jeudi 31 décembre 2015

Babine — Fantastique conte d'un petit village du Québec — 8*/10

Un conte, une légende, une belle histoire de nos arrières pays. Peu importe l'angle sous lequel on regarde ce film, il a de quoi fasciner. Le visuel est superbe (à l'exception du taureau), le script est captivant et les détails, incluant les beaux costumes donne toutes ses lettres à l'intrigante narration. De plus, toutes les interprétations, mis à part celle du prêtre neuf, sont à la hauteur de la légende, et même si la fin moderne laisse un certain arrière-gout peu plaisant, le résultat est un fort divertissement. Conseillé à tous.

Information et synopsishttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1275521/


mercredi 30 décembre 2015

Afternoon Delight — A frank look at the standard model of living — 8*/10

  • Scenario: This is not about action, this is not about drama, this is a critique of the golden standard for the successful living in the upper middle class of America, done from the point of view of women. It's slow, but the characters have a strong presence. Sex work is not misrepresented, although psychotherapy is. While I'll praise the "find your true yourself" idea, I found that "look into the eye" kind of mentality a bit sickening at the end.
  • Known actors: Kathryn Hahn, Jane Lynch, Michaela Watkins, Jessica St. Clair and Juno Temple.
  • Visual & sound: Well done. Captures our attention in a very solid manner.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2312890/
  • Who is it for? Those who don't mind thinking and won't miss action or do not need laughter to get through a movie.


mardi 29 décembre 2015

Divergent — Another teen oriented movie — 6*/10

  • Scenario: The story itself is interesting, even though the intrigue is minimal and the characters roughly sketched, simple. It lacks substance where it could have made a full meal. Everything was there for it, but the script contained logical flaws, the acting was below par, the action lousy, the hand to hand combat scenes lacked credibility and the conclusion was too quick, almost anti-climactic.
  • Known actors: Kate Winslet, Ashley Judd, Jai Courtney, Zoë Kravitz and Miles Teller.
  • Visual & sound: Good.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840309/
  • Who is it for? Teens and other lovers of such fan fiction or those in need of an apocalyptish sci-fi.

I didn't see when it came out on the big screen because I feared it would be just one more teen saga and I was right. I don't think it's worth spending money on this, unless you're the target audience.

mardi 15 décembre 2015

La guerre des tuques — Même les nostalgiques comme moi l'apprécieront — 7*/10

Le scénario est plus saccadé que l'original. Les dialogues coulent moins bien, et sonnent donc moins authentiques. Le château est malheureusement exagéré sans que ce soit nécessaire. Toutefois, le film demeure intéressant, pouvant soutenir aisément l'attention des parents, très divertissant et bien fait, avec un style visuel très joli. Personnellement, j'aurais utilisé la bande sonore originale et mis une animation par dessus pour le moderniser sans le refaire. Cela dit, même les nostalgiques comme moi l'apprécieront.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 — For those who want to see the end — 6*/10

  • Scenario: It contains so many logical flaws it's astounding. Only the end is logical if overdone. They went for something like LOTR, but messed it up bad. The action is not too bad. The sequence of events is confusing because of the lack of logic sprinkled everywhere. The first chapter was great, entertaining and something to discover with joy. However, the other movies should just have been combined and made into a single good one.
  • Known actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Banks, Mahershala Ali, Jeffrey Wright and Stanley Tucci.
  • Visual & sound: Well done.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951266/
  • Who is it for? Those who want to see the end.


Krampus — A dark side to Christmas can also easily entertain — 7*/10

  • Scenario: Yes it's somewhat silly and the characters are exaggerated in the intro as any Hollywood movie is prone to do, but there's a nice kind of humour to this darker tale of Christmas. You'll cross path with some bits of horror and drama. You'll visit action and one liners. However, I assure you, you'll be entertained to a nicely warm degree. I love the ending!
  • Known actors: Adam Scott, Toni Collette and David Koechner.
  • Visual & sound: Pretty good. Very nice visual style.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3850590/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for a different kind of Holliday movie and who don't mind a bit of darkness.


samedi 12 décembre 2015

Rocky II — An honest, credible and good sequel — 6*/10

  • Scenario: Yes, it does still contain some cheesy elements and it is still a poor example of boxing techniques, but the storyline of this sequel couldn't be more inline with its predecessor to the point of even stealing the whole end scene from the first chapter and make it the intro. It's not as novel in its development as the original and it's more predictable, but it's still interesting and good entertainment.
  • Known actors: Sylvester Stallone, Carl Weathers and Burgess Meredith.
  • Visual & sound: Slightly better than the first one. Obviously more budget.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079817/
  • Who is it for? Stallone fans and those who want to see how the story goes on.


jeudi 10 décembre 2015

Rocky — Boxing with a lot of heart and guts but little technique — 7*/10

  • Scenario: It has a few cheesy moments, especially in the beginning, but slowly you see the heart and soul of the characters appear and you get to really feel the movie. Great ambiance and well portrayed personas if sometimes a bit overdone in the secondary roles. There's little real boxing technique showed. Solid dialogs. Entertaining flick. A classic that shows its decrepitude while still sustaining the test of time and becoming a period piece.
  • Known actors: Sylvester Stallone, Carl Weathers and Burgess Meredith.
  • Visual & sound: The visual is mostly crappy, especially the stock footage, but it adds to the ambiance.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075148/
  • Who is it for? Stallone fans and those who want to see his beginning.

I've got to give it to Stallone for writing this script. Great job.

mercredi 9 décembre 2015

The Jane Austen Book Club — A little on the light and easy side — 6*/10

  • Scenario: The story itself is captivating with lots of nice turns, even if none of them are really surprising or even novel. The unfortunate thing is the way the old marriage or must-be-with-someone-at-all-cost mentality is explained (the worst part being the first third of the film). It feels like we're reading a For Dummies book. Because of that, it seems antiquated, like Austen movies rarely do or at least are given the benefit of being a period piece. The acting is good, except for the philandering husband who is pretty bad as well as being an extremely annoying character. Beyond that, it's light and entertaining.
  • Known actors: Emily Blunt.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0866437/
  • Who is it for? For Austen fans or those looking for something light and vaguely romantic.


mardi 8 décembre 2015

Creed — A surprisingly good member of the Rocky boxing family — 7*/10

  • Scenario: Not as much depth as the trailer would suggest with a romance that's too fast and light, but it's definitely one of the best of the Rocky series. Solid acting and interesting story, although you don't really feel the youth's difficulties and this leads the viewer to not really understand the full depth of his later motivations. Action and boxing is tight. Nice entertainment and great followup.
  • Known actors: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone (who delivered a very good performance, one of his best) and Tessa Thompson.
  • Visual & sound: Nice visual. Music was good, but did not fit the English boxer.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3076658/
  • Who is it for? Rocky and Stallone fans as well as those who like a good boxing movie.


The Night Before — Cool easy and funny silly comedy — 6*/10

  • Scenario: It's funny, just as the trailer suggested, lots of silly things in the air and some interesting ideas. Unfortunately, it doesn't always keep our attention, it sorts of wanes and waxes. That being said, it's still a cool film and easy laughter material.
  • Known actors: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, Jillian Bell, Lizzy Caplan, Michael Shannon, Tracy Morgan, James Franco and Miley Cyrus.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3530002/
  • Who is it for? Anyone looking to turn their brain off with a nice slightly silly Christmas comedy.


Spanglish — A very touching comedy with a little crazy — 7*/10

  • Scenario: Touching, a little crazy, very funny, full of emotions with an excellent and truly courageous ending. Totally entertaining and the few tears we encounter just make it better. Sandler is the only one that doesn't totally fit in the picture. He's not really believable as a chef and his kitchen doesn't feel like a real one. However, he is the perfect doormat type husband who accepts everything.
  • Known actors: Adam Sandler, Téa Leoni, Paz Vega and Cloris Leachman.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371246/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for something vaguely romantic, totally funny with a touch of crazy.


lundi 7 décembre 2015

Danny Collins — Best seen without paying too much like on Netflix — 6*/10

  • Scenario: There's no real flaw, or at least no big ones, in this flick. However, Many things are missing. Substance for one. It has some, but not enough to have a good meal. Novelty is another. I mean, it takes a few jabs at bringing something new to the table, but otherwise fails. The dialogs are overly predictable or simple. The story is barely interesting. The characters have few things to talk about and are barely kept alive by the quality of the actors. Finally, the end just missed being perfect by a few extra seconds that gave too much away. That being said, the Pacino did a believable burnt out star.
  • Known actors: Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Plummer and Nick Offerman.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1772288/
  • Who is it for? Those who really need to see Al Pacino.


samedi 5 décembre 2015

Grudge Match — Some good things but not enough — 6*/10

  • Scenario: There are some nice elements to the story, but too often it takes the easy road and in some occasions, it even stumbles on, missing its mark and not letting the viewer make the emotional connection in the sequence of events. It's funny, with nice acting here or there, but it's too sweet. It's entertaining yet you shouldn't have any high expectations.
  • Known actors: Kim Basinger, Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Kevin Hart, Alan Arkin, Jon Bernthal, LL Cool J, Ireland Basinger Baldwin, Anthony Anderson, Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.
  • Visual & sound: Nice, nothing special. The CG work is pretty bad.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1661382/
  • Who is it for? Just those who really must.


lundi 30 novembre 2015

Air — A novel and tense, if quiet, apocalyptic sci-fi — 7*/10

  • Scenario: The story line is a bit predictable and there are a number of logical flaws in the scenario which make some actions non sensical. However, excellent settings, good tension, interesting intrigue, solid acting and great ideas build a very entertaining movie.
  • Known actors: Norman Reedus, Djimon Hounsou and Sandrine Holt.
  • Visual & sound: Great.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2091478/
  • Who is it for? For those looking for a nice low key film with tension in an apocalyptic setting.

Better than its been rated by others.

The Little Prince — A joy and a delight of animation — 8*/10

  • Scenario: Touching, imaginative in its rendition and relationship to the that classic story. It will easily capture your attention and transport you straight to another world. A few tears, a laugh or two, and you won't want to come back. It's all subtleties and implicite philosophy. It's a big metaphor that you can explore as you watch the story unfold. At first, the presentation is a bit too easy and full of clichés, but as we progress, it shows us some welcomed depths. A very intellectual piece.
  • Known actors: Rachel McAdams, Paul Rudd, Jeff Bridges, James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Vincent Cassel, Benicio Del Toro, Paul Giamatti, Albert Brooks and Ricky Gervais.
  • Visual & sound: Beautiful animation, with incredible depth in its simplicity.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1754656/
  • Who is it for? For anyone, except those looking for violent action.


Infinitely Polar Bear — No story but one large character — 7*/10

  • Scenario: It's all about the character. The story itself doesn't seem to matter and the rest of the family, including the girls feel almost insubstantial. That, being said, the acting is great, the laughs are plentiful and there's lots of interesting details as well as a few thoughtful moments. Despite everything, I must say, I like the ending.
  • Known actors: Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana.
  • Visual & sound: Good.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1969062/
  • Who is it for? For Ruffalo fans or those who don't mind just watching something well made but not necessarily riveting.


The D Train — A comedy with a LOT of surprises — 7*/10

  • Scenario: Funny, very surprising with great ideas and solid, if simple, characters. You wouldn't believe where it's going at first and there's very little chance you'll guess what's going to happen next. Many embarrassed face-palms in perspective, you'll be ever surprised by what the main character will do. Add to that some surprisingly solid emotional checks with a bit of drama and you've got a large enough range of situations to give everyone a little something.
  • Known actors: Jack Black, James Marsden, Kathryn Hahn and Jeffrey Tambor.
  • Visual & sound: Good.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3534602/
  • Who is it for? Everyone should give this a try. For those who like their comedy to be innovative as well as funny and for Black or Marsden fans.

Underrated flick.

Man Up — Romance done in a hilarious manner — 6*/10

  • Scenario: Starts in a very standard manner as far as romantic comedy are concerned, but quickly bits of innovation push the story down unusual paths. At the same time, it also uses tried and true tactics to keep the views connected. Funny, witty and good acting result in solid entertainment value.
  • Known actors: Lake Bell, Simon Pegg, Olivia Williams and Ophelia Lovibond.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3064298/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for a very funny romantic comedy. A must for Pegg fans.


Ego Trip — Une comédie mieux que sa bande-annonce — 5*/10

La bande-annonce ne fait pas justice à ce film. Toutefois, la première partie est vraiment aussi mauvaise qu'on peut se l'imaginer. Cela dit, tout va en s'améliorant au fur et à mesure que l'histoire évolue. La production ne devient toutefois pas un chef d'oeuvre et ce n'est pas la performance la plus intéressante de Patrick Huard, mais on vient qu'à être diverti.

Information et synopsishttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt4772750/

samedi 28 novembre 2015

Spectre — Unbalanced spy action flick movie — 6*/10

  • Scenario: Action without real tension for most of the movie. The last third gets better but the end is at the image of the rest of the flick: awkward, jumping from one thing to another without settling and not that interesting. Dialogs are easy and simple. The characters are shallow. The entertainment value is diffcult to evaluate.
  • Known actors: Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Monica Bellucci, Naomie Harris, Christoph Waltz and Ralph Fiennes.
  • Visual & sound: A few scenes have great camera care and are visually solid, but they are the exception. The rest is fluff. The theme song is really lousy.
  • Synopsis & information:
  • Who is it for? For the Bond fans only or those in need of such a fix.

Definitively the worst Bond movie Craig ever appeared in.

mercredi 18 novembre 2015

Burnt — Nice but predictable — 6*/10

  • Scenario: Although very well acted the story was told too fast and didn't let us absorb the events as they were happening leaving us with a sentiment of emptiness building scenes without emotional depth, and even worst, it was predictable.
  • Known actors: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl, Omar Sy, Emma Thompson and Uma Thurman.
  • Visual & sound: Very slick.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2503944/
  • Who is it for? For Cooper fans who need their fix and don't mind seeing him in something so base.


dimanche 15 novembre 2015

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse — Funny but could have been better — 6*/10

  • Scenario: Very juvenile humour, silly situations with a number of logical flaws.
  • Known actors: David Koechner and Cloris Leachman.
  • Visual & sound: Acceptable.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727776/
  • Who is it for? Those looking to turn their brains off for some fun or zombie fans.


jeudi 29 octobre 2015

Goosebumps — Maybe tweens will like it — 3*/10

Such great special effects for such a crappy movie.

Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1051904/


Rock the Kasbah — Laughters where you least expect it — 7*/10

  • Scenario: The story is simple and there is no depth to it considering the subject, but this movie is more about the characters especially the quirks of the music manager. The comedy and the resulting fun is done in a straight forward manner using good quality cinematography. Nothing really over the top, nothing silly or goofy, just a good script.
  • Known actors: Bill Murray, Zooey Deschanel, Kate Hudson, Bruce Willis, Scott Caan and Danny McBride.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3164256/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for a nice simple comedy.


mardi 27 octobre 2015

The Last Witch Hunter — A fantasy flick barely worth its salt — 5*/10

  • Scenario: The story has some very good idea, but it's badly told. You just can't get into the mood as some things are stepped over or stomped into the ground without giving you too much perspective. The dialogs aren't bad as much as they are too easy making it all feel like a teen comic book. The acting is passable, the action is very interesting, but the entertainment value feels empty.
  • Known actors: Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood (what a bad role for him) and Michael Caine (who should have passed on something so small and so bad).
  • Visual & sound: Great special effects.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1618442/
  • Who is it for? Only those in need of a fantasy/action fix or Diesel fans.


dimanche 25 octobre 2015

Guibord s'en va-t-en guerre — Comédie à saveur politique facile d'approche — 7*/10

Ce film assez léger vous fera rire à bien des occasions. Sa grande qualité est son caractère très local. On y parle des enjeux des régions québécoises de notre politique et l’on touche à bien des particularités québécoises. Facile à aimer. Divertissement assuré.


Information et synopsishttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt4116116/

jeudi 22 octobre 2015

Steve Jobs — A solid performance well worth the time — 8*/10

  • Scenario: It takes about 15 minutes to get used to the narrative style of the movie, but it rivets you after that. The theatricals and the storyline are very simple, but they give a great inside look at what the man might have gone through all those years. Of course, being a biographical movie, you need to take it with a major grain of salt, but the result is highly entertaining in a very static manner, because the number of sets and actors are very limited.
  • Known actors: Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, Jeff Daniels, Sarah Snook and John Ortiz.
  • Visual & sound: Killer sound scape, solid and seamless camera work with great visual choices, especially in editing.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2080374/
  • Who is it for? Those interested by Steve Jobs or those looking for a great dramatical presentation.


mardi 20 octobre 2015

Sleeping with Other People — Honest witty sweet romantic comedy — 8*/10

  • Scenario: The honesty in this movie, which is more than real life will ever contain, as well as the beautiful wittiness of the dialogs makes this flick shine. It's a romantic comedy that's a bit skewed. The characters seem to avoid romance and fall into the same traps we do, which makes them believable, that and the great acting.

    It's full of sweetness, of the real kind, the kind that makes you think that you've seen it somewhere in your life, the kind that's a bit awkward, a bit selfish, a bit mundanely heroic, a bit unwanted, the kind that comes with a single sad tear and sigh, the kind you want to wallow in.

    It also has meanness, of the real kind, the kind that's a bit selfish, a bit underhanded, a bit pathetic, a bit ruthless, the kind that you know you've seen somewhere in your life and too many times at that, the kind you wouldn't wish on anybody because you know it's real, the kind that you might have inadvertently orchestrated, the kind that you wish you hadn't because you feel dirty for it, the kind you might have shed a river of tears for night after night.

    You know you need to see this, even if it's just to face reality. The end is a bit rosy, but it's possible, if only we had enough courage and no self doubt. It's written and directed by Leslye Headland and, by the sway of this film, you can unequivocally feel her feminine hand behind the scene, which is for the best and unfortunately too rare. It's also produced by Will Ferrell, amongst others.
  • Known actors: Alison Brie, Jason Sudeikis, Amanda Peet, Adam Scott, Margarita Levieva, Jason Mantzoukas, Natasha Lyonne and Andrea Savage.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3165612/
  • Who is it for? Anyone looking for a good romantic comedy or for something sweet and different.


Bridge of Spies — Captivating piece of cold war history — 8*/10

  • Scenario: Great portrayal and realism with of flair combined to awesome acting and great period settings will make you believe you're there. Very entertaining. Another solid hit by Steven Spielberg. The only negative thing is that the story is pretty simple due to historical nature even though it's full of thoughtful details that a guy like Spielberg will intuitively include in one of his movie. That being said, it is no less interesting to see those tractations and how they might have gone down.
  • Known actors: Tom Hanks, Alan Alda and Amy Ryan.
  • Visual & sound: Great decors, costumes and camera shots as well as seamless soundtrack.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3682448/
  • Who is it for? Anyone, unless you need a very happy or rosy film. A must for any Spielberg or Hanks fan.


lundi 19 octobre 2015

Crimson Peak — A thrill in fantastic settings — 8*/10

  • Scenario: The story is extremely simple, but the rest is impeccable. More over, you can really feel a lot of emotional depth to the characters even if they aren't very complexe. It's a solid thriller with a great ambiance.
  • Known actors: Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain and Tom Hiddleston.
  • Visual & sound: Superb on both counts. It will drag you in against your will.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2554274/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for a thrill but not a full on horror or those for a taste for the fantastic.


vendredi 16 octobre 2015

50 First Dates — A very sweet, simple and touching romantic comedy — 7*/10

  • Scenario: This is not the movie of the year, much less the century, but it's special, it's sweet, sentimental, touching and totally worth the watch. It's only real negative point is the fake crying, which is horrible. Beyond that it's great funny entertainment with a nice novel setting.
  • Known actors: Drew Barrymore, Adam Sandler (who has a few fits of over acting, but generally does a very good job), Rob Schneider (who is not too annoying), Sean Astin (who chose a really weird character foible), Dan Aykroyd, Blake Clark and Maya Rudolph.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343660/
  • Who is it for? Anyone looking for a nice romance or a sweet comedy.


Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle — A sequel not worth seeing — 6*/10

The first instalment (read review here) was highly improbable bordering on the impossible, this chapter is impossible overlapping the completely ridiculous. More over, the CGI are pretty bad.

I only recommend it to those who liked the first one and are not afraid of seeing its image tarnished as well as those die hard fans who just can't get enough of Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz. They're sexier than ever in this flick.

jeudi 15 octobre 2015

The Walk — The artistic crime of the century in gorgeous IMAX 3D — 7*/10

  • Scenario: First, I'd like to say that like most biography or film based on actual events, the details wrong, but the overall milestones are respected (for more information watch the excellent documentary Man on Wire). It also mean that the story is rather simple. More over, the movie doesn't allow us to get to know the characters very well, even the main one. That being said, I think it's a beautiful homage to the twin towers who are shown in all their magnificence and to a lesser extent, the performance. The ambiance created will give you chills, because even I, as a climber used to heights, got them. You'll grip your seat and maybe you'll get vertigo. Just be ready, look into the distance, feel the depth and be amazed.
  • Known actors: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (surprisingly solid French with almost the proper accent and very few mistakes), Charlotte Le Bon, Ben Kingsley (terrible French to the exception of saying "Philippe") and Ben Schwartz.
  • Visual & sound: The 3D effects are perfect right from the start, and the simple music just what the narrative needed.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3488710/
  • Who is it for? Anyone, a must see, except those looking for violence or action.

The IMAX 3D is superb and well worth the money.

Hyena Road — High impact visit on a modern Canadian war zone — 9*/10

  • Scenario: Realistic, stark, gripping, that's what you're in for. You get a bit of behind the scene politics, intelligence work, some squad interaction as well as ground firefights that will shake you, and then you will shed a few tears, as you are touched by the drama. We might not understand the war, but we can feel it in this solid production.
  • Known actors: Not really.
  • Visual & sound: Stark, realistic visuals. Great use of voice over.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt4034452/
  • Who is it for? Those, like I, who want to try to understand war through outside documentaries.


mercredi 14 octobre 2015

The Invention of Lying — A nice little romantic comedy in a parallel world — 7*/10

  • Scenario: It's funny and surprising as well as a nice dive into a novel concept. It's good entertainment on a light subject that gets you thinking about all those little moral things we do every day.
  • Known actors: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey and John Hodgman.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1058017/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for a nice little romantic comedy that's a bit different.


mardi 13 octobre 2015

Pan — A new angle on the classic tale — 6*/10

  • Scenario: The Peter Pan story has been revisited a number of time over the years and the results haven't always been good. This particular spin has rather mitigated ones. While the visuals and the ideas are great, the story is pretty poor and linear. The pacing is broken, like a hiccup rather than a flowing river. And finally, the characters are as weak as watery soup. That being said, it's kind of entertaining, but not worth a lot of money.
  • Known actors: Hugh Jackman (great performance) and Garrett Hedlund.
  • Visual & sound: Astonishing settings and costumes with modern songs that are as inadequate as a bed of thorns.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3332064/
  • Who is it for? Those who really need to revisit the Peter Pan story in a different angle, those in need of a faerie tale and fantasy or Jackman fans. I'm not sure it's for kids, maybe for tweens.


lundi 5 octobre 2015

The Martian — An amazing sci-fi that's a must see for everyone — 10*/10

  • Scenario: Tight and very interesting with great background science. You'll be riveted to your seat. Another masterpiece by Ridley Scott. I won't say more about this sci-fi, just go see it. You won't regret it.
  • Known actors: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Kristen Wiig, Mackenzie Davis, Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Sean Bean and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
  • Visual & sound: Amazing, just amazing.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3659388/
  • Who is it for? A must see for everyone.


vendredi 2 octobre 2015

Frank — Weird depressing comedy that stretch creativity and famedom — 7*/10

  • Scenario: Depressingly funny just this side of pathetic and missing genius by a hair. Nobody can really relate, but it's definitely novel and worth a try.
  • Known actors: Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Carla Azar and Scoot McNairy.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605717/
  • Who is it for? Everyone should give it a try, but it's definitively not for everyone. You have to like weird humor and crazy situations.


jeudi 1 octobre 2015

Sicario — The gritty details of a battle within that doomed war on drugs —10*/10

  • Scenario: Realistic, raw, gritty and graphic. There's no place in this story for fantasies. You'll follow an operation to its chilling conclusion. Tight realistic action, some nice suspense, well developed intrigue, great dialogs, amazing acting within solid settings. The intro will feel being plunged in a cold bath with is graphic depictions. Another masterpiece by Denis Villeneuve.
  • Known actors: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Victor Garber and Jon Bernthal.
  • Visual & sound: Incredible soundtrack that will captivate your mind accompanied by great visuals.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3397884/
  • Who is it for? For anyone, except those those sensible souls.

Too bad that it's about the war on drugs, which is probably the worst idea modern humans ever had.

mercredi 30 septembre 2015

Grandma — A cranky cynical character to make us laugh — 7*/10

  • Scenario: The story itself is rather simple, what really makes it interesting is the extremely well played cranky cynical main character which you can't help but like. I also have to give much props to Sam Elliot for his singular performance in his small role. You'll laugh, you'll be touched, and even though much of it will feel like a drama, it's rather easy to process, and even satisfying at times as well as witty.
  • Known actors: Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden, John Cho and Sam Elliott.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt4270516/
  • Who is it for? Those who like cranky or quirky characters and are looking for something funny in a realistic manner.


mardi 29 septembre 2015

The Intern — Funny light comedy that's easy to watch — 7*/10

  • Scenario: Interesting and novel perspective, but I think his pre-internship life was a bit too perfect, which is often the case with Hollywood stories, and that there's a few lines of dialogs in her romantic life that are too cliché, especially toward the end. That being said, it's a lot of fun. Good acting and many laughs.
  • Known actors: Anne Hathaway, Robert De Niro and Rene Russo.
  • Visual & sound: Very slick, maybe even too much. The decors are unaffordable for any average New York citizen.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2361509/
  • Who is it for? Anyone looking for something light and funny that's a bit different than the usual but comfortably close to Hollywood's cookie cutter standards.


mardi 22 septembre 2015

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials — A sci-fi sequel that can satisfy — 7*/10

  • Scenario: This sequel is, as far as I'm concerned, better than its predecessor (read my review of the first chapter here). That's rare in the film industry. I say this because the acting is better and the story more interesting. More over, the action is good and the entertainment value is nice. It is still full of stereotypes and predictable elements with a number of logical flaws that require to be overlooked, but it's getting somewhere. That being said, I anticipate a lousier third chapter.
  • Known actors: Patricia Clarkson, Lili Taylor and Barry Pepper.
  • Visual & sound: Solid.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt4046784/
  • Who is it for? Anyone looking for a sci-fi, zombie or apocalypse flick.


lundi 21 septembre 2015

The Frighteners — A funny paranormal intrigue that shouldn't be missed — 9*/10

  • Scenario: A very interesting and detailed story with great ideas. Love the dialogs and the characters, great acting, flowing fast paced light action as well as nice twists and a delicious intrigue with the perfect ending. Lots of jokes mixed a bit of tight suspense that might give you a good fright the first time around. You'll want to see it again, just because it's such a solid movie.
  • Known actors: Michael J. Fox, Jake Busey, Chi McBride, Troy Evans and R. Lee Ermey
  • Visual & sound: At the time, they were perfect, now, the visual is getting a little old, but still nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116365/
  • Who is it for? Anybody who doesn't mind a little fright. A must for fans of Fox, Jackson, Walsh or Elfman.

Excellent work by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Danny Elfman. This is the flick that put Jackson and Walsh on the map, thanks to Robert Zemeckis.

jeudi 17 septembre 2015

Shaun the Sheep Movie — Great claymation for the kids — 7*/10

  • Scenario: It is totally adorable and very endearing. Just like in Chicken Run and Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, the story details are great. This time, Nick Park only produced the movie, he wasn't involved in the screenplay, and it shows, because it is extremely linear and predictable. There are no dialogs per say and that threw me off, however, it's funny and well made.
  • Known actors: None.
  • Visual & sound: Excellent.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872750/
  • Who is it for? Excellent for the kids and the parent will like it too.


A Walk in the Woods — A passable hiking adventure movie — 6*/10

  • Scenario: It's a bad collage of mildly interesting events and a few funny mishaps. It feels as if the actors weren't able to do the whole movie due to some limitations. The result is a barely entertaining piece.
  • Known actors: Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Emma Thompson, Mary Steenburgen and Nick Offerman.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1178665/
  • Who is it for? I'm not sure it's for anyone.


mercredi 16 septembre 2015

Holes — Good for the whole family but nothing spectacular — 6*/10

  • Scenario: Very predictable, yet some twists were unexpected. The background story is well woven and the interactions between the kids are interesting, even they're overly simplistic at the beginning. The characters are simple and without any depth. Still, it's a nice distraction.
  • Known actors: Sigourney Weaver, Shia LaBeouf, Patricia Arquette, Jon Voight, Tim Blake Nelson, Siobhan Fallon Hogan and Henry Winkler.
  • Visual & sound: Acceptable, at times not so good especially for the lizards, but not to the point of being too distracting.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311289/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for something light and nice, something the whole family can watch.


jeudi 10 septembre 2015

The Bucket List — It's a solid touching sentimental film with a few flaws — 7*/10

  • Scenario: There's nothing particularly innovative about this movie and, a little bit past half way through it, it even gets predictable and somewhat downright boring. However, the secret is in the superb acting, as well as the details contained in the first half and, to a lesser extent, the ending.
  • Known actors: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman and Sean Hayes.
  • Visual & sound: Good, however all the CG work to make the scenes look even more special are really annoying. I've seen the pyramids, the site is not that pristine, you can't climb them, it's full of tourist all the time, and that's just one scene.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0825232/
  • Who is it for? Those wanting to shed a few tears in an uplifting kind of way and any Nicholson or Freeman fans.


samedi 5 septembre 2015

The Rewrite — Extremely entertaining light comedy even if it's predictable — 7*/10

  • Scenario: Yes, it's predictable in many ways, but the delivery is impeccable, the dialogs are witty, the setting is easy to enjoy, you'll laugh and you'll be entertained. Personally, if I'd been him, I would have totally branched out and never left that kid alone with those two sharks, major mistake. Anyway, I'm sure you'll enjoy.
  • Known actors: Marisa Tomei, Hugh Grant, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney, Bella Heathcote, Chris Elliott and Jason Antoon.
  • Visual & sound: Very slick.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2509850/
  • Who is it for? Anyone looking for a solid light witty comedy with a nice undercurrent of romance or any Grant fans.


vendredi 4 septembre 2015

Mistress America — An extremely awkward hilarious train wreck flash friendship — 8*/10

  • Scenario: The characters are incredibly well built and they all, are to their last drop, a fucking mess. The story, on the outside, is a smooth ride, even though the friendship between the main characters evolves in a flash. It's so quick, you might get a brain freeze. The dialogs are the main source of hilarity. What is said is so awkward, you could die, but instead you just find yourself laughing at the sheer cluelessness of those people. The discomfort I think stems from the realism. You know such people exist, but you'd just prefer not to acknowledge the fact. I think this movie is a parody hidden in a diatribe. It will surprise you, it will captivate you, it will make you wonder what you're doing watching this, but it will not leave you indifferent.
  • Known actors: No big names.
  • Visual & sound: Well done.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872462/
  • Who is it for? Those ready for some really uncomfortable ideas.


jeudi 3 septembre 2015

We Are Your Friends — This electro music flick is fucking HOT! — 9*/10

  • Scenario: The trailer doesn't really reflect what this movie is. It starts with some characters you can only think of as pathetic, wannabes. It quickly gets sidetracked by some easy plot elements that could come right out of the head of any hack writer. However, what you don't know is that it's slowly building the real story leading to a great culmination. It's not really a music story, although music is its primary vector, or even a romantic story, it's a modern twist of the coming of age story. Nowadays, instead of growing up, we chew up what others want and regurgitate a semblance of success. We only grow up when we finally find who we really are. This is that story, and the ending is perfect.
  • Known actors: Zac Efron, Emily Ratajkowski, Wes Bentley and Jon Bernthal.
  • Visual & sound: Excellent visual and awesome track!
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3787590/
  • Who is it for? Those who don't like electronic music, should stay away, the rest shouldn't miss it.


mardi 1 septembre 2015

Coach Carter — Inspiring basketball story based on true events — 8*/10

  • Scenario: All real world sport Cinderella stories look a bit alike and this one doesn't escape that fact. However, it is full of nice details and excellent actors. The pacing is solid, the captivating story is touching and the end is extremely well handled.
  • Known actors: Samuel L. Jackson, Rob Brown and Channing Tatum.
  • Visual & sound: Very good.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393162/
  • Who is it for? Those in need of an inspiring movie based on real events or those looking for a good sport or basketball story.


lundi 31 août 2015

The End of the Tour — A simple back and forth that will make you think — 9*/10

  • Scenario: It's about the ego of two writers clashing in a mellow touchy semi-drama way. You're uncomfortable most of the time, the closeup is almost claustrophobic, you have the impression you're chewing the meat with them, alternatively for one and the other. It's ultra realistic and surreal at the same time, because we glamourize the subject even though we know we do. One thing is sure though, however you slice or dice it, it will make you think.
  • Known actors: Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg, Joan Cusack, Anna Chlumsky and Ron Livingston.
  • Visual & sound: Suitably average which makes for a great setup.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3416744/
  • Who is it for? For those who think and like to look at life through the filter of bare truth.


dimanche 30 août 2015

I Declare War — Unexpected and captivating flick about kids — 8*/10

  • Scenario: Novel ideas and point of views giving a nice glimpse into the imaginary world of kids which will always mirror our own wether we want it to or not. It's not perfect and it certainly isn't all pretty, but it's good. Great acting, especially for ones so young, solid characters, captivating story and perfect ending.
  • Known actors: None.
  • Visual & sound: Well done.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2133239/
  • Who is it for? Those who like things different.


samedi 29 août 2015

Straight A's — A sentimental piece that will slowly captivate you — 8*/10

  • Scenario: It starts weird, a bit brutal, uncouth, seemingly unimaginative and generally unpleasant. However, if you give it time, it's a family story that slowly grows on you and you end up touched to your core. The characters are rock solid. Most interactions are realistic, even if the settings aren't, because you know that if you'd be in a similar situation with similar dysfunctions you'd probably react the same.
  • Known actors: Ryan Phillippe, Anna Paquin, Luke Wilson, Powers Boothe, Christa Campbell and Josh Meyers.
  • Visual & sound: Solid composition, except for that final awful cowboy song that I would totally scratch, big mistake.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024506/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for a bit of a drama halfway between romantic and sentimental.


jeudi 27 août 2015

Hitman: Agent 47 — Solid action flick with a bit of intrigue and little else — 7*/10

  • Scenario: Loads of action, interesting story, if lightly developed, unfortunately bad dialogs, nice suspense and intrigue with flat characters. Still, good entertainment.
  • Known actors: Zachary Quinto.
  • Visual & sound: Solid, except for some CG characters which visibly show their origin.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2679042/
  • Who is it for? Action fans, others will find very little of interest.


mercredi 26 août 2015

No Reservations — An easy and basic romantic story — 6*/10

  • Scenario: This is the type of romance that is straight out of the mold. There aren't any real flaw in it, it's easy to watch, but has little substance.
  • Known actors: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson, Bob Balaban and Celia Weston.
  • Visual & sound: Nice, beautiful at time.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481141/
  • Who is it for? For those feeling romantic but not expecting too much, just enough to appreciate.


mardi 25 août 2015

American Ultra — A solid action flick that's easy to watch — 7*/10

  • Scenario: An interesting mix. It starts as a stoner movie and ends as an assassin super spy revenge flick. The scenario is a tad predictable, and most characters are one dimensional, but there's a lots of action, some good jokes, solid dialogs, a touch of drama and a good ending. High entertainment value.
  • Known actors: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Connie Britton, Topher Grace, John Leguizamo and Bill Pullman.
  • Visual & sound: Pretty good.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3316948/
  • Who is it for? Anyone looking for some good action who doesn't mind the stoner type.


lundi 24 août 2015

Rumour Has It... — Cookie cutter romance sprinkled with a few innovations — 6*/10

  • Scenario: It has its moments, unfortunately the end is predictable and pretty bad, especially the guy's angry little speech. However, if you're looking for an easy romantic comedy with a bit of an intrigue, that will do it.
  • Known actors: Jennifer Aniston, Mark Ruffalo, Shirley MacLaine, Kevin Costner, Mena Suvari, Richard Jenkins and Christopher McDonald.
  • Visual & sound: Acceptable.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398375/
  • Who is it for? Those with looking for an easy romantic comedy with a bit of a intrigue. Don't expect too much, though.


dimanche 23 août 2015

L!fe Happens — Wildly underrated flick about great women — 8*/10

  • Scenario: Surprisingly interesting with great delivery and events that really make you think. The dialogs are amazing. The lie plot element made its ugly appearance, true, and the end is a bit rosy, but I have to say both where handled in nice ways, completely in synch with the tone of the flick. Realistic in many ways, yet funny and touching. Obviously made by women. My hats to them, including the director Kat Coiro.
  • Known actors: Krysten Ritter (who also co-wrote the screenplay), Kate Bosworth, Rachel Bilson, Justin Kirk, Kristen Johnston and Jason Biggs.
  • Visual & sound: Sweet visuals, great music.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1726589/
  • Who is it for? All women or anyone looking for a nice flick with a different vibe.


jeudi 20 août 2015

Nailed! — Not bad but a little weak — 5*/10

  • Scenario: Not a bad starting idea, but the story has weak plot elements and jokes. The entertainment value is still there because of the quality performance of the cast, but not for any other reason.
  • Known actors: Jessica Biel, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Marsden, Catherine Keener, Kurt Fuller, Tracy Morgan, Olivia Crocicchia, Paul Reubens, Kirstie Alley, Bill Hader and James Brolin.
  • Visual & sound: Decent.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1137470/
  • Who is it for? For those with a slow night wanting something light and funny with great actors.


The Man from U.N.C.L.E. — Almost perfect entertainment — 9*/10

  • Scenario: Beside the little bond fire which was inevitable after the watch and the annoying ad for the sequel, this story is greatly refreshing. Maybe it's just the cold war nostalgia kicking in. Lots of great action, funny diatribes, interesting plot and fascinating characters, even if, at times, they do show their stereotypes.
  • Known actors: Alicia Vikander, Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer and Hugh Grant.
  • Visual & sound: An incredibly well devised landscape of sounds, music and visuals that you would not expect from a spy movie, especially one derived from an old TV series.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1638355/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for action with a bit of nostalgia.


mardi 18 août 2015

Life After Beth — A zombie comedy that might surprise you — 7*/10

  • Scenario: Nice details, good concept, funny in a dark way, silly and very engaging with twists and turn presented in a novel way.
  • Known actors: Aubrey Plaza, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser and Anna Kendrick.
  • Visual & sound: Nice. Nothing impressive, but well done.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2581244/
  • Who is it for? Zombie fans who likes cooky dark comedies.


Turbo Kid — A gory B series movie you might like — 6*/10

  • Scenario: Interesting concepts and setting, very gory at times with nice characters. The scenario is broken in a few places and it's a bit silly at time so it's difficult to size it up, but it's a nice entertainment, especially if you take the style into consideration. There's a surprise near the end that I really liked.
  • Known actors: Michael Ironside.
  • Visual & sound: Obviously low budget, but appreciable.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3672742/
  • Who is it for? For those who want to see something different in the post-apocalyptic arena and don't mind low budget or gore.


dimanche 16 août 2015

Tracks — A mind boggling trek of simple beauty — 9*/10

  • Scenario: The story of an impossible journey that forces self understanding by the meticulous survey of limits. Slow, yet captivating, it also pushes the viewer to explore along. This movie surprises and is full of simple details.
  • Known actors: Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver.
  • Visual & sound: Superb, no question about it.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2167266/
  • Who is it for? Those who can appreciate quality at a slow pace.


vendredi 14 août 2015

Paul — A fun alien movie like you've never seen — 8*/10

  • Scenario: Funny, hilarious at time, without going crazy stupid, full of winks at many major alien films, most of which I probably didn't even catch. Very interesting story, well told, with a great setting. It feels a bit like a parody, but it's not and it has its own style. The characters are extremely engaging and even if they are, to a certain degree, stereotypical, they mesh superbly. Great entertainment value with a nice ending.
  • Known actors: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio, Sigourney Weaver, John Carroll Lynch, David Koechner, Jane Lynch, Jeffrey Tambor, Jesse Plemons and Steven Spielberg.
  • Visual & sound: Great effects, few and well blended in.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1092026/
  • Who is it for? Anyone looking for a good laugh and some silliness.


Freddy vs. Jason — As far as gory slasher movie goes you can't go wrong here — 6*/10

  • Scenario: Inventive and interesting scenario for a gory slasher movie. There are a number of silly things that go with the style, but the worst are thankfully absent which gives us the opportunity to appreciate the work. I had fun watching it. More than once. It is what it is though.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329101/
  • Who is it for? Freddy and Jason fans as well as any slasher aficionados and those curious about this kind of flick, but usually don't the like the mindless idiocy that goes with it.


jeudi 13 août 2015

Irrational Man — A Woody Allen flick well worth the watch — 8*/10

  • Scenario: Very interesting story with an unusual linchpin, but with the usual characters. Well told, spirited and inventive, it has the bad habit of of giving a tad too much information in the form of multiple narrators. Not one of the best Woody Allen, but definitively a good one and worth the watch.
  • Known actors: Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone.
  • Visual & sound: Solid.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3715320/
  • Who is it for? Anyone looking for something different with a slight interest in the existential or any Allen fan.


mercredi 12 août 2015

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace — Great despite its flaws — 8*/10

  • Scenario: Captivating story with lots of action and details. Although there are things that diehard fans of the original trilogy (read my review here) might not like, I think George Lucas really took the time to transpose his tale into modern cinematography. Gone are sexism and plastic clichés. However, this chapter also introduced the Gungans that tend to only by liked by kids, especially Jar Jar Binks. That being said, it's still great entertainment.
  • Known actors: Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Samuel L. Jackson, Sofia Coppola, Keira Knightley and Terence Stamp.
  • Visual & sound: Incredible soundtrack by the masterful John Williams. Great special effects for the time that are still good.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120915/
  • Who is it for? The fans of the series as well as anyone looking for a good sci-fi, just don't take it too seriously.


lundi 10 août 2015

Fantastic Four — A disappointment on many levels — 5*/10

This reset of the franchise might have made Grimm and Reeds better, but failed at everything else. I only recommend this if you're in a need of a super hero fix, you've seen everything else and you require something new. It's not that it has anything bad in it, it's just that it doesn't have anything engaging.

vendredi 7 août 2015

Dope — A weird story that's easy to watch and laugh with — 8*/10

  • Scenario: Very surprising. The story is like nothing you've ever seen, with many unexpected twists and novel ideas. The end is kind of predictable, but that's about the only part that is. Lots of funny scenes and smart dialogs. Though, its not a comedy, neither is it a drama, it's only mixing soft elements of both. The engaging story will keep your attention on the film until the very end. Great entertainment, but with a very offbeat treatment and a comparatively light tone for such a heavy subject.
  • Known actors: None.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3850214/
  • Who is it for? Not for everyone, but really worth the watch for anyone.


jeudi 6 août 2015

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation — You gotta to see this spy action mega production — 10*/10

  • Scenario: Riveting. The action is perfect, the story is very interesting, the characters are funny and well built, the intrigue is solid as well as believable, and the tension is high. This is basically what a high stake spy movie should be. The villain and his plot are well crafted, detailed and possible. The reactions, the twists and turns as well as motives are realistic. The result is a very high entertainment value blockbuster.
  • Known actors: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames and Alec Baldwin.
  • Visual & sound: Arenalin pumping.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2381249/
  • Who is it for? Everyone, unless you're not looking for action.


mardi 4 août 2015

Æon Flux — Could have been so much better — 5*/10

  • Scenario: Great idea and background, unfortunately, badly implemented. The action is good, the mystery does keeps you interested, but the story lacks weight, so the resulting entertainment value is medium.
  • Known actors: Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand and Pete Postlethwaite.
  • Visual & sound: Varies from great to could be better.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402022/
  • Who is it for? Theron fans and hardcore sci-fi fans in need of a fix.


Vacation — If you forgot your brain somewhere this might be for you — 5*/10

  • Scenario: It's funny, but mainly in a juvenile and irreverent way. Simple story and characters with an average entertainment value.
  • Known actors: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate and Norman Reedus.
  • Visual & sound: Meh.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1524930/
  • Who is it for? Those wanting a movie that doesn't require a brain.


jeudi 30 juillet 2015

Southpaw — A touching drama that will leave you stunned — 10*/10

  • Scenario: A solid drama centered on family, with the boxing almost taking second stage. Realistic, riveting and touching. You won't be left cold, if not by the sentiments, then by the action. Close to a masterpiece.
  • Known actorsJake Gyllenhaal (another superb performance for him), Rachel McAdams (just perfect), Oona Laurence (excellent as the daughter), Forest Whitaker (one of his best performance) and 50 Cent.
  • Visual & sound: Astounding, visually and musically.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798684/
  • Who is it for? Anyone looking for a great drama who doesn't mind violence, anyone looking for action who doesn't mind drama, and Gyllenhaal, McAdams or Whitaker fans.


mardi 28 juillet 2015

Pixels — Sci-fi action and silly fun in boatloads — 8*/10

  • Scenario: The story is extremely simple, it's basically what you saw in the previews. That being said, the basic concept is genius and the whole production is hilarious, especially if you know anything about the 80's, more so if at the time you used to go to arcades. My only gripe is the Lady Lisa side story, except for the epilog, I think it was an badly handled, she should have stayed pixelated. Nonetheless, the action is superb, in a nerdy way, the silliness is all over the place and the entertainment value is really high.
  • Known actors: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, Brian Cox, Sean Bean, Jane Krakowski, Dan Aykroyd, Jackie Sandler, Serena Williams (she didn't do too bad and looked like a goddess in her evening gown) and Martha Stewart.
  • Visual & sound: Great, you can't expect much better visually. Musically, any reason was a good reason to play an 80's classic.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2120120/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for a silly sci-fi with lots of action, and any Sandler, James, Dinklage or Gad fan because they all shine pretty brightly.


dimanche 26 juillet 2015

TRON: Legacy — A thing of dreams a crucible of imagination — 10*/10

  • Scenario: Picking up over twenty years after the original TRON (read my review here), it's still a movie to make anyone dream. The intro is a bit jarring, I'll give you that and it takes a little while to get used the son character, but the rest is extremely imaginative, the story captivating with luscious details, the action intense with a solid ending.
  • Known actorsJeff Bridges (great performance, better than the first one), Olivia Wilde (touching in a strong performance to say the least), Garrett Hedlund (a bit of over acting, but still appreciable), Beau GarrettMichael Sheen (just amazing) and Daft Punk (great cameo).
  • Visual & sound: Absolutely astounding on both counts, especially if you saw it in IMAX 3D with full bass. The experience is so good, it's difficult to describe. The only flaw I'd point out is the face of CLU or the younger Kevin Flynn which is far from perfect and at times can be distracting.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104001/
  • Who is it for? Those seeking action in a great fictional world, any geek or sci-fi fan.

I'm really happy, in a geeky way, that they rectified the command line mistake of the original.

TRON — The original life inside a computer story — 7*/10

  • Scenario: Set in the golden age of arcades and personal computers with command line interface, it takes us into their micro systems showing us the virtual lives of programs. Originally, it was a hit because of its imagery, novelty and the way it can stir the imagination. Back then, beyond the usual suspension of belief required for any sci-fi, the only reproach one could have directed towards it was the fact that no command line interface ever required full sentence command, like they're showing. Over three decades later, it's still entertaining if you're ready for its antiquity.
  • Known actors: A young Jeff Bridges.
  • Visual & sound: In its day, the visuals were spectaculars, but they now show their age, painfully so. The only glory they have left is the creativity they showed back then. They have more sentimental value for those who remember seeing it then than anything else.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084827/
  • Who is it for? The nostalgic fans, or anyone curious enough to see what the original was like. Those new to this movie should keep very low expectations or suffer the consequences.

Stay tuned, tomorrow, I review its long awaited sequel!

vendredi 24 juillet 2015

Rapture-Palooza — Low budget goofy comedy for light entertainment — 6*/10

  • Scenario: Crazy. The intro was particularly hilarious and the end was really funny with lots of goofy things in between. Even if the story itself was particularly light, the entertainment value was still there.
  • Known actors: Anna Kendrick (she did what she could with what she had, but she has shown that she can be much better), Craig Robinson (they gave him a lot of crass things to say and it gets annoying after a while), Rob CorddryAna GasteyerJohn Michael Higgins (the little screen time he had was hilarious!), Thomas Lennon and Ken Jeong.
  • Visual & sound: Very low budget and it showed a lot visually, even in the makeup.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1879032/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for some end of the world goofy flick. Just don't take anything seriously or expect too much.


jeudi 23 juillet 2015

Ant-Man — As solid super-hero action flick — 7*/10

  • Scenario: This is your standard super-hero flick. Even though the story doesn't bring anything new to the table, the humor is quite good, as is the action and the entertainment value.
  • Known actors: Paul Rudd (a solid performance), Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michael Peña (an incredibly funny performance), Corey Stoll, Judy Greer, Anthony Mackie, Bobby Cannavale and John Slattery.
  • Visual & sound: Excellent.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478970/
  • Who is it for? Those wanting a nice action flick with solid humor or super-hero fans.


Trainwreck — It's hilarious but it could have been more imaginative — 6*/10

  • Scenario: It's hilarious at times, mainly because the situations are so outrageous and the humor irreverent. However, the message it sends is still straight out of the good old mold, nothing new there, and it didn't try to come up with anything new. That being said, I will salute the final grand gesture which I thought was really cute. It's unfortunate that the film didn't follow the unconventional road it took in the first half, it would have been great.
  • Known actors: Bill Hader, Brie Larson, LeBron James, Daniel Radcliffe, Marisa Tomei, Tim Meadows, Amar'e Stoudemire and Matthew Broderick.
  • Visual & sound: Nice.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3152624/
  • Who is it for? Anyone looking for something silly with a bit a romance.


mercredi 22 juillet 2015

The Shawshank Redemption — Something nobody should miss — 10*/10

  • Scenario: It's a slow developing story that captures your attention very quickly and builds an entrancing narrative. You won't be able to turn away as the plot irremediably thickens, one forlorn step at a time. There's never a dull moment, because it will make you think almost at every turn. Even speckled with its few bits of stark realistic violence, it's a masterpiece.
  • Known actorsTim Robbins (his best performance ever), Morgan Freeman (that performance was only bested by the one he gave in Se7en) and Bob Gunton.
  • Visual & sound: Perfect mood and ambiance.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111161/
  • Who is it for? Those who don't mind a slow movie with a solid intellectual, psychological and philosophical streak.


mardi 21 juillet 2015

Mr. Holmes — That's a side of the coin that was really worth exploring — 8*/10

  • Scenario: Very interesting, captivating in some regards, and human. This is not about crime solving and certainly not an action ride, it's really about relationships. It's slow mix of sweet, touching, sad, and funny.
  • Known actorsIan McKellen (almost perfect as Holmes) and Laura Linney (who you can't deny has an incredibly solid grip on her role with masterful subtlety).
  • Visual & sound: Soft and embracing. Great sets full of details.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3168230/
  • Who is it for? Anyone not looking for high octane, but in need of quality screen time.


lundi 20 juillet 2015

Patch Adams — Good but with a number flaws easily disregarded — 7*/10

  • Scenario: Overall, it's interesting and captivating, but like all movies based on real people, certain events are polished, embellished or peppered with details that are not always homogenous. The result makes the experience less than it could be. However, don't let that deter you from seeing it, because it's good.
  • Known actorsRobin Williams (who gives a solid prestation), Philip Seymour Hoffman and Bob Gunton (who was better in The Shawshank Redemption).
  • Visual & sound: Pretty good.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129290/
  • Who is it for? Williams fans or those looking for a biography with more laughters than tears.


samedi 18 juillet 2015

Prometheus — Great prequel to the first Alien — 8*/10

  • Scenario: Very interesting story, especially if you're a fan of the Alien series, since it's a prequel to the first one (read my review of it here). The scenario is sprinkled with lots of recalls of the original, the tension is nice and tight with some well spaced out action scenes. Even though the characters lack enough depth for us to really get them, the whole package is just superb entertainment by Ridley Scott.
  • Known actorsNoomi Rapace and Charlize Theron.
  • Visual & sounds: Lots of details with great technology, superb special effects and solid soundtrack.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446714/
  • Who is it for? Sci-fi or action fans with a taste for thrills. If you're an Alien or Ridley Scott aficionado, you shouldn't miss this.


jeudi 16 juillet 2015

Minions — Silly and easily enjoyable by all — 7*/10

  • Scenario: It's silly and as a spinoff of the popular Despicable Me (read my review here) it's actually good. There are a few nice surprises, but the preview reels give us too much of the content. Turn off your brain and enjoy.
  • Dialogs: Very few understandable ones, but well done.
  • Characters: Very simple.
  • Actors: Voices include Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Geoffrey Rush and Steve Carell.
  • Photography: Very colorful.
  • Sound: Nice music and score.
  • Special effects: Nice style of animation.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2293640/
  • Who is it for? Anyone who likes silly animation. A must for the fans of the series.


mardi 14 juillet 2015

Self/less — Nice but extremely predictable entertainment — 6*/10

  • Scenario: I've seen better sci-fi thriller than this, but if you really must have you fix, then it might do the trick. It's so predictable that it becomes boring, but it's a nice story. The main idea of the movie was better exploited in a german movie called Transfer (read my review here).
  • Dialogs: Okay.
  • Characters: Simple and not that interesting.
  • Actors: Just acceptable work for most. Cast members include Ryan Reynolds, Matthew Goode, Ben Kingsley and Victor Garber.
  • Photography: Okay.
  • Sound: Nice music and score.
  • Special effects: None.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140379/
  • Who is it for? Those in desperate need of a sci-fi thriller fix.


lundi 13 juillet 2015

Confessions of a Shopaholic — Nice light romantic comedy — 6*/10

  • Scenario: Simple, follows the standard model for a romantic comedy, including some very embarrassing moments. As its peers, what really makes the flick are the jokes and details. So, comparatively speaking this one is above average and provides some nice light entertainment. What's notable about this film is that it doesn't have any big flaws and doesn't go overboard.
  • Dialogs: Funny.
  • Characters: Very simple.
  • Actors: Isla Fisher (who is the real reason why this movie is any good), Krysten Ritter, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Leslie Bibb, Julie Hagerty, John Lithgow and Fred Armisen.
  • Photography: Nice.
  • Sound: Nice music and score.
  • Special effects: None.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1093908/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for some light entertainment.


samedi 11 juillet 2015

Iron Man — An incredible start for this great super hero franchise — 8*/10

  • Scenario: This first chapter of the franchise was a big success and understandably so. Not only does it have great action, an almost roller coaster succession of fights, but everything around those was close to perfection. The only exception and my only regret is that I found the story a little light. It did give us a nice version of the birth of Iron Man and its successive improvements, but the last third of the movie was somewhat stark. That being said, do not let this deter you from seeing it, because it ranks amongst the best super hero flicks out there, and, please, do not miss the third chapter (read my review here), it's amazing.
  • Dialogs: Great, fast paced, loads of details.
  • Characters: An even better development than in the comics. I loved how they made characters out of the robots, just hilarious.
  • Actors: Robert Downey Jr. is the perfect Tony Stark, showing all its qualities and flaws in a beautiful rendition. The rest of the cast did a good job too. Cast members include Gwyneth Paltrow (just right for the role), Jeff Bridges (excellent performance on his part in a surprising role), Leslie Bibb, Paul Bettany (now, I can't imagine Jarvis with any other voice), Terrence Howard, Clark Gregg and Jon Favreau (who also did an amazing job as director).
  • Photography: Great.
  • Sound: Electrifying music and score.
  • Special effects: Perfect.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/
  • Who is it for? Any super hero or Downey fans.


vendredi 10 juillet 2015

Starsky & Hutch — A decent and pretty funny little movie — 6*/10

A nice parody of the TV series. Don't expect too much of it and you'll be happy.

Cast includes Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Snoop Dogg, Amy Smart, Carmen Electra, Juliette Lewis, Vince Vaughn, Fred Williamson, Will Ferrell, Jason Bateman, Terry Crews and Chris Penn.

mercredi 8 juillet 2015

Magic Mike XXL — Sexy movie perfect for the ladies — 7*/10

  • Scenario: The story is very interesting, you learn about the various character and the group slowly and its peppered with juicy scenes. The ladies will love it. Sexy male bodies everywhere dancing sensuously to please the most demanding queen. I was floored by their moves, just incredible, but there was one part I thought the scenario was getting lost a little bit. That being said, the rest is just great, especially the ending which was perfect. I think it was better than the first one (read my review here).
  • Dialogs: Simple, but interesting and well made.
  • Characters: Simple. Some are better developed than others.
  • Actors: Good work on the part of everyone. Cast members include Channing Tatum (he,s still the incredible dancer), Andie MacDowell (who was amazing in such a little role), Elizabeth Banks and Amber Heard.
  • Photography: Stunning.
  • Sound: Excellent music and score.
  • Special effects: None.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2268016/
  • Who is it for? Any one who loves dancing and doesn't mind the male form in all its glory.


mardi 7 juillet 2015

Terminator Genisys — A good fix for you action sci-fi needs — 7*/10

  • Scenario: This fifth and latest instalment of the series doesn't disappoint, especially if you still have in mind the third chapter. Many great recalls of the original (read my review here) and the second one (review here), but not as good. It is, however, on a par with the fourth one (here). Good action, nice innovations, a plot that makes sense if not without flaws, and overall excellent entertainment.
  • Dialogs: A bit too simple, sometimes funny.
  • Characters: Simple with nice twists for the T-800.
  • Actors: Acceptable work for the most part. Cast members include Emilia Clarke, Arnold Schwarzenegger and J.K. Simmons.
  • Photography: Nice.
  • Sound: Solid music and score that follows in the footstep of its predecessor, but just cannot beat the second one.
  • Special effects: Excellent.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340138/
  • Who is it for? Those wanting a good action sci-fi or any fans of the series.


vendredi 3 juillet 2015

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End — A great conclusion to the trilogy — 8*/10

  • Scenario: I was disappointed in the second chapter of the series (read its review here), because the original was so great (read its review here). However, this recent conclusion makes up for it, up to a point. It doesn't have as lousy an ending as its predecessor, but it doesn't have the luster of the first one, mainly due to a few scenario mishaps including a weird insanity scene. That being said, the entertainment value is excellent, the action and fight scenes are stupendous, making you forget everything else and the story is engrossing.
  • Dialogs: Funny and well crafted.
  • Characters: Simple, but well done.
  • Actors: Very good work overall. Cast members include Keira Knightley, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Bill Nighy and Stellan Skarsgård.
  • Photography: The sets and decors are magnificently breathtaking. They are the best of the series without a doubt.
  • Sound: The music and score are incredible, they just take you right into the action and keep you there.
  • Special effects: Astounding.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449088/
  • Who is it for? Those looking for a good action flick. A must for the fans of the series.


jeudi 2 juillet 2015

The Overnight — A realistically awkward night for couples in a new place — 9*/10

  • Scenario: Even though the situation is unusual, the actual way it is portrayed has a solid realistic feeling to it. There are multiple incidents and surprises throughout the evening and night that specifically break the fantasy or perfection of the moment giving it more credibility. Usually, I don't like when the ending comes back to tie loose ends, but here, it seems to really accentuate the realism. Had it cut at the fade to black, we could have imagined a more perfect ending, which makes it a bit sad. The movie is not a masterpiece, but it's damned great and very entertaining.
  • Dialogs: Smooth, easy to relate to.
  • Characters: Well defined, but simple.
  • Actors: Excellent work on the part of everyone, couldn't have picked a better ensemble. Cast members include Taylor Schilling, Adam Scott, Sarah DeVincentis and Jason Schwartzman.
  • Photography: Great camera work with nice sets and decors.
  • Sound: Good music and score.
  • Special effects: None.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt3844362/
  • Who is it for? Those with an open mind looking for a nice sexy, romantic and silly meeting of the mind of two couples.


Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest — A very worthy sequel — 8*/10

  • Scenario: Even if the novelty of it all has worn off after the first chapter (read its review here) it is still an amazingly entertaining flick. Tons of action and great fun. The end is a bit of a let down, though, they could have worked more on tying in the next one. That being said, this film is totally worth the time.
  • Dialogs: Witty and funny.
  • Characters: Simple, but well done and captivating.
  • Actors: Good work for the most part. Cast members include Keira Knightley, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Bill Nighy, Jonathan Pryce, Jack Davenport and Stellan Skarsgård.
  • Photography: Gorgeous sets and decors, even more impressive than the first one.
  • Sound: The music and score are lively and commanding.
  • Special effects: Great, near perfection. There's just one bit that's not so good, but it doesn't ruin anything.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383574/
  • Who is it for? Anyone in need of some lively action. A must for the fans of the first one.


mardi 30 juin 2015

Ted 2 — A worthy funny sequel in need of a bit more content — 6*/10

  • Scenario: The sequel to the hilarious first chapter (see my review here) is still funny, but it doesn't have as much content. It feels like the writers after dumping all their good ideas in the first one ran short here. Nonetheless, the entertainment value is great and worth the watch. Especially because all our favorite and most hated characters are back.
  • Dialogs: Clever, fast and funny.
  • Characters: More of the same, but with a few weird additions.
  • Actors: Good work on the part of everyone, even if they can easily act much more complex roles. Cast members include Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Amanda Seyfried, Giovanni Ribisi, Morgan Freeman who seemed a bit out of place, Sam J. Jones, Patrick Warburton, Michael Dorn, John Slattery, John Carroll Lynch, Ron Canada and Liam Neeson.
  • Photography: Same.
  • Sound: Same.
  • Special effects: Same.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2637276/
  • Who is it for? Wahlberg or MacFarlane fans, those in need of an easy comedy and don't mind the juvenile, as well as those who are curious to know what happens next.


jeudi 25 juin 2015

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl — Laughters and tears that will make you think — 8*/10

  • Scenario: The story is told in an unusual way. Lots of plot choices are different from your run of the mill flick. There are a number of funny scenes, but just as many sad ones. It's simple and moving. It both entertains and makes you think.
  • Dialogs: Solid and quirky.
  • Characters: Unusual, well built.
  • Actors: Excellent acting for the main roles. Cast members include Olivia Cooke, Thomas Mann, Connie Britton, Nick Offerman, Molly Shannon, Jon Bernthal and Katherine C. Hughes.
  • Photography: Some excellent camera work, with great sets, decors and costumes.
  • Sound: Nice music and score.
  • Special effects: None.
  • Synopsis & informationhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582496/
  • Who is it for? Those who want to see something different with both laughter and sadness.