"Wolf Of Wall Street" Martin Scorsese
A flashy, comical and entertaining film about the real-life Wall Street d-bag Jordan Belfort (who also wrote the best-selling novel of the same name). There's a lot of nudity, swearing but strays from violence. Matthew Machanauhay makes a solid comeback, although he basically just plays himself. It is an enjoyable film that didn't feel too long despite sitting in the theatre for an entire three hours. Overall: Wait for DVD
"American Hustle" David O. Russel
Leading a talented cast is a mega-transformed Christian Bale who packed on nearly 40 pounds for the role. Amy Adams, Jeremy Rinner, Jennifer Lawrence hold their weight to make a strong cast. If you're interested in schemers who win like Charlie Sheen, this is your flick. It is good for a few laughs but doesn't live up to the hype. Still, a smokin' hott Jennifer Lawrence captivates the screen and will grab your attention in her small but memorable role as Bale's wife. The New York Film Critics Circle named this best picture, best screenplay and best supporting actress for Lawrence.
Overall: Go!
"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" Peter Jackson
A visually stunning film with detailed graphics, epic battles and actors like Orlando Bloom with the beautiful Evangeline Lilly (Lost) to make this second installment better than the first. It brings you into an entirely new world and is a visual treat. It did start to feel a bit long by the end, but still shorter than the first film. The final third film is set up to be a delight. Overall: Better than the first
A cute, sentimental journey about Walter takes an ordinary man into an eventful pursuit of a phantom photographer. Sean Penn is on point as the super famous, earthy crunchy, deep-thinking artist. Ben Stiller did a decent job directing and has a unique visual eye. There are aspects of the movie that are questionable, like the necessity of mentioning Papa Johns and Cinnabon in the film. It also seemed as though parts of the film were inspired by a mid-life crisis on Stiller's behalf. On the other hand, the stunning background of Iceland and Greenland are enough to keep your eyes glued to the screen and the film never lagged as it was reasonably timed (only an hour and a half). Kristen Wiig is delightfully charming in her role . The film has plenty of humor but best of all it carries a touching message. This re-make of the 1939 short story has a warm ending that will win over any Scrooge. Overall: A sweet family flick
"Secret Life of Walter Mitty" Ben Stiller
A cute, sentimental journey about Walter takes an ordinary man into an eventful pursuit of a phantom photographer. Sean Penn is on point as the super famous, earthy crunchy, deep-thinking artist. Ben Stiller did a decent job directing and has a unique visual eye. There are aspects of the movie that are questionable, like the necessity of mentioning Papa Johns and Cinnabon in the film. It also seemed as though parts of the film were inspired by a mid-life crisis on Stiller's behalf. On the other hand, the stunning background of Iceland and Greenland are enough to keep your eyes glued to the screen and the film never lagged as it was reasonably timed (only an hour and a half). Kristen Wiig is delightfully charming in her role . The film has plenty of humor but best of all it carries a touching message. This re-make of the 1939 short story has a warm ending that will win over any Scrooge. Overall: A sweet family flick
