'True Grit'

True Grit is about a fourteen year-old girl, Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), who is determined to get revenge on the man, Chaney (Josh Brolin), who killed her father. Within minutes she proves quickly her smarts, wit, and determination to find Chaney, bring him to justice, and see him hanged. She soon realizes she is not able to do this task alone and asks for help from a drunken, one-eyed reckless US Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). His strong personality is shown through a trial which he must suffer due to the charges on him shooting a few people in self defense. Being rejected by Mr. Cogburn ever so quickly on her proposal to pay him fifty dollars ($50.00) to go help catch Chaney, she goes to her room to ponder a new strategy as to how to catch Chaney. Waking up in the morning with Texas Ranger Laboeuf (Matt Damon) who has a warrant for Chaney’s arrest and intends to cash in on a wanted poster for a crime he committed in Arkansas. While the three of them battle controversies along the way they all have a sole mission, capturing Chaney. As they set on their course together overcoming their conflicts, differences, and putting together the puzzle whom is helping Chaney and his crew.

In this remake of the old 1969 western staring John Wayne is directed by the Coen Bros. In this high expected probable academy award nominee movie was unfortunately a disappointment. While this film held up to the typical western type movie it did not hold up to cinematic expectations or Coen bros. film making expectations. Everyone except Brolin will be getting a nomination, Bridges will get one for his accent, Damon for his assertiveness as a law enforcer, and Steinfeld will get one for showing her determination as a committed pioneer girl of the old west. Brolin will not get a nomination because his character, as the film later progresses, is not even the main antagonist. Do not expect a Coen Bros type movie, an extraordinary movie with deep thought left at the end, or anyone in this film to win. What saves this film from being a highly lower grade than thought was after a few days of pondering the film, as with most Coen Bros films, is it gets better the more thought about. B

'Black Swan'

“We all know the story of Swan Lake. An innocent virgin girl has a curse set upon her turning her into a White Swan, and only true love can break the curse. She lusts for freedom, and falls for a most handsome prince. The prince falls in love with her counterpart, the Black Swan, and the prince is seduced by the Black Swan. Heartbroken the White Swan kills herself to be free and break the curse.”

Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is an innocent, fragile, up and coming dancer who expects to be cast for the role of the Swan Queen. Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel, Eastern Promises) though has plans to cast the White Swan and the Black Swan as the same dancer, which immediately brings complications with Nina being naturally precise and gentled nature. “If I was only casting the White Swan you would get the part no question, but I am not.” Nina feeling she did not finish her audition, attempts to convince the director she is right for the role. Her attempt was in fact successful due to a physical interaction. As the story progresses Thomas announces the new face of the ballet company, as well as the old face retiring, Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder).
During the unsettling retirement of Beth and tragic events following her leaving the company, a new member from San Francisco has joined Lily, the Black Swan (Mila Kunis). As time goes on Nina is struggling to transform into the Black Swan, the motive of Lily attempting to replace Nina is quickly becoming apparent. Thomas has a homework assignment for Nina after introducing her as the change of the company. To touch herself, an assignment which is the start of Nina’s new irrational, rebellious, sexual, and even schizophrenic nature. This psychological thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky resembles that closely of the actual ballet Swan Lake.

Black Swan is easily one of the year’s best films. The acting of Natalie Portman is sublime because of her own transformation and work ethic as an actress. She not having been a ballet dancer and training for seven hard moths has obvious proven her well. Her acting ability is now up to elite because of her naturally innocent nature however her blossoming into a psychosexual schizophrenic role. Ms. Portman though is not the only one in this film doing substantially well. For a few years there has been a debate Natalie Portman will not receive a nomination but why? Is it her acting? No she has proven herself with movies such as Garden State and V for Vendetta. The reason for not being nominated or yet winning the award is she has not shown any sexuality and still acted innocennt, being childish until she has proven wrong to those nay sayers. She is a shoe-in for best actress.

Barbra Hershey, Erica Sayers, whom plays the mother, has a controlling nature which is hard to watch. Through her performance of only being in five scenes, she should instantly get a nomination if not being an Oscar winner. Her performance reveals most dancing protégés have mothers who were once successful dancers and their dreams are crushed due to giving birth to their own pride and joy. Their reason for pushing is simply the children will live the dream and achieve the opportunity they had. This film as well shows the intense pressures dancers face with their parents, crack their bones, and turning on their hind heels.

Mila Kunis as well deserves an award for being such a seductive and pivotal role in Black Swan. She, in fact, is a symbol itself of the unreleased side of Nina. Nina grows paranoid because the seduction Thomas continues to talk about that the Black Swan has. Mila Kunis is even brought in to unleash the loose and passionate side of Nina. Mila Kunis should however, may not get a nomination.
Even the disgraced almost uninsurable Winona Ryder should deserve a nomination for her determination and crazed role as a retiring ballet dancer. She has only a few scenes just as Barbra Hershey does and has a scene which is quite frankly unbearable to watch due to the vulgarity and gore of the scene.

In conclusion, Black Swan has incredible symbolism, such as the scars on Nina, her habit of cutting herself, feathers coming out of her body, her knees breaking into a swan, the tattoo of wings of a bird and many more. While beating one over the head with well done symbolism, Aronofsky’s interactive film-making has finally come to much use. With a camera that follows Portman and Kunis to capture their dancing prestige, show the director’s motive, Nina’s paranoid schizophrenic attitude, and the use of splitting images using mirrors. Finally the use of colors, in the beginning using childish colors such as white and as the progression of the white swan into the black the colors become red and black. Excellent acting, directing, writing, lighting and mental anguish cause this film to be the single best of the 2010 year. A

'The King's Speech'

The King’s Speech starts out with the Duke of York (Colin Firth) “Bertie”, who eventually becomes George IV, having to make a speech at intermission of a horse race, and unfortunately failing to let even three words of the speech leave his lips due to his stuttering. After the embarrassing speech he is recommended a speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush), Lionel Louge, has methods are quite unorthodox as described in the film. In desperation, the Duke agreed to see this man because a job status’ of his requires giving speeches as well as having to be social, which is not easy with an impediment such as this. Lionel is informal with the Duke by calling him “Bertie” which insults the Duke as well as increases his impatience. The Duke quits temporarily at his speech sessions however Lionel’s methods show progress thus Bertie’s wife (Helena Bonham Carter), Queen Elizabeth, forces him to continue weekly sessions with Mr. Louge.

During the sessions the Duke as well is dealing with the death of his father (Michael Gambon), King George V, and his brother (Guy Pearce), King Edward VIII having an affair with a previously divorced woman which would make King Edward VIII unable to rule due to violating the British Constitution. This is not even England’s worse problem, with Nazi Germany conquering Europe and bombing their cities daily. With Edward’s VIII inability to properly lead and ignoring the problems of his country, this puts the Duke of York in a position to gain the throne.

Lionel though enters very dangerous territory in the sense of suggesting that the Duke of York should become king, when the easy response is Lionel has forgotten his place with Bertie. Some scenes were shot excellently using the weather to set the mood. When Bertie becomes King George the VI he soon realizes the need to stop Adolf Hitler because Hitler has great speech prowess and lead to a heartening, touching and inspirational speech.


The King’s Speech, is easily an Oscar nominated movie for best picture best screenplay (David Seilder), best supporting actress (Helena Bonham Carter) as Queen Elizabeth and of course best actor (Colin Firth) for his role as King George VI. What made this movie such a highly regarded movie are the performances, the writing and after hiatus of almost ten years produced by the Weinstein Brothers, Bob and Harvey. Helena Bonham Carter deserves a nomination because as a wife her commitment to helping her husband is very realistic in the sense of her love for him as well. Even for best supporting actor (Geoffrey Rush) may get a nomination for his methods, determination, humor and his friendship with King George VI. The writing in the film is remarkable because the political issues, the friendship of an actual event in history, and the different methods for improving diction, pronunciation, and enunciation. One example is cursing because, swearing increases speed and flow of the tongue. Others include tongue twisters, loosening the jaw, and breathing. The only downside to the film was the casting of Wiston Churchill (Timothy Spall) because the perfromance however brief served as almost a mockery to the historic character, a better option who has played Winston Churchill in a previous role would have been Brendan Gleeson. A-

'Dinner for Sckmucks'

Dinner for Schmucks, based on the French film Le Diner de Cons, is about a young, ambitious, on the rise executive, named Tim (Paul Rudd) who is expecting a promotion with excellent recommendations. When one of his pieces of advice helps the company it catches the attention of his boss, Lance Fender (Bruce Greenwood). Thus his boss invites him to a dinner, actually a competition, where whoever brings the most eccentric person to mock will get a promotion. With every up and comer there is their arch nemesis, or in Tim’s case the failure of a marriage and just about everything else in his life Caldwell (Ron Livingston). Tim brings the dinner up to his girlfriend, Julie (Stephanie Szostak), an artist, and she says, as anyone else would, going to this dinner is cruel. Tim engaged to her agrees to not attend the dinner until he meets Barry (Steve Carell) by hitting this man who stands in front of Tim’s car to save an already dead mouse for his hobby, taxidermy. As soon as Tim invites Barry to the Dinner, as series of events starts occurring such as a crazed one night stand of Tim’s of over two years ago, Darla (Lucy Punch), finds Tim’s address and comes over, Julie is suspected of going to a former lover of hers, Kieran Vollard (Jemaine Clement) who is the central piece of Julie’s art exhibition, a business deal Tim is suppose to handle possibly a disaster, and all due to Barry having the best intentions for Tim. Will Tim be able to get a promotion and get Julie back? Find out.

This film being in no doubt slapstick, outrageous comedy does not live up to the original as a usual common trend in the movie making film industry. This is not the first film of the summer either when a young executive is handed an opportunity to show their worth to their bosses, example Get Him to the Greek. The most outrageous scenes are the brunch with the Swiss as well as the final dinner, and who wins the best comedian in this film? Well certainly not Paul Rudd because he played the typical character he is handed. Steve Carell deserves a silver medal because he truly did carry the movie however the big trophy goes to Zach Galifinakis, who played Barry’s arch enemy Therman, working at the same IRS agency as Barry but seems to top Barry in every category; being the biggest schmuck, taking Barry’s wife, and even being a better IRS employee. Throughout the film there is a certain sympathy shown for Barry because his intentions, while are the best, make a situation unimaginably worse. As the movie progresses the audience soon learns there are similar struggles with Barry and Tim. The down fall of the film though is the audience laughter comes at the expense of oddball people being themselves. B-

Despicable Me

“Once there was a unicorn. This unicorn was very unhappy, until three little kittens came along. They played with the unicorn and made him laugh and cry. And this unicorn was very sorry he said good-bye”-

Gru, the most evil diabolical villain (Voice by: Steve Carell) is planning big revenge after his arch nemesis, Victor AKA: Vector (Voice by: Jason Segal), takes a pyramid from Egypt. His plan for revenge is to take the moon. Gru however; is not able to get a loan from the Bank of Evil and must first acquire a shrink ray that only his arch nemesis possesses. In order to get this weapon he must adopt three adorable children because they sell cookies to Vector. Part one of his tasks becomes complete but soon complicates his work life by giving him for the first time a personal life. In the end Gru will have to make a choice of what is better for his life and others, being a villain or caring for three adorable girls.

As the movie progresses the film reveals more about Gru, as to why he is a villain. With his dream of wanting to go to the moon getting consistently ignored by his neglectful mother. Soon Gru finds out being a parent is not so easy, especially with three kids and only minions who look similar to Twinkies. As he finally learn to live with the kids, laugh, and tell bed time stories to them. His assistant, Dr. Nefario (Voice by: Russell Brand) suggests his home life is conflicting with his work life when he suppose to attend a ballet recital on the day of stealing the moon. This film is ever so touching and with many take offs from such films as Star Wars, Toy Story, Apollo 13, and The Godfather is an excellent enjoyable movie for both kids and adults. B+

Cyrus

John (John C. Reilly) is simply a loser. He has been divorced for seven years, problems talking to women or even making friends, and his best friend is his ex-wife, Jamie (Katherine Keener), who is getting remarried. While at a party though he meets a woman, Molly (Marisa Tomei), more quirky than him. Life finally seems on the uphill for him however; for every luxury there is a catch and to this catch her manipulative, twenty-two year-old, lonely son Cyrus (Jonah Hill). With Molly and John’s relationship going swimmingly, Cyrus is concerned his relationship with his mother is in jeopardy. Not having a father, Cyrus is close with his mother. John moving in with Molly only increases tensions between him and Cyrus, after Cyrus has stolen his shoes, interrupted a romantic moment, as well as threatens to ruin his life at the Jamie’s wedding. John asks himself then who will Molly choose me or Cyrus? Will Molly open her eyes to what Cyrus is? In this touching comedy, Cyrus soon realizes more about his destructive personality.

Cyrus is both a light comedy and obvious independent film by the poor camera shots similar to the shots seen in The Wrestler. What makes Cyrus even funnier is all the characters have odd characteristics. The performances of John C. Reilly and Marisa Tomei were out of their norm. However the best performance in this film is Jonah Hill. The lonely, child-like, manipulative, innocent seeming deceiving character is unlike anything Jonah Hill has done before. Typically doing and being known for his outrageous comedies Jonah Hill has taken a step in the right direction by doing a serious role in an independent comedy. Cyrus is a hilarious film, with good performances, touching messages, and obvious independent film. B

Toy Story 3

Woody, Buzz, Jesse, Rex, Slinky, Porky, and the Potato heads are back in what may be one of the best Toy Story movies yet made. Andy is off to College which means what to do with the toys? Sell them? No, put them in the attic. Everyone, with the exclusion of Woody, is put into the bag to be taken up to the attic for safe keeping. Andy’s mother ends up, accidentally, taking them to a day care called Sunny Side. Woody wants to leave the paradise, or what it seems to be anyway, however the gang is convinced that Andy is done with them. While there the toys soon realize Sunny Side is not such a paradise after the leader Lotso (A strawberry smelling care bear), Ken, and a few others such as Big Baby and purple Octopus give themselves the name the axis of evil. Woody soon escapes and finds out more about the reason Lotso’s evil ways. Now the conflict is will Woody be able to save his friends as well as reunite with Andy?

Toy Story 3 is in close competition for the best of the Toy Stories. The constant joke Ken is not an action figure but a doll. As well as the relationship with Barbie just adds on. There is even a scene where Barbie is torturing Ken by tearing all his favorite accessories. Toy Story 3 also has little add ins such as the garbage man is Sid from the first Toy Story and one of the toys owned by a girl named Mollie is the character Totorro from the film My Neighbor Totorro. With a number of take offs from Star Wars as well this tear jerking stressful comedy is the best film of the year so far. A

A-Team

The A-Team is the story about the four members of the alpha team attempting to get their clean jail records, freedom, and ranking of positions in the military restored to them as well as prove their innocence. The story begins with Hannibal (Liam Neeson) in the middle of the desert to save his friend Face (Bradley Cooper), him hitching a ride with BA Baracaus (“Quition” Jackson). “They are the best and specialize in the ridiculous” Along the way they, with Murdock, are on a mission to return falsely printed money and are framed for the bombing of such illegally printed money. Throughout the film there are all sorts of betrayals from the CIA operatives and black operatives which give the intention to trust no one. In the end the craziest of them has a plan with one problem for BA, he doesn’t want to kill. How will the Alpha team be able to get their freedom, restore their names, and prove their innocence? This film is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Studio of America.

The A-Team is another summer action packed comedy in which deals with little character development, plot which intended to be unpredictable but evidentially fails, and with excellent action scenes. The acting of all the characters was well below average, even to Mr. Neeson who has chosen a series of action movies as of late that have flopped. Also there is a scene which two quotes from Mondates Gandhi one referring to the good of violence and one referring to the good of peace. What the movie left out is the time period of both those quotes. The one referring to the good of violence was only to the people of India during WWI so that they may gain their independence as a country from Britain for fighting with them during WWI. The one referring to peace was the use of non-violence which was after WWI and has more relevance of Gandhi today. The movie had moments of slight comedy which barely saves this film from completely being a downhill movie. C-

Get Him to the Greek

Aaron Green is a young, obese, hard worker for the music label Pinnacle Records. Life is just a tad bit abnormal with his boss, Sergio (Sean “P Diddy” Combs), pressuring him for new ideas, and his girlfriend, Daphne Binks (Elizabeth Moss), working odd hospital hours. Aaron Green has an excellent idea, to have a ten year anniversary concert for his favorite musician the party-do-go-er Aldous Snow (Russell Brand).

Aldous Snow with a once great Rock career is dashed down by a one horrific racist album restarting the apartied for South Africa, as well being the third worst thing to hit Africa just trailing war and famine, even beating out disease and poverty. The album is called “African Child”. The album is so down trending for not only his career but as well his wife Jackie (Rose Byrne). When their divorce happens life is only worse for Aldous and better for Jackie. What was the only reason not separating them sooner? Jackie having a son, and Aldous being a great father.

Anyway, Aaron is assigned by Sergio to get Aldous Snow from London to the Greek theatre in 72 hours, as well as making a few detours along the way. Some of their detours include the Today Show, Las Vegas, Aaron’s apartment, and plenty of parties. Along the way to the Greek, Aaron soon finds a rock stars life is one of the most insecure of any. Trying to be in Aaron’s position is even worse because Aldous puts Aaron through the worse making him drink, take drugs, and have intercourse just to make Mr. Snow move closer to the Greek, which only complicates his situation with Daphne. How will Aaron contain this rock star from ruining his life, his career, and his relationship? This outrageous comedy’s characters are based off the characters created from Jason Segal’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Get Him to the Greek is a bit crude and talks about the insecurity and life of a rock star. “You let people use you and soon you will be all used up”-Nicolas Stroller. The film even had great songs such as “going up” and “the clap”. Get Him to the Greek touched precisely on the problems of rock stars. They are lonely people who are sad, expected to do everything right and are seen as a higher power than average people. Which actor was the winner in this film? Jonah Hill did a fine job in Get Him to the Greek, but has put on a bit too much weight for the role. Russell Brand did a very good job of being insecure, sex obsessed, having free-loading parents, as well as being an unbelievable drug and party addict. The winner is P-Diddy. Having taking acting classes, “mind fucking”, and playing a just as funny as Tom Crusie’s role in Tropic Thunder as a big wig he is the winner. Also he showed how exactly record producers deal with their rock stars “we are going to out party these partiers, until they don’t want to party” and “give him two of these he won’t feel anything he will be fine and he looks great” in response “you can’t just keep enabling him and giving him drugs.” P-Diddy won this week in a shockingly great performance. B-

Holy Rollers

Sam Gold (Jesse Eisenberg) is a young up and coming Hasidic Jew whose father, Mendel Gold (Mark Ivanir), expects him to take over his fabric business, become a Rabi, and arranges Sam to be married with Zeldny (Stella Kietal). Living in the cold Bronx and in a house with little to no heating for a decent cup of tea Sam wants money to give his family a better life. His neighbor, Yosef Zimmerman (Justin Bartha) does exactly that by giving Sam a job to sell ecstasy. Sam’s friend, Leon, advises him to stop before Sam loses everything dear to him. Sam proving himself to his boss, Jackie (Danny A. Abeckaser) quickly moves up in rank. Soon Yosef to make even more money does side drug deals which do not go over well with Jackie, and soon the destruction of Sam comes by “getting high off his own supply” and falling for Jackie’s girlfriend, Rachael (Ari Graynor). What Leon predicted came true, no longer would Sam be a Rabi, marry Zeldny, and is even an outcast among the Jewish community and his family. Sam must make the choice between loyalty to family or financial security in life.

Holy Rollers is a strong story line for a number of reasons. A point made throughout the movie “Be calm, don’t act suspicious, always have a story, and most importantly act Jewish.” The police would not expect Hasidic Jews to be doing illegal activity. While the plot is well done the pacing is slow at parts, however is intended and found in many movies involving the Jewish religion such as A Serious Man. The roles acting level was on average but did not need a challenge and the drug business obviously fell because throughout the film the dealers were haggling. In organized business there are preset prices and there is little tension. The true events of the movie only added to how well done the film is. B-

Robin Hood

Robin Hood, the hooded crusader (Russell Crowe), is fighting for the English during the crusades. However, when the King dies during battle Robin Hood is returning the crown to John, the next successor for the throne (Oscar Issac). During this time the king is facing several complications such as affairs, a country in debit, and headed toward a civil war. Robin Hood, after returning the crown goes to return a sword of a soldier who died in an ambush. He comes to the town explaining this event to the soldier’s father, Sir Walter Loxley, who is blind (Max von Sydow). Afraid of losing his land to the tax collectors Sir Walter Loxley asks Robin Longstride to marry his daughter, Lady Marian (Cate Blanchett) so that he may keep his land and home. Throughout the weeks that pass by a relationship starts to occur between Robin and Marian, but with Sir Godfrey (Mark Strong) burning down villages and having Robin Hood as target. With England at an almost civil war, there are a few memorable quotes such as “Rise and rise again until lambs become lions. What does this mean? It means never give up” and “A king who demands loyalty but fails to show his people the same.” This classic tale of Robin Hood fails to meet the historical accuracy as well as the message of the tale.

This version of Robin Hood is similar to that of Gladiator (another Ridley Scott film) only a few notches down. While having some excellent camera shots, action scenes, and good performances from William Hurt (who plays William Marshall), Mark Strong, and Cate Blanchett these do not hold a well orchestrated movie together. This version had very few symbols, rarely touched on him giving to poor and taking from the greedy, as well as just accuracy to history. Robin Hood actually kidnapped King John put a bow and arrow to his head and made him sign a series of laws. As well there was little relevance between the story of Robin Hood and the relationship between him and his father. While making some good performances, great (typically Ridley Scott) action scenes, and Mark Strong always playing the villain made this film unfortunately as well somewhat of a bore. C+

'Iron Man 2'

Tony Stark, AKA: Iron Man (Robert Downey JR.) is back and he is bigger, badder and louder than ever. The United States Government wants Tony Stark to turn over the Iron Man for being seen as a possible national security threat, even though Iron Man has brought world peace. Stark Industries, formerly working with the United States Government on nuclear weapons, is holding their very own “Starks Expo”, which is an expo for those who have ideas on improvement/development of machines. A presenter and rival of Starks Industries, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), CEO of Hammer Industries. What sets Mr. Hammer apart from Mr. Starks is having the incompetence to make an adequate weapon, or Iron Man for that matter, and working with the United States Government on weapons manufacturing. One can only imagine the credibility of the United States Government by having weapons technology that is not even competent enough to aim correctly.

Meanwhile in Russian, Ivan Vanko, AKA: Whiplash (Mickey Rourke) has the information of Iron Man which Ivan's father had originally created, however, Howard Stark, Tony's dad (John Slattery), had plagiarised the blueprints for Iron Man's artificial heart, thus Father Vanko was disgraced from the scientific community. Dr. Vanko as well knows about the affects of having an artificial heart; "ironically what is keeping Tony alive is also killing him." Whiplash goes to a race, in Italy, Tony participates in. Vanko at the race uses the technology he possesses, and shows Iron Man is vulnerable by nearly murdering Tony on the racetrack. “If you make God bleed people will cease to believe he is God”, which was Whiplash's intention of revenge for his belated father. Who would want to see Tony at his lowest level more than Whiplash? Justin Hammer viewing the race decides to team up with Whiplash in order to make his own Iron Man but bigger, badder, and better than Tony's. One thing both Mr. Hammer and Dr. Vanko wish to have, revenge.

Tony as well has to deal with the displeasure of his father who is six feet under, fear of telling his girlfriend, Pepper Pots, the new CEO of Starks Industries, (Gwyneth Paltrow), he is perishing, and questioning the loyalty of his best friend, James “Rhodney” Rhodes, AKA War Machine (Don Cheadle), who is working for the United States, as an member of the air force. Could anything else go wrong? Yes, his relationship is unstable with Pepper and is only causing further confusion with the hire of Natalie, Pepper's assistant, AKA: Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). Iron Man 2 throughout the film has made very aware Scarlett Johansson is indeed very attractive making, but not the only reason of Mr. Stark's unstable relationship. Robert Downey Jr. is playing himself being selfish, self absorbed and saying "I" too often, in every sentence, non stop, no offense Mr. Downey Jr. All of Iron Man's antagonists include Justin Hammer, Whiplash, the United States Government, as well as his own controversies. Tony's friends...they become clear at the end of the film.

Iron Man 2 had all the action scenes, witty lines, and self-conflicting decisions a movie is expected to have. There was good dialogue, good plot, political pressure, comedic lines, and common done before themes throughout film. In the end who is the winner for best portrayed role? Yes Scarlett Johansson was made very aware she is attractive, however took little to realize she is beautiful. Downey JR. did play the self absorbed Tony Stark accurately however he was not acting. The winner goes to Mickey Rourke. Mickey was the perfect, creepy villain every movie looks for. Not only was he tough, smart, and greasy down to the bone but his Russian accent was perfect. This is when an audience member is able to the the movie has few issues when Mickey Rourke, the former boxer, is the best part of the film. Another factor making Iron Man 2 a lower level than the first is Robert Downey Jr. was just coming back from rehab and Don Cheadle replaced Terrence Howard, who could not participate in the film for wanting a rather large sum of money. There are also moments of inconsistency, is rather long, and is less exhilarating than the first. B-

'City Island'

Vincent Rizzo, a correctional officer (Andy Garcia) lives in the nice part of the bronx where he describes himself as a 'clam digger' or resident of the island. There he lives with his witty fat girl porn obsessed son, Vinnie Rizzo (Ezra Miller), a daughter, (Dominik Garcia-Lorido) who has been suspended from school, without her parents knowledge trying to get back into school by stripping, and a wife, Joyce Rizzo (Julianna Margulies) who makes any man feel insecure about his passions in life. He finds his son, Tony Nardella (Steven Strait), of a previous marriage, as an inmate in the jail he works at. Bringing Tony home, without his knowledge he is in fact the son of Vincent, and Tony soon finds out more about the life of Vincent's family. Meanwhile, Vincent is afraid of telling his wife he has an acting class and tells her, and instead tells her he has a poker game, immediately Joyce thinking he is having an affair. While in his acting class he meets Molly Charlesworth (Emily Mortimer) and she helps him gain confidence in not only his acting ability but also his marriage. In this dark comedy about how family secrets destroy a family is excellently directed by Raymond De Felitt.

Through out the film there were quite a number of great parts of the movie. One scene as such 'Honey let's have a nice dinner. Every dinner I make is nice. Well make it nicer. Make it nicer?! What do you want, balloons?! No I don't want balloons just make it nice!.' There were also technical switches in the film to show more significance, and the irritation Michael Malakov (Alan Arkin) of how everyone considers Marlin Brando a great actor and his pausing is thinking. In the final scence was indeed a nice wrap for each of the characters and how the message was portrayed; family secrets destroy a family. With the serious elements of a family and turning them into a very satiracle dark comedy this movie had slight moments of inconsistancy but still a very funny movie. B

'Kick Ass'

Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong) plays a wealthy mobster who's life is going great by getting drug deals done, the cops on the payroll, and spending quality time with his son Chris D'Amico, Red Mist, (Chrstopher Mintz-Plasse). Along the story Damon Macready, Big Daddy, (Nicolas Cage) is a former cop who refuses to accept bribes from Frank D'Amico, is arrested and sent to jail. During his sentence, his wife dies giving birth to Cindy Macready, Hit girl, (Chloe Grace Moretz). When released from prison, both daughter and father reunite and devote themselves to getting revenge against F. D'Amico for their loss. Finally there is Kick-Ass, Dave Lizewski, (Aaron Johnson) who is a typical akward comic-book reading geek, failing to get the girl and making a one time stand of being a hero by stopping three thugs in a parking lot near a laundromat. Big Daddy and Hit girl team up with Kick-Ass because of D'Amico's bodyguards being killed and Kick-Ass being the only big name hero to blame. Red Mist being a bad guy sidekick of a good guy makes the obvious mistakes. Having the movie feel as though a comic book/video game added to the mockery of heros from batman to spiderman to superman along with the akward social years of being a teenager

While Kick-Ass had many comedic elements such as the mockery of heroes, the comic book style format of the film, tha names of each hero, and the accurate depiction of the akeward teenage social years. The plot however has serious elements but quite a few plots holes. The deaths of parents with Dave's mom and Cindy's mom a vital element as to why both of the children became heros while the entire cas did a good job for example F. D'Amico stressing because he has a buissness in which an unknown outside source, Big Daddy, is ruining by killing his bodyguards. Also by scribing one of the many ways in which a person is able to become known is youtube. However while these elements are great the film was much too violent, and unrealistic for example the attractive girl having a taste for comic books, being attracted to the dork, or even a nine-year old being fully trained to use a gun and kill. All the weaknesses of the movie only added to the comedy of the movie. B