THE SUSPECT (2013)

Dong-chul (Gong Yoo), a former top North Korean spy now seeking anonymity in South Korea after a botched mission left him abandoned and his wife and daughter dead, has taken a job as bodyguard and driver to the CEO of a powerful organization.  When the CEO is assassinated, with his dying words he entrusts Dong-chul with a very special pair of reading glasses - glasses that hold a secret those from both sides of the law would kill to retain.  Framed for murder of his boss, Dong-chul finds himself on the run again, trusting no one in pursuit of the truth, as well as the revenge on the person who killed his wife and child (which he has been plotting since leaving North Korea) ... and he doesn't care who or what gets in his way to do it.  One of my favorite films I saw in 2014, Gong Yoo is terrific in this tense, violent, complex, adrenaline-packed rollercoaster of a spy thriller that will leave you breathless - yet with a tear in your eye by the time the end credits roll.  Incredible. (not rated)  A

THE SUSPECT trailer

THE BABADOOK (2014)

The Babadook is an atmospheric Australian horror film about a young woman named Amelia (Essie Davis) who, nearly a decade later, still mourns the violent death of her beloved husband, killed in a car wreck on their way to the hospital the night Amelia gave birth to their son, Samuel.  Now a single mom still drowning in grief, and with a violent, hyperactive little boy (Noah Wiseman) acting out with his own issues, Amelia - one evening at bedtime - finds a children's book she doesn't recognize in Samuel's room, Mister Babadook, that she reads to him at his insistence, only to find an extremely disturbing story about a monster that stalks you from the shadows.  Mild violence, creepy music, and a couple of jump scares ensue ... but ultimately the film suffers from two major flaws: Samuel is so obnoxious and violent, it's hard to sympathize with him, and the ending is such a pop and fizzle, like a slowly leaking balloon, compared to all that comes before.  Hailed by many critics, The Babadook is suspenseful and looks terrific, but falls too short in the end to be great. (not rated)  C

THE BABADOOK trailer

COME BACK TO THE 5 & DIME JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN (1982)

Talk to anyone who has seen this film - set in 1975 in one of the last remaining Woolworth's in the dustbowl town of McCarthy, Texas, where the Disciples of James Dean are about to have their 20th reunion on the anniversary of Dean's death - and you'll find if they're a fan, they're also rabid about their absolute passion for it.  Flashing back and forth between 1975 and (by way of the mirror behind the dime store's counter) 1955, Jimmy Dean tells the stories of Sissy (Cher, in one of her best performances), Stella Mae (a then-virtually unknown Kathy Bates), Edna Louise (Marta Heflin) ... and Mona (Sandy Dennis, so encapsulating Mona, you never see her "acting"), who nearly two decades ago gave birth to the son of James Dean, after a one-night tryst with the legend when she did extra work on the film Giant.  When a stranger (Karen Black) "crashes" the reunion, old hurts and dark secrets come to light, in a film that - every time I see it - holds something new and real I never noticed before.  In its way, a masterpiece of filmmaking. (rated PG)  A

COME BACK TO THE 5 & DIME JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN trailer (fan-made)

THE BOXTROLLS (2014)

For many years, beneath the city of Cheesebridge, there have lived the Boxtrolls - feisty but harmless little creatures, underground garbage collectors, who venture above-ground only after dark to collect their discarded "treasures".  They've also served as a family to a young human boy named Eggs (Isaac Hempstead Wright of "Game of Thrones"), who lives in his own box and doesn't even realize he's human because he's known no other family.  But when an evil exterminator, Snatcher, who has spread rumors around town that the Boxtrolls are evil, dangerous monsters, promises to rid the city of the pests in order to elevate his status in the community, Egg is forced to the surface, where he meets the rebellious, smart-mouthed Winnie (Elle Fanning), the two working together to save their innocent friends from harm.  From the makers of Coraline and ParaNorman, (though I actually liked this more than either of those), The Boxtrolls is a rousing, funny, and exciting adventure that is original and enchanting from beginning to end. (rated PG)  A

THE BOXTROLLS trailer

THE BOOK OF LIFE (2014)

If you think incredible animation begins and ends with Pixar, 2014 saw the release of two of the genre's best in some time: The Boxtrolls (check here for review), and the beautiful eye candy that is The Book of Life.  Equally great for adults and kids, the story concerns a young Mexican man, named Manolo, who comes from a long line of bullfighters but only wants to play his guitar and sing.  He's fighting his childhood buddy Joaquin (Channing Tatum) for the hand of the exquisite Maria (Zoe Saldana), and though the three have known each other since childhood it is Manolo who - on the Day of the Dead, no less - has to navigate the challenges of three very different worlds and face his fears, to try and win Maria and save his village.  Though the film touches on heavy subjects like death and family loyalty, it does so in such a lyrical (even humorous) way, imbuing the film with a deeper, more heartfelt meaning than you'd expect.  And that soundtrack!  A feast for the eyes and the heart ... and a lovely film. (rated PG)  A-

THE BOOK OF LIFE trailer

THE INTERVIEW (2014)

Even with an overacting, sometimes annoying James Franco, The Interview is by far one of the best films I've seen this year; certainly the best comedy, and WELL worth your time to seek out and see.  A bawdy, very funny, and wonderfully entertaining film, it's the story of cheesy tabloid TV reporter Dave Skylark (Franco), and his best friend/producer of ten years, Aaron Rapaport, who score the interview of a lifetime when they learn that one of the biggest fanboys of their show is none other than North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un (Randall Park).  After the CIA inducts this duo to assassinate the supreme leader with a slow-acting poison, giving them enough time to escape North Korea before he dies, things get enormously screwed up - hilariously so - as these pair of doofs get bogged down in everything from armed bodyguards and sexy Asian babes, to a precious little puppy and a dictator who's suddenly, seemingly developed a heart of gold.  A brilliant, not-to-be-missed film. (rated R)  A

THE INTERVIEW trailer

AS ABOVE, SO BELOW (2104)

One sign of a good film, to me, is if the movie is still stuck in your head weeks later; you can't, somehow, stop thinking about it on the fringes of your mind, and when you do it still produces a visceral blip on your emotional radar.  Such is the case with As Above, So Below, one of those "hand-held camera" sort of films that have already grown out of favor by now, yet here fits the movie perfectly.  Scarlett (Perdita Weeks) is a brilliant archaeology student who speaks four languages and has multiple college degrees, whose search for an ancient artifact has her leading a small crew - including on-again, off-again partner George (Ben Feldman) - into the labyrinth of catacombs beneath the city of Paris that house the bones of thousands of the dead ... and maybe the ghosts that go with them.  The film, though classified as horror, is more the kind of scary movie that gets under your skin and stays there, as the deeper (and more off the charts) the group goes, the more claustrophobic and sinister things get.  More spiritual than you'd think, but that's why it works. (rated R)  B+

AS ABOVE, SO BELOW trailer

CJ7 (2008)

When  writer/director Stephen Chow - the brilliance behind Shaolin Soccer and the frenetically funny Kung Fu Hustle - decided to make a children's film, he wanted to do one that parents could sit down and enjoy with their kids ... and in CJ7 he's succeeded beautifully.  Chow stars Ti, a dirt-poor blue collar laborer (and widower) who lives with his ten-year-old son named Dicky in what barely resembles a shack in the poorest section of town.  Dicky is bullied at school for wearing second-hand clothing and shoes his father repaired after finding them in a dump, but one night - after upsetting Dicky when he can't afford a fancy toy in a store - Ti finds, in the dump, a "toy" in the form of a green ball that Dicky soon learns is a tiny, dog-like alien left behind by its ship.  From here Chow's trademark comedy touches make the film a joy to watch, as Dicky tries to find a way to use CJ7 to confront his tormentors.  Touching, heartfelt, and very funny, CJ7 is a remarkable small film with an awfully big heart, perfect for adults and kids alike.  Have tissues ready before watching. (rated PG)  A

CJ7 trailer

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING (2014)

One of the most beautiful, lyrical films of the year - and featuring Oscar-worthy performances by Felicity Jones and especially the incredible, long-overdue-for-the-attention Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything is only a biography in telling the story of Hawking's life, illness and work through the love story between him and his wife Jane.  Meeting at Cambridge in 1963, the two were already in love by the time Hawking's work as a student was turning him into a local celebrity, and when his debilitating illness began to show itself, it was Jane who stayed by his side, never stopped believing in him.  The film touches, of course, on Hawking's work as a cosmologist, seeking to discover the one equation that would explain everything in the universe, but it's really the story of Stephen and Jane and a marriage that kept Hawking going long beyond the doctors had written him off.  Incredible performances, and total Oscar bait come February (deservedly so). And again, Redmayne is nothing short of amazing. (PG-13)  A

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING trailer

FURY (2014)

In the last months of World War II, as the Allies advance further into Germany, a lone Sherman tank led by a tough army sergeant nicknamed Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) pushes even deeper into enemy territory with its crew of five that includes a new second gunner named Norma (Logan Lerman) whose never seen action before.  The tank, called Fury, is the real star of this gritty war film that - despite the familiar cast (Pitt, Lerman, Shia LaBeouf, Michael Pena, and Jon Bernthal round out the crew) - still comes off a dramatic, very real depiction of the frightening, solitary fear that comes when you find yourself quickly becoming outnumbered, out-manned and virtually in the hands of the enemy.  Much has been said about the final "fight scene" (no spoilers here), but for me by then I was so invested in the film it was no problem for me to finish out the enthralling, nail-biting ride to its emotional end. (rated R)  A-

FURY trailer  

THE MAZE RUNNER (2014)

Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) wakes up in an underground elevator with no memory.  When the elevator reaches the top, he finds himself trapped in an enclosed outdoor enclave, The Glade, with a group of other boys that is surrounded by a huge, insurmountable stone maze.  None of the boys remember anything but their own first names, and over time have had to develop as a society in order to survive (a new boy and supplies arrive in the elevator every 30 days, with no explanation and no way out).  Worse still, the maze entrances close up at night, and anyone inside never comes out again; there are monsters in the maze, called Grievers by the boys, for those trying to escape.  When the elevator arrives with a young girl, a chain of events is set off convincing Thomas that somehow they must all escape the maze, no matter what, in this exciting and well-acted thriller - a modern-day Lord of the Flies set in a dystopian world that feels more real and threatening than anything The Hunger Games ever dreamed up. (rated PG-13)  A-

THE MAZE RUNNER trailer

I ORIGINS (2014)

You'd think that a film about a molecular biologist (Michael Pitt), obsessed from childhood with the variances of the human eye, who stumbles across a scientific discovery that could change the world and what we believe as a society about creation as we know it, might be either too dull or too full of scientific mumbo-jumbo for the lay-person to become emotionally involved in.  Such is not the case with I Origins, a wholly original and thought-provoking film that, halfway through, hits you with a pair of sucker-punches that spin the film into an entirely new direction.  You have to pay attention, and for awhile might even wonder where things are going, but if you let go and enjoy the ride, the ending of the film is a quiet knockout that - at least for me - left me stunned and with a tear or two in my eyes.  To say anything more would spoil things; this is either a film you will embrace, even as it makes you feel uneasy, or really not "get" altogether.  Either way, it's a film not easy to forget. (rated R)  A-

I ORIGINS trailer

TUSK (2014)

Justin Long, you've betrayed me.  My fault, I guess; I went into Tusk knowing only it was a 'horror comedy' starring Long, one of my favorite actors.  When the credits started and I saw Kevin Smith billed as writer and director, my skin started to crawl ... but that was nothing compared to the 102-minute assault on my senses that followed, ending with my barely able to finish what ended up being the worst film I saw this year (yes, worse than Sharknado 2).  Long stars as a shock-jock podcaster who goes missing when he heads out to interview a reclusive ex-seaman in Manitoba, causing his fellow podcaster (Haley Joel Osment) and emotionally-fragile girlfriend (Genesis Rodriguez) to search for him.  But what the old sailor has in store for Long, supposedly funny to Kevin Smith (Smith reportedly admits he was high while making the film), makes for one of the most disgusting, morbid, and UNfunny films I've ever seen. Even Johnny Depp, in a small unbilled role, is both awful and annoying. (rated R)  F

TUSK trailer

DRACULA UNTOLD (2014)

If you know any historical facts attributed to the real Vlad the Impaler - the man who inspired Bram Stoker to create Dracula - you'll find them forgotten here.  Luke Evans stars as the young prince, captured and tortured from childhood until molded into a killer by the Turks, who now peacefully runs his kingdom and is a loyal husband and father.  When an old friend turned new nemesis, the Turk warlord Mehmed (Dominic Cooper), demands the sons of Vlad's kingdom to build his new army of killers, Vlad's only recourse in fighting Mehmed's bloodthirsty army lies in a monster who inhabits a cave in the mountains - a monster who can imbue Vlad with the power and near-immortality that could protect his family and subjects ... though at what a cost to him.  The film is high on style, but low on substance; performances are fine, the film looks great, but enough time isn't spent on developing Vlad or the story to fully engage the viewer in the characters or what's going on.  Not a horrible film; you just get the feeling that it could have been so much better. (rated PG-13)  C

DRACULA UNTOLD trailer

LATE PHASES (2014)

Fans of the Hammer horror films, or B-movie monster films of the 1950's - this one's for you!  The terrific Nick Damici plays Ambrose, a Vietnam vet blinded in the war, who is being moved to a senior retirement community by his son.  Bitter and cantankerous, Ambrose seems resigned to living out his final years all but forgotten, but even his first night in he learns that some of his fellow seniors are dying from anything but natural causes; the woods beyond the gated neighborhood are home to a wild pack of dogs, and it seems once a month - in fact, once every 30 days - someone falls victim to a vicious attack.  After his new neighbor is mauled to death, Ambrose realizes the animal in question might not be a dog after all - and that's when Late Phases turns into one of the coolest werewolf films made within the last few decades (at least).  Bloody, yes, but also tense, scary, even occasionally humorous - all in the right places.  Didn't think they made B-movies this good - this fun - anymore. (not rated)  B

LATE PHASES trailer

MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT (2014)

Woody Allen's latest is a mixed bag, set in 1928, about a magician/master illusionist named Stanley (Colin Firth) who is brought in by a friend to expose a lady psychic (Emma Stone) and her mother, who may be on the verge of swindling a wealthy family.  Stanley, ego as big as his talent, insists he can spot a scam artist right away, but finds himself challenged with the spiritualist Sophie, who seems to even know some private things about him and his aunt that she'd have no way of knowing.  She's obviously a fraud, Stanley believes, but his ego takes a beating when, with every attempt he makes to trap her, Sophie seems to prove her otherworldly talents ... and could his frustration also come from a growing attraction to her?  This is Woody Allen after all, and Magic in the Moonlight has its charms, but the age difference between Firth and Stone is a distraction ... and Firth's Stanley is just unlikable enough (Firth's performance also over-the-top enough) to often come off more grating than endearing.  Woody's best in awhile, but still not up to vintage Allen. (rated PG-13)  C+

MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT trailer

DR. NO (1962)

Recently realizing that I'd seen way more Roger Moore Bond films than Sean Connery's (though I prefer Connery AS Bond), I wanted to start fixing that ... and Dr. No, the first of the film series, was both new to me and a heck of a good time.  Bond's introduction is sleek, sexy, and full of intrigue, as we meet 007 just in time for him to get an assignment in Jamaica, trying to find out who is determined to sabotage an upcoming space mission.  The usual Bond gadgets hadn't been introduced yet, but the beautiful Ursula Andress makes the perfect first Bond girl, and from the action to the coy humor and total feel of being immersed in a really cool spy's world, Dr. No is a treat I can't believe I've only just seen for the first time.  Only complaint is you would have thought, by the 1960s, they would have found an actual Asian actor to play the nefarious, half-Chinese Dr. No.  But Lordy, what a cool film - and a great beginning to what would become an iconic film series. (not rated)  A

DR. NO trailer

ONE CHRISTMAS EVE (2014)

What would you say about a group of people that includes spending their Christmas Eve night with multiple trips to the emergency room, getting hurt on a construction site, suffering potential frostbite, getting stranded in an SUV on a highway in the middle of a potential blizzard, being robbed at gunpoint, and barely escaping a fire that guts a police station ... while somehow remaining perky and congenial about the entire thing?  Well, if it's a Hallmark Channel Christmas film, you'd play it off for laughs and Disney-level cutesy ... which is why One Christmas Eve has a couple of nice moments but is otherwise a grating story about how trying to find a home for a puppy on Christmas Eve can lead to one disaster after another.  The cast makes the most of what they have to work with, and if you're willing to suspend all disbelief in reality and can take the sugar-rush of such cuteness, you might enjoy this confection of a holiday film sure to cause at least one cavity via all its sweetness. (not rated)  D+

ONE CHRISTMAS EVE trailer

HOUSEBOUND (2014)

Kylie (Morgana O'Reilly) is a rebellious gal with a chip on her shoulder and a history of petty crimes under her belt.  Busted for attempting to jack an ATM machine, Kylie's latest punishment seems by far the worst (to her) yet, when she's forced - complete with ankle bracelet - to move back in with her mom and step-dad, to the house she left as soon as she was able.  Kylie won't communicate with her step-dad, and thinks her mom - who believes their home is haunted - is a real whack-job ... until Kylie herself starts to hear bumps in the night, and even witnesses a few bizarre things that seem to have no earthly explanation.  Determined to debunk any ghost, even as she starts to wonder if there IS an evil presence in the house, makes for one pretty cool suspense/horror film, complete with perfect touches of comedy that made it not only fun to watch, but also provide a new spin on a well-worn genre.  A terrific New Zealand import that more people on this side of the Pacific should see. (not rated) A-

HOUSEBOUND trailer

THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY (2014)

Hassan Kadam (the long-under-appreciated Manish Dayal) is a young cook from India who learned his love of cooking and food from his dear mother, who died tragically in a fire that forced the family from their home and restaurant in the violent political uprisings of India.  Finally trying a new life in the south of France, failed brakes strand the family in a small town where Papa Kadam happens to find a building he feels will make the perfect place for his family to start a new restaurant ... directly across the street from a sophisticated French restaurant owned by Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren), a woman determined to not be bested after finally receiving her first Michelin star.  Mayhem, comedy, and even mutual sabotage ensues, along with a touch of romance ... but the film's strength is its love for food, as seen through the eyes of those would treat it like art.  Not quite as emotionally involving as, say, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, but this is a sweet, charming, well-worth-taking journey nonetheless. (rated PG)  B+

THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY trailer

WHAT IF (2013)

Still reeling from being cheated on by (and breaking up with) his ex-girlfriend, Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) is a med school dropout working in an office when he attends a party and meets a funny, cute girl named Chantry (Zoe Kazan), his best friend's cousin and an animator with a great sense of humor he instantly bonds with.  Walking her home later that night, Wallace gets his hopes up when Chantry offers her number, so they can hang out again ... but also casually mentions that she lives with her long-term boyfriend of five years, Ben (Rafe Spall).  With even his best friend (Adam Driver) finding romance, Wallace's loneliness is offset only by what turns out to be an amazing friendship with Chantry, the two having so much in common - but can a best-friendship between a man and woman remain just a friendship?  The answer is not as predictable as you'd expect, and the chemistry between Radcliffe and Kazan sparkles on-screen in this sweet, funny rom-com.  (rated PG-13) B+

WHAT IF trailer

NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 2 (1994)

The first Night of the Demons was a fun, silly, entertaining drive-in type of horror movie, engaging in a low-budget way in telling its story of party girl Angela, who hosts a Halloween party in a former cemetery, Hull House, that gets way out of hand when demons set out to posses both hostess and her guests.  This sequel, made six years later, follows up with Angela's younger sister Melissa - called Mouse - who resides in the dorms of a Catholic school, and is caught up in the maelstrom when some of the other students sneak out to Hull House and end up unleashing Angela into the world.  Can only a demonology student wielding a super-soaker gun full of holy water and a stern, yardstick-wielding nun who acts like Bruce Lee in a habit save the school?  The sequel plays the comedy factor up even more, though the blood and b-movie gore has its moments as well, in - surprisingly - a sequel that almost lives up to its original.  Almost.  (rated R) B-

NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 2 trailer

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (2014)

A wave of crime, led by the evil Shredder and his Foot Clan, has all but put New York City in the hands of the bad guys.  Meanwhile, fledgling TV reporter April O'Neil (Megan Fox), seeking her big break, is determined to get the story on the Foot Clan's next move when she accidentally stumbles upon a set of vigilantes in the form of man-sized, teenage mutant turtles who have been living and learning martial arts in the sewers below the city by their master, Splinter (a morphed rat with a heart of gold) ... and may be the city's only hope.  By far the best thing about the film are the turtles themselves; Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo have never looked better, or been more fully-realized.  But a weak, predictable script overly reliant on outrageous action sequences via producer Michael "overkill" Bay, and bad casting via Fox and (even worse) Will Arnett, all work to drag down what could have been a great film to a serviceable feature ... still worth watching just for the turtles themselves.  (rated PG-13) C+

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES trailer

WEDDING PALACE (2013)

Jason (Brian Tee) is nice, befuddled sort of ad executive who has just been jilted at the altar by his bride to be (via an arranged marriage) - and yet that's not the worst of his problems.  Due to a family curse, Jason has to be married by the age of thirty or else he will die, and with the thwarted wedding his over-anxious family (his parents, especially) are freaking out over the possibility of losing their son.  When a business trip to Korea finds Jason meeting and having one date with a girl he met at work, after returning home the two end up growing closer and more in love, via phone and internet, to the point where Brian proposes and she agrees to relocate to Los Angeles for the wedding.  But a very surprising twist may throw the entire marriage - and Jason's life - into turmoil, in a funny, sweet and endearing romantic comedy exploring culture and family ... and firmly anchored by the charm of its male lead in Tee (along with a brilliant cast), who proves he can handle romantic comedy as deftly as the more dramatic - even sinister - characters he normally plays.  (not rated) B+

WEDDING PALACE trailer

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014)

Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) was just a boy when he was taken from earth, but has now grown up to be a sort of space pirate, foraging the outer reaches of the galaxy in search of treasures to make a profit from.  When he obtains a mysterious orb from a far-distant planet, however, Quill suddenly finds himself on the run from others who would possess it, including Yondu, the fellow ravager who helped to raise him, and one of the biggest baddies in the system, Ronan the Accuser (an unrecognizable Lee Pace), who intends to use the orb to destroy an entire race of beings.  Forced to pull together with a motley crew of fellow bandits - including a talking raccoon, a lovable walking/talking tree named Groot, an oversized strongman, and a beautiful green warrior with her own agenda - to prevent disaster, Quill is like a combined Han Solo/Luke Skywalker in what feels very much like a modern-day Star Wars, in a perfectly-executed film full of action, humor and heart.  One of the year's best.  (rated PG-13) A

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY trailer

OUIJA (2014)

Having had an experience on a Ouija board, over 25 years ago, that pretty much guaranteed I will never lay hands on one again, it doesn't mean enjoyment can't be had when a bunch of good-looking college kids pay a dastardly price for messing with one in this film, "based on the popular game".  This standard horror story starts with a girl named Debbie who offs herself after working a Ouija board alone, and her best friend Laine (Olivia Cooke of "Bates Motel") who can't let Deb's death go to the point where she gathers the girls best friends together to try and contact Debbie on the other side.  Mayhem ensues when they release something far more evil - but even with a competent cast and a couple of decent jump scares, the script and ending both make this film a mediocre, seen-it-all-before addition to the horror genre.  Not that bad ... but could have been so much better.  (rated PG-13) C-

OUIJA trailer

THE PAINTING (2011)

This beautiful, thematically complex animated French film centers around a painting that holds characters who live and breathe as you and me: the Alldunns, who are finished characters who live in splendor and label themselves rulers of the land; the Halfies, whose colors were never fully painted in by the artist (the lower middle class, if you will); and the Sketchies, those who are but rough drawings never fully realized by their creator.  When an Alldunn falls for a Halfie, upsetting authority, an Alldunn, a Halfie and a Sketchie all go on a quest to find the painter, in the hopes he or she will finish them all, making everyone in their world equal.  But life beyond the painting is not all they expect, and neither is the painter ... in a colorful, wonderful, and deeply thoughtful film that touches on themes and values most American-made animation wouldn't (at least not at this level).  One of those films that, once you see it, you wish everyone else could, too. (not rated)  A-

THE PAINTING (LE TABLEAU) trailer

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2014)

Amazing, how the reboot of the Planet of the Apes franchise is producing such terrific films - this one being no exception.  A fan of the original series, I was wholly impressed with its predecessor, but Dawn easily lives up to it, with the level of special effects achievable in film today worthy of these stories ... yet not overshadowing them, instead giving you a backdrop of mostly-ape characters that you grow to love and care about even more than their human counterparts.  Here, ten years after a pandemic (the "simian flu") has killed off most of the world, in San Francisco a remaining faction of humans must access a dam in order to keep their power going - and find it rests in the middle of the forest land apes have called home since Caesar led the revolution years ago.  Will peace, or war, will win in the end?  With both sides having both friends and enemies within their own camp, it comes down to Caesar and the human's leader Malcolm (Jason Clarke) to try and keep things civil even as war is plotted from within.  Brilliant film. (rated PG-13)  A

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES trailer

WHITE BIRD IN A BLIZZARD (2014)

Shailene Woodley, adds another notch to her formidable acting belt here, playing high school girl Kat, who in 1988 is so emotionally distanced from her parents that it's hardly a blip on the radar when her mother, Eve (Eva Green), disappears one day.  Kat's dad, Brock (Christopher Meloni), is distraught, even though his wife treated him like crap for most of their marriage, and is the one putting up posters and searching for what appears to be his runaway wife, but Kat had her own issues with Eve so after awhile it just becomes natural that it's only her and her dad ... until three years later when, home for break from college, Kat starts to realize there might be more to the disappearance than she ever suspected.  Green and Meloni are terrific, as is the supporting cast, but ultimately the film suffers a bit from feeling stiff and emotionless - though worth a viewing for the cast and its quirkiness, alone. (rated R)  C+

WHITE BIRD IN A BLIZZARD trailer

CHEF (2014)

Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) is highly-acclaimed in southern California who seems to have lost his mojo - mainly due to being pushed into "safe" menus from his current boss, restaurant owner Riva (Dustin Hoffman).  Divorced from his wife and with little real quality time for his 10-year-old son, Carl's world tumbles even further when a bad review from a major blogger critic leads to a meltdown that gets him fired, world famous on YouTube for being a nutcase, and - in desperation - purchasing a food truck that, in the end, could be both his personal and professional saving grace, after all.  Written and directed by Favreau as well, the film hits all the right marks and some really sweet moments, but overall for me just felt kind of devoid of real emotion that made me feel connected with the characters.  And with no real conflict via its story, it plays more like a TV-movie maybe just one or two sugary step away from The Hallmark Channel. (rated R)  C

CHEF trailer

HORNS (2013)

Based on the novel by Joe Hill, Horns is the story of Ig Parrish (Daniel Radcliffe) - deeply in mourning after the mysterious murder of his girlfriend Merrin (Juno Temple), though the entire town and even his family think he killed her - who, one morning, wakes up to find a pair of decidedly devilish horns growing out of his forehead. Worse still, as the horns grow Ig finds they also bring out the worst in anyone he comes in contact with, his mere presence bringing out every nasty, hateful, bitter, evil (and, sadly, honest) trait that most of the human population has otherwise buried deep down inside.  With no explanation for the phenomenon forthcoming, Ig decides to use this new talent to learn the truth about what happened to Merrin, and while the film (and its ultimate denouement) comes off a bit anti-climactic, there's a lot to like in this bizarre dark comedy/drama that is not for everyone ... but certainly cements Radcliffe's ability to leave the boy wizard even further behind him. (rated R)  B

HORNS trailer

INTO THE STORM (2014)

Whatever you do, do NOT move to Silverton, Oklahoma, as this town spends nearly ninety minutes getting the crap kicked out of it by an unprecedented series of tornadoes ... while, in between some pretty decent special effects (it comes off at SyFy Channel level at first, but gets better), telling the story of a widower and his two sons - both of whom are, at dad's request, working on a video time capsule of their lives - as well as a group of documentary-making storm chasers, a couple of local yokels, and an entire high school full of kids that may as well have a fifty-foot wide target painted on it.  Silly, unevenly acted, but with at least a halfhearted attempts at character development, Into the Storm works best at what it does best - being a disaster film where people are incidental compared to the royal shagging Silverton gets by Mother Nature herself. (PG-13)  B-

INTO THE STORM trailer

WALKING ON SUNSHINE (2014)

Eighties music junkie that I am, this film had my full attention.  Indeed, it seems like every six or seven minutes of Walking on Sunshine's 97-minute runtime, some character is breaking out into an '80s song - and though half of them turned out to be songs from that decade I didn't like anyway, what really lost me here was the horrible acting and a lack of story.  Like a low-budget Mamma Mia! set in a beautiful coastal town in Italy (the film's best feature), it's a weak story about Taylor, a British girl summoned back to Italy - to a town where she had a summer romance three years before, prior to heading off to university - to meet up with her sister Maddie, only to find Maddie about to marry an Italian she's only known for two months, who just happens to be (wait for it) - the same man Taylor dated three years before!  The acting is spotty, the cast way too camera-conscious throughout (even beyond the musical numbers), and the ending one you could predict five minutes into the film.  I wanted to like it!. (not rated)  D

WALKING ON SUNSHINE trailer

A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES (2014)

Harking back to the days of Death Wish and other New York-based crime thrillers from the 1970's, A Walk Among the Tombstones - while not breaking any new ground in the genre, or in fact even in this simple story of faded ex-cop-turned-private-eye Matthew Scudder (an emotionally scruffy Liam Neeson) who takes on the case of a drug dealer whose wife was abducted, then tortured and murdered even after a hefty ransom for her was paid.  Dark, violent, and somehow completely intriguing, as the case gets more and more sinister Scudder finds himself trailing not one but possibly two serial killers at work ... and as simple and spare and stark as the film is, for fans of the genre it's simplicity is exactly what makes the film so watchable, Neeson's grumpy, do-what-it-takes private eye is a welcome throwback to when gutsy urban crime films didn't need a twist ending or dazzling special effects to simply entertain. (rated R)  A

A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES trailer 

MRS. BROWN'S BOYS D'MOVIE (2014)

Though nothing original and with some jokes that do fall pretty flat, fans of the series "Mrs. Brown's Boys" should be pretty happy with this feature-length version, in which the outspoken, take-no-prisoners Agnes Brown takes on greedy politicians, shady business developers, and the Russian mob when all of these forces try to close down her food stall in the Moore Street marketplace - a Dublin neighborhood institution slowly shutting down due to corporate greed.  The usual low-brow humor is in place, complete with politically-incorrect pokes that include Brendan O'Carroll (who plays Mrs. Brown) playing Asian, a barrister with Tourettes Syndrome, and one actually damned funny gag that references Parkinson's.  And where else will you find a school for blind ninjas?  Strictly for fans of the series, but thankfully - overall - that's both the level it's geared toward ... and works on. (not rated)  B

MRS. BROWN'S BOYS D'MOVIE trailer

BLACK BUTLER (2014)

Based on the hugely successful Japanese manga and anime, Black Butler the film has been blasted by many fans over the filmmakers' decision to change the gender and age of the main character alone.  Having not read the manga and only seeing episode one of the animated series (which I enjoyed), Black Butler really struck me as a film, so much so I continue to think about it for days afterward, and even ordered season one of the anime.  The plot: a young, orphaned teen aristocrat, in order to avenge the murder of her parents, sells her soul to a demon in order to enlist his help to get revenge, the demon taking the form of a butler who watches over and protects her until she fulfills her task and dies, so he can eat her soul.  Their investigation leads to a conspiracy that includes a terrorist plot to kill some of the world's top dignitaries, and the visuals and action sequences in the film were, to me, worth watching alone.  A quirky, unique film that's wormed its way into my brain and won't let go ... and I'm cool with that. (not rated)  A-

BLACK BUTLER trailer

LIFE AFTER BETH (2014)

A deliciously dark comedy not for everyone, Life After Beth opens with an innocent enough hike, taken by high school girl Beth Slocum (the wonderful Aubrey Plaza), that ends in tragedy when she's bitten by a snake and dies.  Beth's boyfriend Zach (Dane DeHaan), weeks later, is still deeply mourning the girl's loss, so much so he's taken to visiting her parents - even playing chess with Mr. Slocum - but when he suddenly finds himself being avoided by the Slocums Zach is determined to learn why.  What he discovers is that Beth has come back to life, come back home, the Slocums trying to keep her resurrection as secret even as Zach starts to realize that this new Beth is starting to develop some odd quirks the old Beth never had - such as penchants for violence and slaughter.  A funny, weird, off-the-wall romantic zombie horror comedy made fresh by the performances of DeHaan and especially Plaza, Life After Beth injects some new life into what's normally a tired, shuffling-on-its-feet (pun intended) genre. (rated R)  B

LIFE AFTER BETH trailer

THE LUNCHBOX (2013)

In India, the Dabbawalas is an extensive lunch service that delivers thousands of hot lunches to workers every day, fresh and homemade and served in containers that are then returned every night to those who cook the meals.  The service is known for its flawless inability to make mistakes ... which is where the plot of The Lunchbox comes in, when an unhappily-married woman in Mumbai, named Ila (Nimrat Kaur), has a lunch intended for her husband accidentally delivered to the soon-to-be-retired Saajan (Life of Pi's Irrfan Khan), who in turns sends back a note with his opinion on the meal.  Thus begins a correspondence, via notes and Ila's lunches, between two lonely hearts that will change both and potentially lead to more, as the two open up to each other in ways that probably wouldn't have happened in person.  The Lunchbox is sweet, funny, dramatic, and a modern-day love story that should be seen far outside its native India.  A beautiful film. (rated PG)  A

THE LUNCHBOX trailer

THIRD PERSON (2013)

Three couples, three cities: Michael (Liam Neeson) is trying to finish his latest novel in Paris while juggling an ex-wife (Kim Basinger) and younger girlfriend (Olivia Wilde); Scott (Adrien Brody), a small-time con artist and thief in Rome, finds himself helping/falling for an Italian woman named Monika (Moran Atias) - who may or may not be what she seems - reunite with her daughter; and Julia (Mila Kunis), a soap opera actress, is trying to come to terms with losing custody of her son to her vindictive ex (James Franco) in New York City.  All three stories eventually connect - if a bit disjointedly, as this is one of those films you really have to watch in order to "get" what's going on.  And while you sort of get what writer/director Paul Haggis (Crash) was going for, ultimately things just feel a bit too convoluted or undeveloped (including the performances) - even uninspired - enough for viewers to care very much.  That said, Brody and Kunis are stand outs here, earning the "+" on the rating alone. (rated R)  C+

THIRD PERSON trailer

THE PRINCE (2014)

When blue collar mechanic Paul (Jason Patric) learns that his college-age daughter has disappeared from both her life and her college in New Orleans, Paul follows the trail to the Crescent City where he pals up with his kid's roommate to find out the girl has been abducted.  In fact, little is at it seems as it is slowly revealed that not only is Paul an ex-assassin, retired from the profession, who is no longer welcomed in New Orleans ... but that his daughter is now in the hands of his biggest nemesis, Omar (Bruce Willis) - whose own wife and child were accidentally killed by Paul many years ago, which led to Paul's leaving the business.  You'd think with this plot (and also with Korean actor/pop star Rain as Omar's second-in-command) the film would be a tense thriller ... but instead poor direction, a rushed ending, and a few so-so performances weaken what otherwise might have been a good, suspenseful film. (rated R)  C-

THE PRINCE trailer

FADING GIGOLO (2013)

Brooklyn best friends Fioravante (John Turturro, who also wrote and directed) and Murray (Woody Allen) are facing hard times financially when Murray learns that his married dermatologist (Sharon Stone) has a secret sexual fantasy of having a three way with her best female friend (Sofia Vergara) and another guy ... and would pay handsomely for the opportunity.  Thus begins Fioravante's second career as a middle-aged gigolo who knows how to both seduce and really get into the minds of a woman - Murray acting as, essentially, his pimp in a film that in many ways may remind viewers of Allen's own work in his heyday.  The touches of humor and drama are both engaging and endearing, and though well-written and well-made the film also suffers from a bit of sterility that somehow never allows you to fully engage with its story or characters.  Not for everyone, but worth a go for those who like Woody Allen's work, especially. (rated R)  B-

FADING GIGOLO trailer  

THE GIVER (2014)

With all the dystopian-themed films out there, The Giver manages to be unique as it doesn't revolve around violence, chase scenes, or extended battles/action sequences.  Instead, this low-key drama - based on the novel by Lois Lowry - tells the story of a perfect world without violence or anger, where people are happy without real emotions, and content without really feeling.  Where each individual has their place ... including young Jonas (Brenton Thwaites), who is tasked with being the new Receiver of Memories, which he will glean from The Giver (Jeff Bridges), only to learn that everything in his world is sanitized and watered down, because with no pain or war or sickness or loss mankind has also lost it's ability to feel.  And to love.  The sham of his world, and of all the memories of the "real" world long list lost, drive him to find a way to break the spell and free mankind from a fate of emotional extinction, in a film that's not perfect but still resonates days after viewing it. (rated PG-13)  B

THE GIVER trailer

Interview: KYLE CLARE

(NOTE: this interview with Kyle Clare was originally conducted in January 2011; have relocated it from an old blog I no longer write.)

Since my first interview on this blog, with Gran Torino's Bee Vang, I've occasionally sought out other actors to speak with; actors whose work not only inspired me, but also who deserved the attention of everyone I knew, because his or her talent was so freaking out there, it should be seen.  Well, between moving to L.A. and other things in life intervening, I came across an actor who - in just one performance - blew me away so much, I sort of dug in and hung on, more than happy to work around his busy schedule until he could find the time for a chat.

You may never have heard of him, but I suspect that is only temporary. It's real talent that holds its own in this town, building a lengthy career, and if that's the case I think Kyle Clare is pretty much set.

It was Watercolors that did it for me. The first time I saw the film, I sat down expecting another formulaic film about a young gay high school boy who falls for the jock he can never have - yet, somehow, manages to get, even if only temporarily. Such indie films are rampant, usually showing excessive skin in lieu of a plot or characterization, and almost always such films also end in tragedy for those involved, especially the main character (or someone he or she loves).

Watercolors broke that, beautifully. On paper it may play out as as read above, but thanks to the phenomenal heart and soul put into the film by writer/director David Oliveras, as well as the pure, very honest and humane performances of the two lead actors, Tye Olson and Kyle Clare, Watercolors takes a compassionate, very honest and wholly real approach to its subject matter - and delivers beautifully. And much as Tye Olson's character of Danny finds artistic inspiration for his drawings and paintings in the form of Kyle Clare's character Carter, it's Clare himself, with his performance, who inspired not only this interview, but my own work as a writer, as well. I hope he won't mind if I call him my friend, but that's just how Kyle is; one conversation, and he treats you like he's known you forever.

But enough of that; you can read the review here; this piece is about one of the stars of a film everyone who has ever fallen in love should see.

Kyle Clare, was born in Santa Monica in January of 1985, the son of parents who divorced while he was still very young. Movies were a big passion even from an early age, and a young Kyle would often find himself acting out characters to the point where he wouldn't answer to his own name. He was signed to a children's agency as a kid, but barely remembers the experience; it was in the eighth grade, after his class attended a show at the high school, that young Kyle first realized THIS was what he wanted to do.

Though he'd start off well, playing the purser in "Anything Goes" in high  school, Clare's the first to admit, "I didn't have it all together in high school. I tested well, but didn't really have a plan." While he got good grades, and had landed the lead in every show by the time he was a senior, it was a guidance counselor who saw a young man in need of direction that saw the young man's talent and handed him a few applications for acting schools. Four days after graduating high school, Kyle auditioned for the prestigious AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy) conservatory in New York City, who accepted him into their program. "So I was just graduated from high school and off to New York," Clare recalls, citing that his mother especially ask him, "Are you sure this is what you want to do?" - but  by then, the acting bug had fully bitten.

Clare has nothing but good thing to say about the AMDA, though it was often all work and no play. "It was a tough school," he says. " There was no time to rest, you were always acting. But I learned that you get out only what you put into it ... and if you're really focused, which I was, then you can get a lot out of it." When asked how he feels attending the conservatory helped shape his career, Clare stresses "the best training an actor can get is from theater; theatrically-trained actors have a real advantage." That said, Clare did eventually choose to take the second year of his two-year training in Los Angeles, where he could focus more on film and television, though his respect and admiration for the school and for theater are obvious when he admits, "Looking back, had I been older I might have stayed (in New York) and pursued stage, but the glitz and glamor of being rich and famous gets to you ..."

Then, soon after graduating from AMDA, Kyle Clare only wanted to take a break when his girlfriend at the time, Jessica, talked him into submitting for an independent film he'd found was seeking actors online. After reading about the indie film Watercolors, which was to be shot on video for a more-than-modest budge of $35,000, Kyle wasn't sure about submitting for a role in which he'd be not only playing a closeted gay male (especially for his very first film role), but also for a part that, right out, stated would require nudity. But Jessica encouraged him to seek out the role, pointing out that Carter was Kyle Clare as described in the breakdown - a lean and athletic with long hair - but that didn't stop Clare from being more than a little nervous at the audition.

"What really made me nervous, though, was that I knew I was perfect for the role," Kyle says. "I was nervous about getting it, about playing a gay character and the nudity, but I called back and after the call back I heard from David (Oliveras, the writer and director). He told me it was between me and this other guy, and he wanted to get together and just hang out, get to know me. After the second time we hung out, he called to offer me the role."

From here, the friendship between Oliveras and Clare only grew, especially as Kyle grew more excited about the project, and even became a part of the casting process. "At the time I was cast, Danny's character was called Eric, and another actor had been cast in the role. But after two weeks of rehearsals the vibe just wasn't right, and David ended up letting the other actor go. He asked me to help him re-cast Eric, and we got this kid who dropped out, like, after one rehearsal ... so by now, five weeks since being cast as Carter, we were still looking for a Danny - which was what David had changed the other lead character's name to - and then Tye Olson walks in."

Clare was impressed from the beginning. "Tye walks in, and Tye was Danny. I read with him, then Tye left and I turned to David and said, 'I want him.' We called him at Starbucks and cast him."

But more than just winning a role, what makes Watercolors work is that the Olson and Clare seem absolutely in-sync with their performances; you fully believe in the characters and their relationship with each other, both good and bad. And talking with Kyle Clare, it's easy to see, now, why the film works on an emotional level the way it does.

"Even if I wasn't shooting, I was on-set all the time. David, Tye and I became "the trio" - we hung out together, talked about characters, and got very close. I don't like to over-rehearse, but forming this great friendship with Tye and David, just hanging out and talking about the characters and story, really helped the film."

And it works; just see the film to believe that. Better still, go by the fact that Kyle Clare - for his first feature-length role, won the 2008 Best Supporting Actor Audience Award at the Clip Film Festival, and FilmOut San Diego, in 2009, presented him with the Jury Award for Best Supporting Actor, for playing Carter Melman. Not bad, for a straight guy playing a complex, troubled and closeted gay teen in his first film.

When asked how his family and friends reacted to seeing him as Carter, Clare curiously mentions that his mother of all people had little problem  with the character. "I had blond curly hair as a little kid," he remembers, "and was always made fun of, seen as artistic and a little weird. In school, because I was artistic and a performer, I was called gay a lot, so I think my mom sort of always wondered if I wasgay, which prepared her a little more." To this day, while Clare knows he has his father's overall respect and support, he's not even sure if his father has seen the film - "though I know he bought it the day it came out on DVD" - and admits to taking a ribbing from his friends about playing Carter, especially for the nudity. And even his girlfriend at the time, Jessica - who started the whole thing - was very proud of his work as Carter, and loved the film.

Life since Watercolors involves Kyle Clare cutting his acting teeth back on the stage - particularly with Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre in North Hollywood. "It's really unique, a 50-set, black box theater; total audience immersion, with some crazy, really out there shows ... and I've learned a lot there; it's prepared me for when the right project comes along. Being forced to play some really crazy characters, its torn and pulled and stretched me; now I know, if I can do Zombie Joe's, then I can do into any audition, on any set, and pull off the character. With every show I'm stretched; tested."

It's also taught Clare to be an actor's actor. His taste in favorite performers - or actors he'd like to work with one day - runs toward a few of the most well-renowned working today. "Sean Penn is my man. He's so deep. I really relate my style to his in some way, he really seems to understand his characters; he's so cerebral." On Robert Downey Jr. - "One of the most naturally-gifted actors of all time; he never ceases to entertain or amaze me." And Clare adds Sam Rockwell as a third influence on his work, stating "he's just an incredible actor, period."

Just approaching his twenty-sixth birthday, when asked where he'd like to be in, say, five years, Clare - as many actors before him - mentions wanting to direct in time. But as always with Kyle Clare, it all has to come with meaning: "People have said they'll see me hitting my stride in my thirties," he says. "If so, I hope I can continue to do roles that I find interesting and satisfying. Working on things that mean something; heartfelt projects I want to do, and be able to sustain myself doing them. Just be able to act, and focus on that; whether theater or small, independent films, I would like to be where I can do the projects I want to do." When asked the kind of character he'd most like to play right now, Clare - in line with his theatrical training - cites his desire to explore the psychology of a character out of the norm of society. "Mental illness intrigues me," says Clare. "Exploring the character or a crazy person, or maybe a savant or even a psychopath, like Heath Ledger's Joker. I'd die a happy man if I could play a role like that, or maybe even like Sean Penn in I am Sam ... Hoffman in Rain Man. It's the only other role I've consciously thought of doing."

But no matter what, Kyle Clare is in it for the long haul. With most of his lengthy career still left ahead of him, the young and hugely talented performer has been around enough to have some good, solid and very realistic advice for the aspiring actor; advice as blunt and honest and together as Clare himself.

"Go home, sit down, and think about the whole thing. If you could eversee yourself doing anything else ... then do that. If you have doubts then do something else, because to be successful and effective and a good actor, it must be something you HAVE to do."