The Ides of March review - Gosling and Clooney can do no wrong

It’s starting to seem like Ryan Gosling can do no wrong.

His Oscar-nominated turn as a drug addicted junior high school teacher in 2006’s Half-Nelson proved he had chops, and he’s been showing them off ever since--in films such as last year’s Blue Valentine and the recently-released Drive. Now, he’s showing them off in George Clooney’s political thriller The Ides of March and it seems implausible that the academy won’t honor him again next year.

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THE AMERICAN is gorgeous and gripping, a real Oscar contender (review)

Rating:  (Awesome)

The American is not the balls-out action movie its advertising suggests; it isn't like every other shoot 'em up released this year. Instead of constant gunfights, we get a subdued and intense look at an assassin's life. Here is a film where composition and silence do more talking than the dialogue. If you want explosions, go see The Expendables. Fans of film, come closer; this movie's for you and it's been given a wide release. Few films are this patient, focused, minimal, beautiful, and riveting. Go see it and take your friends. 

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UP IN THE AIR, thank you for working

Score:

Ryan Bingham spends his time flying around the country firing people. His mornings start with a trip through airport security and the cheap sushi at the terminal is a warm reminder of home to him. That is, until he's grounded. From Jason Reitman, director of Thank You For Smoking and Juno, Up in the Air is a fascinating view on the suitcase lifestyle of a man who ruins the lives of others, and likes it. Reitman has a knack for directing stories about men with despicable jobs, and this is his best work yet.

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FANTASTIC MR. FOX is UP there with Pixar

Score:

Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of the best family films I've ever seen and, to the best of my knowledge, a remarkably accurate adaptation of the classic Roald Dahl book. To tell this story from 1970, Wes Anderson has chosen to use technology from the era, traveling back in time to give us a completely stop-motion film. The result is one of the most unique, colorful, and beautiful films of the year. More importantly, like all Pixar films, it's a smart movie that anyone can enjoy. 

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THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS has its moments (Review)

Score:

I liked The Men Who Stare at Goats. A lot of critics didn't. It's certainly not the funniest movie of the year, or even the best satire, but it's a good farce with strong performances and some very ridiculous moments. I'm convinced that adding George Clooney to any cast is worth an extra review star itself. 

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New Movie Trailers - THAT EVENING SUN, COLLAPSE, THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS, MARY AND MAX, SERIOUS MOONLIGHT

So, I've been doing movie news bits. I usually include a fresh trailer or two in each one, but there have been quite a few interesting trailers lately. And so I bring you a collection of some of my favorites. Enjoy.

That Evening Sun

Hal Holbrook is amazing. Unfortunately, my first major notice of him was in 2007's "Into the Wild," but he has played memorable characters for more than 50 years. If you haven't seen "Into the Wild," watch it. "That Evening Sun" is made by an unproven writer/director, just as I like em. Scott Teems has everything to show and nothing to hold back. I can't wait to see this one. Hopefully it will get a decent release. 

More trailers after the jump.

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Up in the Air, from the guy who Thank[ed] You For Smoking (Trailer)

Two trailers in one day. When I posted the trailer for A Single Man (watch it), I said trailers were horrible these days. Well, here’s another exception. Once again, I’m very interested, and the trailer didn’t ruin the movie. Up in the Air is written and directed by Jason Reitman, the man behind Juno and Thank You For Smoking. It seems to have a great cast too. I caught a glimpse of Zach Galifianakis there, as well as Jason Bateman. Check it out. Here’s a fantastic review of the script from ScriptShadow, if don’t feel the trailer adequately ruined the plot for you.