Joe Kidd (May 19th, 2014)
Director: John Sturges
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Robert Duvall, and John Saxon
In his first role post after Dirty Harry elevated him to superstardom, Clint returns to the western. And while it isn't the best movie he's done in the genre, it's a fun romp with Clint playing an ornery rancher who gets roped into a vigilante hunt for a mexican revolutionary. Duvall is heading up the hunt and he is a nasty piece of work, a rich landowner who wants to kill the mexican so he can make more money. Saxon is the revolutionary, a man who isn't 100 percent committed to his cause but has noble intentions. It's written by Elmore Leonard so it's got humor and stupid criminals. Clint is great as usual and the story is fine and simple. It never reaches greatness but it is a fun way to pass the time.
Rating: 8/10
The Sting (May 22nd, 2014)
Director: George Roy Hill
Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, and Eileen Brennan
Now this is a movie that deserves all the love it gets. In my opinion, this is the best of the Redford/Newman collabs. Just a fun, smart and breezy movie that kept me glued to the screen the whole time. This is like Oceans Eleven, a group of famous guys just having a fun time in an elaborate con. After his friend and fellow con man gets killed, Redford teams up with Newman to take down the man who ordered it (Shaw). A very elaborate game unfolds but there is just an overwhelming sense of fun that pervades the movie. Newman is having a blast in the movie and it's a joy to watch. Redford is Redford, old reliable. And Shaw is great fun as the crime boss who they're after, menacing but with a bit of bluster. And the end is just perfection, everything coming together to satisfy everyone. I did not expect I would like the movie this much, but crazier shit has happened. A classic in every sense, I am very glad I watched it.
Rating: 10/10
X-Men: Days Of Future Past (May 23rd,2014)
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, and Jennifer Lawrence
11 years ago, I went to see X2: X-Men United in the theater with my dad and brother. It was a great experience and helped plunge me deep into comic book and pop culture fandom. Bryan Singer is partly responsible for the comic movie boon we are in. But when he decided to make Superman Returns, Fox said fuck it and let Brett Ratner do Last Stand and it was a bad decision on both ends. I never thought Singer would return to the series, but he did. And holy fucking hell did he make a mark with this return. An absolutely perfect summer blockbuster that pays homage to the past while setting the blocks for the future, all the while being great on its own. In the future, the earth is in ruins and only a handful of mutants are still standing. When Xavier and Magneto find out Kitty Pryde can send someones consciousness back in time, they hatch a plan to send Wolverine back 50 years to stop the event that caused this. When he gets there, he has to unite young Xavier and Magneto to save the future. But things aren't as easy as they seem. I won't say anything else but that what Singer does here is simply incredible. He had formidable chops when he did X2, but he has grown exponentially since. The visuals and the action is unreal, big without being distracting. The cast is phenomenal, the standout possibly being Fassbender again. His Magneto is just fantastic, all intelligent rage at the hatred that his people face. He plays the role like there's no tomorrow and it pays off. But then again, everyone in here does. Jackman is better than ever, same with MacAvoy. They just elevate their roles, which elevate the movie. But the best thing is the way the movie plays with the past movies and starts anew. Everything has happened and they acknowledge it in many a great scene. It's seriously a powerful experience for those of us who grew with these movies through the highs and lows. And one last thing. All the pre release hate towards Quicksilvers looks was useless, because he is fantastic. The look works in context of the movie and Evan Peters is great. An absolute blast that makes me worried if Kick Ass can top it, since he seems to not do so well in big budget movies. All in all, an epic comic book movie that will be hard pressed to be beaten this year.
Rating: 10/10
The Sting (May 22nd, 2014)
Director: George Roy Hill
Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, and Eileen Brennan
Now this is a movie that deserves all the love it gets. In my opinion, this is the best of the Redford/Newman collabs. Just a fun, smart and breezy movie that kept me glued to the screen the whole time. This is like Oceans Eleven, a group of famous guys just having a fun time in an elaborate con. After his friend and fellow con man gets killed, Redford teams up with Newman to take down the man who ordered it (Shaw). A very elaborate game unfolds but there is just an overwhelming sense of fun that pervades the movie. Newman is having a blast in the movie and it's a joy to watch. Redford is Redford, old reliable. And Shaw is great fun as the crime boss who they're after, menacing but with a bit of bluster. And the end is just perfection, everything coming together to satisfy everyone. I did not expect I would like the movie this much, but crazier shit has happened. A classic in every sense, I am very glad I watched it.
X-Men: Days Of Future Past (May 23rd,2014)
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, and Jennifer Lawrence
11 years ago, I went to see X2: X-Men United in the theater with my dad and brother. It was a great experience and helped plunge me deep into comic book and pop culture fandom. Bryan Singer is partly responsible for the comic movie boon we are in. But when he decided to make Superman Returns, Fox said fuck it and let Brett Ratner do Last Stand and it was a bad decision on both ends. I never thought Singer would return to the series, but he did. And holy fucking hell did he make a mark with this return. An absolutely perfect summer blockbuster that pays homage to the past while setting the blocks for the future, all the while being great on its own. In the future, the earth is in ruins and only a handful of mutants are still standing. When Xavier and Magneto find out Kitty Pryde can send someones consciousness back in time, they hatch a plan to send Wolverine back 50 years to stop the event that caused this. When he gets there, he has to unite young Xavier and Magneto to save the future. But things aren't as easy as they seem. I won't say anything else but that what Singer does here is simply incredible. He had formidable chops when he did X2, but he has grown exponentially since. The visuals and the action is unreal, big without being distracting. The cast is phenomenal, the standout possibly being Fassbender again. His Magneto is just fantastic, all intelligent rage at the hatred that his people face. He plays the role like there's no tomorrow and it pays off. But then again, everyone in here does. Jackman is better than ever, same with MacAvoy. They just elevate their roles, which elevate the movie. But the best thing is the way the movie plays with the past movies and starts anew. Everything has happened and they acknowledge it in many a great scene. It's seriously a powerful experience for those of us who grew with these movies through the highs and lows. And one last thing. All the pre release hate towards Quicksilvers looks was useless, because he is fantastic. The look works in context of the movie and Evan Peters is great. An absolute blast that makes me worried if Kick Ass can top it, since he seems to not do so well in big budget movies. All in all, an epic comic book movie that will be hard pressed to be beaten this year.
- Tom Lorenzo
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