We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)
This movie is fantastic. Tilda Swinton plays her role perfectly as she struggles to comprehend her own life and that of her seemingly 'born bad' son, but everything is not so simple and in the end we are left with lots of questions that can't be answered, in a good way. John C Reilley is, as always, great in his role as the positive but naive dad.
***** out of 5
Rampart (2011)
This is one of my favorite Woody Harrelson roles. As a pretty despicable human being, he is a member of the LAPD under heavy scrutiny and investigation for ongoing abuses, and he pretty much sums up all that is wrong with the department. At times we actually feel a little sorry for this guy, but ultimately we do realize he is just the scum of the earth. It all falls on Harrelson's shoulders to pull it off and he does so very well. A little derivative of films you have seen in this genre and a story that isn't fully compelling are the only downsides, but I don't think many people saw this one and it is a good to one to add to your list.
**** out of 5
Coriolanus (2011)
I had to think a little about what photo to post for this Shakespearean adaptation which takes place in fairly modern times, set in and around a Rome like city. In the end, a photo of Ralph Fiennes covered in blood and Gerard Butler a bit confused int he background makes perfect sense. I enjoyed so much about this film, but specifically the performance of Fiennes, which really puts into perspective just how good a movie can become when the right actor puts in the right performance. It isn't enough to save the movie overall, but it makes it worth watching. The story of the state vs the people vs dictator vs rebels etc is common in Shakespeare and here we have a very gory and bloody vision, almost to a fault, I believe. That the entire movie is spoken int he Shakespeare language but set in modern times can be a bit awkward at times and I'm not sure how I feel about film adaptations that employ the technique, though I lean towards it being a bit distracting.
*** and 1/2 out of 5
A Dangerous Method (2011)
I don't have much to say. I actually saw this in a theater several months ago but forgot about it. That's what it means to me. Some good performances but a story that doesn't really deliver much in the end and seems to be playing to audience for gasps at times. I don't know. I'd skip it.
** and 1/2 out of 5
Hall Pass (2011)
Another comedy that delivers so much in the first half and so little in the second. I laughed a lot during the first 50 minutes in this comedy about couples giving each other some freedom to explore their options during a week off from marriage. I laughed a real lot, actually. But then, like so many others in this genre, the script can't keep it going and it quickly becomes a series of unfunny events dragged out to make it a feature length film. The ending scenarios are so haphazardly put together I'm not so sure the filmmakers weren't on a deadline to finish or not get paid.
** out of 5
Footloose (2011)
Hey, I'm not perfect, I know, and even I was curious, mainly to see Julianne Hough dance around in short shorts and boots, but also to see what they came up with to remake the classic Kevin Bacon film (I'm not saying I care for the original, but it is a classic)... Well - they failed miserably. This is terrible. I'm talking just pure trash. None of this feels right, except a few scenes of Hough dancing around in short shorts and boots, of course. Nothing else to say.
