Review: Pitch Perfect

Before Pitch Perfect was released in theaters, I received invites to at least twelve different free screenings of this movie.  Depending on how you look at it, this was either a sign that the film had some issues so the creative team was looking for feedback or that the powers that be at Universal felt like they had a hit on their hands and were trying to generate word-of-mouth buzz.  Whatever the reason, the screenings and the marketing worked because the film earned a robust $76M against a $17M production budget.

Before renting this movie, I thought it would play like a glorified episode of Glee, but there was just enough of a Bring It On (vastly underrated movie) vibe to elevate it into something more.  The plot follows Anna Kendrick’s Beca – an aspiring DJ/producer with intimacy issues, who matriculates at Barton College and finds herself a member of The Bellas – an all female a cappella group.  Thrust into a national singing competition, Kendrick and her teammates must find the right formula to capture the coveted championship.

So as you might have guessed, we're not exactly dealing with Shakespeare or Milton here in regards to the subject matter and the plot asks for a bit too much suspension of disbelief, but one area where the film works is in the acting.  Don't get m wrong.  I am not implying that the acting is particularly great - in fact there are a few cringe-worthy moment - but what I do mean is that it is the right brand of acting to fit the film and its target audience.  Everyone not named Anna Kendrick needs only be perfectly one-dimensional to help fill the time between musical numbers (which are the nuts and bolts of the movie), and for the most part they are.

Rebel Wilson works the same side of the street as she did in Bridesmaids and What to Expect When You are Expecting, and it still works.  She is consistently the only legitimate comic relief in the movie and steals the show with her unique delivery.  Skylar Astin is charged with playing Kendrick’s love interest Jesse, and the only thing I can say about him is he has a good voice and looks like a cross between Dane Cook and Ben Savage.  As for the rest of the crew, Brittany Snow, Alexis Knapp, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, Kelley Jakle, et al excel as vocalists and are mediocre as actors.  But really, that is all they need to be.

As for Kendrick, I have been a huge fan of hers in the past as I loved her work in Up in the Air, 50/50, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and End of Watch.  Her work in this film is not nearly on par with those other performances, but she does show herself to be a tremendous singer.  Those moments are when she shines best, while the character development scenes feel rather pedestrian.  This I suspect is the result of the lackluster script, but yes, Kendrick has seen better days as an actress.  Still, she is just charismatic enough to keep the viewer engaged for the duration of the film.

Much like my review, my opinion of this movie is all over the place.  There are things that worked and things that didn’t.  However, there are just enough positives to make this movie mildly entertaining.  If you like light hearted films, then this one will play for you.  But if you are looking for gravitas or fisticuffs, then this movie probably will be your Kryptonite.  It won’t leave you feeling pensive or thoughtful, but Perfect Pitch may leave you wanting to add a few tunes to one of your playlists.  At the very least, the vocals are top notch. 

Standout Performance: Rebel Wilson.  She provides good comic relief.

Read More

Review: Chernobyl Diaries

When Chernobyl Diaries made its way into cinemas earlier this year, there was some tempered displeasure over the subject matter.  Casting victims of a real-life catastrophe as antagonists in a horror film tends to rub people the wrong way.  However, it registered merely as a blip since no one cared about the movie and even fewer people saw it – as evidenced by its $18M domestic gross. 

I was only slightly put off by the premise partly because Chernobyl happened over twenty-five years ago and time has muted memories of the catastrophe and partly because the premise is so absurd that it is truly disconnected from reality.  If anything, what outraged me most about this flick is just how bad it is.  There are low budget horror movies and then there are low budget / we-are-not-even-trying horror movies and this one definitely belongs in the latter category.

If you have a life or are gainfully employed you probably missed the trailers on this one so to get you up to speed here’s a quick synopsis.  A group of tourists decide that instead of partying in Moscow, they are going to follow an ex-military officer on an extreme tour of the Chernobyl disaster site.  After illegally entering the area, calamity ensues, people die, and the credits roll.  That pretty much sums it up.  So in reflecting upon the experience of watching this movie, there are three sets of people who should feel ashamed of themselves:

1. The Creative Team:  Forget that the plot stinks, that the direction is brutal, and that even the cheap thrills are completely bungled, the fact that they set this against the backdrop of the Chernobyl disaster is weak at best.  I don’t think I am spoiling anything in saying that the antagonists are the result of the nuclear fallout, so for the writers Oren Peli and Carey Van Dyke as well as director Bradley Parker to use this to sell a few movie tickets (and I do mean few) feels sordid.  And to be honest, they could have replaced the whole Chernobyl vibe with something trivial like renegade soccer hooligans and probably made a better movie.

2. The cast:  It is hard to fault a cast of unknowns who are very green, but how hard is it to look scared in the dark and do lots of yelling.  Jonathan Sadowski is the only actor that is even remotely recognizable and nothing he does in this movie is better than the acting you’d find in a Lifetime movie.  As for the rest of the cast, I figured out after the fact that singer/songwriter Jesse McCartney was in this movie.  If that doesn’t sum up the level of acting talent then I don’t know what does.

3. Me:  I belong on this list for three reasons.  The first is that I put this on my Netflix queue; the second is that I let it get to the top of the queue; and the third is that I watched this movie when it arrived instead of doing anything else.  Seriously, counting my socks, biting my fingernails, and even cutting a lawn with a pair of scissors would have been time better spent. 

So yeah, the movie is terrible.  Don’t watch it.  No hyperbole, no overstatements, no analogies, because my advice is that simple.  The movie is a piece of cinematic excrement.  Learning from the mistakes of others is an important skill to life management so as I write this paragraph, I am hoping that whoever read this post shall learn from mine:  No more low budget horror movies!  Say it with me:  No more low budget horror movies!  One more time: No more low budget horror movies…until Paranormal Activity 4 drops on Netflix!

Standout Performance: There is this huge bear at the halfway point of this movie that runs through a building, and well, the bear does a great job of acting like a bear!

Read More

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

Read More