Argo

— I can’t believe more people went to see “Taken 2” over the weekend than went to “Argo”. “Argo” was so well done – Ben Affleck’s directing gets better with each film, and he certainly does a good job of acting in this one too. All that and a gripping, true story as well. Definitely worth a gander! Plus, you’ll find out what “Argo” is…

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[2012. 120 min. Directed by Ben Affleck. Starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, and Victor Garber.]
http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/argo-20121011

End of Watch

— Saw “End of Watch” this afternoon (retired people can do that sort of thing). It’s one of those somewhat gritty, sort of riveting, pretty violent looks at LA cops, complete with very good acting and editing. It’s easy to see why critics seemed to like it – I liked it myself!

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[2012. 109 min. Directed by David Ayer. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Natalie Martinez, and Anna Kendrick.]
http://whatculture.com/film/london-film-festival-2012-review-end-of-watch.php

Bernie

— "Bernie", my weekend movie, just wasn't as good as it should have been.

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[2011. 104 min. Directed by Richard Linklater. Starring Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, and Matthew McConaughey.]
http://movies.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/movies/bernie-with-jack-black-and-shirley-maclaine.html

Hope Springs

— "Hope Springs" was really just a senior "chick" flick, but I could feel every second of the couple's discomfort and desperation and love. Heck, Streep and Jones could probably have starred in "Gigli" and I would have liked it. There's just no way not to marvel at their skill.

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[2012. 100 min. Directed by David Frankel. Starring Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carell, and Jean Smart.]
http://www.hopesprings-movie.com/?hs308=HPS6186

The Intouchables

— Saw “The Intouchables” and can see how it may be one of the most popular French films of all time. I attribute the popularity to the actors’ skill more than anything. The characters are somewhat stereotypic and the storyline is a little too familiar save a few uncomfortable moments. Even so, the actors make the people seem real and the movie seem heartfelt, so you can’t help but be happy you’re part of it. In fact, it’s almost a “feel-good” movie. I’m glad I saw it.

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[2011. 112 min. Directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano. Starring Francois Cluzet, Omar Sy, and Anne Le Ny.]
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/05/25/the_intouchables_racist_french_people_don_t_think_so_and_here_s_why_.html

Certified Copy

— “Certified Copy” is well worth seeing, but it takes a bit of work. There are lots of long conversations between the two main--and pretty much only--characters, as what's real and what's fake, blur. Michael O’Sullivan’s review tells the story far better than I could.

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[2010. 106 min. Directed by Abbas Kiarostami. Starring Juliette Binoche, william Shimell, and Jean-Claude Carriere.]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/certified-copy-copie-conforme,1177144/critic-review.html

Safety Not Guaranteed

— Having seen Mark Duplass in “Safety Not Guaranteed” only a couple of weeks after seeing him in a much more minor role in “People Like Us”, maybe I suffered overload. Most people seemed to have loved “Safety Not Guaranteed” and I liked the somewhat low key feeling of the film and the offbeat characters spending more time than they should regretting their past but, in the end, I was only warm to Duplass’ character, thinking he was outshined by Aubrey Plaza’s character. SNG doesn’t stand a chance of getting in my top 500 movie list, but it was still a pleasant enough hour and a half.

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[2012. 86 min. Directed by Colin Trevorrow. Starring Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, and Jake Johnson.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/safety-not-guaranteed-2012

The Dark Knight Rises

— Went to “The Dark Knight Rises” for my summer blockbuster fare. Wow. I really enjoyed all 2 hours and 45 minutes. Thank you Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, and Anne Hathaway! A perfect film for when it’s 105 outside.

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[2012. 165 min. Directed by Christopher Nolan. Starring Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Matthew Modine.]
http://www.thedarkknightrises.com/