End of Watch

Pushing Black and White

★ ★ ★ 1/2 out of 5 buckets | Matinee or DVD

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Rated: R Sexual references, pervasive language, some disturbing images, some drug use and strong violence

Release Date: September 21, 2012

Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes

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Director: David Ayer
Writers: David Ayer
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Natalie Martinez, Anna Kendrick, Frank Grillo, America Ferrera, Cody Horn, David Harbour, Maurice Compte, Yahira Garcia

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SYNOPSIS: Two hot shot police officers are marked for death by a drug cartel after they are part of several busts of guns, money, and human traffickers.

REVIEW: David Ayer, writer of Training Day and S.W.A.T., graduates to writing/directing of his sophomore film with End of Watch. Gritty and raw, Ayer uses the documentary style Handicams, dashboard cruiser cams, and shaking handheld camerawork to delve into the workings of the life of two blue brothers in arms.

Police officers and partners Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal, Source Code) and Mike Zavala (Michael Pena, Tower Heist) patrol the streets like black and white pushing armed cowboys. While Taylor takes Pre-Med courses, he takes an elective course in filmmaking, resulting in him bringing a camcorder and other small cameras on the job. Cleared of a good shoot earlier, Taylor and Zavala get back out on the streets, answering calls ranging from assaults on mailmen to missing kids to gangland politics. When a routine stakeout turns into a traffic stop that involves weapons fire and the seizure of money and guns, Taylor and Zavala find themselves in a much bigger situation involving a drug cartel, human trafficking, drugs, guns, gangs, and a price on their heads.

David Ayer writes and directs a dramatic and realistic turn of two patrolling policemen who live and bleed blue for their brothers in arms while trying to maintain a life outside the force. Considered reckless cowboys on tour, Taylor and Zavala keep it light until they need to 'get the job done'. When out of uniform, Mike dotes on his high school sweetheart turned wife Gabby (Natalie Martinez, Death Race), while Brian trades in sleeping around for an intelligent, beautiful woman named Janet (Anna Kendrick, ParaNorman). At work or at play, the duo give it their intense best.

While Taylor and Zavala seem to have it all at home - loving women, babies on the way - but they may be unprepared for what is piecing together during their tours on the job. A stakeout turned traffic stop reveals money and guns and additional intel that lead Taylor and Zavala deeper into illegal activities and organizations that more covert law enforcement agencies are circling. As Taylor and Zavala uncover more dire and twisted locations run by local gangsters, they come to the attention of a Mexican drug cartel who kingpin decides that the decorated pair have caused enough problems for their operations and puts a price on their heads.

The acting is superb. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena work great together, making you believe that these guys have been working the job together and having each others' back as friends and partners for a long time. Natalie Martinez and Anna Kendrick, as Brian and Mike's domestic partners, anchor the duo and the story in the real world. Cody Horn (Magic Mike) and America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) make for unlikely squad car mates, showing that they are much tougher than people thought. Frank Grillo (The Grey), as the Sarge, has been playing law enforcement for a while and it shows. On the other end of the law, Maurice Compte (Breaking Bad) as 'Big Evil' and Yahira Garcia as La La show why men and women of the police forces of this nation should be commended at a dangerous and sometimes thankless job.

The film slowly builds to an intense gun blazing ending. Gyllenhaal, Pena and the rest of the cast do their utmost best to move the story along, but their best still doesn't keep the story from slowing down from time to time. When the story steers to matters not involving carrying a badge and a Glock 19, the story meanders a little too long before the partners get back on shift and to horrifying discoveries. But once the sirens blare and the call goes out on the radio, the pace quickens with the adrenalin rush of facing uncertain death.

End of Watch is a rare flick that displays many facets of the life on the job and off. Equal parts domestic bliss, dull down-time between calls, and the sudden intensity of serving and protecting against unknown odds, this police drama shows heart, as well as violence. 

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Paranorman 3D

Nowhere Near Normal

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Rated: PG  Scary action and images, thematic elements, some rude humor and language
Release Date: August 17, 2012
Runtime:  1 hour 36 minutes

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Director: Chris Butler, Sam Fell
Writers: Chris Butler
Cast:  Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Elaine Stritch, Bernard Hill, Tempestt Bledsoe, John Goodman

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SYNOPSIS: Norman has a strange gift, he can talk to the dead. Even though he is bullied and misunderstood, Norman digs deep to take on ghosts, zombies, and the town's grown-ups to protect his town from an ancient witch's curse.

REVIEW: Director Chris Butler, art department artist on Corpse Bride and supervisor on Coraline, is joined by co-director Sam Fell, writer and director of Flushed Away, in a stop-action action adventure tale on a subject that is regaining in popularity in the last few years - zombies! 

Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee, Let Me In) is the same as every other kid in town. He goes to school, takes out the trash, annoys his sister - and speaks to the dead! The subject of ridicule from the other kids and adults in town because of his perchance to speak to no one they can see, Norman is shunned, talked about behind his back, and called a freak. Even his father is afraid for what people may think of his son and what Norman is capable of. Although the townsfolk consider Norman strange, they do revel in the legend that a woman was executed as a witch hundreds of years ago by a judge and six of her peers. Before her execution, she set a curse on the seven who sentenced her to death, vowing that they would come back from the dead on the eve of the date of her death. When a strange hermit uncle tries to tell Norman that the curse is true and that Norman is the only one that can stop her and the undead that will rise, Norman realizes that he must try to stop the curse from coming to light. Paired off with new chubby friend Neal (Tucker Albrizzi, Spooky Buddies), Norman heads off to stop the curse, Norman must contend with his annoying sister Courtney (Anna Kendrick, 50/50), a school bully named Alvin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, How to Train Your Dragon), a dumb jock named Mitch (Casey Affleck, Tower Heist), an angry mob of adults, relentless zombies, and a powerful witch spirit that cannot be reasoned with.

Sam Fell and Chris Butler create a detailed world in ParaNorman that seems to have become a lost art. Except for a myriad of Tim Burton stop-motion movies, most studios seemed to have moved to a more full-CGI production of animation. ParaNorman is fresh and cool, at times tricking the brain that the film is CGI like the rest. But the few stuttering, tick-ticky movements in the film make you realize just how good and how much pain-staking work went into it. Add in great CGI effects on top of the stop-motion photography makes for a classic silly fright fest.

Most likely returning to their roots, Butler and Fell start the film with a schlocky tribute to bad 70s horror films everywhere. Norman eats up - no pun intended - all thing zombie and undead, from local late night shockers to a room filled with zombie memorabilia and posters. Why? Because he talks to the dead and has no fear of the unknown of death. It's the living that Norman has more trouble contending with. And with any zombie movie, its always the living you need to worry about for than the walking dead.

Although some of the voice talent is under age, they make the story pitch perfect. Kodi Smit-McPhee and Tucker Albrizzi play Norman and Neal perfectly. Anna Kendrick strikes all of the right snarky, disgusted cords as the older sister Courtney. Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Casey Affleck are nearly unrecognizable as Alvin and Mitch, their ability to meld their voice-over talents to the character in the best way. Leslie Mann (The Change-Up) as Norman's mom Sandra, Jeff Garlin (Wall-E) as dad Perry, and Elaine Stritch (Monster-in-Law) as Grandma just add richness to a already solid voice cast. Rounding out the talent are cameo characters Bernard Hill (Wimbleton) as the walking dead Judge, Tempestt Bledsoe (N-Secure) as Sheriff Hooper, Alex Borstein (Ted) as teacher and school play director Mrs. Henscher, and John Goodman (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) as the creepy uncle known as Mr. Prenderghast.

ParaNorman is an example of quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, use of multiple visual media, rolled up into a funny, scary and great story perfect for pre-teens, teens, and adults alike. The story starts out strong with its homage to the horror fests of the past, and ratchets up the story, humor and action steadily until the final climatic sequence. Fell and Bulter turn some of the horror zombie conventions on its dismembered head, while keeping great classic elements in place. The 3D doesn't employ the obvious 'in your face' techniques, but adds an additional level of richness to the visuals.

ParaNorman is the tip of the fall season spear of horror films in all of its forms. Funny and filled with spills and silly chills, ParaNorman will be appealing to a wide audience. Some of the characters may be undead, but with Norman at the center of the story, the film definitely has heart.

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WORTH:  Matinee or DVD

What To Expect When You're Expecting

All Baby Bases Covered

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Rated: PG-13  Crude and sexual content, thematic elements and language
Release Date: May 18, 2012
Runtime:  1 hr 50 mins

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Director: Kirk Jones
Writers: Shauna Cross, Heather Hach, based on the books by Heidi Murkoff
Cast:  Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Ben Falcone, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison, Chris Rock, Dennis Quaid, Amir Talai

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SYNOPSIS: Five loosely interconnected couples struggle through the process of having a baby, each dealing with their own issues.

REVIEW: Kirk Jones, award winning director of Absolut Vodka TV ads and other advertising campaigns, also has made a name for himself with film projects including Everbody's Fine and Waking Ned Devine which he wrote and directed. Now he returned to the pilot's chair to direct a story from Shauna Cross (Whip It) and Heather Hach (Freaky Friday - 2003) based on the Heidi Murkoff books 'What to Expect When You're Expecting'. Do you know what to expect? Let's find out.

What to Expect When You're Expecting focuses on five couples in different situations of trying to have a child. Television fitness trainer Jules (Cameron Diaz, Bad Teacher) goes on a television dancing competition reality show and starts a relationship with dance partner Evan (Matthew Morrison, Glee), resulting in her pregnancy. Baby store owner Wendy (Elizabeth Banks, The Hunger Games) has been trying to conceive a child for two years with husband Gary (Ben Falcone, Bridesmaids), but have been having difficulties until an unexpected evening changes the course of their lives. Competing food truck chefs and former high school daters Marco (Chace Crawford, Peace, Love, and Misunderstanding) and Rosie (Anna Kendrick, 50/50) 'reconnect' one night at an outdoor film showing. Holly (Jennifer Lopez, The Back-up Plan) and husband Alex (Rodrigo Santoro, 300) look to adopt from abroad when Holly is unable to conceive, sparking financial and emotional fears. And finally, Gary's own retired NASCAR champion father Ramsey (Dennis Quaid, Beneath the Darkness) has news that his young beautiful new wife Skyler (Brooklyn Decker, Battleship) is also expecting - twins! As each couple tries to get a handle on the intricacies and obstacles of bringing a baby into the world or into their hearts, their paths cross loosely with the other couples in some fashion.

What to Expect When You're Expecting chronicles the 9-month journeys of five very different couples. Some are married, some are not. Some are in committed relationships, some are just trying to do the right thing by their partner. From Jules and Evan's hectic high-profile, in-the-public-eye reality show schedules, to barely making it financially food truck chefs Rosie and Marco, each couple portrays a partial cross-section of the reality of future parents. Holly and Alex try to do everything to impress the adoption agency, knowing full well that their financial situation will barely cover a new mortgage and a new baby if anything dire were to occur. On the other end of the spectrum, Ramsey and Skyler live a posh existence with a beautiful estate, a golf course in their back yard, and swimming pool complete with an official Jimmy Buffet 'Margaritaville' tiki bar. For them, money is no object and worries seem to shed off their backs like water off a duck. But secure finances do not make for easy times as Jules and Evan struggle to keep their Type-A personalities in check for the sake of the baby. Rich, poor, or middle class, the development and arrival of a child can only be planned so far in advance.

The film advertises as a dramatic comedy, but plays more to the light drama than to the comedy. In fact, the comedic elements come from the characters that fall outside of, but connected to, the five couples. Wendy's employee Janice (Rebel Wilson, Bridesmaids) is quirky and silly, hanging on her boss's every word and wisdom - dumb, naive and strangely lovable - like a automobile wreck. Holly's aquarium boss Kara (Wendi McLendon-Covey, Bridesmaids) is funny when she berates her husband Craig (Thomas Lennon, What's Your Number?) about the pronunciation of their son's name. And the aptly named 'The Dude's Group', which includes several veteran fathers including Vic (Chris Rock, Grown Ups), Gabe (Rob Huebel, The Descendants), Kara's husband Craig, and Patel (Amir Talai, The Pursuit of Happyness). They all meet in the park every Saturday to play with their kids, shoot the breeze, gossip, and observe the first rule of 'The Dude's Group' - no judgement! Kids playing in the dryer or swimming in the toilet bowl? No big deal! Kid eating a cigarette? Stuff happens! Kid falls off the changing table? Didn't happen on my watch! Dodged a bullet on that one! The rest of the cast of characters are too worried about their pregnancies and adoptions to spend too much time with all out humor.

The film is touching to a point, not as funny as it was made out to be in the trailers, and utterly busy. With five unique couple's experiences to contend with, we fill rushed through the delivery of the story. Couples pass by other couples like ships in the foggy night, rarely realizing that the other exists. There is so sadness and much more joy as the bundles of joy are brought home, and relationships strengthen or mend. But there is too much going on to be invested on all of it. Unlike the hit baby daddy comedy Knocked Up or the sweet and endearing Father of the Bride II, What to Expect When You're Expecting dilutes the quality of emotions in favor of quantity. Each actor or actress brings their A-game to their roles, either comedic or dramatic, but there is not enough time for anyone to shine too brightly. Maybe Kirk Jones was trying to make the audience feel disjointed or rushed so we could appreciate what the characters were experiencing in the story themselves. Each of the couples could have had a successful  film all to their own.

What to Expect When You're Expecting is a sometimes sweet, sometimes laborious film, spending too much of its time making sure every method of child birth or child adopting has a voice and is heard over the screaming of the other stories. Pushing all of these individual stories onto the screen at the same time, unfortunately, fails to deliver in the end.

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WORTH:  Matinee or Rental

50/50

Best Odds

Director: Jonathan Levine

Writers: Will Reiser
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston, Serge Houde

SYNOPSIS: When 27-year-old Adam learns that he has cancer, he and his friend Kyle struggle to come to terms and to deal with Adam's disease.

REVIEW: Jonathan Levine, director of the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award winner and Grand Jury Prize nominee The Wackness, takes a script from relative newcomer writer Will Reiser of the real life story of a 27-year-old diagnosed with cancer and his journey his life takes after hearing the news.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception, 500 Days of Summer, The Lookout) takes on the role of Adam Lerner, a young man with his whole life ahead of him whose life is thrown into disarray after being diagnosed with cancer. Adam attempts to comes to grips with the disease and its effect on his future, enduring the aid of his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen - Knocked Up, The Green Hornet) and a young therapist Katherine McKay (Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) who Adam believes knows less about life and his situation than he does. From Adam's father Richard (Serge Houde) battling Alzheimers, to Adam's mother Diane (Anjelica Huston) dealing with a spouse she cannot talk to and a son who does not want to talk to her, to Adam's artist girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) suffering with a man she may not care for, everyone around Adam is affected by his affliction.

50/50 is a funny and dramatic look at a man's battles with his family and friends, and the betrayal of his body at such an early age. Rachael feels trapped with responsibility, Katherine finds herself inadequate with her novice advice, and Kyle sees Adam's cancer as an opportunity to pick up girls. The decision to shave his own head with Kyle's suspect hair clippers manages to capture both humor and humanity, while a marijuana sharing discussion with stage 4 cancer pal Mitch's (Matt Frewer) home leads to a tender moment between him and is wife. Alan (Philip Baker Hall) joins Mitch as fellow chemotherapy recliner rider.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt proves again that he's got the right stuff. Stoic and serious in Inception, quirky and smart in 500 Days of Summer, and venturing into action suspense territory in the upcoming bicycle messenger thriller Premium Rush, Gordon-Levitt has come a long way from NBCs Third Rock From The Sun. Seth Rogen brings his typical goofy, slacker charm to the role of Kyle, just dampening the performance down enough to fit the tone of the film. Anna Kendrick as therapist Katherine brings intimacy and care to her new patient with every calculated, learned touch, knowing that a pat on the arm should work according to her studies.

In 50/50, the dramatic pace builds slowly, even though the diagnosis is quickly learned. The laughter comes from the situations that Kyle managed to talk Adam into. As the situation becomes more serious and dire, the laughs come more easily, serving as a catharsis for the uncertainties Adam faces. In the case of this movie the odds are that you will find a good balance of fun and drama, probably 50/50.


WORTH: Matinee or DVD

Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

I am definitely on Scott's side!

[Michael Cena, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick]

image from blogs.indiewire.com

RANT: My apologies, dear reader, for the sporadic nature of my movie review blogs. Weekends at Six Flags Great Adventure and entertaining my sister and her family have put me off of my pace. I am slowly crawling out of the hole I have made for myself with getting behind on my movie viewing. I will try to be more considerate to my readers in the future!

SYNOPSIS: Scott Pilgrim is suddenly and violently drawn to Ramona Flowers, a girl trying to escape her past. As Scott grows closer to Ramona, he is confronted by seven of Ramona's evil exes. He must defeat each one in order to win Ramona's hand and heart.

What do you get when you cross "Tron", "Speed Racer", "Game of Death", Rumble in the Bronx" and "Juno"? Apparently writer and director Edgar Wright knows... and I believe that he has brought it to the silver screen as "Scoot Pilgrim vs. the World". Adapted from the Oni Press graphic novels of the same name by Brian Lee O'Malley, Wright captures the spirit and soul of the inked panel.

Many directors have tried, and failed, to adapt comic books onto the screen where they keep the comic panel concept - most notably Ang Lee's "Hulk". Some have succeeded, Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez for "Sin City", and now Edgar Wright with "Scott Pilgrim vs...". Famous for cult favorites "Shaun of the Dead", "Hot Fuzz" and a chapter of "Grindhouse", Wright is perfectly comfortable and capable penning and directing another film to add to the collection.

Michael Cena seems perfect as Scott Pilgrim, a depressed early twenty-something guy broken hearted for a year after the seemingly perfect girl moved away and started sleeping with her new bass player (and sign with a record label). Now dating a 17 year old high schooler, Pilgrim is soon drawn to the mysterious Ramona Flowers, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Scott is surrounded by his bandmates Stephen Stills (Mark Webber) and former girlfriend Kim Pine (Alison Pill), his gay roommate Wallace Wells (Kieran Culkin), and soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend Knives Chau (Ellen Wong). The band, Sex Bob-omb, is reminiscent of the 5, 6, 7, 8s from "Kill Bill Vol. 1", just trying to kick ass and play music. Roommate Wallace adds wit and wisdom, dishing out double standard advice for Scott's love life.

The entire film is one big video game with a heart, from the Universal Studios logo and music on. The on-screen captioning is comedic. There is even a "Pee Bar" that empties as Scott relieves himself. The ring of a door bell or phone brings up the sound in visual format. Kisses of passion flutter around as heart butterflies. Every punch is accented with a KRPOW or TWACK!. In order to win Ramona's heart, Scott defeat each of her seven evil exes. Each member of the League of Evil Exes has their own talent, and Scott must use all of his skills in defeating them. Brandon Routh and Chris Evan appear as evil exes #2 and #3, respectively, upping their clout in the comic to movie genre and probably cementing them as comic-com staples for a lifetime. Mae Whitman from NBC's "Parenthood" shows up as bi-furious ex #4, Roxy, and Jason Schwartzman caps off the list as unlucky ex #7, Gideon, who has a hold on both Ramona and the future of Sex Bob-omb career with a record label. From a vegan lifestyle that produces telekinesis, to mystic indian fireballs, to giant battle hammers, each "versus" battle is epic.

This film is perfect for the comic movie lover, but it is also a film with a message about how we treat those we love and those we used to love. It's a coming-of-age love story, wrapped up in the garb of the next generation's gaming culture.

Worth: Matinee and DVD

I am also trying out a new rating system shown below based on reader reaction to my somewhat complex monetary rating scale. I will give both ratings and see what kind of reaction I muster. A movie can receive up to 5 popcorn buckets. Why popcorn buckets? Because I am a slave to the thousand + calorie delight! Enjoy!