Chuck The Movie Guy
Friday, February 3, 2012 -- Click here to hear Chuck talk about this weekend's new movies, Chronicle and The Woman In Black:
Chronicle -- The found footage genre collides with the superhero film and results in a cautionary tale that sparks a bit of new life in two movie types that have nearly run their course. Three Seattle teens inexplicably get superpowers and what starts off as a lark ends tragically when their ability to play God among mortals is mixed with the petulance of a misunderstood teen. The film’s logic jumps the tracks at times but the special effects are quite good and the melding of the fantastic with the real makes creates a convincing documentary feel for his gripping wild ride. 3 Stars (Chuck Koplinski) 83 minutes. Rated PG-13.
At the Art Theatre in downtown Champaign:
The Big Lebowski -- The Coen Brothers comedic film noir has become a cult sensation as viewers are drawn to its main character, Dude Lewbowki (Jeff Bridges) and his slacker lifestyle, masquerading as Zen enlightenment, which remains unflappable even when dealing with a case of mistaken identity or clueless gangsters. But what makes this a classic is the Coen’s narrative construction, which simultaneously parodies the noir genre as it delivers a perfect representation of the form. Big laughs are generated by the supporting cast, primarily John Goodman as the Dude’s unhinged buddy. 4 Stars (Chuck Koplinski) 117 minutes. Rated R.
From last week:
The Grey -- Liam Neeson stars as a hired gun who’s employed by an oil company to keep one of their remote refineries free of wolves. However, a plane crash in the Alaskan wilds forces him and the handful of survivors to take stock of their character in order to survive the harsh elements as well as the wolf pack nipping at their heels. Far more than a gripping survival tale, the film transcends the genre by posing questions about the existence of God and the strength gained from self-determination. Gripping and ultimately moving, this is an instant classic. 4 Stars (Chuck Koplinski) 117 minutes. Rated R. (This is the RED BAND trailer - violence and unsuitable language for children)
One for the Money -- Katherine Heigl stars as Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, a young woman out of options who decides to pursue bounty hunting as a career. Her first case has her following her old high school crush (Jason O’Mara), which may or may not be guilty of murder. Heigl is quite winning in the role, a bit clueless at first but eager to learn as she toughens up with each violent encounter that comes her way. However, director Julie Anne Robinson botches things by failing to establish a consistent tone, waffling between the comedic and the dramatic, resulting in a directionless affair. 2 Stars
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Friday, January 27, 2012 --
Click here to hear Chuck talk about the Oscar nominated The Artist, The Grey and last week's Haywire:
The Artist -- French director Michel Hazanavicius delivers a loving tribute to the silent film era with this tale of a major movie star (Jean Dujardin) who can’t make the transition to sound films and the young starlet (Berenice Bejo) whose star rises as his falls. This silent feature perfectly mimics the tone and look of the films from cinema’s early days while the performances by the two leads have an innocence about them that brings a charm to the whole enterprise. 3 ½ Stars (Chuck Koplinski) 100 minutes. Rated PG-13.
Haywire -- An action film star is born here as director Stephen Soderbergh fashions a slick spy thriller to highlight the skills of Mixed Martial Arts champion Gina Carano. She’s a covert operative for a private contractor who gets double-crossed and finds herself on the run trying to clear her name. Unbroken takes and extended fight sequences highlight Carano’s bone-crunching skills, which are quite impressive. This is a true action film that relies on the skill of the performers rather than a hyperactive editing rhythm. 3 Stars (Chuck Koplinski) 93 minutes. Rated R.
Underworld: Awakening -- Kate Beckinsale returns once more as Selene, the vengeful vampire who awakens in the modern world from a state of suspended animation to find that werewolves and others like her have nearly been completely wiped out. As she dispatches humans with extreme prejudice, she discovers a mutant child (India Eisley) who she vows to protect. More mindless violence rendered in cobalt blue, this is for fans of the franchise only. 2 Stars (Chuck Koplinski) 89 minutes. Rated R.
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Friday, January 20, 2012 --
Click here to hear Chuck talk about his time at the Critics Choice Awards and this week's new movies:
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close -- Trite, absurd and just plain unbelievable, this tale of a young boy (Thomas Horn) who tries to track down the owner of a key found in his late father’s (Tom Hanks) belongings is far too ridiculous to be believed or taken seriously. Meant as a cathartic response to the attacks of 9/11, as this is the central tragedy that jumpstarts the plot, the film uses the tragedy and its victims as nothing more than a backdrop for a boy’s adventure tale. Only the work of Sandra Bullock as the boy’s beleaguered mother and Max von Sydow as his mute grandfather deliver work that’s worthy of the subject matter. 1 Star (Chuck Koplinski) 129 minutes. Rated PG-13.
Playing at the Art in Normal
Melancholia -- Kirstin Dunst gives a devastating performance as a young bride suffering from a debilitating bout of depression who seemingly goes out of her way to sabotage her life. Curiously, the presence of a distant planet that’s hurtling towards Earth doesn’t fill her with dismay as it does her sister (Charlette Gainsbourg) and others, as she comes to crave the release this disaster will accord her. Thought-provoking and visually stunning, this is one of the most curious and engaging films of 2011 as it looks as it turns a standard Hollywood premise on its head, turning it into a moving meditation on life. 4 Stars (Chuck Koplinski) 136 minutes. Rated R.
From last week:
Beauty and the Beast - 3D -- The Disney classic as the studio attempts to cash in on the 3-D craze as it’s been converted to that format. No matter how you see it, it’s nice to see this film on a big screen once more as we become reacquainted with Belle and the Beast and witness them fall in love as the tunes “Be Our Guest,” and the title song sweep us away. Great fun as the movie still packs an emotional punch. 4 Stars (Chuck Koplinski) 84 minutes. Rated G.
Contraband -- Mark Wahlberg stars as a former smuggler who’s forced back into the game when his brother-in-law runs afoul of a local hood (Giovanni Ribisi). The caper the film revolves around – smuggling counterfeit cash through the Panama Canal – is standard fare but the complications that ensue are, if not logical, at least fun to watch as they unfold. There’s nothing new here but Wahlberg and his strong supporting cast, including Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster and J.K. Simmons, provide performances that are far better than the material deserves. 3 Stars (Chuck Koplinski) 110 minutes. Rated R.
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Chuck had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Gary Oldman, the star of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy:
