"Oblivion"

  "Earth is a memory worth fighting for.”

“Oblivion” centers on a drone technician, Jack Harper (Tom Cruise, “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol), who flies a Bubble Ship (a hybrid of a fighter spaceship and helicopter) and is tasked to fix downed drones on earth in 2077.  He lives in a sleek dig high above the clouds together with his partner, Victoria (Andrea Riseborough), who also serves as his communication officer.  She monitors his safety from their base in space and dutifully reports to their superior, Sally (Melissa Leo) through a sophisticated system.  Before embarking on their five-year service, Jack and Victoria had their memories wiped to maintain the security of their mission.

60 years ago, earth was invaded by aliens, called 'scavs' (scavengers).  The scavs shattered the moon, and without the moon, the earth destablized, resulting in earthquakes and tsunamis that destroyed half of the planet.  Humans launched nukes to stave off the scavs and eventually won the war.  However, the earth became mostly inhabitable and the surviving humans moved to Titan, one of the moons of the Saturn ring.  The drones are used to man fusion reactors that drain seawater and convert into energy.  They also patrol the earth's surface to shoot down any remaining scavs. 

Jack and Victoria are nearing the end of their mission; in two weeks, they will conclude their service and join the rest of the humans in Titan.  While Victoria is looking forward to it, Jack has doubts and oddly feels that earth would always be his home.  He's traveled far and wide and found unspoiled swaths on earth, including a remote cabin by the lake, a calming oasis.  His uncertainty is confounded by recurring dreams of a woman (Olga Kurylenko) and flashes of life in New York, which strangely feels like a memory of a past than a fantasy. 

When a spaceship crash lands on earth, Jack finds that it's filled with several pods of humans in hyper-sleep state.  And inside one of the pods, is the woman in his dreams, who later wakes up and mentions that her name is Julia.  Jack and Julia are discovered and captured by a group of rebels (led by Morgan Freeman and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), human survivors.  The events that transpire, followed with fierce flying and firefights, make Jack realize that his life is not what it seems to be and that he's not what he thinks he is.  He may just unknowingly holds the fate of mankind on his hands. 

Director Joseph Kosinski (“Tron Legacy”) executes his vision with excellence.  Cruise plays his part with sincerity, connects with both of his leading ladies and the higher mission he's entrusted with.  With a straightforward story and humanity, “Oblivion” is captivating from the start.  Part of the appeal is the mystery, which unfurls easily piece by piece and takes us along through each discovery and ultimate truth.  A bigger appeal is the phenomenal visual, reminiscent of last year's “Prometheus,” elevated by an electronica beat, along the same vein of "Tron Legacy" and “Hanna.”  Oscar-winning cinematographer Claudio Miranda (“Life of Pi”) creates a vast and elegant canvas.  Desolate, barren wasteland dotted with ruined monuments in stark contrast with deep gorges and verdant mountains.  The sterile white of the glassy homebase and pool in space with the homey, lakeside wood cabin on earth. 

A cool sci-fi with a heart, “Oblivion” is satisfyingly entertaining. 

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-oblivion/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/d4c935y
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/d8jhlna

Bubble Ship Display at 2013 WonderCon

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Upcoming Movies: June 2013

[Originally posted on 6/02/13]

June 7
"The Internship" (http://www.theinternshipmovie.com/) - Two salesmen whose careers have been torpedoed by the digital age find their way into a coveted internship at Google, where they must compete with a group of young, tech-savvy geniuses for a shot at employment.

"The Purge" - A family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legalized.

June 14
"Man of Steel" (http://manofsteel.warnerbros.com/index.html) - A young journalist is forced to confront his secret extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race.

"The Bling Ring" - Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes.

June 21
"World War Z" (http://www.worldwarzmovie.com/) - A United Nations employee traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.

"Monster University" (http://disney.go.com/monsters-university/) - A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University -- when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.

June 28
"White House Down" (http://www.whitehousedown.com/site/) - While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter, a Capitol policeman springs into action to save his child and protect the president from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders.

"Byzantium" - Residents of a coastal town learn, with deathly consequences, the secret shared by the two mysterious women who have sought shelter at a local resort.

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Summer Blockbusters 2013

Summer is around the corner, which means one thing... blockbuster season!  Oblivion.  Iron Man 3.  The Great Gatsby.  Start Trek Into Darkness.  Hang-Over Part III.  Fast & Furious 6.  After Earth.  Man of Steel.  Red 2.  White House Down.  World War Z.  The Lone Ranger.  The Wolverine.

2013 blockbuster movies mashup in 3:09 minutes:

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Upcoming Movies: May 2013

Summer may not officially arrive yet, but a packed blockbuster season is definitely here!


May 3
"Iron Man 3" (http://marvel.com/ironman3) - When Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.

May 10
"The Great Gatsby" ( http://thegreatgatsby.warnerbros.com/) - A Midwestern war veteran finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor.

May 17
"Star Trek Into Darkness" (http://www.startrekmovie.com/) - After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.

May 24
"Fast & Furious 6" (http://www.thefastandthefurious.com/) -  Agent Hobbs enlists the aid of Dom and team to help bring a rival gang, led by Owen Shaw, to justice. In exchange for clear records, they must put an end to their schemes, no matter how personal the cost.

"The Hangover Part III" (http://www.hangoverpart3.com/) - This time, there's no wedding. No bachelor party. What could go wrong, right? But when the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.

May 31 
"After Earth" (http://www.afterearth.com/site/) - A crash landing leaves a son and his father stranded on Earth, 1,000 years after events forced humanity's escape. With his father injured, a boy must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help.

"Now You See Me" (http://www.nowyouseememovie.com/) - An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.

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25 Most Anticipated Movies of 2013

The year is still young and we've got a lot more movies to cover.  Yahoo! Movies has all the sequels, bestselling book adaptations, post-apocalyptic adventures, and comic-book movies to pick out and rank the 25 most anticipated titles of 2013.

Check out the synopses and clips here:
http://tinyurl.com/ay4phuc

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Upcoming Movies: April 2013

April 5
"Trance" - An art auctioneer who has become mixed up with a group of criminals partners with a hypnotherapist in order to recover a lost painting.

"The Company You Keep" - A thriller centered on a former Weather Underground activist who goes on the run from a journalist who has discovered his identity.

April 12
"Oblivion" (http://www.oblivionmovie.com/) - A veteran assigned to extract Earth's remaining resources begins to question what he knows about his mission and himself.

"To the Wonder" (http://www.magpictures.com/tothewonder/) - After visiting Mont Saint-Michel, Marina and Neil come to Oklahoma, where problems arise. Marina meets a priest and fellow exile, who is struggling with his vocation, while Neil renews his ties with a childhood friend, Jane.

April 26
"Mud" (http://mud-themovie.com/) - Two teenage boys encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the bounty hunters on his trail and to reunite him with his true love.

"The Big Wedding" (http://thebigweddingmovie.com/) - A long-divorced couple fakes being married as their family unites for a wedding.

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"Olympus Has Fallen"

 

Not only it's 'Die Hard in the White House,' it's die harder. "Olympus Has Fallen" takes full advantage of the R-rating by having the highest body count and headshots ever seen in an action movie. The stabbings are brutal and gunfire roars almost nonstop.

A former secret agent and head of presidential security detail is put on desk duty after he saved the president from a freak car accident at the expense of the first lady. When the White House is under air and ground attack from North Korean terrorists, he pushes his way in and goes 'Rambo' to save the president and his young son, and the security advisers. He also serves as an insider who connects with the war room in the Pentagon.

The plot holes are bigger than the undetected bomber plane and armored garbage trucks, but it's entertaining nonetheless. At the same time, the constant gunplay in the dark becomes monotonous after a while. A half-hour shorter running time would have been sufficient to restore the old glory and it would've been more fun. 

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/bmletsq
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/cahrp4o

 

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"The Call"

 

Edge-of-your-seat realistic... until it's not.  Realistic, that is.  A 9-1-1 operator faces a serial killer on the line hell-bent on kidnapping and murdering teenage girls.  "The Call" manages to keep the suspense going scene after scene mostly because of the probability of the incidents happening in real life (and shows us what to do and what not to do), and the consequences suffered by the victims and bystanders.  But it goes downhill after three-quarter of the movie, with an idiotic ending that betrays what we know about the main protagonist.  A strong 'B' movie, it's enjoyable for what it is, but a different ending wouldn't have lessened the edge-of-your-seat element, and it would have kept it real. 

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/bsk5ewp

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/c4933sc

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Farewell Posterous, Hello Blogger: New Home

Posterous, acquired by Twitter last year, is shutting down on April 30, 2013 (sadly), so this blog (http://themoviemaven.posterous.com), created in 2010, will be gone forever.  If you receive this via e-mail from Posterous and would like to continue to receive updates, this is the right page on Blogger and enter your e-mail address.  Unless otherwise notified, http://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/ will be the new home for The MovieMaven.  Thanks for reading!

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"Oz: The Great and Powerful"

 

Magic. Fantasy. Wonder. These are some of the things that came to mind when viewing “Oz: The Great and Powerful.”

Oscar Diggs (James Franco, “Eat Pray Love") is a street-magician with traveling circus in Kansas. He performs his tricks, both for the audience and beautiful women, with equal charm and smarminess. Although he does seem to hold a special place in his heart for a special lady, Annie (Michelle Williams, “Shutter Island”). The extended black-and-white scenes are necessary and give insight into Oscar's life and aspiration.

After being chased out of his trailer during an incident, Oscar hops into a hot air balloon and runs into a tornado. He gets twirled and transported into a fantasy land vibrant beyond imagination. Cascading waterfalls, blooming flowers and glowing butterflies over verdant lands, and snowy mountains in the background.

Oscar meets a beguiling beauty, Theodora (Mila Kunis, “Black Swan”), who says that she's a good witch. She mistakes him for a wizard, who falls out of the sky to save the people and claims the throne, fulfilling a prophecy of defeating a wicked witch who killed the king. She leads him the yellow brick road to the diamond palace of Emerald City and see her sister, another witch, Evanora (Rachel Weisz, "The Bourne Legacy"). Dangled with riches and respect, Oscar plays along and pretends that he's indeed Oz, the wizard. Along the way, he partners with a winged monkey (Finley) and porcelain doll (China Girl), who accompany him in his misadventures. His interactions with them are the highlights of the movie, comical and tender.

When Oscar finally finds the purported Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda (Michelle Williams), the truth comes out. He faces the challenge of continuing to assume his identity as a savior for the sake of the people, who places their belief and hope in him, or run and hide.

Oscar is faced with the impossible dilemma of leading an army of ordinary folks - munchkins, farmers and tinkers, who only know how to work the land, make bread, sew clothes or play music - against wicked witches, trained soldiers and flying beasts. With faith and encouragement from those around him, the mortal con-man comes up with a plan utilizing his skills as a magician and everyone's strengths to create wondrous smokescreen to defeat the enemy. The clever trickery, using fog bank, scarecrows, illusion, fires and fireworks, play out masterfully. Oscar may not be the great and powerful wizard they're looking for, but he may be just what they need. He may be destined for greatness and there may be goodness in him after all.

"Wizard of Oz” may be a movie originally made for kids, but “Oz: The Great and Powerful” is a magical spectacle and story enjoyable for all ages. The vivid visuals alone are worth the admission price. The 3-D makes the special effects really pop but not overused. And especially for those who've never seen the 1939 film, director's Sam Raimi's version of 'Oz' is sweepingly enchanting and engaging.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-oz-the-great-and-powerful/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/ahh5h5w
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/ajwrs6d

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Upcoming Movies: March 2013

March 1

"Jack the Giant Slayer" (http://jackthegiantslayer.warnerbros.com/) - The ancient war between humans and a race of giants is reignited when Jack, a young farmhand fighting for a kingdom and the love of a princess, opens a gateway between the two worlds.

"Stoker" (http://www.foxsearchlight.com/stoker/) - After one girl's father dies, her uncle, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her unstable mother. She comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives and becomes increasingly infatuated with him.

March 8

"Oz the Great and the Powerful" (http://disney.go.com/thewizard/) - A small-time magician arrives in an enchanted land and is forced to decide if he will be a good man or a great one.

"Dead Man Down" - In New York City, a crime lord's right-hand man is seduced by one of his boss's victims, a woman seeking retribution.

March 15

"The Call" - When a veteran 911 operator receives a call from a girl who has just been abducted, she soon realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life.

"Upside Down" (http://upsidedown-movie.com/) - Adam and Eden fell in love as teens despite the fact that they live on twinned worlds with gravities that pull in opposite directions. Ten years after a forced separation, Adam sets out on a dangerous quest to reconnect with his love.

March 22

"Olympus Has Fallen" (http://olympusmovie.com/) - Disgraced former Presidential guard finds himself trapped inside the White House in the wake of a terrorist attack; using his inside knowledge, he works with national security to rescue the President from his kidnappers.

"Admission" (http://m.focusfeatures.com/) - A Princeton admissions officer who is up for a major promotion takes a professional risk after she meets a college-bound alternative school kid who just might be the son she gave up years ago in a secret adoption.

March 29

"G.I. Joe Retaliation" (http://www.gijoemovie.com/) - The G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence.

"The Host" (http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/thehost_movie.html) - A parasitic alien soul is injected into the body of Melanie Stryder. Instead of carrying out her race's mission of taking over the Earth, "Wanda" (as she comes to be called) forms a bond with her host and sets out to aid other free humans.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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"Safe Haven"

This sweet serving from Nicholas Sparks' novel offers a lovely taste of a simple life in a seaside town in the South. Julianne Hough (Katie) and Josh Duhamel (Alex) seem comfortable together and sell the story of second chances.  But don't mistake simple life for safe.  Katie's past follows her and there's nice twist you won't see coming (unless if you read the book), which makes "Safe Haven" a step above your run-of-the-mill Sparks'
romance. 

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/caq7mqx
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/cpngl24

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Academy Awards 2013

If the last couple of months of excitement and unpredictability was any indication, Hollywood's biggest night might be less predictable than in years past.  Aside from the predictable parade of stars coming out in glamorous gowns and finest tuxes, it certainly was.  It's already season of extremes in the first place with youngest (Quvenzhane Wallis, 9) and oldest (Emanuelle Riva, 86) nominated performers, while leaving out champion directors (Ben Affleck, Kathryn Bigelow and Tom Hooper) whose movies are up for best picture. 

The 2013 Academy Awards carries a theme, music in films.  Instead of mocked-up movie montages, lengthy musical numbers opened the show shortly after Seth MacFarlane took the stage as host.  Less seasoned than veteran host Billy Crystal, MacFarlane jokingly said that hosting the Oscars this year was an honor bestowed on him as everybody else refused. William Shatner made an onscreen cameo as Captain Kirk, displaying fake Twitter posts from the next day on how MacFarlane fared as host. I must say that I missed the inventive montages, which typically have been far more fun. 

MacFarlane quickly took a jab at the Academy Award voters for snubbing directing nomination for Ben Affleck, stating that even though “Argo” was a great film, its director was unknown to the Academy.  Later in the show he remarked that the Oscars was just like a church, with people dressing up, only with more praying (for winning).  He poked fun at Tommy Lee-Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Daniel Day-Lewis, George Clooney, among others.  I didn't care for him in general; he came off as awkward and some of his jokes hit below the belt.

Halle Berry, a former Bond girl, introduced James Bond footage from different generations as a tribute for the 50^th anniversary.  Dame Shirley Bassey belted out the theme song from “Gold Finger.”  Adele sang “Skyfall” against a screen backdrop of colorful liquid and grabbed Best Original Song award. 

John Travolta, famous for his musical role in “Grease,” presented selected clips from some of the biggest musicals, capped with standing ovation-worthy singing performances from Jennifer Hudson and the cast of “Les Miserables.” “Les Miserables” claimed Best Sound Mixing award, while Best Sound Editing allowed a surprising tie between “Zero Dark Thirty” and “Skyfall.”

Barbra Streisand made a comeback with "The Way We Were" song, following in memoriam segment, flashbacks of those in the industry who passed away in the last year.

Behind-the-scene artists who dress and make up the stars split the awards between “Anna Karenina” (Best Costume Design) and “Les Miserables” (Best Makeup and Hairstyling).

"The Avengers” team, Robert Downey Jr., Samuel Jackson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, assembled and presented Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects awards to luminously imaginative “Life of Pi.”  No surprise here. The film also scored Best Original Score. And more significantly, Ang Lee surprisingly took home Best Director gold, beating frontrunner Steven Spielberg (Lincoln). 

On the writing side, Quentin Tarantino took home Best Original Screenplay for “Django Unchained" and made a rousing speech.  Amazing screenplay adaptation and excellent editing net Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing for "Argo."

Christoph Waltz (“Django Unchained”) bested Tommy Lee-Jones (“Lincoln”) as Best Supporting Actor.  He bowed and saluted the other nominated actors in the category.  Anne Hathaway predictably won Best Supporting Actress for her heartwrenching performance in “Les Miserables.” She singled out Hugh Jackman early in her speech and thanked him.  It's a long way for the former princess in “Princess Diary.”

Daniel Day-Lewis as a living, breathing Lincoln, virtually a lock-in for the top acting honor, easily nabbed Best Actor.  He became the first actor in history to have won the award three times in the leading actor category.  His victory speech was humble and hilarious, showing respect for the other actors nominated in the category and humor about wanting to see Meryl Streep, who presented him with the statue, play Lincoln.  The film also earned Best Production Design for its authentic 18th century production.  

Jennifer Lawrence took a tumble down on the way up to the stage accepting Best Actress award.  She recovered quickly and modestly said that people were rising to their feet simply because they took pity on her falling.  Her dramatically grown-up role in “Silver Lining Playbook” was a standout, a more deserving winner than the initially leading actress, Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty”).

Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance via live feed.  Introduced by Jack Nicholson, the first lady took the spotlight with her commentaries on the nominated films and announced Best Motion Picture award.  Crowd-favorite “Argo” ultimately won the hearts of the Academy and claimed Best Motion Picture victory, a very fitting crown.  After being snubbed for directing nomination, Ben Affleck and his "Argo" continued racking up every major award during the awards circuit.  The tidal wave of accolades proved to be unstoppable.  Affleck made a spirited (bordering breathless) and gracious speech, acknowledging the other films nominated for the prestigious prize, everyone and everything associated with the film. 

And the winners are...

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Winner: Argo - Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, George Clooney

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Winner: Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook 

Best Achievement in Directing

Winner: Ang Lee for Life of Pi 

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Winner: Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Winner: Argo - Chris Terrio

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Winner: Skyfall - Adele, Paul Epworth("Skyfall")

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

Winner: Life of Pi - Mychael Danna

Best Achievement in Production Design

Winner: Lincoln - Rick Carter, Jim Erickson

Best Achievement in Editing

Winner: Argo - William Goldenberg

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Winner: Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables 

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Winner: Skyfall - Per Hallberg, Karen M. Baker and Zero Dark Thirty - Paul N.J. Ottosson

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

Winner: Les Misérables - Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Simon Hayes

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Winner: Amour (Austria)

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling

Winner: Les Misérables - Lisa Westcott, Julie Dartnell

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Winner: Anna Karenina - Jacqueline Durran

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Winner: Life of Pi - Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik De Boer, Donald Elliott

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Winner: Life of Pi - Claudio Miranda

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Winner: Brave - Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Winner: Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained

For a complete list of winners, please check out the official website.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/academy-awards-2013/

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"A Good Day to Die Hard"

Out.of.this.world stunts.  Driving, diving, chasing, crashing, exploding like there's no tomorrow.  It doesn't live up to its predecessor with a non-existent story and weak bad guy, but it's fun.  John McClane (Bruce Willis, "Red") and his estranged son, Jack (Jai Courtney, "Jack Reacher") really try to die hard in so many ways.  Fortunately for us, they continue to live and entertain.  They did a good job in casting Courtney. He's got the build and actually bears resemblance to Willis (much more so than Joseph Gordon-Levitt in "Looper.") And watching him play off Willis, he really could pass as his son. Tons of fun! 

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/abuozge

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/a34gr7o

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"Side Effects"

I must admit I wasn't thrilled with Steven Soderberg's recent work, “Contagion” and “Haywire.” I preferred “Perfect Sense” as a story dealing with worldwide epidemic. And the sum of the actions in “Haywire” doesn't make up for the flat story. “Side Effects,” however, is different story. This medical mystery thriller has lingering effects, in a good way.

Emily (Rooney Mara, “The Social Network”) and Martin Taylor (Channing Tatum, “Haywire”) are just beginning to put their married lives back together. Martin has finally been released from four years in prison for insider trading. But Emily cannot seem to shake off the blues and continues to be depressed. She turns to Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law, “Sherlock Holmes”) and receives a prescription for her depression. Dr. Banks, whose wife lost a high-powered Wall Street job, takes on extra workload, including being a “consultant” for pharmaceutical firm. He offers his patients to participate in experimental studies in exchange for free meds.

At first the story appears to focus on Emily and her struggle in managing her depression on a daily basis, including suicidal tendencies. While the new pill she's popping appears to be working and makes her feel better, it also has adverse side effects, which includes sleepwalking. Her drug-induced sleepwalking proves to be dangerous and results in an unthinkable tragedy. Or is it? Mara is subtly brilliant in her portrayal of Emily. There's an eerie sense of innocence in her fragile frame and vulnerability. 

As the film progresses, it becomes clear that this is more of a story about Dr. Banks, who has to swallow a bitter pill when Emily is arrested, brought to trial, and sent to a psychiatric ward on court order. He tracks down her previous psychiatrist, Dr. Victoria Siebert, icily played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. He gets in touch with the people that Emily has been in contact with recently in order to understand what really happened. 

When Dr. Banks begins noticing signs and connects the dots, the fun starts. You may think you know what's going on, but you don't. It's twists-and-double crosses galore. But don't worry, everything will be answered and wrapped neatly in the end. Instead of a whodunit mystery, “Side Effects” is 'who's playing who.' Expect the unexpected and you'll enjoy this chilling ride.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/movie-review-side-effects/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/ah3j9wy

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/bel99ut

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2013 Awards Season: Feature Film Highlights

Awards season is in full swing!  If you're behind, there's still time to catch up.  These are some of the films up for best picture or whose actors/actresses are nominated for their acting.  They're likely still playing at select theaters near you.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-highlights-2013-awards-season/

***

"Argo"
On November 4, 1979, an angry crowd storms the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, demanding return of its deposed leader.  Unbeknownst to the Iranians, six Americans are able to escape and end up holing up in the abode of the Canadian's ambassador.  An expert in "exfiltration" is brought in and leads the covert operation with an outlandish plan, pose the six Americans as Canadian film crew scouting an exotic location for a fake sci-fi movie and then depart from the airport.  Not only that the film is both intelligent and entertaining, it's riveting from start to finish.  Supremely-crafted script and storytelling.  Brisk pace, witty dialogue and suspenseful actions, with tonal balance between lighter humor and dour reality.  Authenticity with period costume and design, newsreels and footage from the era weaved into the story.  Human approach provides connection to the characters and care about their fate.  Solid, ensemble acting.  Based on a true historical story, "Argo" is stranger than fiction and it's an absolute feat.  Best film of 2012!  Check out the full review here.

"Lincoln"
Long, laborious... yet fascinating.  Irish-born and British actor Daniel Day-Lewis disappears and becomes a real, living, breathing Lincoln.  He truly captures the most beloved and storied American political figure, down  to the hunched posture, slight limp of gait, war-weary eyes, high-pitched voice, sunken cheeks and chin-strap beard. A skilled statesman and good man, Lincoln leads the country, divided by years of civil war and dark period of slavery.  He does what's necessary for the greater good - negotiating, persuading, cajoling, compromising, convincing, biding time, trading favors, bribing.  "Lincoln" is not a biography, but a window into the most historic time in the life of  the 16th President of the United States.  It's a revealing window of the backroom political deals that go into the process of the abolition of slavery and uniting of the nation, as well as Lincoln's own personal relationships with his family.  When it boils down to it, this is Day-Lewis' picture; he's perfection.  Check out the full review here.

"Life of Pi"
“You don't know the strength of your faith until it has been tested."  And tested it has.  One teen's survival, while sharing a lifeboat space with a bengal tiger in the vast emptiness of the sea, depends on his faith, belief, hope, spirit to go on, endurance, and at some point, acceptance of what is and letting go  The visuals and special effects are imaginatively exquisite.  Dreamlike imageries will linger in your mind. “Life of Pi,” filled by magical visuals, is an artistic achievement.  It's a fantasy fable, at the same time, somehow the story feels real and plausible.  It's a testament of its captivating storytelling and convincing acting.  When another story is revealed toward the end, the ending will let you choose which journey you'd like to believe.  Spiritual or realistic, or both - what you believe may possibly reveal more about yourself and your own belief.  Check out the full review here.

"Les Miserables"
The film tells a story about a man imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's child, gets freed after 19 years, but breaks parole and continues to be on the run from a relentless inspector. He makes an honest and respectable life for himself after a kind gesture from a priest gives him a chance to turn his life around.  The man's run-in with a poor factory worker turned dying prostitute affects her life considerably, and he eventually becomes a protector of her daughter. The story extends through the years with the grown-up daughter experiencing her first love with a young man during the turbulent post-revolutionary times in France.  There are solitary, haunting scenes that will stay in your mind. A spectacular musical adaptation, one could only imagine the herculean efforts that go into this kind of undertaking.  With over 2.5 hours, it's overlong and may test one's patience, especially those who are not into Broadway shows or musicals, but it's definitely worth seeing.  Check out the full review here.

"The Impossible"
Over 230,000 lives lost in 14 countries.  Based on a true story, this is a survival story of one family during the 2004 tsunami.  Within moments of impact, the monstrous tidal waves engulf and steamroll everything and everyone in its path.  And the aftermath, unimaginable.  The wounded and the dead, and miles and miles of destruction and desolation.  The wrath of nature is re-created so masterfully that it feels like a documentary.  It shows how dangerous and frightening to get swept away among downed trees, power lines, cars, boats, sharp debris and anything in between could be.  "The Impossible" is a real tear-jerker.  It's impossibly gut-wrenching, and often times, difficult to watch.  At the same time, it's also uplifting and healing to see resilience, kindness and love of families and community coming together and helping one another.  Miracles do happen and this is an example of that.  Check out the full review here.

"Zero Dark Thirty"
A chronicle of a decade worth of intelligence efforts that ended with the death of Osama bin Laden on May 6, 2011. The film shows the controversial waterboarding, degradation and humiliation, but also analytical research and mundane briefings, meeting up with foreign sources and following up on leads, as well as bribery. "Zero Dark Thirty" is well-crafted, but it's very clinical.  It feels cold, but it has a real sense of unpredictability and danger, without any glorification or glamorization.  The final moment of bin Laden's life might have been met with a shot by a member of the SEAL Team Six, but a lot of blood, sweat and tears had been shed prior to the mission. It's a reminder of and insight into the extraordinary efforts that went into capturing and killing the world's number one terrorist. The greatest manhunt in history was no single shot. It also brings a somber sense of closure to 9/11, even when the war on terror never ends.  Check out the full review here.

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