Review: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

Director: Guy Ritchie (Snatch, RocknRolla)

Cast: Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), Jude Law (Cold Mountain, Enemy at the Gates), Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Jared Harris (Mad Men, Fringe), Stephen Fry (V for Vendetta, Alice in Wonderland), Rachel McAdams (Wedding Crashers, Mean Girls), Kelly Reilly, Paul Anderson

The Deal: Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr) and his trusty sidekick Dr. Watson (Law) join forces once again to bring down Professor Moriarty, who's intellect rivals Holmes' own wit, making him their fiercest adversary yet as he tries to control the world.

Thoughts: The summer is always chock full of blockbusters while the Oscar "favorites" dominate the winter months, but there's always a few "summer" films sprinkled into the Christmas bustle to bring families into the theater, and Sherlock Holmes is exactly that. This sequel doesn't bring anything new to the franchise, and that's just the way we like it. Holmes is highly entertaining film meant to draw families to the theater with its A-list stars, witty humor, and a dash of action. It's nothing we haven't seen many many times before, but there's just something to love about Homes and Watson unraveling another case.

What makes the film so enjoyable, like its predecessor, is the great combination of Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law. The two play off each other so well in both a comedic and serious way. They're like a late 1800's version of Batman and Robin. They're action heroes who aren't afraid to dress in drag or don their own urban camouflage if it means sneaking by the enemy to gain an advantage. Jared Harris plays the big bad new villain, a man who's intellect rivals that of Holmes, and when the two are on screen together, there is a nice touch of tension through the air. Both actors adequately portray their constantly calculating characters well, and the fact that every move they make is a calculated one based on a million different variables helps separate the film from the many others who have taken on the "villain taking over the world" plot.

I have to say, the front half of the film is more action than wit. Sure, we get some doses of the Holmes deductive skill, but the big expensive action sequences are gotten out of the way early. Many critic's have claimed this sequel lacked the same level of deductive finesse as the first, but it's in the back half, closer to the last third of the film where the mind games come full force. Ultimately when you walk away from the film, it has a dash of sequelitis (bigger, better, more awesome), but it still captures the best of the 2009 predecessor.

Verdict: Sherlock Holmes A Game of Shadows is a fun sequel that brings all the same things we loved about the first. If the family is looking for some bonding time, and the theater is your destination, Holmes would not be a bad choice at all. ☆☆☆1/2

Review: Hugo (2011)

Director: Martin Scorsese (The Departed, Goodfellas, Taxi Driver)

Cast: Asa Butterfield (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas), Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass, Let Me In), Ben Kingsley (Schindler's List, Shutter Island), Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Bruno), Emily Mortimer (Shutter Island, Lars an the Real Girl), Christopher Lee (The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars), Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, Cold Mountain)

The Deal: Hugo (Butterfield) is an orphan who lives in the walls of a Paris train station, diligently keeping the station's clocks functioning. Hugo's attempts to fix an old automaton left by his late father (Law) and his run-ins with the old man (Kingsley) who owns the stations toy shop push Hugo down the path of discovery, but only the young girl Isabelle (Moretz) holds the key to solving Hugo's mystery.

Thoughts: Critic's seem to describe this film as a throwback and ode to filmmaking, and whether or not you find this your cup of tea, they couldn't be more correct. The first thought in my mind after seeing the film was the trailer was a little misleading in a sense that it put so much emphasis on the automaton, when in fact the film is about its characters, and the robot is just a plot device. It threw me off, but I wouldn't call it disappointing. This is a film you need to watch to understand. Right about now I'm getting the feeling anyone reading this review may be thinking I am throwing caution flags for all potential viewers, but do not be mistaken, the film is worth seeing.

I fully enjoyed the characters in the film, every one of them, small role to large. They were all fleshed out nicely, and each served a purpose in driving the plot, even Sacha Baron Cohen, who's prior work leaves much to be desired in my eyes. These were real people struggling with real issues, their lives more intertwined than they realized. The path each character had taken through life is reflected in their actions, and it's only when you finally learn of their past that the realization hits you, and you completely connect with them.

The story itself is very straightforward, and with no real knowledge going in, I didn't expect where it was going to take me. The film is a work of art, a homage to film's past. You get a real look into the start of it all; soundless films that only make you laugh as you watch them come to be. The enjoyment you feel is reflected the same way to the characters in the film, and it quickly becomes clear that films are more than stories, but works of art meant to inspire and fascinate its viewers. This is a film about why we love films, and Scorsese executes it so well. To be honest, the film is unlike any other, and that may be a good or a bad thing to viewers, but anyone who calls themselves a true film lover will find something to connect with.

Verdict: Hugo isn't for everyone, but to the serious film viewer, it is a wonderfully executed piece of art full of rich characters that will remind you not only why you love films, but why films are always more than just a story. ☆☆☆☆

Review: Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)

Directors: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Cast: Steve Carell (The Office, The 40 Year Old Virgin), Ryan Gosling (Drive, The Notebook), Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights, Magnolia), Emma Stone (Easy A, Zombieland), Marissa Tomei (The Wrestler), Kevin Bacon (Footloose, Apollo 13), Analeigh Tipton, Jonah Bobo

The Deal: When his wife (Moore) asks for a divorce after more than 20 years together, Cal (Carell) seeks to rediscover his manhood with his new-found friend Jacob (Gosling), a womanizer who's an expert at picking up girls at bars.

Thoughts: The old saying "never judge a book by its cover" couldn't be more correct, as at first glance this film screamed chick-flick to me, or at least that's what all the TV spots and trailers seemed to want me to think. What we actually have is a comical yet serious look at the struggles of love from the viewpoints of many age ranges, and to be honest, it's a pretty realistic assessment. Movies rarely have sad endings, if more of them did nobody would want to watch them, but the route taken to the happy ending is mostly believable here, avoiding the extravagant over-the-top methods too many films use, and focusing on things most normal people would try. When it does try to get a little over-the-top, the plan fails. This is what makes the story so strong and relatable to an audience.

As we all know, a strong story is nothing without a strong cast, and the ensemble we have here all play their parts well. Carell frequently plays a middle-aged "everyman", but it's because he does it well and believably. The humor he brings isn't forced, but rather an outcome of actions a lost and heart-broken man could stumble upon, such as misjudging the type of woman he is bringing home or just being completely behind with the times. Gosling's character is scarred from a heartbreak, and the walls and methods he lives behind make perfect sense. Both characters are totally lost and confused about who they really are, but had they never met, neither could have ever rediscovered themselves.

I really enjoyed the "love triangle" between Cal, Jessica (Tipton), and Robbie (Bobo). The age gaps between the characters made for a few funny moments. Without ruining anything, Robbie is Cal's son, and Jessica is Robbie's babysitter. Robbie's in love with Jessica, and Jessica is in love with Cal. Cal is the guy in the triangle who doesn't know he's there, and wouldn't want to be there if he knew. I couldn't help but laugh every time Jessica told Robbie she's too old for him, that he's just not mature like she is, all the while she's striving for a man 30 years older than herself. The cluelessness from this triangle is quite funny, and pretty spot on with how real people act. I often use words like "real", "realistic", or "believable". For many films, those words have no place to be used, but when we're talking about romance, especially one that wants to be somewhat serious, if I can't see real people in the real world acting that way, then I view it as a failure.

Verdict: Crazy, Stupid, Love sports a strong cast, and is an entertaining look at the struggles of love at different stages in life. The fact that you can believe the character's actions makes this a film the viewer can connect with, and therefore one worth watching. ☆☆☆☆

Review: Friends with Benefits (2011)

Director: Will Gluck

Cast: Justin Timberlake (In Time, The Social Network), Mila Kunis (That 70's Show, Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, Natural Born Killers), Richard Jenkins (Burn After Reading), Jenna Elfman (Dharma & Greg), Patricia Clarkson (The Green Mile)

The Deal: While trying to avoid the clichés of Hollywood romantic comedies, Dylan (Timberlake) and Jamie (Kunis) soon discover that adding the act of sex to their friendship does lead to complications.

Thoughts: Released after the similarly-premised No Strings Attached, Friends with Benefits is both original and superior. Both films rely on extremely attractive leads to rope viewers in, but this film has that extra something. It's a cookie-cutter script that doesn't feel like it. It constantly pokes fun at every sappy romantic comedy while executing those same plot points, and rarely wastes an opportunity to work in a pop culture reference without getting too annoying. What makes it work is how well the film acknowledges these moments and makes them feel original none-the-less.

Timberlake and Kunis have good onscreen chemistry, and that's the key starting point. Are our two leads both flawed in a way that will complicate everything? Yes. Will they both realize they want to be more than friends but have screwed it up? Yes. Will there be some elaborate realization and effort to have them end up together? Of course, it's a romantic comedy! What makes this film work is they're having fun with the script, and each of their characters portrays a little of themselves without it feeling like we're just watching a couple of actors playing themselves.

Verdict: Friends with Benefits is an original and humorous romantic comedy wrapped in a cookie-cutter mold. It will probably never go down as anything great, but it will be remembered as a funny and entertaining. ☆☆☆1/2

Review: Warrior (2011)

Director: Gavin O'Connor

Cast: Joel Edgerton (King Arthur), Tom Hardy (Inception), Nick Nolte (The Thin red Line, Hotel Rwanda), Jennifer Morrison (House M.D.)

The Deal: Youngest son Tommy (Hardy) returns home from war and seeks his dad (Nolte) to train him for the upcoming MMA Sparta tournament. This sets him on a collision course with his older brother Brendan (Edgerton), with whom he has unresolved issues from their broken childhood, who's competing in the tournament as a last ditch effort to win the $5mil purse and save his family's home.

Thoughts: The crazy thing about this film is it sets the audience up to root for both brothers even though it's clear only one will come out on top. The struggles the two have endured since their broken childhood has left them scarred and searching for answers, be it retribution or forgiveness. Hardy and Edgerton both turn in emotionally charged performances that separate their characters from the other, stereotypical "animals" that comprise the MMA fighters.

Now let's not forget, this is a film about mixed martial arts fighting, but even if you have no interest in the sport, you will find yourself completely drawn into the fights due to our compelling leads, and you may just find yourself walking away from the film wanting to start watching MMA fights on TV. MMA is brutal and animalistic, something that is made very clear and present in the film, yet whenever our war hero and physics teacher step into the cage, you see a real person, pain and determination in their eyes, fighting to fix their broken life.

Verdict: Warrior's emotionally charged performances and adrenaline pumping fights make for a great film, start to finish, and a top 5 film for 2011. ☆☆☆☆1/2