AUSTENLAND Review: For Lovers Only...

Studio:  Sony Pictures Classics

Writer / Director:  Jerusha Hess (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE)

Source Material:  Shannon Hale (novel)

Cast:  Keri Russell, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Seymour, JJ Feild, Bret McKenzie, Georgia King

Logline:  A Jane Austen aficionado books a vaca to “Austenland” (a la Disneyland) to live out her fantasy. 

Trailer:  http://www.sonyclassics.com/austenland/ 

AUSTENLAND is about Jane (RUSSELL), who wholeheartedly believes Prince Charming aka “Darcy” exists, even if only in the BBC production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice at Austenland.  Jane spends her life’s savings to experience Austenland, a resort in which actors led by Mrs.  Wattlesbrook (SEYMOUR) play various characters inspired by the aforementioned novel and cast their guests in a tailored romance.  But, Jane’s immersion in the fantasy leads her to question the validity of her romantic notions.  Fellow guests at Austenland, included COOLIDGE, who delivered hilarious one-liners as “Miss Elizabeth Charming” and KING, who served physical comedic perfection as “Lady Amelia Heartwright”.  Additionally, FEILD and MCKENZIE are dashing as love interests for Russell. 

I did not read the book and therefore cannot speak to the film’s fidelity to the novel .  I can say that HESS gave the far-fetched premise levity by ensuring  the audience that the Austenland cast in Austenland is in on the joke, which enables one to give in to the suspension of belief and invest in the story. 

This movie is for lovers only.  If you are the LEAST bit cynical, this will likely not be your cup of tea.  However, if you are a hopeless romantic, who can submit to the premise, you will enjoy this one.  For the latter I would recommend seeing this in theaters if you are a Jane Austen fan; if not – stream it.    

THE BUTLER Review - See It

Studio:  The Weinstein Company
Director:  Lee Daniels (PRECIOUS)
Writer:  Danny Strong (GAME CHANGE), Wil Haygood (The Washington Post article)
Cast: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo
Logline:   Based on the true story of "Cecil Gaines", an African-American butler, who served eight Presidents in The White House.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/video/onbackground/the-butler-aut/2013/08/15/9d933d58-0121-11e3-9a3e-916de805f65d_video.html

THE BUTLER is a father-son story based on true events in the life of "Cecil  Gaines" (WHITAKER), who worked as a butler in The White House during the Civil Rights Movement, while his son, "Louis" (OYELOWO) dropped out of college to become a Freedom Rider.  American history provides the back-drop for Cecil and Louis' ideology conflict throughout the story.  DANIELS creates the most poignant illustration of the father-son conflict by juxtaposing The White House service staff preparing for dinner, while the Freedom Riders prepare for sit-ins.  By the time Obama is elected in 2008, father and son are on the same page.  Solid performances all around from an all-star cast including Winfrey (as "Gloria Gaines"), Cuba Gooding Jr, whose character injected some much-needed comic relief in the story and Lenny Kravitz, who held his own with Oscar winners Whitaker and Gooding Jr.   Although Daniels takes creative license with the article, as well as the screenplay, the result is a broader view of the African-American perspective regarding historical American events.

If you're one of those people who would rather see the movie than read the book(s), see this movie.  (Also see the documentary:  EYES ON THE PRIZE).  If you ever wondered what the movie, FORREST GUMP, would be like if it was written from an African-American perspective - see this movie.  Otherwise - read the books.

ELYSIUM Review: Visuals > Story

Studio:  Sony 

Writer / Director: Neill Blomkamp (DISTRICT 9) 

Cast:  Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Diego Luna, Alice Braga  

Logline:  Sci-fi, futuristic drama about one ordinary man's extraordinary quest to bring equality to a dystopic society.  

http://reeltalkreviews.blogspot.com/2013/07/elysium-trailer.html

ELYSIUM features a Spanglish speaking DAMON as "Max DaCosta", an ex-con trying to stay on the straight-and-narrow when he's exposed to a lethal dose of radiation at work and given a whopping five days to live.  Max then reconnects with characters from his shady past to get an illegal ticket to the elitist society Elysium, in which all diseases are curable.  Hi-jinks ensue.  FOSTER plays the Nazi-esque Security of Defense, while COPLEY is her right-hand man.  They make for solid villains.  As for Damon - it's hard to take him seriously as a reformed gangster, with or without tattoos, especially when he's speaking broken Spanish.   Also, Damon's character spends most of the movie trying to save his own life, but because he leads a life of privation, one wonders why he doesn't just go find a beach to spend his last 5 days on. That is a shame too because Blomkamp draws a very clear parallel in the story with present-day immigration issues, which may have landed harder for me if I could have empathized more with the hero.

On the other hand - visually - the movie is spectacular:  there are robots; fight sequences, things that blow up AND watching the advanced technology work on Elysium is pretty cool.  

Recommendation - see it in the theater for the visuals OR stream it later for the story.  

WE'RE THE MILLERS Review - SEE IT!!

Studio:  Warner Bros / New Line

Director:  Rawson Marshall Thurber (DODGEBALL)

Writers:  Anders & Morris (SHE’S OUT OF MY LEAGUE), Faber & Fisher (WEDDING CRASHERS )

Cast:  Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, Will Poulter

Logline:  A veteran drug dealer creates a fake family as part of his plan to move a huge shipment of weed into the U.S. from Mexico. 
Trailer: http://werethemillers.warnerbros.com/#video

MILLERS is a road-trip comedy about a drug-dealer (SUDEIKIS), a stripper (ANISTON), a virgin (POULTER) and a runaway (ROBERTS), who disguise int’l drug smuggling by posing as a family on vacation in Mexico.  Nobody is trying to reinvent the comedy genre with this movie.  Yes it’s formulaic.  Yes there will be a couple of monologues or points in the movie that you will see coming.  And yes, you will predict the ending.  BUT, if you like raunchy but witty comedy, you will laugh your a** off all the way through it.  THURBER’S pacing is off a couple times in the movie, making some of the jokes run a bit long, but overall, it evens out.  As for the players, my only complaint is that I wish Aniston would have had more fun being a stripper and played it a little more over the top than straight.  Apart from that, all the actors’ were completely believable and their comedic timing was spot on.     

If you have had a long-week and just want to laugh, go see this movie in theaters.  Also, if you are a fan of the reality show VANDERPUMP RULES, Jax’ ex, Laura-Leigh, makes an appearance as, wait for it..."Boner Garage".  It's a must-see!!  

THE SPECTACULAR NOW Review - See it w/considerations

Studio:  A24

Director:  James Ponsoldt (SMASHED)

Writer:  Scott Neustadter & Michael Weber (500 DAYS OF SUMMER)

Source Material:  Tim Tharp (novel)

Cast:  Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kyle Chandler

Logline:  A hard-partying high school senior's philosophy on life changes when he meets the not-so-typical "nice girl."

Trailer:  http://spectacularnowmovie.com/

THE SPECTACULAR NOW is a coming of age story about Sutter (TELLER), a life of the party type poised to peak in high school, until he meets the girl next door, Aimee (WOODLEY).  The story follows Sutter and Aimee’s courtship, but also delves into deeper issues like alcoholism, prescription drug abuse and absentee-fathers.  Teller does a great job balancing all three by making this would be douchebag character likeable and sympathetic.  Similarly, you want to root for Woodley, as her only flaw is that she is not assertive.  And though she seems to jump that hurdle mid-way through the movie, she reverts back to being a pushover by the end.  Under-baked leading lady aside, the film does deliver some honest moments and great comedic beats.  It is also worth noting that I did not read Tharp’s novel, but I am told that at the end, it takes a more nihilistic perspective than the film.

The movie is worth seeing in theaters if your high school experience at all reflected this story, as it will make you nostalgic for simpler times.  If not, I would stream it or wait for it to come on cable.  

FRUITVALE STATION Review - See It

Studio:  The Weinstein Company 

Writer / Director:  Ryan Coogler 

Cast:  Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz 

Logline:  The true story of Oscar, a 22 y/o Bay Area resident, who crosses path with friends, enemies, family and strangers on the last day of 2008.  

Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceVVVils8z4

Based on a true story, the movie is a snapshot of a day in the life of Oscar Grant (JORDAN), as he interacts with family and friends before being shot and killed by a transit cop.  Admittedly, there are a few heavy-handed moments, in which first-time writer / director, COOGLER attempts to evoke sympathy for Grant.  Luckily, Jordan as Grant is more charismatic than saccharine, so these scenes play…for the most part.  At the climax of the movie, Coogler infuses the cell phone video footage used to capture Oscar’s death, giving the film a visceral intensity that stays with you after the title cards roll.   There are a few upbeat moments throughout the film, namely watching Oscar, his friends and his girl Sophina (DIAZ) bring in NYE on a train. But, overall this is an emotionally charged character piece that asks you to look at the actual footage of Oscar’s death and decide for yourself if a crime occurred.   

I would highly recommend seeing this movie in the theaters if you like docu-dramas / inner-city youth interest stories / character-driven movies or if you just want to support an independent film.