One Battle After Another

One Battle After Another; Kinetic, thrilling action has never looked so good. Penn embodies his character with tremendous physical work, while Leo’s portrayal is a scrambled mind written all over his face. Del Toro, Taylor, Hall and Infiniti elevate it all. A rare combination of an auteur action; A

Licorice Pizza

Licorice Pizza; Stylishly captures an era that may be nostalgic for some but irrelevant to others. Very watchable but ultimately unfulfilling and meandering. To a detail, expertly executed, but as a sum of its parts, simply not for most audiences outside of 70s Valley kids; C+

Into the Wild

Into the Wild; A little too in love with itself, but a beautiful film regardless. Excellent cast explores living off the grid with romanticized results. Relationships shine along with the scenery and soothing soundtrack. Intriguing but answers less questions than it brings up; B+

The Angry Birds Movie

The Angry Birds Movie; Surprisingly relevant depiction of colonization as told through physics video game bird characters. Who knew? B-

The Game

Directed by:  David Fincher
Starring:  Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, Deborah Kara Unger
Running Time:  2h 08min

Douglas gives a remarkable performance, not unlike the downward spiral he took in Falling Down.  He is caught up in the "game", a real life adventure that leaves him wondering what is real and what is only a part of the game.  Sometimes the viewer is just as confused as Douglas, which only adds to the viewing pleasure.  The humour occurs realistically, subtle yet hilarious.  The look of the movie is unmistakably Fincher, a director who will surely emerge as the next Coppola or Scorsese.  Every moment is spent guessing between what is real and what is false.  The opening sequence is a special form of storytelling, visually and mentally stimulating.  Fincher makes a movie that appeals to all the senses and exercises the mind, with a sweet aftertaste.

Grade:  A