4 Reasons to Watch "American Hustle" and 3 Reason to Not.

4 REASONS TO WATCH:

4. BECAUSE JENNIFER LAWRENCE IS OFF THE RAILS…

But in a good way.  Sure, there are a few moments where you start to feel the twinge of your eyes rolling their way back into your head, but the character is over-the-top and Jennifer Lawrence unapologetically goes for it.

3. AMY ADAMS’ NEAR WARDROBE MALFUNCTION…

in every single scene.  The question most asked after seeing this film: “Did you see Amy Adams’ shirts?” and the response most often provided: “Yessssssss!”

2. THE BAD HAIR

If ever you need to feel good about being follically challenged, take a gander at the wig work in this film.  It’ll immediately pump your tires while reminding you that nothing good ever came out of the 70’s.

1. IT’S LIKE WATCHING THE NBA ALL STAR GAME

The movie is a collection of great talent (for the most part) performing at peak levels.  Sure the script is not that good and thus the production feels like a showcase of talent rather than one cohesive narrative, but like the NBA All Star game, there is just enough raw talent to overcome this and provide adequate entertainment value.

AND 3 REASONS TO NOT TO WATCH:

3. BECAUSE BRADLEY COOPER IS OVERRATED.

After one good turn in "Silver Linings Playbook," society as a whole has decided that Bradley Cooper is actually a great actor.  I've yet to see this point validated.

2. THE SCRIPT IS GENERIC AND INCONSISTENT.

This movie is the definition of a script written for the sake of making a movie.  Is it loosely based on real events?  Sure, but the key word is loosely.  What is fiction turns out to be pretty unimaginative and the consistency of the characters falter under the weight of this flawed plot.  And the minute you walk out of the movie, you'll immediately decide there's no need to ever see it again.

1. BECAUSE THE VIEWER IS LEFT WITH NO SKIN IN THE GAME.
Almost every good movie has a likable person to root for regardless of whether they are to come out on top or not.  Most everyone in American Hustle is drenched with the stink of deceit and corruption, making it hard for the viewer to become invested in any one character.

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Review: House at the End of the Street

Jennifer Lawrence is putting together a very nice resume – The Hunger Games, X-Men: First Class, Silver Linings Playbook.  It’s got a little bit of everything - a box office blockbuster, a genre film, and one that is critically acclaimed.  I don’t think it is a huge stretch to say that - barring a Lindsay Lohan-esque meltdown - Lawrence is well on her way to a healthy run as a successful actress.  I suspect that many years from now when they put together her highlight reel, they will most likely leave off any clips from House at the End of the Street.

The movie follows a mother and daughter (Elizabeth Shue and Jennifer Lawrence respectively) as they move to a new town in search of a fresh start.  The house they move into is situated next to a home where a double homicide occurred.  Still residing in the home, is the family’s lone survivor (Max Thieriot).  Strange things ensue in and around the house and its occupant that make Lawrence’s Elissa suspect that things are not exactly as they seem.

If the end of my synopsis seems incredibly vague, it’s because I want to preserve what little surprise there actually is in this film.  To say that the ending is telegraphed would be a gross understatement, but that is not where the film ultimately fails (as there are really only so many twists and turns that horror film can make).  The issue at hand is the complete lack of suspense embedded in this narrative, which is especially surprising since it was marketed as an old school suspense thriller.  At every turn, the film gets bogged down in tedious exposition and sidetracked by extraneous plot threads.  The result is a slow run-of-the-mill story occasionally spiced up with a cheap thrill.

I don’t know what the cast could have done to overcome the writing of David Loucka.  However, whatever it is, they did not do it.  In this movie, Jennifer Lawrence comes off as just another actress in a tight tank top.  There’s not a lot to her character beyond stock defiance and rebellion, and you could have cast nearly any other actress and produced the same movie.  She wasn’t terrible, but she just wasn’t very good.  Elizabeth Shue as her mother is fairly nondescript.  Shue is a decent actress who tends to deliver credible performances and in a mediocre role she does just enough not to be terrible.

The only other person in this cast of any significance is Max Thieriot as the next-door neighbor, Ryan.  His is the most complex of all the characters in this movie and probably the most challenging to portray.  Unfortunately, Thieriot’s performance is highly uneven as there are times where his character has depth and feels flawed, and others when it feels like you are watching a high school drama club performance.  Of all the performances, his is the most damaging as much of the suspense is derived from the mystery surrounding his character.

I don’t think there is much else to say about this movie.  When you describe a movie’s three principle performances as not very good; “just enough to not be terrible;” and “highly uneven” respectively, that more or less tells you that this is a movie you should let slip off your radar.  If on a random night winter’s night, you happen to stumble onto this one on TBS, TNT, or FX and can’t find the remote control to change the channel, it might be a perfectly mediocre way to pass a hollow ninety minutes.  Any effort beyond pure happenstance to see this will completely obliterate what minute entertainment value it has.  In regards to Jennifer Lawrence, I suspect that we won’t be seeing her again in a film like this any time in the near future.

Standout Performance: Gil Bellows.  As Officer Weaver, Bellows comes off as affable.

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Top 10 Performances of 2012

It’s been a fun year at the theater.  From The Avengers uniting to a talking Ted and everything else in between, we have been treated to a wonderfully broad range of films.  From these films, a handful of memorable performances have emerged that remind us why we venture out to the cinema each weekend, visit the concession stand, and jockey for a good seat in front of the big screen.  With that in mind, here’s a look at my ten favorite performances of 2012.

10. JESSICA CHASTAIN

Zero Dark Thirty

Jessica Chastain is starting to become synonymous with Oscar nominations and this year is no exception as her performance in Zero Dark Thirty is getting a lot of award season buzz.  The much-anticipated film detailing the demise of Osama Bin Laden promises to be a compelling film and much of its success rests of Chastain’s capable shoulders.  

9. ANNE HATHAWAY

Les Miserables, The Dark Knight Rises

As if delivering a standout performance in the third leg of Nolan’s Batman trilogy wasn’t enough, Hathaway follows it up with Les Miserables and a performance that undoubtedly showcases her impressive vocals.  If going from The Dark Knight Rises to Les Miserables doesn’t show range, then I don’t know what does.

8. JAKE GYLLENHAAL
End of Watch

I have never been a huge fan of Gyllenhaal, but I came away from End of Watch impressed by his commitment to the role.  Gyllenhaal disappears into his LAPD character and shares an authentic camaraderie with co-star Michael Pena, and it’s that chemistry that makes the film so great.

7. JENNIFER LAWRENCE
Silver Linings Playbook

Long story short, Lawrence’s work in Silver Linings Playbook made me enjoy a movie I was sure I was going to loathe.  She has expressive features and uses them well in portraying a character who is both emotionally abrasive yet utterly vulnerable.  That is no easy accomplishment, but she pulls it off with flying colors.

6. CHANNING TATUM
21 Jump Street

In 21 Jump Street, Tatum proves he is more than just broad shoulders and hip dance moves opposite Jonah Hill in the action comedy 21 Jump Street.  Not only does Tatum hold his own against his comedic co-star, he steals the show with a unique brand of physical comedy.

5. EMMA STONE
The Amazing Spider-Man

While fans may debate the merits of Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man in comparison to Tobey Maguire’s, there is near universal agreement that Stone’s smart witty portrayal of Gwen Stacy far eclipses the performances of other Peter Parker paramours (Kirsten Dunst, Bryce Dallas Howard).

4. DANIEL CRAIG
Skyfall

I have said it numerous times on this blog, but Daniel Craig’s James Bond is the best cinematic version of 007.  While there have been numerous duds on Craig’s professional resume, he always seems to hit the mark when immersed in the world of Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

3. BEN AFFLECK
Argo

America loves a good come back and Ben Affleck is the ultimate come back kid.  While no one will ever confuse him for Dustin Hoffman, Affleck does a good job in front of the camera as the CIA operative protagonist in Argo.  And with his efforts behind the camera, Affleck proves once again that he is growing into one of most accomplished directors in the business.

2. EMMA WATSON
The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a great movie, with a compelling story, and a dynamite soundtrack.  Still, the best part of the film hands down is Emma Watson who threw herself with reckless abandon into a role so different from the one (Hermione) for which she is known.  Hers is perhaps my favorite performance of the year.  

1. JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT
Looper, The Dark Knight Rises, Premium Rush, Lincoln

Did any actor have a bigger year than Gordon-Levitt?  You would be hard pressed to find one.  From a younger version of Bruce Willis to the heir apparent to a heroic legacy Levitt shows his incredible range as an actor and elevates himself to the cusp of the A-List.  

10 WORST PERFORMANCES OF 2012

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