Recommendation #4: The Raid: Redemption

Genre: Action

You'll like it if you like: Kung Fu Movies, Action, Indonesian Cinema

Welcome to The Raid: Redemption. Very gritty, ultraviolent, it will make you tired just watching it. Admittedly there's not much to the story there's very little back story, almost no resolution, just a lot of martial arts and gun play. That being said, for what it is, it's very good. Action packed doesn't really seem to describe it well enough. Sure there are plot holes but is that really why you're watching it? For the story?

All of the actors in it do a bang up job of bringing these violent scenes to life. Rama, Iko Uwais, and Jaka, Joe Taslim, play characters on opposite sides of the law that find themselves united against a tower full of bad guys. The baddest being Mad Dog played by Yayan Ruhian. The story is pretty standard a bunch of cops versus a bunch of baddies with no way out but like I said if you're watching it for the story, this is the wrong movie.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1899353/ 

Recommendation #3: The Poker House

Genre: Drama

You'll like it if you like: Jennifer Lawrence, Dark and Depressing Movies with just a hint of hope

My recommendation for this week is The Poker House. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Bokeem Woodbine, Selma Blair, and Chloe Grace Moretz all interacting in the cold streets of some nameless, generic town. Jennifer Lawrence steals the show as Agnes, a teenage poet struggling to protect her family from her mother's pimp, Duval, played to a T by Bokeem Woodbine. Agnes' sisters, Chloe Grace Moretz and Casey Tutton, and mother, Selma Blair, all play important pieces in the painful mosaic that is Agnes' life.

The film follows one day in the life of Agnes, one dark, depressing day that serves as the focal point for her starting to turn her life into something more than what it is. The film is in no way uplifting so don't expect that. The larger message is that as bad as things get, they can still get worse but things will also get better. 

I don't want to give too much of the film away but there is one focal point of the film right towards the end that will leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. Selma Blair really nails her role as a careless, prostitute mom and you will end up hating her. Chloe Grace Moretz seems to be in a film all by herself because she doesn't interact with any of the other characters until the very end of the movie but she shines in her own special way. Jennifer Lawrence turns in yet another fantastic performance and one that I'm sure she's proud of.

Watching this film will put you into a mild depression but in a good way, one that makes you want to go out there and do a little bit more with your life.

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014806/

Recommendation #2: Killing Them Softly

Genre: Crime, Noir, Dark

You'll like it if you like: Brad Pitt, Quasi Social Commentary

Killing Them Softly is a tale of organized crime in New Jersey. The plot revolves around a robbery, then revenge, then money. You can't expect any full on Michael Bay action scenes but the violence that is there is very subtle and pointed. It's a well made, gritty crime thriller that also serves as commentary on the state of the US economy.

Brad Pitt plays the titular main character, Jackie Cogan. His character ebbs and flows throughout the film. At times he seems out of control and out of his depth but others he communicates a cool, collected mob enforcer. Unfortunately, this film revolves mostly around Pitt and his relations to other characters who end up being fairly trivial though most have an aura of depth. Ray Liotta plays a gangster as good as anyone but isn't around long. Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendehlson (I haven't seen him since Vertical Limit, which I love.) put in solid performances as a couple of dirt bags down on there luck and serve as the focal point of revenge but their lack of screen time hardly gives them a chance at any real depth. The only real negative thing I have to say about this film is that, strangely, there's only one woman in it. She's a prostitute and she's in the film for all of about 2 minutes and for some reason that really bugged me.

Overall, this is a solid film that will do exactly what it's meant to, entertain. There's not too much room for a deeper meaning between the commentary on the 2008 financial crisis and Pitt's acting prowess. But there doesn't have to be, if you like gritty, understated crime thrillers then this is a great movie for you.

Recommendation #1: The Way, Way Back

Genre: Drama, Comedy

You'll like it if you like: The Descendants, Community, Dan in Real Life

The Way, Way Back is essentially a coming of age film. It follows a young boy, Walter (Liam James), who goes on vacation with his mom, step dad and step sister. He starts the vacation as an introverted, very relatable, adolescent who blossoms into young adult hood with the help of some friends that he meets at the beach.

The ensemble cast is excellent. Steve Carrell plays the step dad, Trent, in a remarkably understated, dislikable way. Walter's mom (Toni Collette) also displays a deep emotional swings and Collette brings a rich life and background to her character. Allison Janney, Rob Cordry, and Amanda Peet also provide some back and foreground emotions to the screen that juxtaposition nicely with Walter's journey.

But the real stars of the film come in the form of water park workers. Directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash play medium sized roles in the film and add their own brand of on screen hilarity, as expected. Sam Rockwell and Maya Rudolph play the odd couple in charge of the water park and their chemistry on screen is palpable. The main relationship brought forth and the one that drives the story is between Walter and Sam Rockwell's Owen, owner of the water park. Owen's one liners, wry wit, and dry attitude contrast Walter's drudging self and in the end they both rub off on each other in different ways.

Bottom Line
The guts of this film come from its depictions of relationships. On the surface it is a coming of age story but in reality that's only a part of it. The other part of the message is that everyone in our lives has an affect on us. "No man is a stone" was never so apparent after watching this film as it brings to fruition the concept that we are not alone. We are surrounded by a milieu of individuals that can help us bring meaning to our own lives if only we let them.

Check this one out if you're up for an emotional experience that will leave you with more than a few tears.

Welcome to Movies You Might Have Missed

Hi!

Ever get tired of browsing endless Netflix cues or browsing torrents looking for a good movie? Well, you're in luck because here is the cure. Every week, I post a good movie that you may have missed. I'll enclose a short review, maybe a picture and you'll get a great recommendation for a movie to watch. Everybody wins!

Tim