Source Code

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Plot: Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) is sent back in time to a bombing incident on a train so he can catch the terrorist. He does not catch the terrorist first try, and he has to do it over and over Groundhog Day style. Eventually we learn that he is working on a military research project. His contact at headquarters is Captain Collen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga,) and most of the dialog is between them over a grainy TV.


On the doomed train, Colter eventually meets the passengers including cuty Christina (Michelle Monaghan) whom he gradually falls for.

Review: Source Code's real strength are the three main actors, Gyllenhaal, Farmiga and Monaghan. Gyllenhaal plays with intensity and a range of emotion unlike many action stars. I loved the awkwardness that Farmiga shows as she explains to Colter what he needs to do; good enough for an Oscar nomination. Monaghan is very likable and does good facial acting. 


The repeated scenes are not boringly repetitive unlike similar movies, and director Jones compresses the trips back to keep the story moving. 


At the end the movie engages the question whether Colter has any rights  -- like the movie RoboCop, the song Iron Man, or countless Star Trek Next Generation episodes. 


The movie was enjoyable but not super-fun to watch. It was easy to relate to the peril Coulter was in.

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga, Michelle Monaghan

Directed by: Duncan Jones

Rating: 3.0 stars; probably only deserves 2.5, but why not?

More: Nice shots of Chicago

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The Tourist

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Plot:  A woman who is apparently married to a criminal fugitive is told to hook up with a tourist on a train to distract police and other criminals from the husband. The movie follows the tourist and the woman as they run from gangsters and MI-6.

Review: The Tourist is highly stylized and and Angelina spends a lot of time posing. It is as much a spoof of spy movies as it is a romantic comedy where the tourist and glamourous girl gradually fall in love. Johny Depp is engaging, although he is too grubby. Angelina could spend less time posing, and more time being likable.

This movie is just for fun.

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt

Directed by: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Rating: 2.5 stars; decent entertainment; not high cinema. I saw it on a plane, and it was decent enough.

More: The ending was fun, but it does not fit with the action from the beginning of the movie.

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Paul

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Plot:  Graeme (Simon Pegg) and Clive (Nick Frost) are UFO enthusiasts, and while they are touring the USA, and they meet an space alien named Paul (computer animated and voiced by Seth Rogen.) They are chased by three federal agents through small towns and farm houses.

Review: Paul starts out strong. Graeme and Clive are at ComicCon with some interesting banter and amusing jokes. Next we meet Paul, who he speaks in an over-written stoner patter, and he takes them on a road trip. 


The movie soars as Graeme gets used to the idea having an alien with them, and Paul does harmless pranks. 


They meet bible-believing fundamentalists Ruth (Kristen Wiig) and Moses (John Carroll Lynch) and this sequence has the best dialog and jokes of the movie as Ruth integrates an alien into her world view. 


Sadly the movie goes down here from there with low rent car chases, simple-minded sit-com setups, and a dull, sleepy ending.  The character of Paul was good initially, but I got tired of him. Paul was ultimately unlikable and I wished he'd hurry up and go away. The end credits were better than the ending scene. 


Cast: Simon Pegg, Steve Forest, Kristen Wiig, Seth Rogan (voice only)

Directed by: Greg Mottola

Rating: 2.0 stars; Early the movie was flirting with three stars, but it nose-dives and overall I wish I had seen something else.

More:  A highlight was all the references to old science-fiction films. I saw lots of them.

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Limitless

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Plot:  Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) gets a bag of pills from a friend that unlocks his inner potential, and he become widely successful instantly. He gets a job with tycoon Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro), and gets back his old girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish.) Sadly the pill has some side effects, and other pill-using people are desperate to get more for themselves.

Review: I like the premise of Limitless, and I'm surprised mental performance drugs arn't more popular.  This drug isn't very realistic, but maybe a drug like this will day be available. 


I like how the down-and-out Eddie became successful, and then how the implications of his success worked their way through his life. 


Bradley Cooper gave a good subtle performance, and the dialog was strong too. The directing was creative. I liked the use of duplicate characters and telescoping camera views to tell the story. The opening telescoping camera sequence is one of the best opening credits I've seen in years. The directing and quick pace made the movie more fun. 


I like De Niro, but his character did not make much sense. He does give some good speeches though.  Gennady the thug does not make sense either. The bad guys seem just too powerful.  


This movie was fun to watch, and although Limitless is just for fun with no deep meaning -- that is OK. 

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro and Abbie Cornish

Directed by:  Neil Burger, based on the novel Alan Glynn

Rating: 3.0 stars

More: The story is very much like Flowers for Algernon.

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Battle: Los Angeles

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Plot:  Evil space aliens have come to earth with their army, and they are taking over Los Angeles, and other cities, but this movie focuses on one LA-based platoon of Marines and their struggle against the alien invader. Sargent Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) with his platoon rescues some civilians, and then takes them to safety, which turns out to be hard because of the advancing aliens. Once the civilians are safe, Nantz turns his attention to defeating the aliens -- rather like Independence Day, the movie from 1996.

Review: First the good parts, the special effects were pretty good -- way better than Independence Day. Second, the individual soldiers had names and back stories which I liked, but once the battle started the soldiers blurred together -- except for Lieutenant Martenez  (Ramon Rodriguez) who is a stereotyped green, wimpy officier that manly Sargent Nantz had to inspire. Third, it is nice to see American soldiers  defending America, and finally there is a nice feel-good ending. 


The bad parts include the dull middle which seemed like endless rifle battles with nearly indestructible alien soldiers. There was an unendurable scene where Sargent Nantz proved his devotion to his men by reciting their serial numbers from memory while standing nose-to-nose with some poor Marine -- it just went on forever. I actually closed my eyes to get some rest while I waited for it to end. Aaron Eckhart looks like a soldier, but his performance was not good enough to carry the movie. His part was written for classical 'John Wayne' tough guy, and is not a contemporary hero.  Finally and most importantly this movie was not fun-to-watch; I can forgive a lot if a film is enjoyable. This movie was dreary. 


The real message of Battle: LA is how tough Americans can be when challenged. 

Cast:  Aaron Eckhart 

Directed by: Jonathan Liebesman

Rating: 2.0 stars (maybe less) My wife liked it alot; she even clapped at the end. 

More: The invasion occurs in April, but the announcer says Pacific Standard Time -- actually it would be daylight time. 

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The Adjustment Bureau

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Plot: Congressman David Norris (Matt Damon) is running for Senate, but he loses. Before he gives his concession speech he meets Elise (Emily Blunt) and they have an immediate cosmic connection -- then he gives a memorable and inspirational speech that canupults him into office the next time. Soon David sees his associates having their memories erased by mysterious men like from Men in Black. Next David mets Harry (Anthony Mackie) and the rest of the Adjustment Bureau, and they tell him to follow the preordained plan -- forget Elise, and stick to politics. David and Elise can't do that, and they fight to save their love against the considerable supernatural powers of the Adjustment Bureau.

Review: This is a clever story about lovers fighting against fate to stay together, and the hand of fate is wielded by guys in suits and hats. Matt Damon is wonderfully likeable, and the 1:1 scenes between Damon and Emily Blunt are emotional and interesting. There was not much dialog between them, and much was about Action Movie dialog about staying ahead of the bad guys. The bad guys are mysterious and powerful, especially as we learn more about the yet more mysterious Chairman.

There are dozens of cameos by newspeople and politicians, which was fun and added realism, but was also distracting. There were great images of New York City throughout -- enough that the producers should be getting paid by the NYC tourist bureau.

The sound track is strong -- I bought three songs when I got home. 


The film takes on the big issue of predestination and freewill. Clearly the world of the movie has very limited freewill, and supernatural beings push the world back into plan when it strays. This is interesting in itself, but I am not sure that is being presented as a serious model of how the world really works -- just as the basis for a story. The movie really is about following your heart and doing the right thing.

Cast: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt

Written (screen play) and directed by: George Nolfi; Based on the short story by the great Phillip K Dick.

Rating: 3.0 stars; strong performances, good story, enjoyable, but not super fun-to-watch. Good engagement of serious issues.

More: At the end Harry tells us to fight for the sake of free will, and that sounds like good advice -- but I am not sure what that means. I think he means follow your heart.

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I Am Number Four

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Plot: John (Alex Pettyfer,) an alien boy, is hiding on earth from enemies, who are searching for him, and father-like guardian Henry (Timothy Olyphant) is there to help. John, who is 17 years old, decides to blend in at a high school where he meets jock bully Sam (Callan McAuliffe), and cutie Sarah (Dianna Agron.) Soon the evil aliens arrive -- leading to climatic action.

Review: Surprisingly good. #4 starts out with high school bully and nerd action, and it looks an episode of Power Rangers, but the school scenes are just setting up the characters for a snappy conclusion.


The best part is the notion of a young person growing up, and finding out that he is special, and can do things that matter -- in this case flinging aliens like Iron Man does. 


The performances were good including the two leads Pettyfer and Agron. Timothy Olyphant had some good lines too. The special effects were low-end, and the aliens looked like they came from Face Off. At times it was hard to get past the make-up, and the strangely normal voice of the evil alien. 


The closing fight scenes were very good with simple special effects used well, and the fight scenes were not too long.

Cast: Alex Pettyfer, Dianna Agron, Timothy Olyphant

Directed by: DJ Curuso; based on the book by Pitticus Lore (a clever pseudonym for Jobie Hughes and James Frey)


Rating: 2.5 stars; It gets points for funness, but loses points for mindlessness. At first I wanted to give it a 3.0, but the more I think about the less I liked it. This is a move to be enjoyed with popcorn, and is perhaps a guilty pleasure. It has a 2.5 since I'd be embarrassed to have it my 2011 top ten.

More: I want to see Teresa Palmer and Alex Pettyfer kick ass in the sequel.

Even more:  Everyone wants a beagle like Benny Kocar.
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