This week, Matt and Francesca Scalici take a look at the unconventional cancer buddy comedy 50/50. Listen as Matt and Francesca discuss whether this raunchy yet feel-good comedy will make a splash with audiences and whether it could be a dark horse Oscar contender. Click the link below to listen to the full podcast.

DOWNLOAD: Cinematrimony – 50/50

 

The Movie: Swingers (1996)

Spoiler Level: High

The Setup: After a night of barhopping in Hollywood, three friends end up at a diner for some late-night breakfast. Throughout the film, the hero Mike (Jon Favreau) struggles to hit his stride with the ladies. However, on this particular night, Mike managed to make a connection with a ‘beautiful baby’ (Heather Graham) he met and danced with at the storied Brown Derby nightclub. When Mike’s friends Sue (Patrick Van Horn) and the drunken Trent (Vince Vaughn) attempt to offer him additional advice on how to handle the new situation, Mike refuses it, confidently declaring “I have it under control.” This ignites a wild burst of emotion in Trent, who explodes into a rowdy exaltation of his friend who, until this point, needed all the help he could get.

 

 

Why It’s Great: Like many scenes in Swingers, this one initially seems to be about Mike… but soon becomes (thanks to Trent) all about TRENT… at least that’s how it may superficially appear.

While Trent does, thanks to his state of inebriation, become the center of attention, his attention happens to be solely focused on Mike. Throughout the movie, Trent takes numerous opportunities to offer Mike romantic advice and urges him to be more confident in his romantic endeavors. At times his efforts seem futile, but that doesn’t deter him from believing in Mike and continuing to encourage him.

In this scene, When Mike says (and means) that he has things “under control,” Trent believes him, and his overflowing sense of joy bursts out in a display of unadulterated emotion. I might liken it to how a little-league baseball coach feels when, after weeks or perhaps months of frustrating instruction, a player who might have seemed hopeless finally figures out how to correctly throw the ball.

Men are, at their core, competitive beings. This scene illustrates the fact that men are also capable of deriving joy not only from their own success, but also from the success of others. Trent is genuinely happy for Mike; so much so that the only way he can think of to express it is via the borderline-primal act of jumping on top of a table, yelling, and discarding items of his clothing.

When I saw this scene for the first time, I got so caught up in its intense, comedic spontaneity that I failed to recognize how it movingly defines the relationship between the movie’s two heroes. In a broader sense, it illustrates a basic human trait that defines the progress that the human race managed to make between the eras of pre-civilization and civilization itself: the ability to root for one another.

“Yeahhh! Dig that!”

Matt and Francesca Scalici return for another episode of Cinematrimony. This week we have a special early review of one of the fall’s most anticipated releases, Moneyball starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. Check out Matt and Francesca’s thoughts on the film (SPOILER ALERT) and whether they think it has a shot to be a serious Oscar contender when the dust settles.

DOWNLOAD: Cinematrimony – Moneyball

The Movie: The Jerk (1979)

Spoiler Level: Moderate

The Setup:  While working a kiddie ride at a carnival, the imbecilic Navin Johnson (Steve Martin) meets Marie (Bernadette Peters), a charming and attractive woman with whom he’d fall in love. After the two hit it off on a couple of dates, they take a moonlit stroll across a beach while singing a due t, called “Tonight, You Belong to Me, together before sitting at a campfire, finishing their song and sharing their first kiss.

Why It’s Great: Martin and director Carl Reiner’s ridiculously absurd R-rated comedy rarely gives us a genuine moment that isn’t meant to just make us laugh or shake our heads, but we’re offered a few that at least provoked another emotional response from me. The first is during Navin’s birthday when his adoptive father gives him his Zippo lighter he’s had since the war, and the second is this sweet moment shared between Navin and Marie on the beach that I still find genuinely romantic.

Up to and after this point, we get a straight broad (but brilliant) comedy about this man born a poor black child without any hint of humanity or tenderness, but for whatever reason, Reiner takes a break from the lunacy for a moment that rivals any of what we consider film’s greatest love stories.

Navin might be a jerk, but he isn’t capable of a disingenuous act or feeling. As he plays his ukelele and walks along the shore with the woman of his dreams, we see this film stripped down to its core, losing its inane and often crude tone. We get to watch our hero, a nice guy, enjoy an evening with his girl. It’s the only honest moment of the film, one where Martin seems out of character, but this is exactly who Navin is.

With that, we’re also treated to a beautiful song sung by Martin and Peters, two talented musicians in their own right, softly punctuated with Martin’s ukelele. Of course, Reiner can’t help himself, letting Peters whip out a trumpet for a quick solo to finish the song. Once they finish their duet, Martin tells Peters he wanted to go through end of her horn and through every last tunnel in it until he found the other end and kissed her.

When Navin makes his move, there’s another silly moment as Peters attempts to avoid the smooch at all costs, fearing she will fall in love with him if they share the embrace. But she gives in, and seals their perfect evening with something Navin deserves for just being a nice guy.

We’re trying something new here on FilmNerds, something that promises to be both humiliating to our writing staff as well as (hopefully) enlightening for our readers. We call it The Shelf of Shame. In each installment, one of our FilmNerds contributors will reveal five indisputable classic titles that for some inexplicable reason they have not yet seen. In an attempt to earn back the respect of their fellow FilmNerds, each contributor will then set out to see all five of these films some time in the next six months (we felt that was a fair interval, even for the busiest of nerds) at which point we’ll check in with them to see how they did.

We’ll start off with our very own in-house filmmaker Benjamin Stark, who is fresh off the premiere of his directorial debut The Nocturnal Third (HIGHLY recommended, by the way). ‘Herr Direktor’ took a nice sampling of films from different eras and even different international cinemas that he feels ashamed for having not seen and we’ll be rooting for him over the coming months to fill in these gaps in his otherwise respectable knowledge of film.

 

5.) Dazed & Confused – The apparent memoir of an entire generation, and a kind of opening salvo into the film scape of the 1990′s, this is probably Richard Linklater’s most well-regarded film, right? Well, I haven’t seen it, despite having several choice lines burned into my memory by friends and co-workers over the years.

4.) 8 1/2 – The only Fellini movie I’ve had the pleasure of seeing is La Dolce Vita, which is the type of episodic European New Wave film you really must be in the mood for. Italian cinema in general is a weak spot of mine, beyond a few neo-realist pieces and a pepla epic here and there. I am drawn to Fellini’s era of Italian films, as they seem to represent the era in which my dad fell in love with the country. Although the glamor of La Dolce Vita honestly alienates the tar out of me, I’m curious to further discover the humility and squalor at the heart of Fellini’s characters.

3.) Bringing Up Baby – I’ve also never seen It Happened One Night, My Man Godfrey or Some Like it Hot. However, as a purveyor of the finest screwball comedies I can find, I’m most ashamed that I’ve never seen this Grant/Hepburn classic from screwball master Howard Hawks. Like most of those other major entries in the genre, the biggest shame is that this is openly available in numerous places. For whatever reason, I’ve never had the time to check it out.

2.) Gone With the Wind – The modern consensus seems to be that this movie is an insensitive and poorly drawn populist product of its time. Taking that into account, I still think its seminal place as one of the great cinematic cultural experiences makes it required viewing. Birth of a Nation or Intolerance also belongs here, because of their lessons in early film grammar. I should probably just make a day of these three.

1.) The Decalogue – I call myself a director, and yet I’ve never seen one frame of a Krzysztof Kieślowski movie! This is the wrong I’m most eager to rectify, as the man’s reported use of color, framing, and performance in support of theme and story are right up my alley, as far as what I find to be exquisite directing. It would appear that his “Colors” trilogy would be the most accessible entry point, but The Decalogue just seems too grand a challenge not to tackle first. Straddling the line between TV mini-series and cinema, this ten-part collection of mini-features looks at the Ten Commandments through intimate, character-driven vignettes.

Runners Up:

Good Will Hunting, Tokyo Story, Paths of Glory, Lolita, Strangers on a Train, Spirited Away

After a long summer of movie-watching, the FilmNerds crew has emerged from their air-conditioned screening bunkers to bring you an all-new edition of FilmNerds Recommends, our special feature where we do our sacred duty as film geeks by telling you which movies we think are worthy of your valuable home entertainment time. With footballs flying and leaves turning, the fall movie season is nearly upon us and the FilmNerds contributors are here to offer you their top picks for this fall.

 

Popcorn Flicks

Ben Stark’s Pick – Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn

After seeing the trailer for TINTIN: SECRET OF THE UNICORN in digital IMAX 3D yesterday, I have been swayed. I will brave the land of the dead eyes to gladly experience Spielberg’s first foray into motion capture filmmaking… the place former Spielberg collaborator Phil Tippet says is “where good directors go to die.” All that said, the visuals look amazing, and the source material is very strong. I doubt it will make any money in the States, but I think it’ll be a fun ride.

Corey Craft’s Pick – The Muppets

I’m throwing my lot in with THE MUPPETS, because I love THE MUPPETS (who doesn’t? no, seriously, which one of you contrarians is going to be the first person to pop up here and say “I don’t love THE MUPPETS”?). And as far as Muppet movies go, this looks pretty aces; mix a healthy amount of nostalgia and just glee to see Kermit and co. on the big screen again with a filmmaking team that has no only knowledge of but reverence for the Jim Henson workshop, add the characteristic irreverent humor, and I’m ready to go.

Ben Flanagan’s Pick – Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

While some feel animation guru Brad Bird deserves a better live-action feature debut than the fourth installment in an already-established action franchise, my thought is if we’re stuck with it, then it’s better him in the spy adventure genre than someone else. Where M:I3′s narrative fell short, JJ Abrams did deliver some exciting set pieces. But here’s hoping Bird, who gave us one of the best action movies of the last decade with THE INCREDIBLES, can top that and more. Ignoring that Eminem song, the trailer promises plenty of spectacle, which in Bird’s hands, means good things.

Craig Hamilton’s Pick – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

As a book, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO is as brilliant as it is violent and masochistic. The books, penned by the now deceased Stieg Larsson, are some of the best contemporary crime novels out there. All three books in the “Millennium Series” have been made into extremely successful and well-reviewed films in Sweden. It’s always thrilling to see an adaptation of a favorite book (throw Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in there) and the fact that David Fincher is directing only excites me more. Rooney Mara stars as Lisbeth Salander and Daniel Craig as the investigative journalist. Prepare thyself for a thrill ride, though your appetite may not allow for popcorn consumption while watching.

Graham Flanagan’s Pick – War Horse

With WAR HORSE, Steven Spielberg steps back into the spotlight for the first time since 2007 in an attempt to redeem the tragic misstep otherwise known as INDIANA JONES & THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL PRAIRIE DOGS.WAR HORSE already entered the zeitgeist this year via a highly successful Broadway show that uses complex puppets to tell the tale of a boy’s quest to reunite with his loving equine companion amidst the horrors of World War I. For the movie’s initial trailer, Spielberg went light on the dialogue; instead relying on a combo of music and images from his main two collaborators: composer John Williams and DP Janusz Kaminski. Everything we see in those precious 2 minutes far surpasses the numerous nuclear failures that characterize Spielberg’s previous effort. If WAR HORSE doesn’t turn out to be a masterpiece, at this point we can all agree it’s at least a BIG step in the right direction.

Matt Scalici’s Pick – Paranormal Activity 3

First of all, everyone else took the good ones but that said, I am legitimately intrigued by where this plucky, low-budget horror franchise is going. Have there been some cheap haunted house gags? Yes. Are the thrills plentiful? Not really. But what these movies have done a great job of is building enormous tension that carries with you through even the least scary scenes of the film and created a mythology that not only lends itself to a prequel but almost requires it. I’m down for seeing how these guys wrap this creepy story up.

 

Awards Contenders

Ben Stark’s Pick – War Horse

While WAR HORSE seems like an obvious Oscar grab, I’m going to go ahead and throw my lot in with TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, which is already getting great buzz. Tomas Alfredson is an auteur to watch, Gary Oldman looks to be giving a career-defining performance, and the production design seen in the trailer looks like it hits the mark.

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Corey Craft’s Pick – The Descendants

In 2004, SIDEWAYS came out and dominated critical attention and acclaim for a large chunk of the Oscar season (only to have its thunder stolen by a late-breaking Eastwood surge and MILLION DOLLAR BABY). I don’t think anyone at that point thought anything other than, “This Alexander Payne keeps getting better and better. I can’t wait to see what’s next.” Well, here we are, seven years later — a gap that seems unbelievable — and I still can’t wait to see THE DESCENDANTS, despite a trailer that doesn’t do much for me. But early reviews out of Telluride are quite strong for this one. We’ll see, but the more Alexander Payne, the better, as far as I’m concerned.

Ben Flanagan’s Pick – Young Adult

YOUNG ADULT marks Jason Reitman’s fourth feature film and likely his third straight Oscar contender, which is loaded with some prestige. Once again collaborating with JUNO’s Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody, Reitman teams with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron, who plays a writer who returns to her home in small-town Minnesota to rekindle a romance with an ex-boyfriend who now has a wife and kids. Cody’s language always gives way for suspicion, given her last outing in the feature arena, JENNIFER’S BODY, straight up stunk. But in the capable hands of Reitman, who progresses as a storyteller with each of his films, I feel less suspicious.

Craig Hamilton’s Pick – The Ides of March

It’s hard to believe that at least a couple of acting nominations won’t stem from THE IDES OF MARCH. All one has to do is check out the cast list which includes: George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I know, I know, a stellar cast does not a Best Picture make, but the trailers and movie clips available online should provide further encouragement of the performances in this film. What’s more, George Clooney takes another stab at directing. When I think of Clooney as a director the first film that comes to mind is GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, one of the best films of 2005. If Clooney’s acting chops in THE IDES OF MARCH comes close to that film, then we’re in for something special.

Graham Flanagan’s Pick – The Artist

I’m seriously intrigued by the Cannes-sensation THE ARTIST, which picked up the Best Actor prize at the French fest for leading man Jean Dujardin. It chronicles the rise and fall of a silent film star as just as Talkies begin to change Hollywood forever. The main commercial challege facing THE ARTIST is the fact that it is indeed a silent film. To add insult to box office injury, director Michel Hazanavicius also shot the movie in black & white! However, its Cannes screenings generated overwhelmingly positive buzz, and it promises to lure fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood… hopefully more than were “lured” by THE GOOD GERMAN.

Matt Scalici’s Pick – Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Every movie Stephen Daldry has ever directed has earned him a Best Director nomination. All three. With Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock and the backdrop of September 11th to work with, I don’t expect this time to be any different. It’s been a while since Hanks got an opportunity to deal with any truly dramatic material and expect Paramount to give Hanks and the film a huge push come Oscar season.

 

Sleeper Hits

Ben Stark’s Pick – Take Shelter

TAKE SHELTER, from Arkansas filmmaker Jeff Nichols, could be Michael Shannon’s big break-out lead performance after several fantastic supporting roles. The movie’s trailer hints at a kind of meteorologic-ally motivated psychological drama (again!?!?), and some elements might really hit home with those of us ruminating the spiritual implications of 2011′s bizarre weather onslaught.

Corey Craft’s Pick – We Need To Talk About Kevin

Speaking of untenably long waits between films, Lynne Ramsay’s last film, MORVERN CALLAR, came out in 2003 (I think)? So here we are eight years later awaiting the release of her latest, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN, an unnerving-looking drama about a mother dealing with a son she not only can’t relate to but who seems to be a “bad seed” in the classic sense. Ramsay’s visual style has been missed — say what you will about the plotting of her first few films, but she’s an true artist behind a camera, and the fact that a few out-of-context shots in a trailer managed to unsettle me speaks well for the upcoming WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN.

Ben Flanagan’s Pick – Margaret

I stand among the few who stubbornly anticipated Kenneth Lonergan’s follow-up to his powerful 2000 drama YOU CAN COUNT ON ME. I first heard about MARGARET when it was in production circa 2005 and couldn’t find a release date until now thanks to editing disputes and lawsuits. Finally, we get Lonergan’s second feature film, starring Anna Paquin as a student who must cope in the aftermath of a fatal New York City bus accident. Not that Paquin’s my favorite actress, she’s at least joined by the likes of Matt Damon, Matthew Broderick, Allison Janney, Mark Ruffalo and Rosemarie DeWitt. I’m a little scared of how often this thing visited the chopping block, but I’m even more pleased to see Lonergan’s return to the game.

Craig Hamilton’s Pick – Moneyball

MONEYBALL isn’t among the handful of elite movie titles that come into conversation when discussing potential blockbusters or award winners, but this film has lots of potential. It is very gradually gaining buzz and once the reviews pour in from Toronto in a couple of weeks we might not consider this a sleeper anymore. Directed by Bennett Miller (Capote) and starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, MONEYBALL is based on the true story of Billy Beanne, the general manager of the Oakland A’s, and his avant-garde approach to building a successful baseball team.

Graham Flanagan’s Pick – Martha Marcy May Marlene

Expect the unfortunately-titled Sundance hit MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE to cause at least a minor ruckus at big-city art house theaters. Sean Durkin – producer of Antonio Campos’ AFTERSCHOOL – makes his feature-directorial debut with this thriller about a young woman who breaks out of a cult.. seems like a mumblecore version of BIG LOVE. While the main attraction for most audiences will no doubt be the presence of Elizabeth Olsen a.k.a. the other Olsen sister… but for me it will definitely be the work of cinematographer Jody Lee Lipes whose hot streak continues after stellar work on last year’s indie-hit TINY FURNITURE. Take notice: we may be witnessing the emergence of the next Gordon Willis.

Matt Scalici’s Pick – Carnage

Yes, this one might look like one of those movies that’s such obvious Oscar bait that no one takes the bait but we’re looking at three Oscar-winning actors (plus one nominee) and an Oscar-winning director putting on a play for us in an enclosed space. The trailer is manic and looks like it could verge on silliness at times but the potential for great dialogue and better delivery is here with these four heavy-hitters on screen together.

 

Top Five Most Anticipated of the Fall

Benjamin Stark’s Picks

1. War Horse
2. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
3. Take Shelter
4. Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn
5. The Skin I Live In

Corey Craft’s Picks

1. Melancholia
2. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
3. The Descendants
4. We Need to Talk About Kevin
5. Martha Marcy May Marlene

Ben Flanagan’s Picks

1. War Horse
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
3. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
4. Martha Marcy May Marlene
5. Contagion

Craig Hamilton’s Picks

1. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
3. The Descendants
4. The Ides of March
5. Moneyball

Graham Flanagan’s Picks

1. Tower Heist
2. War Horse
3. The Artist
4. The Rum Diaries
5. Hugo

Matt Scalici’s Picks

1. War Horse
2. The Muppets
3. The Iron Lady
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
5. Martha Marcy May Marlene

The boys from Aspect Radio are back! Listen to FilmNerds contributors Corey Craft and Ben Flanagan discuss two of the most talked about films in theaters this week, Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion and the well-reviewed ultimate fighting flick Warrior. Also, the guys give their picks for Soderbergh’s top five films of his career. Right-click the link below to download.

 

DOWNLOAD: Aspect Radio – Episode 52

The Movies:

• Fast Five
• Thor
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
• Bridesmaids
• X-Men: First Class
• Midnight in Paris
• Super 8
• Green Lantern
• Tree of Life
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon
• Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part II
• Captain America: The First Avenger
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes

As if we needed a sure sign, the cool weather and rainy Labor Day weekend has announced loud and clear that Summer 2011 is over. Before football season really cranks up and before we invest in tons of pumpkin-spice flavored treats, I want to take a quick moment and review the movie season that was.

Looking back, I think we can confirm that the thematic through-line of the summer’s movies was nostalgia… whether in remakes (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), period pieces, (Super 8, Captain America), revisionist histories (Transformers: Dark of the Moon, X-Men: First Class) or backwards-gazing spiritual ruminations (Midnight in Paris, Tree of Life), it seemed that the past was on Hollywood’s mind.

The industry’s stubborn attempt at indoctrinating the public with the importance of 3D was stronger than ever, and it does seem like the public is responding. I, myself, am still leery towards 98% of 3D experiences. I will admit that 3D seems to have brought Michael Bay closer to being the revolutionary visualist he has the potential of becoming, but a billion extra dimensions will never fix an inability to read tone or cut fat.

My most pleasant technological discovery this summer was the long-derided digital IMAX experience. Call it Diet IMAX. Call it IMAX, Jr. Call it LIE-MAX. There’s no denying that this is not the enormous, domed cinematic experience that has been sold to us for decades, but -regardless of the bad branding- seeing a film in digital IMAX is worth the up-charge and makes the experience special.

My wife and I didn’t get to make it to many comedies this summer, and we happened to skip all of the animated features. One “achievement” we did nail was checking out all of the summer’s superhero movies, and I’m proud to say that both of us can champion Captain America: The First Avenger as the summer’s best superhero movie. Much of that is probably because the movie does not play out in the standard superhero sub-genre template, but works more as a character-based adventure film. Overall, I don’t think any of the comic book adaptations will hold up as well as a Dark Knight or a Spider-Man 2, but we’ll see how X-Men: First Class and Captain America -both crowd favorites- fare on repeat viewings.

For some chatter about the summer’s box office performance, check out this article.

 

All that said, here are some of my favorites of the season, with rankings in various categories:

 
SCORE
1.) Henry Jackman, X-Men: First Class
2.) Michael Giacchino, Super 8
3.) Alan Silvestri, Captain America: The First Avenger
4.) Patrick Doyle, Thor & Rise of the Planet of the Apes
5.) Alexandre Desplat, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part II

CINEMATOGRAPHY
1.) Emmanuel Lubezki, Tree of Life
2.) Larry Fong, Super 8
3.) Amir M. Mokri, Transformers: Dark of the Moon

EFFECTS
1.) Transformers: Dark of the Moon
2.) Rise of the Planet of the Apes
3.) Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part II

SUPPORTING PERFORMANCES
1.) Elle Fanning, Super 8
2.) Alan Rickman, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part II
3.) Corey Stoll, Midnight in Paris
4.) Dwayne Johnson, Fast Five
5.) Adrian Brody, Midnight in Paris

LEAD PERFORMANCES
1.) Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
2.) Michael Fassbender, X-Men: First Class
3.) Joel Courtney, Super 8
4.) WETA & Andy Serkis, Rise of the Planet of the Apes
5.) Chris Evans, Captain America: The First Avenger

 

 

ACTION SEQUENCES
1.) Tower Topple, Transformers: Dark of the Moon
2.) Train Heist, Fast Five
3.) Uprising, Rise of the Planet of the Apes
4.) Train Wreck, Super 8
5.) Harry vs Voldemort, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part II
6.) Bus Attack, Super 8
7.) Climax, Fast Five
8.) Final Plane Chase, Captain America: The First Avengers
9.) Getting to Sentinal Prime, Transformers: Dark of the Moon
10.) Chasing the Hydra Spy, Captain America: The First Avenger

SCENES OR MOMENTS
1.) Argentina, X-Men: First Class
2.) Train Station Performance, Super 8
3.) Final Moment, Super 8
4.) Childhood Montage, Tree of Life
5.) Caesar is Home, Rise of the Planet of the Apes
6.) Dinner Table, Tree of Life
7.) Interrogating Griphook, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part II
8.) Cookie Distribution, Rise of the Planet of the Apes
9.) Wedding Boutique, Bridesmaids
10.) Final Moment, Thor

BEST THEATRICAL EXPERIENCES
1.) Super 8 – Live music with dinner, followed by coffee with friends, topped off by a midnight screening in digital IMAX. Loud, vibrant, and very fun.
2.) Midnight in Paris – I surprised Danielle with a picnic after work. Wine, sandwiches, and a great screening.
3.) Transformers: Dark of the Moon – The eye-popping visuals and kinetic energy of this movie’s final act, rendered in IMAX 3D – with no loss in exposure, color, or clarity – more than makes up for its annoying eccentricities and fatty “character” moments.

 

 

GRADES:

A
Super 8
Tree of Life

A-
Captain America: The First Avenger
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part II

B+
Midnight in Paris
Bridesmaids
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

B
Fast Five
Thor

B-
X-Men: First Class

D+
Green Lantern
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

 

So, that’s it. The ice cream’s melted, the pool is covered, and those short shorts are wholly inappropriate. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that our newest movie, The Nocturnal Third, is premiering locally and online this Friday, September 9th, despite missing its chance to be a Summer movie… as well as its promised Spring release date.

You can watch The Nocturnal Third, in its entirety, for free all weekend long at http://www.thenocturnalthird.com