLINGHETTI: A REBIRTH OF WONDER || Someday there will be a documentary about every living person to ever do something above average and the proof of that continues in “Ferlinghetti: A Rebirth of Wonder”, a film about a poet of the beatnik generation. That generation is getting more cinematic attention over the last few years and I grow more and more disinterested as time goes on. | PASS |
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FINDING JOY || There’s something sweet about “Finding Joy” as it sets up a love story between a man who is down on his luck and forced to move home and a woman who doesn’t have long to live. It’s independent enough to have that authentic feeling while remaining just on the border of being too kitschy. | STREAM |
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A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE MIND OF CHARLES SWAN III || I like Roman Coppola, I respect Bill Murray, and I adore Jason Schwartzman, which mean chances are I’ll look past the Charlie Sheen show and eventually will check out this film. With the feel of a Wes Anderson film delving into fantasy, this could either be quite enjoyable or complete crap, but will probably not fall in the middle. | STREAM |
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LORE || From the trailer, I’m not quite sure what “Lore” is actually about but it looks enticing and has a good quality to it that can make even the most dull of subject matters slightly more interesting. Set in World War II, I love period pieces and might give this film a chance. | STREAM |
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NIGHT ACROSS THE STREET || Not even capable of making it through this entire trailer, you completely lost me at “supernatural fever dream”. | PASS |
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THE PLAYROOM || John Hawkes is great in everything and has earned my respect in that I will see almost anything that he is in. Set in the 70’s, the family dynamic in “The Playroom” appears to carry the film, with hints of sexuality and comedy, which always strikes a cord in my interests. | STREAM |
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SHANGHAI CALLING || With an interesting cast and a sub-par storyline, I am intrigued to see both Bill Paxton and Eliza Coupe from “Happy Endings” venture outside of their television roles and do something bigger with their careers, especially Coupe in landing the leading lady role. | STREAM |
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SMALL APARTMENTS || I strongly dislike the leading star, as well as Rebel Wilson, but I did see a glimpse of Juno Temple, to whom I will see absolutely everything she is in, meaning “Small Apartments” will have to get watched at some point. It also stars Johnny Knoxville, James Caan, and Billy Crystal who are all respectable in their own rights and could make for an easier viewing. I wish I didn’t love Juno Temple so much, as to avoid this film, but eventually I will be seeing it. | STREAM |
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SPIDER 3D || Poor graphics and a recycled plot, and “Spiders 3D” becomes completely unattractive to me in every way, shape, and form. What a waste of time and energy for everyone involved. Might as well have been a straight-to-DVD release. | PASS |
THEATER
- Side Effects
RENT
- Identity Thief
STREAM
- Finding Joy
- A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III
- Lore
- The Playroom
- Shanghai Calling
- Small Apartments
PASS
- Ferlinghetti: A Rebirth of Wonder
- Night Across The Street
- The Sorcerer and the White Snake
- Spiders 3D
- Top Gun 3D
