Couples Retreat

Title: Couples Retreat
Year: 2009
Director: Peter Billingsley
Lead: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman
Rated: PG-13 for sexual content and language

A group of friends is convinced to go to a couples retreat in support of their friends desire to fix their broken marriage.

This film was funny. It wasn't that funny, it seemed like a pointless movie to be honest. It was kind of cute, There isn't alot to say about it. It was all over the place and it didn't draw alot of real laughs. Everybody plays the same parts that they have played in every other movie Ive ever seen them in. Vince Vaughn was over the top and sarcastic like he always is. This film left me feeling glad I used a free movie pass. 6 out of 10. Don't waste your money

Valkyrie

Title: Valkyrie
Year: 2008
Director: Bryan Singer
Lead: Tom Cruise
Rated: PG-13 for violence and brief strong language.

Based on true events. The plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler takes place during WWII.

This film is great, I really enjoyed it, Bryan Singer did a great job capturing the intensity of the moment, and made you feel it. I don't talk about this ever because its never good enough to notice, but the costume design in this film was really well done. The cinematography was awesome, many cool shots, and Tom Cruise (I don't care what anyone says about him, he's a great actor) does so well in this movie. I really liked the opening scene of the film when Tom Cruise' character is speaking in German, and it transitions from German to English, it really makes you believe everything more, it kinda brings you into their state of mind. This film is based on true events, you'll be asking yourself during this film, "did this happen", yes it did. It is a great film, YOU SHOULD SEE! 8 1/2 out of 10

Dirty Harry

Title: Dirty Harry
Year: 1971
Director: Don Siegel
Lead: Clint Eastwood
Rated: R

A San Francisco Police officer tracks down a killer.

you've gotta ask yourself a question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk? This movie is SO cool, Clint Eastwood is such a (for lack of a better word) badass. The villain in this movie is so weird, the creepiest, scariest villain Ive ever seen in a movie. Clint Eastwood, enough said, he makes this movie. He has no regard for the rules, and hes a jerk, but you love him, BECAUSE he has no regard for the rules AND he's a jerk. Every Clint Eastwood fan (big or small) should see this film if you haven't already, in fact, everyone PERIOD. should see this film, its awesome, really cool. 9 out of 10

Chaplin

Title: Chaplin
Year: 1993
Director: Richard Attenborough
Lead: Robert Downey Jr.
Rated: PG-13

The story of Charlie Chaplin. This is his life in a spectacular 2 1/2 hour film

This was great, very interesting. One of the catchphrases for this film is "Everyone has a wild side, even a legend." this is so true, Charlie Chaplin was one interesting man. This film does a great job on touching every aspect of his life, and telling the story from Charlie's point of view. This film was required watching for my film class, and for good reason. It gives a lot of background on some of the big directors, producers, and actors from that era. I felt really bad for Charlie at the end of this; he did do it to himself, but I still felt bad for him. This film is fantastic, and this is (in my opinion) Robert Downey Jr.'s best performance, He does so well! This really is a star studded cast, Dan Aykroyd, Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Kline, and Diane Lane, to name most of them. Charlie Chaplin's Daughter in real life, plays Charlies mom (her own grandmother) in this film, which is really cool. This film will give you great insight to the man behind "The Little Tramp". Chaplin was nominated for 3 Oscars including, Best Actor, Best Art Direction- Set Decoration, and Best Original Score. I give this film a 8 1/2 out of 10.

Everything is Illumintaed

Title: Everything is Illuminated
Year: 2005
Director: Liev Schreiber
Lead: Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz, Boris Leskin
Rated: PG-13 for disturbing images/violence, sexual content and language.

A young Jewish American travels in search of the woman that saved his grandfather. With only a photograph and a name, he and his "guides" go on an emotional journey to find her.

This film is a masterpiece. Perfectly put together, perfectly casted, perfectly filmed. Super well written from the novel to the screen. "Everything is Illuminated" is based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. I felt so good watching this movie, its a great emotional ride, very heartfelt. Its also cool to see two cultures come together in a humorous way, like when Elijah Wood's character says he's a vegetarian, and the chef brings him out a peeled potato by itself on a plate, very funny moment. Plus the cinematography is really amazing, I think that the shot when they find Augustine's sisters house in the field of sunflowers, is one of the best shots in a film. Period. Liev Schreiber took Safran Foer's novel and turned it from a masterpiece on paper to a masterpiece on the screen. I saw the preview for this movie in 2004 and really wanted to see it, forgot about it, found the novel in 2007, read it, then watched the film today, and was blown away. Its on my list of favourites. "Everything is Illuminated" won several awards at several festivals around the world, you should go on Amazon.com, and buy it for $8.99 and watch it several times, and keep watching it, because it is near perfect. Oh I forgot to talk about how awesome Elijah Wood plays Jonathon Safran Foer? (yes the main character in the film/novel is the same name as the author) Elijah plays him so well! The way he talks, walks, dresses... he pulls it all off perfectly! Its a great film. 9 out of 10

Vertigo

Title: Vertigo
Year: 1958
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Lead: James Stewart, Kim Novak
Rated: G

A retired acrophobic detective gets hired to investigate a friends wife's strange activities, and becomes obsessed with her.

This movie is awesome! So many twists and turns, it had me talking out loud by myself. Tons of weirdness! This truly is an Alfred Hitchcock Masterpiece. I love how Hitchcock always gets himself into his movies, its really funny. This could be the best Hitchcock movie I've seen to date. James Stewart is SO awesome, he acts so obsessed its crazy. The cinematography is so cool, lots of cool, vintage special effects, I love it. This movie is fun, if you watch it closely, you can try and figure out the twists on your own. I think the ending is one of the craziest endings I've seen in a movie in a very long time... you need to watch this movie. Vertigo was nominated for two Oscars including Best Art and Best Sound. 8 1/2 out of 9

Casablanca

Title: Casablanca
Year: 1943
Director: Michael Curtiz
Lead: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman
Rated: PG for mild violence.

An American bar owner in Casablanca during WWII meets a former lover that complicates his life.

This is one of the great American films. Its got a great story, its really good to watch and it keeps your attention. A little tough to follow at times, but it all comes full circle at the end. It shows that there is inherent good in all people, no matter how cold their outward behavior may be. Humphrey Bogart is fantastic in Casablanca, and plays his part to perfection. This is an American classic, the acting is great, and the story is great, its even pretty sad. Kind of a heartbreak tale, but its very good. Casablanca won 3 Oscars for Best Writing, Best Director, and Best Picture. 8 1/2 out of 10.